Metretek Technologies, Inc. DEF 14A
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
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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)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-12 |
METRETEK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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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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previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
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Metretek Technologies, Inc.
303 East 17th Avenue
Suite 660
Denver, Colorado 80203
NOTICE OF 2006 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held June 12, 2006
To the Stockholders of
Metretek Technologies, Inc.:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the Annual Meeting) of
Metretek Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), will be held at The Warwick
Hotel, 1776 Grant Street, Denver, Colorado, on Monday, June 12, 2006 at 9:00 a.m., local time, for
the following purposes:
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To elect one director to serve for a term of three years and until his
successor is duly elected and qualified; |
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To approve amendments of the Companys 1998 Stock Incentive Plan to (i)
increase the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance thereunder by
1,000,000 shares to an aggregate of 3,750,000 shares, (ii) eliminate the provision
requiring formula grants of stock options to non-employee directors, (iii) prohibit the
repricing of stock options without stockholder approval, and (iv) address and comply
with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; |
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To ratify the appointment of Hein & Associates LLP as the Companys independent
registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006; and |
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To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting
or any adjournments or postponements thereof. |
The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the Proxy Statement accompanying
this Notice.
Only holders of record of the Companys Common Stock as of the close of business on May 12,
2006 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and at any adjournments or
postponements thereof.
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By Order of the Board of Directors, |
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Gary J. Zuiderveen |
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Secretary |
Denver, Colorado
May 17, 2006
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting in person.
However, whether or not you plan to attend, it is important that your shares be
represented and voted at the Annual Meeting. You are requested to sign and
date the enclosed proxy card and return it promptly in the enclosed,
self-addressed stamped envelope, which requires no postage if mailed in the
United States. If you attend the Annual Meeting and so desire, you may revoke
your proxy and vote your shares in person.
Metretek Technologies, Inc.
303 East 17th Avenue
Suite 660
Denver, Colorado 80203
PROXY STATEMENT
For The
2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
To Be Held June 12, 2006
GENERAL SOLICITATION AND VOTING INFORMATION
Proxy Solicitation
This Proxy Statement is being furnished to the holders of Common Stock, par value $.01 per
share (Common Stock), of Metretek Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), in
connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of the Company (the Board
or the Board of Directors) for use at the 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to
be held at The Warwick Hotel, 1776 Grant Street, Denver, Colorado, on Monday, June 12, 2006 at 9:00
a.m., local time, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof (the Annual Meeting), for the
purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. This Proxy
Statement, the accompanying proxy card and the Notice of 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are
being first mailed to stockholders on or about May 17, 2006.
The solicitation of proxies will initially be made by mail and may thereafter be made in
person or by mail, telephone, facsimile, electronic communication or other means of communication
by the directors, officers and regular employees of the Company for no additional or special
compensation. In addition, brokerage houses, banks, nominees, trustees, custodians and other
fiduciaries will be requested by the Company to forward proxy solicitation materials for shares of
Common Stock held of record by them to the beneficial owners of such shares, and such fiduciaries
will, upon request, be reimbursed by the Company for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
incurred in connection therewith. In addition, the Company has engaged Georgeson Shareholders
Communications, Inc., a professional soliciting organization, to assist the Company in the
solicitation of proxies for an estimated fee of $8,000, plus reimbursement for certain
out-of-pocket expenses. The cost of the solicitation of proxies for use at the Annual Meeting will
be borne by the Company.
Voting Rights and Procedures
Only holders of record of the Companys Common Stock as of the close of business on May 12,
2006 (the Record Date) are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. As of the
close of business on the Record Date, 15,692,237 shares of Common Stock of the Company were issued
and outstanding. Each share of Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date entitles the holder
thereof to one vote on each matter to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting. The presence, in person
or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock
outstanding as of the Record Date is necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business at the Annual Meeting.
One director will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of
shares of Common Stock present, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock present, in person
or by proxy, and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required to approve an amendment to the
Companys 1998 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated to date (the 1998 Stock Plan), to
(i) increase the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance thereunder by 1,000,000
shares to an aggregate of 3,750,000 shares, (ii) eliminate the provision requiring formula grants
of stock options to non-employee directors, (iii) prohibit the repricing of stock options without
stockholder approval, and (iv) address and comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the Stock Plan Proposal). The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of
the shares of Common Stock present, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting is required to ratify the appointment of Hein & Associates LLP as the Companys independent
registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006 (the Auditors
Proposal).
Abstentions and broker non-votes (which occur when shares held of record by a broker or
nominee for a beneficial owner are not voted on a particular matter because the broker or nominee
has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner of such shares and does not have
discretionary authority to vote those shares with respect to that matter) will
be treated as present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum for the transaction of
business at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions on a matter will be treated as present on such matter
and, accordingly, (i) will have no effect on the outcome of the election of directors, and (ii)
will have the same effect as votes AGAINST the Stock Plan Proposal and AGAINST the Auditors
Proposal. Broker non-votes on a matter will not be treated as present on such matter and,
accordingly, will have no effect on the outcome of the election of directors, the Stock Plan
Proposal or the Auditors Proposal.
If a proxy card is properly signed and returned to the Company at or prior to the Annual
Meeting, unless subsequently properly revoked, the shares represented by that proxy card will be
voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the instructions specified thereon. If a proxy card
is properly signed and returned to the Company at or prior to the Annual Meeting without voting
instructions, it will be voted (i) FOR the election to the Board of Directors of the
nominee named herein, (ii) FOR the Stock Plan Proposal, and (iii) FOR the
Auditors Proposal. If any other matters are properly presented at the Annual Meeting or any
adjournments or postponements thereof, the persons appointed as proxies in the proxy card will have
the discretionary authority to vote or act thereon in accordance with their best judgment.
A stockholder may revoke a proxy and change the stockholders vote at any time before the
proxy is exercised and voted at the Annual Meeting by delivering to the Secretary of the Company a
written notice of revocation, by delivering a properly signed proxy bearing a later date, or by
attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not in and
of itself constitute the revocation of a proxy.
2
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information known by the Company regarding the
beneficial ownership of the Companys Common Stock as of May 12, 2006 (except as otherwise noted)
by:
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each person known by the Company to beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Companys Common Stock; |
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each director and nominee for director of the Company; |
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each of the Named Executive Officers (as defined in Executive Compensation below); and |
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all directors and executive officers of the Company as a group. |
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Shares Beneficially Owned (1) |
Name of Beneficial Owner |
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Percent (2) |
Gruber & McBaine Capital Management, LLC (3)
50 Osgood Place, Penthouse San Francisco, CA 94133 |
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1,570,743 |
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9.9 |
DDJ Capital Management, LLC
(4) 141 Linden
Street, Suite 4 Wellesley, Massachusetts 02482 |
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1,202,271 |
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7.7 |
W. Phillip Marcum (5) |
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641,635 |
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4.0 |
Sidney Hinton (6) |
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505,101 |
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3.2 |
A. Bradley Gabbard (7) |
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388,667 |
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2.4 |
Anthony D. Pell (8) |
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147,064 |
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0.9 |
Basil M. Briggs (9) |
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113,249 |
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0.7 |
Kevin P. Collins (10) |
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94,276 |
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0.6 |
John Bernard (11) |
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86,234 |
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0.5 |
Daniel J. Packard (12) |
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40,667 |
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0.3 |
All directors and executive officers as a group (9 persons)(13) |
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2,082,358 |
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12.4 |
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(1) |
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For purposes of this table, the Number and the Percent of shares of Common
Stock beneficially owned is determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 promulgated by the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the Exchange Act), and such information is not necessarily indicative of
beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under Rule 13d-3, beneficial ownership
includes any shares as to which the beneficial owner has sole or shared voting power or
investment power and any shares that the beneficial owner has the right to acquire within
60 days of May 12, 2006 through the exercise of any stock option, warrant or other right to
acquire shares of Common Stock. In addition, such shares are deemed to be outstanding in
calculating the percent beneficially owned by such beneficial owner, but are not deemed to
be outstanding in determining the percent beneficially owned by any other beneficial owner.
Unless otherwise indicated in these notes, each beneficial owner has sole voting and
investment power with respect to the shares shown as beneficially owned, subject to
community property laws where applicable. |
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The percent of class is based upon 15,692,237 shares of Common Stock outstanding
as of May 12, 2006. |
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Information based, in part, upon Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 3,
2006 by Gruber & McBaine Capital Management, LLC (GMCM), Jon D. Gruber (Gruber), J.
Patterson McBaine (McBaine), Eric B. Swergold (Swergold), J. Lynn Rose (Rose) and
Lagunitas Partners LP (Lagunitas), indicating beneficial ownership as of December 31,
2005. GMCM is the manager of GMI and the general partner of Lagunitas, an investment
limited partnership. Messrs. Gruber and McBaine are the managers, controlling persons and
portfolio managers of GMCM and have voting control and investment discretion over the
securities held by Lagunitas and GMI. GMCM, Messrs. Gruber, McBaine and Swergold and Ms.
Rose constitute a group within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b). Includes 293,200 shares held
in accounts managed by GMCM over which GMCM shares voting power and investment control.
Also includes 78,500 shares that may be acquired upon the |
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exercise of currently exercisable
warrants. Lagunitas is not a member of any group and disclaims beneficial ownership of the
securities with respect to its ownership is reposited. |
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Information based, in part, on Amendment No. 9 to Schedule 13D filed with the SEC
on January 17, 2006, by DDJ Capital Management, LLC (DDJ), B III-A Capital Partners, L.P.
(B III-A Capital Partners) and GP III-A, LLC (GP III-A), indicating beneficial
ownership as of January 5, 2006. Information also based, in part, on Amendment No. 4 to
Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 13, 2006 by General Motors Trust Company, as
trustee for GMAM Investment Funds Trust II-Promark Alternative High Yield Bond Fund
(GMAM) and General Motors Investment Management Corporation (GMIMCO), indicating
beneficial ownership as of January 5, 2006. Includes 168,498 shares held by B III-A Capital
Partners, 519,284 shares held by DDJ High Yield Fund, 336,987 shares held by GMAM and
262,300 shares held by The October Fund, Limited Partnership (the October Fund). DDJ is
the investment advisor to, and October G.P., LLC is the general partner of, the October
Fund. DDJ is also an investment manager for GMAM. GP III-A is the general partner of, and
DDJ is the investment manager for, B III-A Capital Partners. DDJ is also the investment
sub-advisor to the DDJ High Yield Fund. |
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Includes 383,334 shares that may be acquired by Mr. Marcum upon the exercise of
currently exercisable stock options. Also includes 16,666 restricted shares that are
subject to risk of forfeiture prior to vesting. |
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Includes 195,000 shares that may be acquired by Mr. Hinton upon the exercise of
currently exercisable stock options. Also includes 5,000 restricted shares that are
subject to risk of forfeiture prior to vesting. |
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Includes 2,187 shares owned by immediate family members of Mr. Gabbard and 278,715
shares that may be acquired by Mr. Gabbard upon the exercise of currently exercisable stock
options. Also includes 8,333 restricted shares that are subject to risk of forfeiture prior
to vesting. |
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Includes 2,937 shares held by Mr. Pells wife. Also includes 80,915 shares that
may be acquired by Mr. Pell upon the exercise of currently exercisable stock options. |
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Includes 70,952 shares that are owned jointly with Mr. Briggs wife and 11,000
shares held in a family trust of which Mr. Briggs is a trustee. Also includes 3,186 shares
that may be acquired by Mr. Briggs upon the exercise of currently exercisable stock
options. |
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Includes 92,026 shares that may be acquired by Mr. Collins upon the exercise of
currently exercisable stock options. |
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(11) |
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Includes 85,876 shares that may be acquired by Mr. Bernard upon the exercise of
currently exercisable stock options. |
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(12) |
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Includes 40,667 shares that may be acquired by Mr. Packard upon the exercise of
currently exercisable stock options. |
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(13) |
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Includes 1,205,386 shares that may be acquired upon the exercise of currently
exercisable stock options. Also includes 29,999 restricted shares that are subject to risk
of forfeiture prior to vesting. See note notes (5) through (12). |
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PROPOSAL NO. 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors of the Company currently consists of five members divided into three
classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III, with members of each class serving staggered
three year terms. Each director serves in office until the expiration of his term and until his
successor is duly elected and qualified, or until his earlier death, resignation or removal. In
the future, any new members added to the Board of Directors will be distributed among the three
classes so that, as nearly as possible, each class will consist of an equal number of directors.
The term of the sole Class III director expires at the Annual Meeting. One Class III director
is to be elected at the Annual Meeting, to serve for a term of three years and until his successor
is duly elected and qualified. Upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee, the Board of Directors has nominated Anthony D. Pell to be re-elected as a Class III
director. All other directors will continue in office until the expiration of their respective
terms, as indicated below, and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified.
The nominee listed below has indicated he is willing and able to serve if elected. If the
nominee should become unexpectedly unable to serve as a director, then the persons appointed as
proxies in the accompanying proxy card intend to vote, unless the number of directors is reduced by
the Board of Directors, for such other nominee as the Board of Directors may designate, upon the
recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
Nominee
Class III Term Expires in 2009
Anthony D. Pell, 67, has served as a director of the Company since June 1994. Mr. Pell is the
President, Chief Executive Officer and a co-owner of Pelican Investment Management, an investor
advisory firm that he co-founded in November 2001. Mr. Pell is a director of Rochdale Investment
Management, Inc. He was the President and a co-owner of Pell, Rudman & Co., an investment advisory
firm, from 1981 until 1993, when it was acquired by United Asset Management Company, and he
continued to serve as an employee until June 1995. Mr. Pell was a director of Metretek,
Incorporated until it was acquired by the Company in March 1994. Mr. Pell was associated with the
law firm of Coudert Brothers from 1966 to 1968 and with the law firm of Cadwalder, Wickersham and
Taft from 1968 to 1972, specializing in estate and tax planning. In 1972, Mr. Pell joined Boston
Company Financial Strategies, Inc. as a Vice President and was appointed a Senior Vice President in
1975.
Continuing Directors
Class I Term Expires in 2007
W. Phillip Marcum, 62, a founder of the Company, has served as the Chairman of the Board,
President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company since its incorporation in April
1991. He also serves as the Chairman of each of the Companys principal operating subsidiaries.
Mr. Marcum also serves on the board of directors of Key Energy Services, Inc., an oilfield service
provider.
Basil M. Briggs, 70, has served as a director of the Company since June 1991. He has been an
attorney in the Detroit, Michigan area since 1961, practicing law with Cox, Hodgman & Giarmarco,
P.C., since January 1997. Mr. Briggs was of counsel with Miro, Weiner & Kramer, P.C., from 1987
through 1996. He was the President of Briggs & Williams, P.C., Attorneys at Law, from its
formation in 1977 through 1986. Mr. Briggs was the Secretary of Patrick Petroleum Company
(Patrick Petroleum), an oil and gas company, from 1984, and a director of Patrick Petroleum from
1970, until Patrick Petroleum was acquired by Goodrich Petroleum Company (Goodrich Petroleum), an
oil and gas company, in August 1995. From August 1995 until June 2000, he served as a director of
Goodrich Petroleum.
Class II Term Expires in 2008
A. Bradley Gabbard, 51, a founder of the Company, has served as an executive officer and
director of the Company since its incorporation in April 1991. He has served as the Executive Vice
President of the Company since July 1993 and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the
Company since August 1996 and from April 1991 until July 1993. He also serves as the Chief
Financial Officer of each of the Companys principal operating subsidiaries. Mr. Gabbard also
served as the
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Secretary of the Company from May 2000 until April 2001, and as the Vice President and the
Secretary of the Company from April 1991 through July 1993.
Kevin P. Collins, 55, has served as a director of the Company since March 2000. Mr. Collins
has been a Managing Member of The Old Hill Company LLC, which provides corporate financial and
advisory services, since 1997. From 1992 to 1997, he served as a principal of JHP Enterprises,
Ltd., and from 1985 to 1992 he served as Senior Vice President of DG Investment Bank, Ltd., both of
which were engaged in providing corporate finance and advisory services. Mr. Collins also serves
as a director of Key Energy Services, Inc.; The Penn Traffic Company, a food retailer; Malden Mills
Industries, Inc., a synthetic fleece manufacturer; Mail Contractors of America Inc., a trucking
company; and Deluxe Pattern, Inc., a designer of automotive components. Mr. Collins is a Chartered
Financial Analyst.
Vote Required
The Class III director will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of
shares of Common Stock present, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
If properly signed and returned to the Company at or prior to the Annual Meeting, the accompanying
proxy card will be voted FOR the election of the nominee listed above, unless contrary
instructions are specified.
Recommendation
The Board of Directors recommends that stockholders vote FOR the election to the Board of
Directors of the person listed above as the Nominee. Proxy cards signed and timely returned to
the Company will be so voted, unless contrary instructions are specified thereon.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND KEY EMPLOYEES
The executive officers and certain other key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries are
as follows:
W. Phillip Marcum, 62, a founder of the Company, has served as the Chairman of the Board,
President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company since April 1991. He also serves
as the Chairman of each of the Companys principal operating subsidiaries.
A. Bradley Gabbard, 51, a founder of the Company, has served as an executive officer and
director of the Company since its incorporation in April 1991. He has served as the Executive Vice
President of the Company since July 1993 and as the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the
Company since August 1996 and from April 1991 until July 1993. He also serves as the Chief
Financial Officer of each of the Companys principal operating subsidiaries. Mr. Gabbard also
served as the Secretary of the Company from May 2000 until April 2001, and as the Vice President
and the Secretary of the Company from April 1991 through July 1993.
Gary J. Zuiderveen, 47, has served as the Vice President of the Company since April 2005 and
as the Controller, Principal Accounting Officer and Secretary of the Company since April 2001. He
had previously served as the Controller of the Company from May 1994 until May 2000 and as the
Secretary and Principal Accounting Officer of the Company from August 1996 until May 2000. He also
serves in one or more of the capacities of Controller, Principal Accounting Officer or Secretary of
the principal operating subsidiaries of the Company. From June 1992 until May 1994, Mr. Zuiderveen
was the General Accounting Manager at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research in
Boulder, Colorado. From 1983 until June 1992, Mr. Zuiderveen was employed in the Denver, Colorado
office of Deloitte & Touche LLP, providing accounting and auditing services to clients primarily in
the manufacturing and financial services industries and serving in the firms national office
accounting research department.
Sidney Hinton, 43, has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer and a director of
PowerSecure, Inc. (PowerSecure), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, since its
incorporation in September 2000. He also served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of
PowerSpring, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, from May 2000 until January 2001.
From February 2000 until May 2000, Mr. Hinton was an Executive-in-Residence with Carousel Capital,
a private equity firm. From February 1999 until December 1999, he was the Vice President of Market
Planning and Research for Carolina Power & Light (now known as Progress Energy). From August 1997
until December 1998, Mr. Hinton was the President and Chief Executive Officer of IllumElex Lighting
Company, a national lighting company. From 1982 until 1997, Mr. Hinton was employed in several
positions with Southern Company and Georgia Power Company.
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John Bernard, 51, has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer and a director of
Southern Flow Companies, Inc. (Southern Flow), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, since
December 1, 2004. Mr. Bernard has served in various managerial capacities since joining Southern
Flow in 1988, including serving as the Vice President and General Manager of Southern Flow from
June 1998 through November 2004.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The Companys Board of Directors believes that good corporate governance principles and
practices provide an important framework to ensure that the Company is managed for the long-term
benefit of its stockholders. The Board of Directors has adopted a set of Corporate Governance
Guidelines, which are intended to formalize the corporate governance practices to which the Company
adheres through its Board of Directors and committees of the Board. The Board of Directors
continually reviews its corporate governance practices in light of changes and developments in laws
and regulations, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the rules and regulations of the SEC and
the listing standards of the American Stock Exchange, as well as best practices recommended by
recognized authorities. The Companys Corporate Governance Guidelines are available at the
Companys website at www.metretek.com under Investor InfoCorporate Governance.
Director Independence
Under its Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Company has established a policy that a
majority of the members of the Board of Directors must be independent. In order to assist it in
making determinations of director independence, the Board of Directors has adopted a formal set of
categorical standards (the Standards of Director Independence), based upon the meaning of
independent directors under applicable law, SEC rules and regulations (including Rule 10A-3 under
the Exchange Act) and the current listing standards of the American Stock Exchange.
Under the Standards of Director Independence, a director of the Company will only be
considered independent if the Board of Directors affirmatively determines that the director has no
direct or indirect material relationship with the Company, other than in his capacity as a
director. In making such determinations, the Board of Directors considers all relevant facts and
circumstances. The Standards of Director Independence provide that a director will not be
considered independent if he has any of these relationships:
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Employment. The director is or has been an employee, or has an immediate
family member who is or has been an executive officer, of the Company at any time
during the past three years. |
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Compensation. The director or an immediate family member of the director
has received more than $60,000 in direct compensation from the Company during any
12-month period within the past three years, other than Board and committee fees. |
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Affiliation with the Companys Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm. |
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The director or an immediate family member of the director is a current partner
of the Companys current independent registered public accounting firm. |
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The director is a current employee of the Companys current independent
registered public accounting firm. |
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An immediate family member of the director is a current employee of the Companys
current independent registered public accounting firm and participates in that
firms audit, assurance or tax compliance practice (excluding tax planning). |
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The director or an immediate family member of the director was within the past
three years, but is no longer, a partner or employee of the Companys current
independent registered public accounting firm and personally worked on the Companys
audit within that time. |
7
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Interlocking Relationships. The director or an immediate family member of
the director is, or has been within the past three years, employed as an executive
officer of another company for which any of the Companys present executive officers at
the same time serves or served on that companys compensation committee. |
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Business Transactions. The director or an immediate family member of the
director is a partner in, or a controlling shareholder or an executive officer of, an
organization that has made payments to, or received payments from, the Company for
property or services in an amount which, in any of the past three fiscal years, exceeds
the greater of $200,000 or 5% of such other organizations consolidated gross revenues
for that year (other than those arising solely from investments in the Companys
securities or payments under non-discretionary charitable contribution matching
programs). |
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Indebtedness. The director is an executive officer, partner, member or
significant equity holder of another company that is indebted to the Company, or to
which the Company is indebted, and the total amount of indebtedness exceeds 2% of the
total consolidated assets of such other company. |
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Charitable Contributions. Within the past three years, the director was an
executive officer, trustee or director of a foundation, university or other non-profit
or charitable organization receiving grants, endowments or other contributions from the
Company that exceeded the greater of $1.0 million or 2% of such charitable
organizations consolidated gross revenues in any single fiscal year. |
In addition, in order to be independent under the Standards of Director Independence, a member
of the Audit Committee cannot be an affiliated person of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and
cannot accept or receive directly or indirectly any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fees
from the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than (i) in his capacity as a member of the
Board of Directors or a committee of the Board, and (ii) fixed amounts of compensation under a
retirement plan (including deferred compensation) for prior services with the Company (provided
that such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service with the Company).
Based upon these Standards of Director Independence, the Board of Directors has determined
that of its five current members, each of its three non-management members (Basil M. Briggs,
Anthony D. Pell and Kevin P. Collins) is independent. Accordingly, a majority of the members of
the Board of Directors is independent under the Standards of Director Independence.
Meetings of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors meets regularly throughout the year and holds special meetings and acts
by unanimous written consent whenever circumstances require. The Board of Directors held a total of
seven meetings during 2005. During 2005, each director attended more than 90% of the total number
of meetings of the Board of Directors and of the committees of the Board of Directors on which he
served, and the average attendance of all directors at all Board and committee meetings exceeded
96%.
Committees of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors has established a standing Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The membership of each committee and its functions,
duties and responsibilities are discussed below. Each committee operates under a written charter
adopted by, and from time to time amended by, the Board of Directors. These committee charters are
available on the Companys website at www.metretek.com under Investor InfoCorporate Governance.
Audit Committee
The Board of Directors has established an Audit Committee in accordance with Section
3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act. The members of the Audit Committee are Anthony D. Pell
(Chairman), Basil M. Briggs and Kevin P. Collins. The Board of Directors has determined that each
member of the Audit Committee is independent under the Boards Standards of Director Independence,
under the current listing standards of the American Stock Exchange applicable to members of an
audit committee and under Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. The Board of Directors has also
determined that each member of the Audit Committee is able to read and understand fundamental
financial statements and qualifies as an audit committee financial expert, as that term is
defined in Item 401(h) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act. The Audit Committee met eight
times during 2005.
8
The purpose of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its
oversight and monitoring responsibilities relating to:
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the integrity of the Companys financial statements; |
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the Companys auditing, accounting and financial reporting processes generally; |
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the Companys system of internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures; |
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the independent registered public accounting firm, including its engagement,
compensation, qualifications, independence and performance; and |
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the Companys compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. |
The Audit Committees duties and responsibilities include:
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reviewing and discussing with management and the Companys independent
registered public accounting firm the annual audited and quarterly unaudited
consolidated financial statements of the Company; |
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determining whether to recommend to the Board of Directors that the
Companys annual consolidated financial statements be included in the Companys Annual
Report on Form 10-K; |
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appointing and, when appropriate, terminating the independent registered
public accounting firm; |
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reviewing and pre-approving the nature, scope and fee arrangements of the
annual audit and non-audit services of the Companys independent registered public
accounting firm; |
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reviewing the independence of the Companys independent registered public
accounting firm; |
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reviewing the scope and the results of the annual audit of the Companys
consolidated financial statements by the Companys independent registered public
accounting firm; |
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reviewing and discussing with management, the Companys internal
accountants and the Companys independent registered public accounting firm, the
Companys accounting and financial reporting practices and procedures and the adequacy
and effectiveness of the Companys system of internal controls; |
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preparing the report required by the rules of the SEC to be included in the
Companys proxy statement for its annual meeting of stockholders; |
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reviewing any transaction that involves a potential conflict of interest; |
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adopting procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of employee
concerns and complaints regarding accounting, internal controls or auditing matters;
and |
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providing other assistance to the Board of Directors, as requested, with
respect to the financial, accounting and reporting practices of the Company. |
The Audit Committee performs its functions and responsibilities under a formal written charter
adopted by the Board of Directors. A copy of the Audit Committee Charter, as amended and restated
by the Board of Directors on March 20, 2006, is attached to this Proxy Statement as Appendix A and
is available on the Companys website at www.metretek.com under Investor InfoCorporate
Governance. The Report of the Audit Committee begins on page 36 of this Proxy Statement.
Compensation Committee
The Board of Directors has established a Compensation Committee. The members of the
Compensation Committee are Basil M. Briggs (Chairman), Anthony D. Pell and Kevin P. Collins. The
Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Compensation Committee is independent
under the Boards Standards of Director Independence
9
and under the current listing standards of the American Stock Exchange. The Compensation Committee
met four times during 2005.
The primary purposes of the Compensation Committee are to review and approve the compensation
of the Companys executive officers and to oversee the Companys compensation plans and policies
generally. The Compensation Committees duties and responsibilities include:
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reviewing and approving the compensation of executive officers, including
the Companys chief executive officer; |
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approving employment agreements for executive officers; |
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reviewing and approving the compensation of directors; |
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assisting the Board of Directors in administering and recommending changes
to the Companys stock and incentive compensation plans and programs; and |
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preparing an annual report on executive compensation for inclusion in the
Companys annual proxy statement. |
The Compensation Committee performs its functions and responsibilities under a formal written
charter adopted by the Board of Directors. A copy of the Compensation Committee Charter, as
amended and restated by the Board of Directors on March 20, 2006, is available on the Companys
website at www.metretek.com under Investor InfoCorporate Governance. The Report of the
Compensation Committee on Executive Compensation begins on page 21 of this Proxy Statement.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The Board of Directors has established a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The
members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are Kevin P. Collins (Chairman), Basil
M. Briggs and Anthony D. Pell. The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is independent under the Boards Standards of
Director Independence and under the current listing standards of the American Stock Exchange. The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met four times during 2005.
The principal duties of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are:
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identifying individuals qualified to become members of the Board of Directors; |
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recommending qualified individuals for nomination to the Board of Directors; |
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assessing and advising the Board of Directors with respect to its size,
composition, procedures and committees; and |
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reviewing and evaluating the Companys Corporate Governance Guidelines and
principles and recommending to the Board of Directors any changes that it deems
necessary. |
Other specific duties and responsibilities of the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee include:
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developing and applying qualifications for Board membership; |
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monitoring and recommending to the Board committee functions; |
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recommending Board committee assignments; and |
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reviewing governance-related stockholder proposals and recommending Board responses. |
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee recommended the directors currently standing
for re-election at the Annual Meeting, which recommendation was unanimously approved by the Board
of Directors.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee performs its functions and responsibilities
under a formal written charter adopted by the Board of Directors. A copy of the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee
10
Charter, as amended and restated by the Board of Directors on April
25, 2005, is available on the Companys website at www.metretek.com under Investor Info Corporate
Governance.
Executive Sessions
Executive sessions of non-management directors, without any management directors or other
members of management being present, are held at least twice a year, and more often if such
directors deem appropriate. The sessions are scheduled and chaired by the Chairman of the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Any non-management director can request that
additional executive sessions be scheduled.
Director Attendance at Annual Meetings of Stockholders
The Board of Directors expects all directors to attend each annual meeting of stockholders of
the Company, except where the failure to attend is due to unavoidable or unforeseeable
circumstances. All members of the Board of Directors attended the 2005 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders.
Nominations of Directors
Identifying and Evaluating Nominees for Director
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee utilizes a variety of methods for
identifying and evaluating nominees for director. In selecting candidates for nomination at an
annual meeting of the Companys stockholders, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
begins by determining whether the incumbent directors whose terms expire at that meeting desire and
are qualified to continue their service on the Board. The Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee believes that the continuing service of qualified incumbents promotes stability and
continuity in the Board room, giving the Company the benefit of the familiarity and insight into
the Companys affairs that its directors have accumulated during their tenure, while contributing
to the Boards ability to work as a collective body. Accordingly, it is the policy of the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, absent special circumstances, to nominate qualified
incumbent directors who continue to satisfy the criteria for membership on the Board, and who the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believes will continue to make important
contributions to the Board and who consent to stand for reelection, to continue their service on
the Board.
If there are Board positions for which the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will
not be re-nominating a qualified incumbent, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will
consider recommendations for director nominees from a wide variety of sources, including Board
members, management, business contacts, professional search firms, stockholders and other
appropriate sources. In evaluating such recommendations, the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee seeks to achieve a balance of knowledge, experience and capability on the Board of
Directors and to address the criteria for membership set forth below under Qualifications of
Nominees for Director. Candidates recommended by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
are subject to approval by the Board of Directors. The sole nominee for election to the Board of
Directors at the Annual Meeting is currently serving as a director of the Company.
Qualifications of Nominees for Director
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for reviewing with the Board
of Directors the requisite skills and characteristics of new Board candidates in the context of the
current composition of the Board, the operating requirements of the Company and the long-term
interests of the Companys stockholders. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has
established criteria and qualifications that candidates for membership on the Board of Directors
must possess. Except in limited and exceptional circumstances, each candidate to serve on the
Board of Directors of the Company should have the following qualifications:
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A reputation for high personal and professional integrity, strong moral character
and adherence to high ethical standards and the values of the Company. |
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The absence of any conflict of interest (whether due to a business or personal
relationship) or legal impediment to, or restriction on, the nominee serving as a
director, and no other interests that would materially impair his ability to (i)
exercise independent judgment, or (ii) otherwise discharge the fiduciary duties owed as
a director to the Company and its stockholders. |
11
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Holds or has held a recognized position of leadership in his community or his field
of endeavor, and has demonstrated high levels of achievement in his community or his
field. |
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Business acumen and experience, inquisitiveness, strong analytical skills and the
ability to exercise sound business judgment and common sense in matters that relate to
the current and long-term objectives of the Company. |
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A general level of expertise and experience in the Companys business areas. |
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The ability to read and understand basic financial statements and other financial
information pertaining to the Company. |
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A commitment to understanding the Company and its business, industry and strategic
objectives. |
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The availability and a commitment to devote adequate time to the Board and its
committees and the ability to generally fulfill all responsibilities as a director of
the Company, including to regularly attend and participate in meetings of the Board,
Board committees and stockholders, in light of the number of other company boards on
which the candidate serves and his other personal and professional commitments. |
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The willingness and ability to represent fairly and to act in the interests of all
stockholders of the Company rather than the interests of any particular stockholder,
special interest group or other constituency. |
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For prospective non-employee directors, independence under SEC and applicable stock
exchange rules and regulations. |
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The willingness to accept the nomination to serve as a director of the Company. |
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will also consider the following additional
factors in connection with its evaluation of each prospective nominee:
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Whether the prospective nominee will foster a diversity of skills, experiences and
backgrounds on the Board. |
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Whether the prospective nominee possesses the requisite education, training and
experience to qualify as financially literate or as an audit committee financial
expert under applicable SEC and stock exchange rules. |
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For incumbent directors standing for re-election, the incumbent directors
performance during his term, including the number of meetings attended, the level of
participation, and overall contribution to the Company. |
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The composition of the Board and whether the prospective nominee will add to or
complement the Boards existing strengths. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing requirements, from time to time the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee may identify certain other skills or attributes as being particularly
desirable to help meet specific Board needs that have arisen.
Nominations by Stockholders
The policy of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is to consider properly
submitted written nominations from stockholders for nominees for director. In general, persons
properly recommended by stockholders as nominees for director are evaluated on the same basis as
candidates recommended by other sources. Any such nominations made by stockholders must be
submitted in compliance with the requirements for stockholder nominations set forth in the By-Laws
of the Company, which requirements are summarized below under Stockholder Proposals, and should
include the following:
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The name and address of the stockholder making the nomination and the number of shares of the Companys Common Stock which are owned beneficially and of record by such
stockholder; |
12
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The nominees name, age, address, number of shares of Common Stock owned
beneficially and of record, principal occupation, employment, background, experience,
education and qualifications for Board membership; |
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A description of all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder and each
nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to
which the nomination or nominations are to be made by the stockholder; and |
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All other information relating to such nominee that is required to be disclosed
pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (including such persons written
consent to be named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if
elected). |
Nominations by stockholders for director candidates must be addressed to:
Metretek Technologies, Inc.
303 East 17th Avenue, Suite 660
Denver, Colorado 80203
Attn: Corporate Secretary
Communications with the Board of Directors
Any stockholder who wishes to communicate directly with the Board of Directors, any committee
of the Board or any specific director may do so by directing a written request addressed to such
director or directors in care of the Companys Corporate Secretary at the Companys principal
executive offices. Communications directed to members of the Board will be forwarded to the
intended Board members, unless such communication is deemed unduly hostile, threatening, illegal or
otherwise unnecessary or inappropriate to forward, in which case the Corporate Secretary has the
authority to discard the communication or to take appropriate action regarding such communication.
Codes of Ethics
The Company has adopted two codes of ethics, each designed to encourage its directors,
officers and employees to act with the highest level of integrity. These codes are available on the
Companys website at www.metretek.com under Investor InfoCorporate Governance.
The Company has adopted the Metretek Technologies, Inc. Code of Ethics for Principal Executive
Officer and Senior Financial Officers, which is a code of ethics that applies to its Chief
Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer and other senior finance
organization employees. The purpose of this Code of Ethics is to deter wrongdoing and to promote,
among other things, honest and ethical conduct and to ensure to the greatest possible extent that
the business of the Company is conducted in a consistently legal and ethical manner
The Company has also adopted the Metretek Technologies, Inc. Code of Business Conduct and
Ethics, which is a code of conduct that applies to all of its directors, officers and employees.
Under the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, each officer, director and employee is required to
maintain a commitment to high standards of business conduct and ethics. The Code of Business
Conduct and Ethics covers many areas of professional conduct, including conflicts of interest,
protection of confidential information, and strict adherence to laws and regulations applicable to
the conduct of the Companys business. Directors, officers and employees are required to report
any conduct that they believe in good faith to be an actual or apparent violation of the Code of
Business Conduct and Ethics.
If the Company makes any amendment to, or grants any waiver from a provision of, either code
of conduct with respect to any director, executive officer or senior financial officer, it will
disclose the nature of such amendment or waiver on its website, in a Current Report on Form 8-K or
both.
The Company also has adopted procedures to receive, retain and treat complaints regarding
accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and to allow for the confidential and
anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing
matters.
13
Availability of Corporate Governance Documents
The Companys Corporate Governance Guidelines, Board committee charters and codes of ethics
are available on the Companys website at www.metretek.com under Investor InfoCorporate
Governance. In addition, the Company will provide a copy of any of these corporate governance
documents without charge upon written request addressed to the Company at Metretek Technologies,
Inc., 303 East 17th Avenue, Suite 660, Denver, Colorado, 80203, attention: Corporate Secretary.
Compensation of Directors
Directors who are also officers or employees of the Company or its subsidiaries do not receive
any additional compensation for serving on the Board of Directors or its committees. All directors
are reimbursed for their out-of-pocket costs of attending meetings of the Board of Directors and
its committees. During fiscal 2005, directors who were not also officers or employees of the
Company or its subsidiaries (Non-Employee Directors) received a monthly retainer of $2,000 for
their service on the Board of Directors and on committees of the Board, including attending
meetings, which monthly retainer was increased to $2,500 on April 1, 2005. Effective January 1,
2006, the monthly retainer for Non-Employee Directors was increased to $3,000.
Non-Employee Directors also receive stock options pursuant to a formula under a provision of
the Companys 1998 Stock Plan. Under the formula for these options to Non-Employee Directors, each
person who is first elected or appointed to serve as a Non-Employee Director is automatically
granted an option to purchase 5,000 shares of Common Stock. In addition, on the date of the annual
meeting of stockholders each year commencing this year, each Non-Employee Director who has served
on the Board for at least six months is automatically granted options to purchase 2,500 shares of
Common Stock. During 2005, in the discretion of the Board of Directors upon the recommendation of
the Compensation Committee, on the date of the 2005 annual meeting of stockholders, each
Non-Employee Director also received non-formula options to purchase the number of shares of Common
Stock equal to the annual retainer for that year divided by the fair market value of the Common
Stock on the date of grant, less the 2,500 stock options granted under the formula. All annual
options granted to Non-Employee Directors under the 1998 Stock Plan:
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are non-qualified stock options; |
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vest and become exercisable immediately upon grant; |
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are exercisable at a price equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock on the
date of grant (based on the last sale price of the Common Stock as reported on the
American Stock Exchange); and |
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have a term of ten years, subject to earlier termination in the event of the
Non-Employee Directors death or the termination of service on the Board, in which
events the options remain exercisable for one year after a Non-Employee Director dies
and for that number of years after a Non-Employee Director leaves the Board of
Directors (for any reason other than death or removal for cause) equal to the number of
full or partial years that the Non-Employee Director served as a director, but not
beyond the original ten year term of the option. |
Any other stock options granted to a director may contain different terms at the discretion of
the Board of Directors.
As an item of business at the Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors, upon the recommendation
of the Compensation Committee, is recommending that stockholders eliminate the provision under the
1998 Stock Plan requiring formula grants of stock options to Non-Employee Directors, in order to
allow the Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, to make such
stock grants under the 1998 Stock Plan as deemed appropriate under the circumstances, subject to
change from time to time. See Proposal 2Amendments to the Companys 1998 Stock Incentive Plan
below.
As of May 12, 2006, options to purchase 192,707 shares of Common Stock were outstanding to the
Companys current Non-Employee Directors, at exercise prices ranging from $1.50 to $17.38 per
share.
14
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation
The following table sets forth the total compensation that the Company paid or accrued for
services rendered to it and its subsidiaries in all capacities during the last three fiscal years
by its Chief Executive Officer and by its four other most highly compensated executive officers,
based on total salary and bonus, in fiscal 2005 (the Named Executive Officers):
Summary Compensation Table
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Long Term Compensation |
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Awards |
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Annual Compensation(1) |
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Securities |
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|
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Other |
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Restricted |
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Underlying |
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All Other |
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Annual |
Stock Awards |
Options |
|
|
Compensation |
|
Name and Principal Position |
|
Year |
|
|
Salary($) |
|
|
Bonus($) |
|
|
Compensation |
|
|
($) (2) |
|
|
(#) |
|
|
($)(3) |
|
W. Phillip Marcum |
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2005 |
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|
$ |
325,000 |
|
|
$ |
255,000 |
(4) |
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
100,000 |
(5) |
|
$ |
7,438 |
|
Chairman of the Board, |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
311,615 |
|
|
|
50,000 |
(6) |
|
|
60,500 |
(7) |
|
|
110,000 |
|
|
|
50,000 |
(8) |
|
|
7,638 |
|
President and Chief |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
295,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
7,138 |
|
Executive Officer |
|
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|
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|
|
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|
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|
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A. Bradley Gabbard |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
|
235,000 |
(4) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
55,000 |
(9) |
|
|
7,438 |
|
Executive Vice |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
191,346 |
|
|
|
55,000 |
(6) |
|
|
30,250 |
(7) |
|
|
55,000 |
|
|
|
25,000 |
(8) |
|
|
7,638 |
|
President and Chief |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
175,000 |
|
|
|
75,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
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7,117 |
|
Financial Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
Sidney Hinton (10) |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
262,019 |
|
|
|
191,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
50,000 |
(5) |
|
|
7,438 |
|
President and CEO, |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
253,850 |
|
|
|
104,186 |
(11) |
|
|
18,150 |
(7) |
|
|
33,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
7,638 |
|
PowerSecure, Inc. |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
250,000 |
|
|
|
117,341 |
(11) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
7,138 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John Bernard (12) |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
147,315 |
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
50,000 |
(5) |
|
|
6,571 |
|
President and CEO, |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
112,098 |
|
|
|
8,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
25,000 |
(8) |
|
|
4,547 |
|
Southern Flow |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Daniel J. Packard (13) |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
130,604 |
|
|
|
52,000 |
(14) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
25,000 |
(9) |
|
|
906 |
|
President and CEO,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MGT |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Excludes perquisites and other personal benefits, if any, which were less than the lesser
of $50,000 or 10% of the total annual salary and bonus reported for each Named Executive
Officer. |
|
(2) |
|
The dollar value of the restricted stock awards during fiscal 2004 is calculated by
multiplying the total number of restricted shares by $2.20, the closing sale price of the
Common Stock on July 15, 2004, the date of the awards, as reported on the OTC Bulletin Board.
These dollar values do not reflect any adjustment for risk of forfeiture or for restrictions
on transferability. All shares of restricted stock vest in three equal annual installments,
which commenced on January 1, 2005, subject to the officer remaining employed with the Company
on the vesting dates, and further subject to immediate vesting upon a change in control. All
awards of restricted stock were made under the 1998 Stock Plan. |
|
|
|
As of December 31, 2005, based on $8.95, the closing sale price of the Common Stock on such date as
reported on the American Stock Exchange, Mr. Marcum held 33,333 unvested shares of restricted stock
valued at $298,330, Mr. Gabbard held 16,666 unvested shares of restricted stock valued at $149,161,
and Mr. Hinton held 10,000 unvested shares of restricted stock valued at $89,500. The officer
enjoys all the benefits of ownership of unvested shares of restricted stock, including the right to
vote the shares and to receive any dividends and other distributions with respect to the shares on
the same terms as any other shares of Common Stock, other than the right to transfer or dispose of
the shares. |
15
|
|
|
(3) |
|
Amounts paid or accrued on behalf of the Named Executive Officers in fiscal 2005 in this
column include the following: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Group |
|
|
Long-Term |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Term Life |
|
|
Disability |
|
|
|
401(k) |
|
|
Insurance |
|
|
Insurance |
|
Name |
|
Matching |
|
|
Premiums |
|
|
Premiums |
|
W. Phillip Marcum |
|
$ |
6,300 |
|
|
$ |
882 |
|
|
$ |
256 |
|
A. Bradley Gabbard |
|
|
6,300 |
|
|
|
882 |
|
|
|
256 |
|
Sidney Hinton |
|
|
6,300 |
|
|
|
882 |
|
|
|
256 |
|
John Bernard |
|
|
4,869 |
|
|
|
738 |
|
|
|
256 |
|
Daniel Packard |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
650 |
|
|
|
256 |
|
|
|
|
(4) |
|
Bonus from Executive Incentive Compensation Plan adopted by the Compensation Committee in
March 2005, from a bonus pool based primarily on the Companys net income plus other
appropriate factors in the discretion of the Compensation Committee. In addition, the bonus
to Mr. Marcum includes a $50,000 bonus unrelated to the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan. |
|
(5) |
|
These options vested immediately upon grant. |
|
(6) |
|
Includes a signing bonus paid in connection with the amended and restated employment
agreements of $50,000 for Mr. Marcum and $25,000 for Mr. Gabbard. |
|
(7) |
|
Reflects a tax gross-up payment intended to reimburse the executive for taxes payable with
respect to the restricted stock grant. |
|
(8) |
|
These options vest in three equal annual installments, commencing on the grant date, subject
to immediate vesting upon a change in control. |
|
(9) |
|
Of these options, 30,000 options granted to Mr. Gabbard and 25,000 options granted to Mr.
Packard vest in three equal annual installments, commencing on the grant date, subject to
immediate vesting upon a change in control. The remainder of these options vested immediately
upon grant. |
|
(10) |
|
Became an executive officer during fiscal 2003. Compensation includes all amounts paid or
accrued for the entire fiscal 2003. |
|
(11) |
|
Bonus resulting from the bonus formula based upon PowerSecures cash flow from operations, as
provided in Mr. Hintons employment agreement. See Employment Agreements, Change in
Control and Termination of Employment Arrangements and Other Compensation Arrangements below. |
|
(12) |
|
Appointed as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Flow on December 1, 2004.
Compensation includes all amounts paid or accrued for the entire fiscal 2004. |
|
(13) |
|
Became an executive officer during fiscal 2005. Compensation includes all amounts paid or
accrued for the entire fiscal 2005. |
|
(14) |
|
Reflects bonus payments from the Companys equity investee, MM 1995-2, for services rendered
on behalf of MM 1995-2. |
Employment Agreements, Change in Control and Termination of Employment Arrangements and Other
Compensation Arrangements
W. Phillip Marcum and A. Bradley Gabbard. In March 2006, the Company entered into amended and
restated employment agreements with W. Phillip Marcum, the Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and A. Bradley Gabbard, the Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer of the Company. These amended and restated employment agreements set forth
the basic terms of employment for each executive.
Under these employment agreements, the employment terms of Messrs. Marcum and Gabbard continue
through December 31, 2009 and will be automatically extended for successive one-year periods,
unless either the Company or the executive gives six months prior written notice of termination.
The base salaries under these employment agreements, which are subject to annual upward adjustments
at the discretion of the Board of Directors, are currently set at $375,000 for
16
Mr. Marcum and
$245,000 for Mr. Gabbard. In addition to the base salary, the employment agreements provide, among
other things, for standard benefits commensurate with the management levels involved. The
employment agreements also
contain certain restrictions on each executives ability to compete, use of confidential
information and use of inventions and other intellectual property.
The employment agreements with Messrs. Marcum and Gabbard provide that if the employment of
the executive is terminated for any reason, other than by the Company for cause (as defined in
the employment agreements), including termination by death, by disability, by the Company without
cause, by the executive voluntarily or due to the expiration of the employment term or any renewal
period, then the executive will be entitled to receive a severance package in the amount of three
times, for Mr. Marcum, and two times, for Mr. Gabbard, the sum of his most recent base salary plus
his average annual bonus over the three years before the date of termination. The severance
package shall be paid pro rata over a six year period for Mr. Marcum and over a two year period for
Mr. Gabbard.
The employment agreements also include change in control provisions designed to provide for
continuity of management in the event the Company undergoes a change in control. If within three
years after a change in control, the officer is terminated by the Company for any reason other
than for cause, or if the executive terminates his employment for good reason, as such terms are
defined in the employment agreements, then the executive is entitled to receive a lump-sum
severance payment equal to three times, for Mr. Marcum, and two times, for Mr. Gabbard, the amount
of his then base salary, together with certain other payments and benefits, including continued
participation in all the Companys insurance plans for a period of three years for Mr. Marcum and
two years for Mr. Gabbard. Under these employment agreements, a change in control will be deemed
to have occurred only if:
|
|
|
any person or group becomes the beneficial owner of 50% or more of the Companys
Common Stock; |
|
|
|
|
a majority of the present directors of the Company are replaced, unless the election
of any new director is approved by a two-thirds vote of the current (or properly
approved successor) directors; |
|
|
|
|
the Company approves a merger, consolidation, reorganization or combination, other
than one in which the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior
thereto continue to represent more than 50% of the total voting power of the Company or
of the surviving corporation following such a transaction and the directors of the
Company continue to represent a majority of the directors of the Company or of the
surviving corporation following such transaction; or |
|
|
|
|
the Company approves a sale of all or substantially all of its assets. |
The employment agreements also provide for the Company to establish an incentive compensation
fund, to be administered by the Compensation Committee, to provide for incentive compensation to be
paid to each officer or employee (including Messrs. Marcum and Gabbard) deemed by the Compensation
Committee to have made a substantial contribution to the Company in the event of a change of
control of the Company or of the sale of substantially all of its assets or similar transactions.
The total amount of incentive compensation from the fund available for distribution will be
determined by a formula based on the amount by which the fair market value per share of the Common
Stock exceeds $10.08, multiplied by a factor ranging from 10-20% depending upon the ratio of the
fair market value to $10.08. In the case of the sale of a significant subsidiary or substantially
all of the assets of a significant subsidiary, a similar pro rata distribution is required.
Sidney Hinton. In October 2005, PowerSecure entered into an amended and restated employment
and non-competition agreement with Sidney Hinton, the President and Chief Executive Officer of
PowerSecure. Mr. Hintons employment term was extended until January 1, 2009, and is renewable for
additional one-year renewal periods when the term expires, unless either PowerSecure or Mr. Hinton
gives 30 days prior written notice of termination. In addition, Mr. Hintons severance period and
the post-employment non-competition period were extended to two years.
The base salary under Mr. Hintons employment agreement is currently set at $315,000, subject
to annual upward adjustments at the discretion of the Board of Directors. In addition to the base
salary, Mr. Hintons employment agreement provides, among other things, for standard benefits
commensurate with the management level involved, as well as an annual bonus of 7% of PowerSecures
cash flow from operations.
If Mr. Hintons employment is terminated for any reason, other than by PowerSecure for cause
(as defined in the employment agreement), including termination by death, by disability, by
PowerSecure without cause, by Mr. Hinton voluntarily, or due to the expiration of the employment
term or any renewal period, then Mr. Hinton will be entitled to
17
receive a severance package,
payable over the subsequent two years, in the amount of two times the sum of his most recent base
salary plus his average bonuses for the two years before and for the year of the date of
termination, if he had remained employed. Under his employment agreement, Mr. Hinton is prohibited
from competing with the business of PowerSecure
or its affiliates for a period of two years after the termination of his employment. The
employment agreement also contains certain restrictions on Mr. Hintons use of confidential
information and use of inventions and other intellectual property.
Mr. Hintons employment agreement also includes a change in control provision designed to
provide for continuity of management in the event the Company or PowerSecure undergoes a change in
control. If within three years after a change in control, Mr. Hinton is terminated by PowerSecure
for any reason other than for cause, or if Mr. Hinton terminates his employment for good reason
(as such terms are defined in Mr. Hintons employment agreement), then Mr. Hinton is entitled to
receive a lump-sum severance payment equal to the amount of his severance package discussed above,
together with certain other payments and benefits, including continued participation in
PowerSecures insurance plans for a period of two years.
John D. Bernard. In October 2005, Southern Flow entered into an employment and
non-competition agreement with John D. Bernard, the President and Chief Executive Officer of
Southern Flow. Mr. Bernards employment agreement provides for an employment term through December
31, 2007, and is renewable for additional one-year renewal periods when the term expires, unless
either Southern Flow or Mr. Bernard gives 30 days prior written notice of termination. In
addition, Mr. Bernards severance period and the post-employment non-competition period was
extended to two years.
The base salary under Mr. Bernards employment agreement, which is subject to annual upward
adjustments at the discretion of the Board of Directors, is currently set at $170,000. In addition
to the base salary, the employment agreement provides, among other things, for Mr. Bernards
participation in Southern Flow bonus plans generally and for standard employee benefits.
If Mr. Bernards employment is terminated for any reason, other than by Southern Flow for
cause (as defined in the employment agreement), including termination by death, by disability, by
Southern Flow without cause, by Mr. Bernard voluntarily, or due to the expiration of the employment
term or any renewal period, then Mr. Bernard will be entitled to receive a severance package,
payable over the subsequent two years, in the amount of one-half (1/2) times, if his employment
terminates on or before December 31, 2006, or one (1) time, if his employment terminates on or
after January 1, 2007, the sum of his most recent base salary plus his average bonuses for the
three years before the date of termination. Under the employment agreement, Mr. Bernard is
prohibited from competing with the business of Southern Flow or its affiliates for a period of six
months, if his employment terminates on or before December 31, 2006, or one year, if his employment
terminates on or after January 1, 2007, after the termination of his employment. The employment
agreement also contains certain restrictions on Mr. Bernards use of confidential information and
use of inventions and other intellectual property.
Mr. Bernards employment agreement also includes a change in control provision designed to
provide for continuity of management in the event the Company or Southern Flow undergoes a change
in control. If within three years after a change in control, Mr. Bernard is terminated by Southern
Flow for any reason other than for cause, or if Mr. Bernard terminates his employment for good
reason (as such terms are defined in the employment agreement), then Mr. Bernard is entitled to
receive a lump-sum severance payment equal to the amount of his severance package discussed above,
together with certain other payments and benefits, including continued participation in of Southern
Flows insurance plans for a period of six months or one year, depending on the date of
termination, matching the period of his non-competition covenant discussed above.
18
Stock Option Grants
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to stock options granted during fiscal 2005 to the Named Executive
Officers. The Company did not grant any stock appreciation rights, alone or in tandem with stock options, during fiscal 2005.
Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Individual Grants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Potential Realizable Value at |
|
|
|
Securities |
|
|
% of Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assumed Annual Rates of |
|
|
|
Underlying |
|
|
Options Granted |
|
|
Exercise |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock Price Appreciation for |
|
|
|
Options Granted |
|
|
to Employees in |
|
|
Price |
|
|
Expiration |
|
|
Option Term($)(5) |
|
Name |
|
(#)(1) |
|
|
Fiscal Year (2) |
|
|
($/Sh)(3) |
|
|
Date (4) |
|
|
5%($) |
|
|
10%($) |
|
W. Phillip Marcum |
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
16.2 |
% |
|
$ |
6.65 |
|
|
|
12/05/15 |
|
|
$ |
418,219 |
|
|
$ |
1,059,811 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Bradley
Gabbard |
|
|
30,000 |
(6) |
|
|
4.9 |
% |
|
|
3.06 |
|
|
|
02/04/15 |
|
|
|
57,733 |
|
|
|
146,237 |
|
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
4.1 |
% |
|
|
6.65 |
|
|
|
12/05/15 |
|
|
|
104,555 |
|
|
|
264,953 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sidney Hinton
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
4.1 |
% |
|
|
4.22 |
|
|
|
09/26/15 |
|
|
|
66,349 |
|
|
|
168,135 |
|
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
4.1 |
% |
|
|
6.65 |
|
|
|
12/05/15 |
|
|
|
104,555 |
|
|
|
264,953 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
Bernard
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
4.1 |
% |
|
|
4.22 |
|
|
|
09/26/15 |
|
|
|
66,349 |
|
|
|
168,135 |
|
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
4.1 |
% |
|
|
6.65 |
|
|
|
12/05/15 |
|
|
|
104,555 |
|
|
|
264,953 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Daniel J.
Packard |
|
|
25,000 |
(6) |
|
|
4.1 |
% |
|
|
3.06 |
|
|
|
02/04/15 |
|
|
|
48,111 |
|
|
|
121,918 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
These options are incentive stock options granted under the 1998 Stock Plan, have ten year
terms and were fully vested on the grant date, except as otherwise noted. |
|
(2) |
|
Based upon options to purchase an aggregate of 616,000 shares of Common Stock granted to
employees during fiscal 2005. |
|
(3) |
|
The exercise price of these options is equal to or greater than the fair market value of the
Common Stock on the date of grant, based upon the last sale price of the Common Stock on such
date as reported on the American Stock Exchange (for options granted on or after August 10,
2005) or on the OTC Bulletin Board (for options granted prior thereto). |
|
(4) |
|
These options may terminate before their terms expire due to the termination of the
optionees employment or the optionees disability or death. |
|
(5) |
|
The dollar amounts in these columns set forth the hypothetical gains that could be achieved
for the respective option grants, assuming that the market price of the Companys Common Stock
appreciates in value from the date of grant through the term of the options at the annualized
rates of 5% and 10%, respectively, contained in the table, which rates are specified by SEC
rules and do not represent the Companys estimate or projection of the future appreciation of
the price of the Common Stock. There is no assurance that the rates of appreciation set forth
in this table can be achieved or that the amounts reflected will be received by the optionees.
In addition, the potential realizable value set forth in these columns is net of the option
exercise price but before taxes associated with any exercise. Actual gains, if any, on option
exercises will be dependent on, among other things, the timing of such exercises and the
future performance of the Common Stock. |
|
(6) |
|
These options vest in three equal installments, commencing on the grant date, subject to
immediate vesting upon a change in control. |
19
Stock Option Exercises and Values
The following table sets forth information with respect to stock options held by the Named
Executive Officers on December 31, 2005. No Named Executive Officer exercised any stock options
during fiscal 2005.
Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year
and Fiscal Year-End Option Values
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities |
|
|
Value of Unexercised |
|
|
|
Underlying Unexercised Options |
|
|
In-the-Money Options at |
|
|
|
at Fiscal Year-End(#) |
|
|
Fiscal Year-End ($)(1) |
|
Name |
|
Exercisable |
|
|
Unexercisable |
|
|
Exercisable |
|
|
Unexercisable |
|
W. Phillip
Marcum |
|
|
383,334 |
|
|
|
16,666 |
|
|
$ |
2,263,837 |
|
|
$ |
98,163 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Bradley Gabbard |
|
|
289,167 |
|
|
|
28,333 |
|
|
|
1,932,319 |
|
|
|
166,881 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sidney
Hinton |
|
|
195,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,148,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
Bernard |
|
|
85,876 |
|
|
|
8,333 |
|
|
|
405,653 |
|
|
|
49,081 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Daniel Packard |
|
|
41,666 |
|
|
|
18,334 |
|
|
|
209,829 |
|
|
|
107,171 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
For purposes of this table and in accordance with SEC rules, the value of unexercised
in-the-money options is calculated based solely upon the excess of $8.95, the closing sale
price of the Companys Common Stock on December 31, 2005 as reported on the American Stock
Exchange, over the exercise price of the option. An option is in-the-money if the fair
market value of the underlying shares of Common Stock exceeds the exercise price of the
option. However, the actual value, if any, that an optionee may realize upon exercise of a
stock option will be dependent upon the future market price of the Common Stock and the
optionees continued employment through the vesting period. |
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
The members of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors are Basil M. Briggs,
Chairman, Anthony D. Pell and Kevin P. Collins. No member of the Compensation Committee is or has
ever been an officer or employee of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries. None of the
executive officers of the Company serves as a member of the board of directors or of the
compensation committee of any other entity that has one or more executive officers serving as a
member of the Board of Directors of the Company or of its Compensation Committee.
20
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for establishing and
administering the compensation program and policies for the Companys executive officers. The
Compensation Committee approves all compensation paid to the Companys executive officers,
generally reviews and approves the Companys general compensation policies and also oversees the
administration by the Board of Directors of the Companys stock plans under which grants of stock
options and restricted stock may be made to executive officers.
The Compensation Committee consists of three members of the Board of Directors. Each member of
the Compensation Committee is independent under the Standards of Director Independence adopted by
the Board of Directors and the current listing standards of the American Stock Exchange. The
Compensation Committee operates under a formal written charter, which was amended and restated by
the Board of Directors on March 20, 2006.
Executive Compensation Policy
The Companys executive compensation policy is based on the belief that competitive
compensation is essential to attract, retain, motivate and reward highly qualified and industrious
executives. The Companys executive compensation program is intended to accomplish the following
purposes:
|
|
|
attract and retain highly talented and productive executive officers, |
|
|
|
|
provide incentives and rewards for superior performance by the Companys executive officers, and |
|
|
|
|
align the interests of executive officers with the interests of the Companys stockholders. |
To achieve these objectives, the Compensation Committee has designed an executive compensation
program that consists of four basic components:
|
|
|
base salary, |
|
|
|
|
short-term incentive compensation in the form of annual cash bonuses, |
|
|
|
|
long-term incentive compensation in the form of stock options and restricted stock, and |
|
|
|
|
general benefit programs. |
Components of Executive Compensation
The Compensation Committee reviews the Companys executive compensation program through the
application of the subjective business judgment of each of its members and through an informal
survey of executive compensation programs of peer companies. The philosophy of the Compensation
Committee is that the compensation and equity incentives of each officer should be significantly
influenced by the executive officers individual performance, and accordingly a significant
percentage of the total compensation and equity incentive package of each executive officer is
contingent upon individual performance. The Compensation Committee does not generally use a
quantitative method or mathematical formula to set the elements of compensation for a particular
executive officer, except for certain year-end cash bonus awards. The Compensation Committee uses
discretion and considers all elements of an executives compensation package when setting each
portion of compensation, based upon corporate performance and individual initiatives and
performance. The principal factors that the Compensation Committee considered with respect to each
executive officers compensation package for fiscal 2005 are summarized below. The Compensation
Committee may, however, in its discretion apply entirely different factors with respect to
executive compensation for future years.
Base Salary
The base salary for each of the Companys executive officers is subjectively determined
primarily on the basis of the following factors: experience, personal performance, contribution to
Company performance, level of responsibility, duties and functions, breadth of knowledge, salary
levels in effect for comparable positions within and without the Companys industry and internal
base salary comparability considerations. These base salaries are reviewed annually and may be
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adjusted in the discretion of the Compensation Committee, based upon the factors discussed in the
previous sentence, as well as upon individual performance during the previous fiscal year, changes
in the duties, responsibilities and functions of the executive officer, general changes in the compensation peer group in which the Company
competes for executive talent, and the Companys financial performance generally. The relative
weight given to each of these factors differs from individual to individual, as the Compensation
Committee deems appropriate.
Annual Cash Bonuses
For fiscal 2005, the Company granted cash bonuses to all its executive officers. Depending on
the executive officer, these bonuses were paid either under established plans and arrangements
relating to some metrics of Company financial performance or on a discretionary basis as determined
by the Compensation Committee, or were based upon some combination thereof. Factors considered by
the Compensation Committee in determining discretionary annual cash bonuses are personal
performance, Company performance, level of responsibility and the Companys achievement of
performance goals, as well as many of the same factors considered by the Compensation Committee and
discussed above when it reviews and sets base salaries, except with a greater focus on the prior
fiscal year.
In March 2005, the Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee,
adopted an Executive Incentive Compensation Plan, which provides for annual bonuses to officers and
key employees of the Company in such target amounts and based on such factors, such as individual
performance and Company performance goals, as annually determined by the Compensation Committee.
For fiscal 2005, the Companys Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer received cash
bonuses under the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan, from a bonus pool of $410,000 in the
aggregate, based primarily upon the Company achieving certain goals pertaining to net income from
continuing operations (before bonus payments) in fiscal 2005.
Long-Term Incentive Compensation
Long-term incentives are provided through grants of stock options and restricted stock under
the Companys 1998 Stock Plan. The grants are designed to align the interests of executive officers
with those of stockholders and to provide each executive with a significant incentive to manage the
Company from the perspective of an owner with an equity stake in the Company. During fiscal 2005,
the Company granted options to purchase a total of 315,000 shares of Common Stock to six executive
officers and did not make any grants of restricted stock.
Each stock option grant allows the executive officer to acquire shares of Common Stock at a
fixed price per share (typically, and never less than, the closing sale price of the Common Stock
on the date of grant) for a fixed period (usually ten years). Each option becomes exercisable,
either fully immediately upon grant or in installments over a period of years (customarily two to
four years), contingent upon the executive officers continued employment with the Company.
Accordingly, the stock option grant will provide a return to the executive officer only if the
executive officer remains employed by the Company during the vesting period, and then only if the
market price of the underlying Common Stock appreciates.
The number of shares of Common Stock that are subject to each stock option grant is
subjectively determined by the Compensation Committee primarily related to the executive officers
anticipated contributions to the Companys future success, a level intended to create a meaningful
opportunity for stock ownership based on the executive officers current position with the Company,
the size of comparable awards made to individuals in similar positions within the industry, the
individuals potential for increased responsibility and promotion over the option term and the
individuals personal performance in recent periods. The Compensation Committee also considers the
number of unvested stock options held by the executive officer in order to maintain an appropriate
level of equity incentive for that individual. However, the Compensation Committee does not adhere
to any specific guidelines as to the relative stock option holdings of the Companys executive
officers.
General Benefits
Executive officers are eligible to participate in medical, life and benefit programs generally
available to employees.
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Compensation of the Chief Executive Officer
The Compensation Committee carefully reviews the compensation of W. Phillip Marcum, the
Companys President and Chief Executive Officer, annually in accordance with the factors discussed
above and in accordance with his
employment agreement. During fiscal 2005, Mr. Marcums employment agreement was amended and
restated to, among other things, extend his employment term through December 31, 2009.
In evaluating Mr. Marcums compensation, the Compensation Committee considered, among things,
the substantial improvement of the Companys financial results, financial condition and future
prospects. For example, in 2005, the Company recorded record revenues in of approximately $47.3
million and record net income of $2,334,000. The Company also received records sales orders in
2005, followed up by even larger sales orders in early 2006. For fiscal 2005, the Company rewarded
Mr. Marcum for his superior performance by awarding him total bonuses of $255,000, including
$205,000 under the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan based primarily upon the Companys net
income from continuing operations, and granted him options to purchase 100,000 shares of Common
Stock. Mr. Marcums base salary in 2005 was set at $325,000, which the Compensation Committee
increased to $375,000 for 2006. These compensation actions were taken by the Compensation
Committee after deliberation based on its opinion of the critical importance of Mr. Marcum to the
future success of the Company and its stockholders, and the level and value of Mr. Marcums duties
and responsibilities. The Compensation Committee believes that Mr. Marcum has continued to provide
strong leadership for the Company through its ongoing restructuring to address business challenges,
has delivered a profitable company to stockholders and has implemented important steps that
position the Company to continue to be profitable in the future and to continue to build long-term
value for its stockholders.
Limitations on Tax Deductibility of Executive Compensation Under Section 162(m)
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, generally disallows a tax
deduction to public companies for certain compensation in excess of $1 million paid to a companys
chief executive officer and the four other most highly compensated executive officers. However,
qualified performance-based compensation will not be subject to the deduction limit if certain
requirements are met. During fiscal 2005, the Compensation Committee did not award compensation to
any of the Companys executive officers in excess of the $1 million limit per executive officer.
The Company intends to structure long-term incentive compensation granted to its executive
officers through grants of stock options and restricted stock under the Companys stock plans in a
manner that is intended to avoid disallowance of deductions under Section 162(m). In the event that
the Compensation Committee considers approving salary or bonus compensation in the future that
could exceed the $1 million deductibility threshold, Board of Directors will consider what actions,
if any, should be taken to make such compensation deductible. The Board of Directors and the
Compensation Committee reserve the authority to award non-deductible compensation in such
circumstances as they deem appropriate.
Conclusion
Through the Companys compensation programs, a significant portion of the Companys executive
compensation is linked directly to individual and Company performance in the pursuit of strategic
goals. The Compensation Committee believes that the Companys executive compensation policies and
programs promote the best interests of the Company and enhance stockholder value. The Compensation
Committee will continue to monitor and evaluate the overall effectiveness of these programs.
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Compensation Committee
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Basil M. Briggs, Chairman |
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Anthony D. Pell |
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Kevin P. Collins |
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
The son of Sidney Hinton, the President and Chief Executive Officer of PowerSecure, is
employed by PowerSecure in a sales and administrative capacity and, during fiscal 2005, Mr.
Hintons son received total compensation, including salary and bonus, of $73,666 for services
rendered as an employee during fiscal 2005 and was granted options to purchase 35,000 shares of the
Companys Common Stock at an exercise price of $5.89 per share, the closing sale price of the
Common Stock as reported in the American Stock Exchange on the date of grant. In addition, during
fiscal 2005, Mr. Hintons brother-in-law was employed by PowerSecure as a project manager and
received total compensation, including salary and bonus, of $53,969 for services rendered as an
employee during fiscal 2005 and was granted options to purchase 10,000 shares of the Common Stock
at an exercise price of $6.65 per share, the closing sale price of the Common Stock as reported in
the American Stock Exchange on the date of grant.
In March 2006, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with certain of its
officers and directors, as selling stockholders, and with certain institutional investors as
purchasers of the Common Stock, pursuant to which these institutional investors purchased a total
of 2,403,000 shares of Common Stock, 2,012,548 shares from the Company and 390,452 shares
from certain officers and directors of the Company, for a purchase price of $14.00 per share in a
private placement. Certain of these institutional investors were, or were affiliated with entities
that were, holders of more than five percent of our outstanding Common Stock. In addition, in
March 2006, the Company entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with these institutional
investors, pursuant to which the Company agreed to register the public resale of all shares of
Common Stock sold in the private placement by filing a registration statement with the SEC and
keeping the registration statement effective until the earliest of the following: (i) five years
after the registration statement becomes effective; (ii) such time as all such shares have been
publicly resold; or (iii) such time as all such shares may be sold under Rule 144(k) under the
Securities Act.
The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and certain
of its executive officers. These agreements require the Company to indemnify such directors
against certain liabilities that may arise against them by reason of their status or service as
officers or directors of the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, to advance
their expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be
indemnified. The Company maintains an insurance policy covering its officers and directors under
which the insurer has agreed to pay the amount of any claim made against the officers or directors
of the Company that such officers or directors may otherwise be required to pay or for which the
Company is required to indemnify such officers and directors, subject to certain exclusions and
conditions, up to policy limits.
Any material transaction between the Company and any related party must be approved by its
Audit Committee, which is comprised solely of independent directors.
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PROPOSAL NO. 2
APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TO THE 1998 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
The Companys 1998 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated to date, was adopted by the
Board of Directors of the Company in March 1998, approved by the stockholders of the Company in
June 1998, and amended by the stockholders in February 2000 and June 2004. The 1998 Stock Plan
replaced the Companys 1991 Stock Option Plan and Directors Stock Option Plan, the Companys
previous stock option plans. The 1998 Stock Plan authorizes the Board of Directors to grant
non-qualified stock options (NQSOs), incentive stock options (ISOs), stock appreciation rights
(SARs), restricted stock awards, performance awards, and other stock-based awards to officers,
directors, employees, consultants and advisors of the Company and its subsidiaries. The purpose of
the 1998 Stock Plan is to promote the success of the Company by enabling it to attract, retain,
reward, and motivate the best available officers, directors, employees, advisors and consultants of
the Company and its subsidiaries by providing them with an equity interest in the Company in order
to align their interest with those of the Companys stockholders and to provide such persons with
incentives to pursue the long-term growth, profitability and financial success of the Company and
its subsidiaries and to increase stockholder value. The 1998 Stock Plan is a critical part of the
Companys overall compensation program.
As of May 12, 2006, an aggregate of 1,814,797 shares of Common Stock were subject to
outstanding awards under the 1998 Stock Plan to a total of 69 employees and directors. To date,
all awards under the 1998 Stock Plan have been stock options, except for the grant of 90,000 shares
of restricted stock to three executive officers in 2004. In addition, as of May 12, 2006, an
aggregate of 72,111 shares of Common Stock were subject to outstanding options granted under the
Companys prior stock plans, the Companys 1991 Stock Option Plan and the Companys Directors
Stock Option Plan. On May 10, 2006, the last reported sale price of the Common Stock as reported
on American Stock Exchange was $14.20 per share.
Proposed Amendments
On March 20, 2006, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, the Board of
Directors authorized, subject to stockholder approval, and is recommending that stockholders
approve at the Annual Meeting, amendments to the 1998 Stock Plan to:
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increase the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance thereunder by
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Additional Shares. A total of 2,750,000 shares of Common Stock are presently reserved for
issuance under the 1998 Stock Plan, of which as of May 12, 2006, no shares remained available for
issuance in future awards. Upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, the Board of
Directors has authorized an amendment to the 1998 Stock Plan, subject to stockholder approval, to
increase the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance thereunder by 1,000,000 shares
to a total of 3,750,000 shares. The purpose of that proposed amendment is to ensure that a
sufficient number of shares of the Companys Common Stock are available under the 1998 Stock Plan
for awards to attract, retain, reward and motivate officers, directors, employees, advisors and
consultants as set forth above.
Eliminating Formula Grants to Non-Employee
Directors. The Board of Directors is also
proposing an amendment to the 1998 Stock Plan to
eliminate formula grants of stock options to
Non-Employee Directors. The current formula for
grants of stock options to Non-Employee Directors
is described above in Corporate
Governance-Compensation of Directors. The Board
of Directors, upon the recommendation of the
Compensation Committee, has concluded that the
current formula for granting stock options to
Non-Employee Directors, which was created in 1991
in a previous plan and carried forward in the
1998 Stock Plan, is no longer appropriate,
especially in light of the many
changes in recent years in the duties and
responsibilities of independent directors. In
2004, the Board of Directors, upon the
recommendation of the Compensation Committee,
decided to supplement the formula annual stock
option grants by adding additional stock options
based upon the amount of the annual retainer paid
to Non-Employee Directors and the trading price
of the Common Stock. The Board of Directors also
believes that the number of stock options to be
granted to a new Non-Employee Director is
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probably insufficient compensation to attract and retain qualified,
independent new directors. The Compensation Committee is considering changing not only the number
of stock options granted to Non-Employee Directors, but also changing the type of equity grants,
such as restricted stock grants in lieu of, or in addition to, stock option grants. The Board of
Directors desires to grant to the Compensation Committee the flexibility and discretion to
determine the type and amount of equity awards that are appropriate to be made to Non-Employee
Directors just as it has the flexibility and discretion to determine the type and amount of equity
awards to officers and employees under the 1998 Stock Plan. As of the date of this Proxy
Statement, no new arrangements for awards under the 1998 Stock Plan have been adopted by the Board
of Directors or recommended by the Compensation Committee.
Prohibiting Repricing. In addition, the Board of Directors has proposed to amend the 1998
Stock Plan to prohibit the repricing of stock options without stockholder approval. This amendment
would prohibit the Board, or any committee administering the 1998 Stock Plan, from directly or
indirectly reducing the exercise price of any outstanding option granted under the 1998 Stock Plan,
including but not limited to by exchanging underwater options (options having an exercise price
in excess of the then current market value of the Common Stock) for newly granted options at a
lower exercise price.
Section 409A. Finally, the Board of Directors has proposed amending the 1998 Stock Plan to
incorporate necessary amendments to address and comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the
Code. The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 added a new section to the Code (Section 409A)
covering certain deferred compensation plans within the meaning of Section 409A. Equity-based
grants can, in certain circumstances, constitute deferred compensation plans within the meaning of
Section 409A. Section 409A generally establishes very specific requirements that must be followed
with respect to covered deferred compensation plans in order to avoid the imposition of an
additional 20% federal income tax (plus interest) on the service provider who is entitled to
receive the deferred compensation. Certain awards that may be granted under the 1998 Stock Plan
may constitute deferred compensation within the meaning of and subject to Section 409A. The 1998
Stock Plan is intended to be interpreted and operated in accordance with Section 409A, including
any regulations or guidance issued by the Treasury Department, and contains a number of provisions
intended to avoid the imposition of additional tax on 1998 Stock Plan recipients under Section
409A. To the extent practicable, the Company intends that any awards granted under the 1998 Stock
Plan will satisfy the requirements of Section 409A to avoid the imposition of the additional tax.
The Board of Directors has proposed amended the 1998 Stock Plan in order to add provisions that
will assist the Company in complying with Section 409A including, among other things, the authority
to amend the 1998 Stock plan and outstanding awards to preserve the intended benefits of awards
granted under the 1998 Stock Plan and to avoid the imposition of an additional tax under Section
409A.
Summary of the 1998 Stock Plan
The major provisions of the 1998 Stock Plan are summarized below. The following summary does
not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the 1998 Stock Plan.
The full text of the 1998 Stock Plan, as proposed to be amended subject to stockholder approval, is
attached hereto as Appendix B.
Awards. The 1998 Stock Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, non-qualified
stock options, restricted stock awards, performance awards and other stock-based awards to
officers, directors, employees, consultants and advisors of the Company and its subsidiaries.
Shares Authorized. A total of 2,750,000 shares of Common Stock are currently authorized for
issuance under the 1998 Stock Plan, which would be increased by the proposed amendments to
3,750,000 shares. The shares of Common Stock issuable under the 1998 Stock Plan may be authorized
or unissued shares or treasury shares, including shares
repurchased by the Company for purposes of the 1998 Stock Plan. If any shares subject to any award
are forfeited or payment is made in the form of cash, cash equivalents or property other than
shares, or an award otherwise terminates without payment being made to the participant in the form
of shares, the shares subject to such awards will again be available under the 1998 Stock Plan.
Administration. The 1998 Stock Plan is administered by the Board of Directors of the
Company. The Board of Directors has the right to delegate the administration of the 1998 Stock
Plan to a committee comprised of two or more directors who are not officers or employees of the
Company or any its subsidiaries, and who meet certain other requirements under applicable federal
securities law and federal tax law provisions. The members of the Board of Directors, or of any
committee appointed by the Board of Directors, are eligible for awards under the 1998 Stock Plan.
The Board of Directors is authorized to designate participants, determine the type and number of
awards to be granted, set the terms, conditions and provisions of awards, cancel or suspend awards,
prescribe forms of award agreements, interpret the 1998 Stock Plan,
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establish, amend and rescind
rules and regulations related to the 1998 Stock Plan, and make all other determinations which may
be necessary or advisable to the administration of the 1998 Stock Plan.
Eligibility. Officers, directors, employees, consultants and advisers of the Company and its
existing or future subsidiaries who, in the determination of the Board of Directors, are
responsible for or contribute to the management, growth, profitability and successful performance
of the Company and its subsidiaries are eligible to receive awards under the 1998 Stock Plan. All
of the approximately 274 employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, all five directors of the
Company, and all advisors and consultants of the Company are eligible to receive awards under the
1998 Stock Plan.
Limitations. During any calendar year, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that can
be granted to any individual participant subject to awards under the 1998 Stock Plan is 100,000
shares.
Stock Options. Under the 1998 Stock Plan, the Board of Directors is authorized to grant
incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options. The exercise price of stock options is
determined by the Board of Directors but may not be less than the fair market value of the Common
Stock on the date of grant (or 110% of the fair market value in the case of an ISO granted to an
employee beneficially owning more than 10% of the outstanding Common Stock). The Board of
Directors may grant NQSOs to any eligible participant, but may grant ISOs only to employees. Stock
options become exercisable at such time or times in whole or in part as determined by the Board of
Directors, except that ISOs may not be exercised after the expiration of 10 years after the date of
grant (5 years after grant in the case of ISO, granted to an employee beneficially owning more than
10% of the outstanding Common Stock). Options may be exercised by payment of the exercise price in
cash, shares of Common Stock, exchange of outstanding awards or other property, or in any
combination thereof having a fair market value equal to the exercise price, as the Board of
Directors determines.
Formula Grants of Stock Options to Non-Employee Directors. The 1998 Stock Plan currently
provides for formula grants of NQSOs to Non-Employee Directors. See Corporate
Governance-Compensation of Directors and Proposed AmendmentsEliminating Formula Grants to
Non-Employee Directors above. The proposed amendments would eliminate these formula grants and
allow the Board of Directors to grant the number and type of equity awards it determined
appropriate, in its discretion and based upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, and
to change such arrangements from time to time. The Board of Directors desires to grant to the
Compensation Committee the flexibility and discretion to determine the type and amount of equity
awards under the 1998 Stock Plan to Non-Employee Directors just as it has the flexibility and
discretion to determine the type and amount of equity awards to officers and employees. If the
proposed amendments to the 1998 Stock Plan are adopted, the Compensation Committee intends to
review the equity grants made to Non-Employee Directors and could recommend to the Board of
Directors changes to the current equity awards as compensation to Non-Employee Directors. As of
the date of this Proxy Statement, no new arrangements for awards under the 1998 Stock Plan have
been adopted by the Board of Directors or recommended by the Compensation Committee.
Prohibition on Repricing Stock Options. The proposed amendments would prohibit the direct or
indirect repricing of outstanding stock options granted under the 1998 Stock Plan, without
stockholder approval. For example, if the stockholders approve the proposed amendments to the 1998
Stock Plan, then the exercise price of options outstanding thereunder could not be reduced, and
outstanding options could not be exchanged for options with a lower stock price, without
stockholder approval.
Stock Appreciation Rights. The Board of Directors is authorized to grant SARs either alone
or in tandem with underlying stock options. SARs entitle the participant upon exercise to receive
cash or shares of Common Stock (as
determined by the Board of Directors) equal in value to the excess of the fair market value of the
shares of Common Stock covered by the SAR on the date of exercise over the grant price of the SAR.
The grant price for SARs is fixed by the Board of Directors but will not be less than the fair
market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant. SARs are exercisable at such time or times
in whole or in part as determined by the Board of Directors, except that they may not be exercised
after the expiration of 10 years from the date of grant.
Restricted Stock. The 1998 Stock Plan also authorizes the award of restricted stock. An
award of restricted stock is an award of shares of Common Stock that is subject to such
restrictions as the Board of Directors determines. The restricted stock vests and may be disposed
of by the participant only after such restrictions lapse in whole or in installments as the Board
of Directors determines. Restricted stock awards may be subject to forfeiture if, for example, the
participants employment terminates before the award vests. A participant receiving restricted
stock has all the rights of a stockholder of the Company, including the right to vote the shares
and the right to receive any dividends, unless the Board of Directors
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otherwise determines. The
Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may waive or accelerate the lapsing of restrictions in
whole or in part.
Deferred Stock. The 1998 Stock Plan also authorizes the Board of Directors to make deferred
stock awards, generally consisting of a right to receive shares of Common Stock at the end of
specified deferral periods. Awards of deferred stock are subject to such limitations as the Board
of Directors may impose, which limitations may lapse at the end of the deferral period in
installments or otherwise. Deferred stock awards carry no voting or dividend rights or other
rights associated with stock ownership. Upon termination of employment during the restriction or
deferral period, restricted stock or deferred stock will be forfeited subject to such exceptions,
if any, as are authorized by the Board of Directors.
Bonus Shares and Awards in Lieu of Obligations. The Board of Directors is authorized under
the 1998 Stock Plan to grant shares of Common Stock to eligible persons as a bonus or in lieu of
obligations (such as salary requirements) to pay cash or deliver other property, subject to such
terms as determined by the Board of Directors.
Performance Awards. Under the 1998 Stock Plan, the Board of Directors may make a performance
award, which is an award of a number of units that represents the right to receive a specified
number of shares of Common Stock or cash, or both, upon satisfaction of certain specified
performance criteria, subject to such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors determines.
Performance awards will be earned to the extent such performance goals established by the Board of
Directors are achieved over a period of time specified by the Board of Directors. The performance
objectives may vary from participant to participant, group to group and period to period. The
performance objectives for awards intended to constitute qualified performance-based compensation
(see discussion below under the heading Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences) will be based
upon one or more of the following: earnings per share; revenues; cash flow; return on investment;
return on net assets, assets, capital or equities; economic value added; operating margins; net
income; pre-tax earnings; pre-tax earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization; pre-tax
operating earnings after interest expense and before extraordinary or special items; operating
earnings; total stockholder returns; price of the shares (and changes thereof); and any of the
above goals as compared to the performance of a published or special index deemed applicable by the
Board of Directors including, but not limited to, the Standard & Poors 500 Stock Index or a group
of comparable companies. The Board of Directors has the discretion to determine the value of each
performance award, to adjust the performance goal as it deems equitable to reflect events affecting
the Company or changes in law or accounting principles or other factors, and to determine the
extent to which performance awards that are earned may be paid in the form of cash, deferred cash,
shares of Common Stock or other awards or property, or combination thereof, as determined by the
Board of Directors.
Dividend Equivalents. The Board of Directors is authorized to grant dividend equivalents
conferring on a participant the right to receive, quarterly or on a deferred basis, interest or
dividends, or interest or dividend equivalents. Dividend equivalents may be paid directly to a
participant or may be reinvested under the 1998 Stock Plan.
Other Stock-Based Awards. In order to enable the Company to respond to material
developments in the area of taxes and other legislation and regulations and interpretations
thereof, and to trends in executive compensation practices, the 1998 Stock Plan authorizes the
Board of Directors to grant awards that are denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part
by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to securities of the Company. The Board of
Directors shall determine the terms and conditions of such awards, including the consideration paid
for awards as purchase rights, which consideration generally may not be less than the fair market
value of the Common Stock on the date that the purchase right is granted. These awards may
include, without limitation, performance shares and restricted
stock units that entitle the participant to receive, upon satisfaction of performance goals or
other conditions, a specified number of shares of Common Stock or the cash equivalent thereof.
Transferability of Options. Under the 1998 Stock Plan, awards are generally not assignable
or transferable by a participant, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution or
pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, except to the Company under the terms of the 1998
Stock Plan, and except that, upon approval by the Board of Directors, NQSOs and SARs may be
transferred by participants to immediate family members, to trusts for the benefit of immediate
family members and to partnerships or similar entities in which such participant and his or her
immediate family members are the sole parties or members.
Acceleration of Awards Upon Change in Control. The 1998 Stock Plan provides that in the event
of a change in control of the Company (as defined in the 1998 Stock Plan and subject to
limitations due to Section 409A of the Code), all outstanding awards under the 1998 Stock Plan,
regardless of any limitations or restrictions, will immediately vest and become fully exercisable,
and all restrictions applicable to outstanding restricted stock, performance awards and other
stock-
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based awards will lapse, unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors at the time of
grant of the award or unless waived or deferred by the participants. In the event of a change in
control of the Company, with certain exceptions, participants may elect to surrender any
outstanding award and receive in satisfaction thereof a cash, stock or other payment equal to the
value of their outstanding awards based on the change in control price (as defined in the 1998
Stock Plan), which is generally the highest price paid or offered for the Common Stock during the
preceding 60-day period, of the shares of Common Stock subject to the award or of the fair market
value of any property other than shares of the Company relating to such award, except that with
respect to an ISO or an SAR granted in tandem with an ISO, the cash payment will be based on the
fair market value of the shares subject to the ISO or SAR on the date on which the change in
control occurred.
Amendment and Termination of the 1998 Stock Plan. The Board of Directors has the right to
amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the 1998 Stock Plan at any time without the consent
of the stockholders or participants, except that (i) stockholder approval of such action will be
required if such approval is required by any federal or state law or regulation or stock exchange
or stock market rule, regulation or policy, or if the Board of Directors in its discretion
determines that obtaining such stockholder approval is advisable, and (ii) subject to the terms of
the 1998 Stock Plan, no amendment or termination of the 1998 Stock Plan may materially and
adversely affect the rights of a participant under any award granted under the 1998 Stock Plan
without the consent of the affected participant. Unless earlier terminated by the Board of
Directors, no award may be granted under the 1998 Stock Plan after June 12, 2008.
If the Board of Directors or the Committee, if any, determines that any awards made under the
1998 Stock Plan will be taxable to a participant under Section 409A, then prior to exercise of
stock options or stock appreciation rights by such participant or payment of other awards to such
participant, the Board of Directors or the Committee, if any, may amend the 1998 Stock Plan and any
outstanding awards, including retroactively, if the Board of Directors or the Committee, if any,
determines it is necessary or appropriate to do so to preserve the intended tax treatment of the
awards granted under the 1998 Stock Plan. The Board of Directors or the Committee, if any, also may
take other actions it determines necessary or appropriate to avoid the imposition of an additional
tax under Section 409A.
Summary of Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following is a brief summary of the principle federal income tax consequences of certain
kinds of awards that may be granted under the 1998 Stock Plan. This summary is based upon the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), the applicable treasury regulations
promulgated thereunder, judicial authority and administrative ruling and practice, all as in effect
on the date hereof. Legislative, judicial or administrative rules and interpretations are subject
to change, potentially on a retroactive basis, at any time, and such changes could alter or modify
the statements and conclusions set forth below. This summary does not purport to be complete and
does not address all aspects of federal income taxation that may be relevant to a particular
participant in light of such participants personal investment circumstances or participants
subject to special treatment under the federal income tax laws. The summary also does not address
the effects of foreign, state or local tax consequences. The 1998 Stock Plan is not a
tax-qualified deferred compensation plan under Section 401(a) of the Code, and is not subject to
the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. Participants of
grants of awards under the 1998 Stock Plan should consult with their personal tax advisors with
respect to such grants and transactions in awards and shares acquired pursuant to the 1998 Stock
Plan.
ISOs. A participant who is granted an ISO will generally not recognize any taxable income
at the time the ISO is granted or exercised, so long as the participant has been an employee of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries from the date the ISO was granted until three months before the
date of exercise (one year if the employee is disabled), but the amount by which the fair market
value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise exceeds the option exercise price is an
adjustment item for purposes of the alternative minimum tax. If the participant holds the shares
of Common Stock received upon the exercise of the ISO for at least one year after the date of
exercise and two years after the date of grant (the holding period), then any difference between
the amount realized upon the disposition of the shares and the exercise price will be treated as
long-term capital gain or loss to the participant. The Company will not have any tax consequences
from the grant or exercise of an ISO (except as discussed below) if the participant satisfies the
holding period requirements.
If a participant exercises an ISO but does not satisfy the holding period requirements set
forth above, the participant generally will recognize ordinary income in the year of disposition of
the shares of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of an ISO equal to the excess, if any, of the
fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise over the option exercise price, and
any excess of the amount realized on such disposition over the fair market value of the Common
Stock on the date of exercise will be taxed as long-term or short-term capital gain, as applicable.
If the participant disposes of the shares of Common Stock prior to the satisfaction of the holding
period requirements but the amount realized
29
is less than the fair market value of the Common Stock
on the date of exercise, the participant will recognize ordinary income equal only on the excess of
the amount realized upon the disposition of the shares over the option exercise price. In either
event, the Company will be entitled to a tax deduction in an amount equal to the amount
constituting ordinary income to the participant.
If a participant exercises an ISO by tendering shares of Common Stock (other than the shares
acquired upon the exercise of an ISO and not held for the requisite holding period set forth above)
in payment of all or part of the option exercise price, the participant will not be required to
recognize any taxable income from the exchange and option exercise, and the participants tax basis
and holding period (for capital gain purposes) for the tendered shares of Common Stock will be
treated as a substituted basis for the shares received upon the exercise of the ISO. If the
participant uses shares received pursuant to the exercise of an ISO as to which the participant had
not satisfied the applicable holding period requirements, the exchange will be treated as a taxable
disqualifying disposition of the exchanged shares, with the result of the excess of the fair market
value of the shares tendered over the participants basis in such shares would be taxable.
NQSOs. A participant who is granted an NQSO will not recognize any taxable income, and the
Company will not have any tax consequences, at the time the NQSO is granted. In general, upon the
exercise of a NQSO, a participant will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess,
if any, of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise over the option
exercise price, and the Company will be entitled to a tax deduction in the same amount in the year
the participant exercises the NQSO. Upon subsequent disposition of shares of Common Stock acquired
upon the exercise of a NQSO, a participant will have a capital gain or loss equal to the difference
between the amount realized on the disposition and the participants tax basis in the shares, which
is generally the amount paid for the shares plus the amount treated as ordinary income at the time
the NQSO was exercised. Such capital gain or loss will be long-term if the participants holding
period is longer than one year, and short-term otherwise. The participants taxable disposition of
the shares of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of a NQSO will not result in any additional
tax consequences to the Company.
SARs. The grant of a SAR will create no federal income tax consequences for the participant
or the Company. When a participant exercises a SAR, the amount of any cash received and the fair
market value on the date of exercise of any shares of Common Stock received will constitute
ordinary income to the participant, and the Company will be entitled to a tax deduction in the same
amount in the year of exercise.
Restricted Stock. The federal income tax consequences of restricted stock awards depend upon
the restrictions imposed on the restricted stock. In the absence of an election under Section
83(b) of the Code election by a participant, the grant of restricted stock will not result in
taxable income to the participant or entitle the Company to a tax deduction in the year of grant if
the restricted stock received is subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture and is either
non-transferable or after transfer remains subject to such substantial risk of forfeiture. In such
case, a participant must recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the restricted
stock received as of the first date the restricted stock becomes either transferable or not subject
to a substantial risk of forfeiture, whichever occurs earlier. However, a participant may, in his
or her discretion, make a Section 83(b) election to recognize as ordinary income the value of the
restricted stock as of the date of receipt rather than upon lapse of restrictions on
transferability or the substantial risk of forfeiture. The Company
generally will be entitled to a tax deduction in the amount of the fair market value of the
restricted stock transferred to the participant in the year the participant recognizes ordinary
income. Prior to the lapse of restrictions, dividends paid on restricted stock will be taxable to
the participant as ordinary income in the year such restricted stock is received free of
restrictions, and the Company will be entitled to a tax deduction in the same amount.
Performance Awards. A participant who receives a performance award of shares of Common Stock
will generally recognize ordinary income in the year the award is received equal to the fair market
value of the Common Stock on the date of award. The Company will be entitled to a tax deduction
equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the participant in the year such income is
recognized.
Other Stock-Based Awards. A participant will recognize ordinary income equal to the amount
of any cash payments or the fair market value of any Common Stock or other property a participant
receives in connection with other stock-based awards (less any amounts paid by the participant) in
the year the stock based award is received or made available to the participant without substantial
restrictions or risk of forfeiture in a manner consistent with the treatment of restricted stock.
The Company generally will be entitled to a tax deduction in the same amount and at the same time
the participant recognizes such ordinary income.
30
Section 162(m). Section 162(m) of the Code generally limits the deductible amount of annual
compensation paid (including, unless an exception applies, compensation otherwise deductible in
connection with awards granted under the 1998 Stock Plan) by a public company to the chief
executive officer and to the four other most highly compensated executive officers of the Company
to no more than $1,000,000 per person. This limit, however, does not apply to qualified
performance-based compensation. The Company generally intends to structure any stock options and
other awards granted under the 1998 Stock Plan that might be affected by Section 162(m) of the Code
to comply with the performance-based compensation exemption to the deductibility limit.
Section 409A. The tax consequences described above assume that an award is not subject to or
does not violated the requirements of Section 409A. Stock options and restricted stock awards that
comply with the terms of the 1998 Stock Plan and do not have a deferral feature, and are not
amended, are generally exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code, which is applicable
to deferred compensation plans within the meaning of Section 409A. Awards that do not comply with
Section 409A can result in the value of the deferred compensation being currently includable in the
service providers federal income tax purposes and being taxed at the service providers marginal
federal income tax rate plus an additional 20%, and interest and penalties may be included
Section 16 Persons. Special rules apply to a participant who is subject to Section 16 of the
Exchange Act.
Accounting Treatment
Pursuant to the accounting standards established by Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment (SFAS 123(R)), the Company has been required to
recognize all share-based payments, including grants of stock options and restricted stock, in the
Companys financial statements since January 1, 2006. Accordingly, stock options that are granted
to employees of the Company and to Non-Employee Directors will have to be valued at fair value as
of the grant date under an appropriate valuation formula, and that value will have to be charged as
stock-based compensation expense over the designated vesting period of the award. Similar option
expensing is required for the portion of any options that were unvested and outstanding on January
1, 2006, with the grant date fair value of those unvested options to be expensed against reported
earnings over the remaining vesting period.
For shares issuable upon the vesting of restricted stock awarded under the 1998 Stock Plan,
the Company will be required to expense over the vesting period a compensation cost equal to the
fair market value of the underlying shares on the date of the award. If any other shares are
unvested at the time of their direct issuance, the fair market value of those shares at that time
will be charged against earnings ratably over the vesting period. Such accounting treatment for
restricted stock issuances will be applicable whether vesting is tied to service periods or
performance goals. The issuance of a fully-vested stock bonus will result in an immediate charge to
earnings equal to the fair market value of the bonus shares on the issuance date. Stock options
and stock appreciation rights granted to non-employee consultants will result in a direct charge to
earnings based on the fair value of the grant measured on the vesting date of each installment of
the underlying shares. Accordingly, such charge will take into account the appreciation in the fair
value of the grant over the period between the grant date and the vesting date of each installment
comprising that grant.
New Plan Benefits
The grant of awards under the 1998 Stock Plan to eligible directors, officers, employees,
consultants and advisors, including the Named Executive Officers, is subject to the discretion of
the Board of Directors, other than the provision for formula stock option grants to Non-Employee
Directors, which provision will be deleted from the 1998 Stock Plan if the proposed amendments are
approved by the stockholders. For a description of the options granted during fiscal 2005 to the
Named Executive Officers under the 1998 Stock Plan, please see the Summary Compensation Table and
the Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year table above under Executive Compensation. As of the date
of this Proxy Statement, no determination has been made as to which or how many of the persons
eligible to receive awards under the 1998 Stock Plan will receive future awards under the 1998
Stock Plan if the proposed amendments are adopted and approved by the stockholders, except that it
is the current intention of the Board of Directors (subject to change upon the recommendation of
the Compensation Committee) to grant stock options to the Non-Employee Directors on the date of the
Annual Meeting on the same basis as stock options were granted in fiscal 2005. See Corporate
GovernanceCompensation of Directors. Accordingly, except as otherwise provided above, the
benefits or awards that will be received by or allocated to persons under the 1998 Stock Plan in
the future are not presently determinable.
The following table sets forth the stock options to be granted to the Non-Employee Directors
under the 1998 Stock Plan during 2006 if the proposed amendments are adopted and approved by the
stockholders, assuming that (i) the current
31
nominee for director is re-elected at the Annual
Meeting, and (ii) the Non-Employee Directors receive options under the 1998 Stock Plan during 2006
on the same basis as they received awards during 2005:
1998 Stock Plan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Shares |
|
Name (or Group) and Position |
|
Dollar Value ($) |
|
|
Subject to Options |
|
All current directors who are not executive
officers, as a group (3 persons) |
|
$ |
108,000 |
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
|
(1) |
|
During 2005, each Non-Employee Director received stock options equal to the rate of
the annual retainer for services as a Non-Employee Director in effect on the date of
grant (which for 2006 is $36,000 per Non-Employee Director) divided by the fair market
value of the Common Stock on the date of grant (based on the closing sale price of the
Common Stock as reported on the American Stock Exchange on such date), which will also
the exercise price of such stock options, and which is not determinable as of the date
of this Proxy Statement. In addition, the compensation of Non-Employee Directors is
subject to change from time to time at the discretion of the Board of Directors, upon
the recommendation of the Compensation Committee. |
Vote Required
The approval of the proposed amendments to the 1998 Stock Plan requires the affirmative vote
of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock present, in person or by
proxy, and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
Recommendation
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that stockholders vote FOR the adoption and
approval of the proposed amendments to the 1998 Stock Plan. Proxy cards signed and timely returned
to the Company will be so voted, unless contrary instructions are specified thereon.
32
PROPOSAL NO. 3
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Auditors Proposal
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company has appointed Hein & Associates
LLP (Hein) to serve as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal
year ending December 31, 2006.
On September 30, 2004, the Company engaged Hein to serve as the independent registered public
accounting firm of the Company and dismissed Deloitte & Touche LLP (Deloitte). The change in
independent registered public accounting firms was approved by the Audit Committee of the Board of
Directors. Deloitte audited the Companys financial statements as of and for fiscal 2003 and for
all prior fiscal years of the Company, and Hein audited the Companys financial statements as of
and for fiscal 2004 and fiscal 2005.
The audit report of Deloitte on the Companys consolidated financial statements as of and for
fiscal 2003 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and such audit report
was not qualified or modified as to any uncertainty, audit scope or accounting practice.
During fiscal 2003 and subsequent interim periods through the date the Company changed
independent registered public accounting firms, there were no disagreements between the Company and
Deloitte on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or
auditing scope or procedures, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Deloitte,
would have caused Deloitte to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in
connection with its report. In addition, during those same periods, no reportable events, as
defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K, occurred, and the Company did not consult with Hein
regarding the application of accounting principles to a specific transaction, either completed or
proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Companys consolidated
financial statements, or any other matters or reportable events as set forth in Item 304(a)(2) of
Regulation S-K.
Stockholder ratification of the appointment of Hein as the Companys independent registered
public accounting firm is not required by the Companys By-Laws or any other applicable legal
requirement. However, the Audit Committee is submitting the appointment of Hein to the
stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate governance. If the stockholders do not
ratify the appointment of Hein, then the Audit Committee will reconsider the appointment. Even if
the appointment is ratified by the stockholders, the Audit Committee may, in its discretion,
appoint a different independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2006 at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the
best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
One or more representatives of Hein are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, will
have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and are expected to be available
to respond to appropriate questions.
Fees Billed to the Company by Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms
The aggregate fees for professional services rendered to the Company by Deloitte in fiscal
2004 prior to its dismissal and for professional services rendered by Hein in fiscal 2004 and
fiscal 2005 were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal 2004 Fees |
|
|
Fiscal 2005 Fees |
|
|
|
Hein |
|
|
Deloitte |
|
|
Hein |
|
Audit Fees
(1)
|
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
|
$ |
20,000 |
|
|
$ |
120,000 |
|
Audit-Related Fees
(2)
|
|
|
16,939 |
|
|
|
21,683 |
|
|
|
23,192 |
|
Tax Fees (3) |
|
|
20,295 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
22,800 |
|
All Other Fees |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
137,234 |
|
|
$ |
41,683 |
|
|
$ |
165,992 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
33
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Audit Fees represents fees billed for professional services rendered for the audits
of the Companys consolidated annual financial statements and for the reviews of the
Companys consolidated interim financial statements included in the Companys Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q. |
|
(2) |
|
Audit-Related Fees represents fees billed for professional services rendered by
Deloitte in connection with two registration statements filed by the Company with the SEC in
connection with a private placement transaction, and for professional services rendered by
Hein relating to the audit of the Companys 401(k) plan and the audit of MM 1995-2, an
unconsolidated affiliate. |
|
(3) |
|
Tax Fees represents fees billed for professional services rendered by Hein for tax
compliance, tax advice and tax planning for the Company and for MM 1995-2. |
The Audit Committee has determined that the provision of non-audit services by Hein in fiscal
2004 and 2005 was compatible with maintaining their independence.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy
The Audit Committee has adopted a policy that requires the Audit Committee to pre-approve all
audit and non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm.
The Audit Committee may delegate this pre-approval authority to one or more of its members. Such a
member must report any decisions to the Audit Committee at the next scheduled meeting. In
accordance with this pre-approval policy, all professional services provided by the Companys
independent registered public accounting firm during fiscal 2005 were pre-approved by the Audit
Committee.
Vote Required
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock present, in
person or by proxy, and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required to ratify the
appointment by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Hein as the Companys independent
registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006.
Recommendation
The Audit Committee and the Board of Directors recommend that stockholders vote FOR the
ratification of the appointment of Hein as the Companys independent registered public accounting
firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006. Proxy cards signed and timely returned to the
Company will be so voted, unless contrary instructions are specified thereon.
34
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company consists of three members of the
Board of Directors. Each member of the Audit Committee is independent under the Standards of
Director Independence adopted by the Board of Directors and the current listing standards of the
American Stock Exchange. The Audit Committee operates under a formal written charter, which was
amended and restated by the Board of Directors on March 20, 2006. The Audit Committee reviews and
assesses the adequacy of its charter on an annual basis.
The Companys management is responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity of the
Companys financial statements and for establishing and maintaining the integrity of the Companys
accounting and financial reporting processes, including its system of internal controls, the audit
process, and the process for monitoring compliance with laws and regulations and ethical business
standards. The Companys independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for
performing an independent audit of the Companys annual consolidated financial statements in
accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, and expressing an opinion and issuing a
report as to the conformity of such financial statements with generally accepted accounting
principles. The role of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its
responsibilities to monitor and oversee the quality and integrity of these financial reporting
processes. Additionally, the Audit Committee has the sole authority to appoint, retain, fix the
compensation of, and oversee, the Companys independent registered public accounting firm and for
the prior approval of the nature and scope of and the fee arrangements for audit and permitted
non-audit services by the Companys independent registered public accounting firm.
In discharging its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee has reviewed, and has met
and held discussions with management and with Hein & Associates LLP (Hein), the Companys
independent registered public accounting firm, regarding the Companys audited consolidated
financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. The Audit Committee has also
discussed with Hein the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61,
Communication with Audit Committees, and Statement on Auditing Standards No. 90, Audit Committee
Communications, each as modified or supplemented. The Audit Committee has met with Hein, with and
without management present, to discuss and review the results of their examination of the Companys
financial statements and the overall quality, not just the acceptability, of the Companys
financial reports and accounting principles. The Audit Committee has also considered and discussed
with management and Hein other areas of oversight relating to the financial reporting and audit
process that the Audit Committee determined appropriate.
In addition, the Audit Committee has received from Hein the written disclosures and the letter
required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, Independence Discussions with Audit
Committees, as modified or supplemented. The Audit Committee has discussed with Hein their
independence from the Company and its management and has considered the compatibility of non-audit
services performed by Hein with their independence.
Based upon the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to
the Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors approved, that the audited consolidated
financial statements of the Company be included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
In addition, the Audit Committee has appointed Hein as the Companys independent registered
public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006, and recommends that
stockholders ratify that appointment.
The members of the Audit Committee are not professional accountants or members of a registered
public accounting firm, and as specified in its charter it is not the duty of the Audit Committee
to prepare financial statements, to plan or conduct audits or to determine that the Companys
consolidated financial statements are complete and accurate and in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles. In discharging its duties, the Audit Committee has relied on (i)
managements representation that the annual consolidated financial statements of the Company were
prepared with integrity and objectivity and in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles, and (ii) the report of the Companys independent registered public accounting firm with
respect to such financial statements.
|
|
|
|
|
Audit Committee |
|
|
|
|
|
Anthony D. Pell, Chairman |
|
|
Basil M. Briggs |
|
|
Kevin P. Collins |
35
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph compares the cumulative total stockholder return for the five year period
ended December 31, 2005 on the Companys Common Stock with the Nasdaq Stock Market (U.S.) Index
(the Nasdaq U.S. Index), a peer group of companies discussed below (the Peer Group) and the S&P
500 Oil & Gas Equipment and Service Index. The measurement dates are the last trading day of each
of the Companys fiscal years in the five year period. The graph assumes that $100 was invested on
December 31, 2000 in the Common Stock of the Company, the Nasdaq U.S. Index, the Peer Group and the
S&P 500 Oil & Gas Equipment and Services Index, and that any dividends were reinvested. With
respect to companies in the Peer Group, the returns of each company have been weighted to reflect
relative stock market capitalization at the beginning of each year. The stock price performance
shown on the following graph is historical and not necessarily indicative of future stock price
performance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12/29/00 |
|
|
12/31/01 |
|
|
12/31/02 |
|
|
12/31/03 |
|
|
12/31/04 |
|
|
12/30/05 |
|
Metretek Technologies, Inc. |
|
$ |
100.00 |
|
|
|
61.00 |
|
|
|
26.00 |
|
|
|
144.00 |
|
|
|
265.00 |
|
|
|
895.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nasdaq U.S. Index |
|
$ |
100.00 |
|
|
|
79.32 |
|
|
|
54.84 |
|
|
|
81.99 |
|
|
|
89.22 |
|
|
|
91.12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Peer Group |
|
$ |
100.00 |
|
|
|
77.92 |
|
|
|
68.92 |
|
|
|
98.81 |
|
|
|
108.00 |
|
|
|
117.83 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S&P 500 Oil & Gas
Equipment and Services
Index |
|
$ |
100.00 |
|
|
|
66.56 |
|
|
|
58.92 |
|
|
|
73.49 |
|
|
|
96.91 |
|
|
|
143.98 |
|
36
Prior to this year, for comparison purposes the Company had utilized the S&P 500 Oil & Gas
Equipment and Services Index, which includes companies with businesses similar to Southern Flow and
Metretek Florida. However, due to the significant growth of PowerSecure over the past year and its
current and expected future importance to the Companys business and consolidated financial
results, and accordingly to investors, the Company believes it is more appropriate and meaningful
to utilize an index that includes companies in businesses and markets more similar to PowerSecures
distributed energy business. The Distributed Energy Stock Index (the DESI) was created by the
Distributed Energy Financial Group LLC in 2005 and includes companies in the distributed energy and
technology industry, including the Company. However, because the DESI was recently created, for
purposes of this Proxy Statement the Company has created the Peer Group, which consists of the
companies currently included in the DESI, in order to provide comparative performance of those
companies during the requisite five year period.
The Peer Group consists of the following companies that currently comprise the companies
included in the DESI: Capstone Turbine Corporation, Cooper Cameron Corporation, Cummins, Inc.,
Ingersoll-Rand, Active Power, Inc., American Power Conversion Corporation, Beacon Power
Corporation, C&D Technologies, Inc. , Electro Energy, Inc. , Maxwell Technologies, Inc., Power One,
Inc. , DayStar Technologies Inc., Distributed Energy Systems Corporation, Energy Conversion
Devices, Inc., Evergreen Solar, Spire Corporation, Echelon Corporation, Emerson Electric Company,
Intergraph Corporation, Itron, Inc., O2Micro International, Limited, SatCon Technologies
Corporation, American Superconductor Corporation, Applied Films Corporation, ATS Automation Tooling
Systems, Inc., IMPCO Technologies, Inc., International Rectifier Corporation, Mechanical
Technologies, Inc., Power Integrations, Inc., Quantum Fuel Systems Technology, UQM Technologies and
Metretek Technologies, Inc.
37
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
To the extent that this Proxy Statement is incorporated by reference into any other filing by
the Company under the Securities Act 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, the sections of this
Proxy Statement entitled Report of the Compensation Committee on Executive Compensation, Report
of the Audit Committee (to the extent permitted by the rules of the SEC) and Performance Graph
will not be deemed incorporated, unless specifically provided otherwise in such filing. In
addition, information contained on or connected to the Companys website is not incorporated by
reference into this Proxy Statement and should not be considered part of this Proxy Statement or
incorporated into any other filing that the Company makes with the SEC.
ANNUAL REPORT
The Companys 2005 Annual Report to Stockholders, which contains the Companys Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 and includes the Companys audited
consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, accompanies this
Proxy Statement but is not a part of this Proxy Statement or the Companys proxy solicitation
materials. The Company will provide, without charge, additional copies (without exhibits) of its
2005 Annual Report to any stockholder upon receipt of a written request, addressed to Metretek
Technologies, Inc., 303 East 17th Avenue, Suite 660, Denver, Colorado 80203, attention: Corporate
Secretary.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act (Section 16(a)) requires the Companys directors and
executive officers, and beneficial owners of more than 10% of the outstanding Common Stock, to file
with the SEC initial reports of ownership on Form 3 and reports of changes in ownership on Form 4
or Form 5, and to furnish the Company with copies of all such reports that they file. Based solely
upon its review of the copies of such forms received by the Company, the Company believes that,
during fiscal 2003, all reports required by Section 16(a) to be filed by such persons were timely
filed, except that one report of one transaction by each of Messrs. Briggs, Pell, Hinton and
Bernard, and one report of one transaction by Gruber & McBaine Capital Management, LLC, was
inadvertently filed late.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Stockholders of the Company may submit proper proposals for consideration at the Companys
annual meetings of stockholders by submitting their proposals in writing to the Company in a timely
manner and otherwise in compliance with federal and state laws and regulations and the Companys
By-Laws.
Proposals to be Included in the Companys Proxy Materials
In order to be considered for inclusion in the Companys proxy materials for the 2007 annual
meeting of stockholders, stockholder proposals must be received by the Secretary of the Company on
or before January 17, 2007, and must otherwise comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 of the
Exchange Act (Rule 14a-8). The timely submission of a stockholder proposal does not guarantee
that it will be included in the Companys proxy materials for the 2007 annual meeting.
Other Proposals and Nominations
The Companys By-Laws establish advance notice procedures that stockholders must follow in
order to nominate directors or to bring other business before an annual meeting of stockholders
that will not be included in the Companys proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8. These advance
notice procedures require that, among other things, notice of a director nomination or other
business must be submitted in writing to the Secretary of the Company and received not less than 45
days nor more than 150 days prior to the anniversary of the date on which the Company first mailed
its proxy materials for the prior annual meeting, unless the date of the annual meeting is changed
by more than 30 days from the anniversary of the date of the prior annual meeting. For director
nominations or other business to be properly brought before the 2007 annual meeting, a stockholder
must deliver written notice to the Secretary of the Company no sooner than December 18, 2006 and no
later than April 2, 2007. However, if the date of the 2007 annual meeting is changed by more than
30 days from the date of the 2006 annual meeting, then the notice must be received not later than
the later of 75 days
before the date of the 2006 annual meeting or 10 days following the date on which public
announcement of the date of the 2007 annual meeting is first made.
The notice must contain the information specified in the By-Laws concerning the matters to be
brought before such annual meeting and concerning the stockholder proposing such matters, including
the name, address, number of shares
38
beneficially owned and any material interest of the stockholder
making the proposal. Notice of a director nomination must include information on various matters
regarding the nominee, including the nominees name, age, business and residence addresses,
principal occupation and security holdings and any arrangements between the stockholder and the
nominee. Notice of other business must include a description of the proposed business, the reasons
therefor and other specified matters. A copy of the relevant provisions of the Companys By-Laws
may be obtained by a stockholder, without charge, upon written request to the Secretary of the
Company.
Notice and Other Information
All notices of nominations and proposals by stockholders, whether or not to be included in the
Companys proxy materials, must be sent to Metretek Technologies, Inc., 303 East 17th Avenue, Suite
660, Denver, Colorado 80203, attention: Corporate Secretary. Any stockholder proposal must also
comply with all other applicable provisions of the Companys Second Restated Corporate Certificate
of Incorporation and By-Laws, the Exchange Act (including the rules and regulations thereunder),
and Delaware law. The Company reserves the right to reject, rule out of order or take other
appropriate action with respect to any proposal or nomination that does not comply with these and
other applicable requirements. If the Company does not exclude the proposal, then the persons
appointed as proxies in the proxy card solicited by the Board of Directors of the Company for the
2007 annual meeting may exercise discretionary voting authority to vote in accordance with their
best judgment on any such proposal submitted outside of Rule 14a-8.
OTHER MATTERS
As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Board of Directors knows of no other matters to be
presented at the Annual Meeting. However, if any other matters are properly presented at the
Annual Meeting, the persons appointed as proxies in the accompanying proxy card will have the
discretionary authority to vote the shares represented by the proxy card in accordance with their
best judgment.
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By Order of the Board of Directors |
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Gary J. Zuiderveen |
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Secretary |
May 17, 2006
Denver, Colorado
39
Appendix A
METRETEK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
Amended and Restated as of March 20, 2006
Purpose
The purpose of the Audit Committee (the Committee) of the Board of Directors (the Board)
of Metretek Technologies, Inc., a Delaware Company (the Company), is to assist the Board in
fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to (i) the quality and integrity of the
Companys financial statements; (ii) the Companys system of internal control over financial
reporting and disclosure controls and procedures; (iii) the quality and integrity of the Companys
auditing, accounting and financial reporting processes generally; (iv) the Companys independent
registered public accounting firm (independent auditors), including its engagement, compensation,
qualifications, independence and performance; and (v) the Companys compliance with legal and
regulatory requirements. In addition, the Committee shall prepare annually the report required by
the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to be included in the Companys proxy
statement for its annual meeting of stockholders.
Structure and Membership
1. Number. The Committee shall consist of at least three members of the Board, with
the exact number to be fixed from time to time by the Board.
2. Independence, Financial Literacy and Other Qualifications. Each member of the
Committee shall meet the independence, expertise and other requirements of (i) Section 10A(m) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), (ii) all applicable rules,
regulations and requirements promulgated by the SEC, and (iii) all applicable rules, regulations
and other requirements of any stock exchange or stock market on which the Companys securities are
from time to time listed or traded, as may be in effect from time to time (the Applicable Exchange
Requirements).
Each member of the Committee shall be (i) free from any relationship that, in the opinion of
the Board, may interfere with the exercise of his independent judgment as a member of the Committee
or his independence from management and the Company, and (ii) able to read and understand
fundamental financial statements, or become able to so within a reasonable period of time after his
appointment to the Committee. At least one member of the Committee shall, in the judgment of the
Board, be an audit committee financial expert, as such term is defined by the SEC and by
Applicable Exchange Requirements, and at least one member of the Committee (who may also serve as
the audit committee financial expert) shall, in the judgment of the Board, have accounting or
related financial management expertise, experience or sophistication as is required by Applicable
Exchange Requirements. No member of the Committee shall have participated in the preparation of
the financial statements of the Company for the three years preceding service served on the
Committee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if permitted under the Applicable Exchange Requirements, one
director who is not a current officer or employee (or an immediate family member of such officer or
employee) of the Company, but who is nonetheless not independent for the purposes of the
Applicable Exchange Requirements, may serve in the Committee for no more than two years, if the
Board determines, under exceptional and limited circumstances, that membership on the Committee by
the director is required by the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, and the Board
discloses, in the Companys next annual proxy statement subsequent to such determination, the
nature of the relationship and the reasons for that determination. Such person must satisfy the
independence requirements set forth in Section 10A(m)(3) of the Exchange Act, and may not chair the
Committee. The use of this exceptional and limited circumstances exception, as well as the
nature of the individuals relationship to the company and the basis for the boards determination,
shall be disclosed in the annual proxy statement.
In addition, and subject to Applicable Exchange Requirements, if a member of the Committee
ceases to be independent for reasons outside the members reasonable control, his membership on the
Committee may continue until the earlier of the Companys next annual shareholders meeting or one
year from the occurrence of the event that caused
the failure to qualify as independent. If the Company is not already relying on this
provision, and falls out of compliance with the requirements regarding Committee composition due to
a single vacancy on the Committee, then the Company will have
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until the earlier of the next annual
shareholders meeting or one year from the occurrence of the event that caused the failure to
comply with this requirement and subject to Applicable Exchange Requirements. The Company shall
provide notice to any applicable stock exchange or stock market immediately upon learning of the
event or circumstance that caused the non-compliance, if it expects to rely on either of these
provisions for a cure period.
3. Selection, Removal and Vacancies. The members of the Committee shall be appointed
annually by the Board and shall serve until their respective successors are duly appointed, or
until their earlier death, resignation or removal. Members of the Committee may be removed by the
Board at any time, with or without cause, and shall be deemed to be automatically removed if they
fail to meet the requirements and qualifications set forth in this Charter. Vacancies on the
Committee shall be filled by the Board.
4. Chairman. The Chairman of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board, provided
that if the Board fails to make such appointment, then the members of the Committee may elect a
Chairman of the Committee by majority vote of the members of the Committee.
5. Subcommittees. The Committee may form and delegate authority to one or more
subcommittees as it deems appropriate from time to time. Each such subcommittee shall consist of
one or more members of the Committee. Any such subcommittee shall be formed and operate in
compliance with any Applicable Exchange Requirements.
6. Compensation. The compensation of Committee members shall be as determined by
the Board. No member of the Committee may accept, directly or indirectly, any compensation from
the Company, other than fees paid for services as a member of the Board or a committee of the
Board.
Meetings and Procedures
1. Frequency of Meetings. The Committee shall meet (in person or by telephone) as
often as it deems necessary or appropriate in order to perform its responsibilities, but not less
than quarterly. The Committee shall meet periodically with management, the internal accountants
and the independent auditors in separate executive sessions to discuss any matters that the
Committee or any of these groups believe should be discussed privately. The Committee shall meet
quarterly with the independent auditors and management to review the Companys quarterly financial
statements, and the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards (SAS) No.
61, prior to the filing of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or prior to the release of earnings
reports.
2. Meeting Formalities. A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a
quorum for a meeting. When a quorum is present, the act of a majority of the members of the
Committee present at a meeting shall constitute the act of the Committee. The Committee may take
actions by unanimous written consent of its members in lieu of a meeting. The Chairman of the
Board, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (if different), the Chairman of the Committee,
the Board, any two members of the Committee, or the Chief Financial Officer of the Company may call
meetings of the Committee. The Committee shall maintain written minutes of its meetings, which
minutes will be filed with the minutes of the meetings of the Board.
3. Taking Action by Unanimous Written Consents in Lieu of Meetings. The Committee may
take actions by unanimous written consent of its members in lieu of a meeting.
4. Rules of Procedure. The Committee may from time to time establish and modify its
own rules of procedure, provided such rules are consistent with this Charter.
5. Reports to Board. The Committee shall provide regular reports to the Board with
respect to its meetings.
6. Attendance of Company Representatives. The Committee may request that any
director, officer or employee of the Company, or any other persons whose advice and counsel are
sought by the Committee, such as the Companys outside counsel or independent auditors, attend any
meeting of the Committee or meet with any members of, or consultants to or advisors of, the
Committee.
7. Charter. The Committee shall annually review and reassess the adequacy of this
Charter and recommend any proposed changes to the Board for approval.
A-2
Authority and Resources
1. Generally. The Committee shall have the resources and authority appropriate to
discharge its duties and responsibilities.
2. Access to Company Property. The Committee shall have full access to all Company
books, records, facilities, personnel and outside advisors.
3. Independent Advisors. The Committee shall have the authority, without further
action by the Board, to engage to retain independent legal counsel, accounting or other consultants
or experts as it deems necessary or appropriate to advise the Committee and to assist the Committee
in the fulfillment of its responsibilities and duties, at the Companys expense. The Committee may
also utilize the services of the Companys regular counsel and other advisors to the Company. The
Company shall provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the Committee, for payment of
compensation to any advisors engaged by the Committee.
4. Investigations. The Committee shall have the power to conduct or authorize
investigations into any matters within the Committees scope of responsibilities. The Committee
shall be empowered, without further action by the Board, to retain independent counsel, accountants
or other advisors as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate to advise the Committee and to
assist the Committee in any investigation or in the performance of its functions and duties, at the
Companys expense. The Committee shall have full access to all Company books, records, facilities,
personnel and outside advisors.
Responsibilities and Duties
To fulfill its responsibilities and duties, the Committee shall:
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Financial Statements and Disclosure |
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1. |
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Review and discuss with management, the internal accountants and
the independent auditors (i) the Companys audited annual financial statements,
including the related notes thereto, (ii) the independent auditors report
thereon, and (iii) the Companys disclosures with respect thereto under
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations, and recommend to the Board whether the annual financial statements
of the Company should be included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K,
prior to filing the Annual Report on Form 10-K and publicly releasing annual
earnings. |
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2. |
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Review and discuss with management, the internal accountants and
the independent auditors the Companys quarterly financial statements, including
the related notes thereto, and the Companys disclosures with respect thereto
under Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations, prior to filing the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and publicly
releasing quarterly earnings. |
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3. |
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Review and discuss with management the Companys earnings press
releases, including the use of pro forma or adjusted non-GAAP financial
information and earnings guidance, prior to public disclosure thereof. |
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4. |
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Review and discuss with management, the internal accountants and
the independent auditors, and the Companys counsel, as appropriate, any legal
and regulatory matters that may have a material impact on the Companys
financial statements. |
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5. |
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Review and discuss with management, the internal accountants and
the independent auditors any significant financial reporting issues and
judgments made in connection with the
preparation of the Companys financial statements including any significant
changes in the selection or application of accounting principles. |
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6. |
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Review and discuss with management, the internal accountants and
the independent auditors any off-balance sheet transactions, special purpose
entities and transactions with affiliated companies. |
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1. |
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Have the sole authority and responsibility for the appointment,
setting of compensation and other engagement terms, oversight and evaluation of
performance and, where appropriate, termination and replacement of the
independent auditors. |
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2. |
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Have the sole authority and responsibility to pre-approve all
audit and permissible non-audit services to be provided to the Company by the
independent auditors, including the fees and terms of all audit and non-audit
services (except for permitted de minimus non-audit services) by the independent
auditors, in each case as may be permissible and compatible with the
independence of the independent auditors. |
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3. |
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Meet with the independent auditors prior to the audit to discuss
the planning and staffing of the audit. |
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4. |
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Evaluate the performance of the independent auditors. |
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5. |
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Review and discuss with management, the internal accountants and
the independent auditors (i) any significant risk exposures and the steps
management has taken to monitor and control such exposures, including the
Companys risk assessment and risk management policies, and (ii) any significant
audit findings identified by the independent auditors. |
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6. |
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Be available during the course of the audit or at other times
discuss any matters that might affect the financial statements, internal
controls or other financial aspects of the operations of the Company. |
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7. |
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Receive copies of the annual comments from the independent
auditors on accounting procedures and systems of control, subsequent to the
completion of the audit, and review with the independent auditors any questions,
comments or suggestions they may have relating to the internal controls,
accounting practices or procedures of the Company. |
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8. |
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On an annual basis, obtain from and review with the independent
auditors written disclosure delineating all relationships between the
independent auditors and the Company and its affiliates and their potential
impact on independence, including the written disclosure and letter required by
Independence Standards Board (ISB) Standard No. 1, as it may be modified or
supplemented, and discuss with the independent auditors any relationships or
services disclosed in this letter that may impact their independence. |
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9. |
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On an annual basis, obtain from and review with the independent
auditors a report regarding: (i) the independent auditors internal quality
control procedures, (ii) any material issues raised by the most recent quality
control review, or peer review, of the independent auditors, or by any inquiry
or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the
preceding five years respecting one or more independent audits carried out by
the independent auditors, and (iii) any steps taken to deal with any such
issues. |
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Inform the independent auditors that they are ultimately
accountable to the Committee. |
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11. |
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Periodically discuss with the independent auditors out of the
presence of management the Companys internal controls, including their
recommendations, if any, for improvements in the Companys internal controls and
the implementation of such recommendations, the fullness and
accuracy of the Companys financial statement and the other matters required
to be discussed by SAS No. 61, as it may be modified or supplemented, and
information that would be required to be disclosed by generally accounting
auditing standards (GAAS). |
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12. |
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Recommend to the Board policies for the hiring by the Company of
any employees or former employees of the independent auditors. |
A-4
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Oversee the rotation of the lead audit partner as and when that
rotation is required to occur and consider whether, in order to assure
continuing auditor independence, it is appropriate to adopt a policy of rotating
the independent auditors on a regular basis. |
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Internal Controls and Processes |
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1. |
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Review and discuss with the independent auditors, the internal
accountants and management (i) the adequacy of the Companys system of internal
controls and the process designed to ensure compliance with SEC reporting
requirements and with other applicable laws and regulations, (ii) any special
steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies, and (iii) policies and
procedures with respect to internal auditing and financial and accounting
controls. |
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2. |
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Review and discuss with management, the internal accountants and
the independent auditors the Companys report on internal control over financial
reporting and the independent auditors attestation of the report prior to the
filing of the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K, when such requirement
becomes applicable to the Company. |
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Meet at least annually with the Companys management and the
independent auditors in separate executive sessions to discuss any matters that
the Committee or each of these groups believes should be discussed
confidentially. |
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4. |
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In consultation with the independent auditors, review the
integrity and quality of the Companys financial reporting processes, both
internal and external, and the independent auditors perception of the Companys
financial and accounting personnel. |
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Consider the independent auditors judgments about the quality
and appropriateness of the Companys accounting principles as applied and
significant judgments affecting its financial reporting. |
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6. |
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Review and attempt to resolve any significant disagreement among
management and the independent auditors in connection with the preparation of
the financial statements. |
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7. |
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Consider and recommend to the Board, if appropriate, major
changes to the Companys financial reporting, auditing and accounting principles
and practices as suggested by the independent auditors or management. |
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8. |
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Review with the independent auditors and management the extent to
which changes or improvements in financial or accounting practices, as approved
by the Committee, have been implemented. |
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9. |
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Review the certifications filed with or furnished to the SEC by
the Companys Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and discuss
and address (i) any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of
internal controls which could adversely affect the Companys ability to record,
process, summarize and report financial data, and (ii) any fraud, whether or not
material, that involved management or other employees who have a significant
role in internal controls. |
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Review and, as the Committee deems appropriate, discuss with the
independent auditors and management (i) the appointment and performance of the
principal accounting officer, (ii) the significant reports to management
prepared by the internal accounting staff, and managements
responses thereto, and (iii) the internal accounting staff responsibilities,
budget and staffing and any recommended changes in the planned scope of the
internal audit. |
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Other Responsibilities |
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Prepare, in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated
by the SEC and applicable thereto, the Committees Report for inclusion in the
Companys proxy statement for its annual meeting of stockholders, and state
therein whether, based on its review and discussions, the |
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Committee recommended to the Board that the Companys audited financial statements be included in the
Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the last fiscal year. |
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2. |
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Conduct or authorize investigations into any matters within its
scope of responsibilities and utilizing the assistance of independent counsel,
accountants, or others as it may, in its sole discretion, determine to be
advisable. |
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3. |
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Establish procedures for (i) the receipt, retention and treatment
of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting
controls and auditing matters, and (ii) the confidential, anonymous submission
by employees of the Company of concerns regarding questionable accounting or
auditing matters. |
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Perform any other activities consistent with this Charter, the
Companys By-Laws and applicable law, as the Committee or the Board deems
necessary or appropriate. |
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5. |
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Annually conduct an evaluation of its own performance and, in
light of this, consider changes in its membership, Charter or procedures, and
report to the Board the results of its evaluation, including recommended
membership, Charter and other changes. |
Limitations on Responsibility and Duties
The Committees responsibility is oversight. The Companys management is responsible for the
preparation, presentation and integrity of the Companys financial statements. The Companys
independent auditors are responsible for planning and conducting an annual audit of the Companys
annual financial statements, expressing an opinion as to the conformity of such annual financial
statements with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and reviewing the Companys
quarterly financial statements. While the Committee has the responsibilities and duties set forth
in this Charter, its members are not auditors or certifiers of the Companys financial statements,
and it is not the duty of the Committee (i) to prepare financial statements, (ii) to plan or
conduct audits, or (iii) to determine that the Companys financial statements are complete and
accurate and in accordance with GAAP and other applicable rules and regulations, which are the
responsibility of the Companys management and independent auditors. The members of the Committee
are entitled to rely, to the fullest extent permitted by law, on the integrity of those persons
within and outside the Company from whom he or she receives information, and the accuracy of the
financial and other information provided to the Committee by such persons.
A-6
Appendix B
METRETEK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
1998 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
(As proposed to be Amended and Restated as of June 12, 2006)
Section 1. Purposes.
The purposes of the Metretek Technologies, Inc. 1998 Stock Incentive Plan (the Plan) are to
promote the long-term interests of Metretek Technologies, Inc. and its Subsidiaries by (i)
attracting, retaining and rewarding high-quality executives and other key employees and directors
of, and advisors and consultants to, the Company and its Subsidiaries, (ii) motivating such persons
by enabling them to acquire or increase a proprietary interest in the Company in order to align the
interests of such persons with the Companys stockholders, and (iii) providing such persons with
incentives to pursue and participate in the long-term growth, profitability and financial success
of the Company.
Section 2. Definitions.
In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in the Plan, the following terms as used in the
Plan shall have the meanings set forth below:
(a) Award means any Option, SAR (including Limited SAR), Restricted Stock, Deferred Stock,
Performance Award, Dividend Equivalent or Other Stock-Based Award, together with any other right or
interest granted to a Participant under the Plan.
(b) Award Agreement means any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document
evidencing any Award which may, but need not, be executed or acknowledged by a Participant.
(c) Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(d) Change in Control has the meaning given to such term in Section 9(b)(i) of the Plan.
(e) Change in Control Price has the meaning given to such term in Section 9(b)(ii) of the
Plan.
(f) Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, together
with the rules, regulations and interpretations promulgated thereunder, and any successor
provisions, rules, regulations and interpretations.
(g) Committee means a committee of directors designated by the Board, in its discretion, to
administer the Plan; provided, however, that, unless otherwise determined by the Board, the
Committee shall consist of two or more directors, each of whom shall be (i) a non-employee
director within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, unless administration of the
Plan by non-employee directors is not then required in order for exemptions under Rule 16b-3 to
apply to transactions under the Plan, and (ii) an outside director as defined under Section
162(m) of the Code, unless administration of the Plan by outside directors is not then required
in order to qualify for tax deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Code.
(h) Company means Metretek Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation, together with any
successor thereto.
(i) Covered Employee means any individual who is or, in the determination of the Board, is
likely to be a covered employee within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.
(j) Deferred Stock means a right, granted to a Participant under Section 6(e) hereof, to
receive cash, Shares, other Awards or other property at the end of a specified deferral period.
(k) Director means any individual who is a member of the Board.
B-1
(l) Dividend Equivalent means a right granted to a Participant under Section 6(g) hereof to
receive cash, Shares, other Awards or other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect
to a specific number of Shares, or other periodic payments.
(m) Effective Date means June 12, 1998, the date the Plan originally became effective. The
Effective Date of the Plan, as amended and restated, means June 12, 2006.
(n) Eligible Person means an officer, employee or director of, or an advisor or consultant
to, the Company or a Subsidiary.
(o) Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time,
together with the rules, regulations and interpretations promulgated thereunder, and any successor
provisions, rules, regulations and interpretations.
(p) Fair Market Value means the fair market value of the property or other item being
valued, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion or by procedures established by the
Board; provided, however, that the fair market value of Shares as of any date means the closing
sale price of the Shares on such date or, if there are no sales on such date, then the closing sale
price of the Shares on the most recent date prior to such date on which there was a sale of Shares,
as reported on the American Stock Exchange, any other national securities exchange, the Nasdaq
Stock Market, or any other quotation system approved by the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., on which Shares are then listed or quoted and that constitutes the primary trading
market for the Shares.
(q) Incentive Stock Option or ISO means an Option that is intended to meet the
requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto and is expressly
designated as an Incentive Stock Option.
(r) Limited SAR means a right granted to a Participant under Section 6(c) hereof.
(s) Non-Employee Director means a Director who is not an officer or employee of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries on the applicable date.
(t) Non-Qualified Stock Option or NQSO means an Option that is not intended to be an
Incentive Stock Option.
(u) Option means a right granted under Section 6(b) hereof to purchase Shares or other
Awards at a specific price during a specific time.
(v) Other Stock-Based Awards means Awards granted to a Participant under Section 6(h)
hereof.
(w) Participant means any Eligible Person who has been granted an Award under the Plan which
remains outstanding, including a person who is no longer an Eligible Person.
(x) Performance Award means a right granted under Section 8 hereof to receive Awards based
upon performance criteria specified by the Board.
(y) Person means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company,
association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or political
subdivision thereof or other entity.
(z) Plan means the Metretek Technologies, Inc. 1998 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended from
time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof.
(aa) Restricted Stock means any Shares granted under Section 6(d) hereof.
(bb) Related Party has the meaning given to such term in Section 9(b)(iii) hereof.
(cc) Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3 as from time to time in effect and applicable to the Plan
and the Participants, as promulgated and interpreted by the SEC under Section 16 of the Exchange
Act, including any successor rule thereto.
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(dd) SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto and shall
include the staff thereof.
(ee) Section 409A means Section 409A of the Code, as from time to time in effect and
applicable to the Plan and the Participants, including any proposed and final regulations and other
guidance thereunder or related thereto issued by the Department of the Treasury or the Internal
Revenue Service.
(ff) Shares means shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company, or such
other securities of the Company as may be designated by the Board from time to time.
(gg) Stock Appreciation Right or SAR means a right granted to a Participant under Section
6(c) hereof, to be paid an amount measured by the appreciation in the Fair Market Value of shares
from the date of grant to the date of exercise.
(hh) Subsidiary means any corporation (whether now or hereafter existing) which, on the date
of determination, qualifies as a subsidiary corporation of the Company under Section 425(f) of the
Code, and any successor thereto.
(ii) Voting Securities has the meaning given to such term in Section 9(b)(iv) hereof.
Section 3. Administration.
(a) Authority of the Board. The Plan shall be administered by the Board. Subject to the
terms of the Plan and applicable law, and in addition to other express powers and authorizations
conferred on the Board by the Plan, the Board shall have full power and authority to: (i)
designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to an Eligible
Person; (iii) determine the number of Awards to be granted, the number of Shares or amount of cash
or other property to which an Award will relate, the terms and conditions of any Award (including,
but not limited to, any exercise price, grant price or purchase price, any exercise or vesting
periods, any limitation or restriction, any schedule for lapse of limitations, forfeiture
restrictions or restrictions on exercisability or transferability, and any accelerations or waivers
thereof, based in each case on such considerations as the Board shall determine), and all other
matters to be determined in connection with an Award; (iv) determine whether, to what extent and
under what circumstances Awards may be settled or exercised in cash, Shares, other securities,
other Awards or other property, or Awards may be accumulated, vested, exchanged, surrendered,
canceled, forfeited or suspended; (v) determine whether, to what extent and under what
circumstances cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, other property and other amounts
payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the
Participant or of the Committee; (vi) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or
agreement relating to, or Award made under, the Plan; (vii) prescribe the form of each Award
Agreement, which need not be identical for each Participant; (viii) adopt, amend, suspend, waive or
rescind such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem necessary or desirable
for the administration of the Plan; (ix) correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any
inconsistency, and to construe and interpret the Plan, the rules and regulations, any Award
Agreement or other instrument entered into or Award made under the Plan; and (x) make any other
determinations and decisions and take any other action that the Board deems necessary or desirable
for the administration of the Plan.
(b) Exercise of Authority. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations,
determinations, interpretations and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award
shall be within the sole discretion of the Board, may be made at any time and shall be final,
conclusive and binding upon all Persons, including the Company, its Subsidiaries, Eligible Persons,
Participants, holders or beneficiaries of Awards, and stockholders. The express grant of any
specific power to the Board, and the taking of any action by the Board, shall not be construed as
limiting any power or authority of the Board. The Board may delegate to officers or managers of
the Company or any Subsidiary, or committees thereof, the authority, subject to such terms as the
Board shall determine, to perform such functions, including administrative functions, as the Board
may determine, to the extent that such delegation will not result in the loss of an exemption under
Rule 16b-3 for Awards granted to Participants subject to Section 16 of the
Exchange Act in respect of the Company and will not cause Awards intended to qualify as
performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code of the Code to fail to so
qualify. The Board may appoint agents to assist it in administering the Plan.
(c) Delegation to a Committee. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the
Board may at any time, or from time to time, appoint a Committee and delegate to such Committee the
authority of the Board to administer the Plan, including to the extend provided by the Board, the
power to further delegate such authority. Upon such
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appointment and delegation, any such Committee shall have all the powers, privileges and
duties of the Board in the administration of the Plan to the extent provided in such delegation,
except for the power to appoint members of the Committee and to terminate, modify or amend the
Plan. The Board may from time to time appoint members of any such Committee in substitution for or
in addition to members previously appointed, may fill vacancies in such Committee and may discharge
such Committee. Any such Committee shall hold its meetings at such times and places as it shall
deem advisable. A majority of members shall constitute a quorum and all determinations shall be
made by a majority of such quorum. Any determination reduced to writing and signed by all of the
members shall be fully as effective as if it had been made by a majority vote at a meeting duly
called and held.
(d) Limitation of Liability. The Board, the Committee, if any, and each member of each shall
be entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to him or
her by any executive officer, other officer or employee of the Company or a Subsidiary, the
Companys independent auditors, legal counsel, other consultants or any other agents assisting in
the administration of the Plan. Members of the Board and of the Committee, if any, and any officer
or employee of the Company or a Subsidiary acting at the direction or on behalf of the Board and of
the Committee, if any, shall not be personally liable for any action or determination taken or made
in good faith with respect to the Plan, and shall, to the extent permitted by law, be fully
indemnified and protected by the Company with respect to any such action or determination.
Section 4. Shares Available for Awards.
(a) Shares Available. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(b) hereof, the total
number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan shall be 3,750,000. If
any Shares covered by an Award granted under the Plan, or to which such an Award relates, are
forfeited, or if an Award otherwise terminates or is canceled without the delivery of Shares, or if
payment is made to the Participant in the form of cash or other property other than Shares, then
the Shares covered by such Award, or to which such Award relates, or the number of Shares otherwise
counted against the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted, to the
extent of any such settlement, forfeiture, termination or cancellation, shall again be, or shall
become, Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted, to the extent permissible under Rule
16b-3. In the event that any Option or other Award granted hereunder is exercised through the
delivery of Shares, the number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan shall be increased by
the number of Shares surrendered, to the extent permissible under Rule 16b-3. For purposes of this
Section 4(a), the number of Shares to which an Award relates shall be counted against the number of
Shares reserved and available under the Plan at the time of grant of the Award, unless such number
of Shares cannot be determined at that time, in which case the number of Shares actually
distributed pursuant to the Award shall be counted against the number of Shares reserved and
available under the Plan at the time of distribution; provided, however, that Awards related to or
retroactively added to, or granted in tandem with, substituted for or converted into, other Awards
shall be counted or not counted against the number of Shares reserved and available under the Plan
in accordance with procedures adopted by the Committee so as to ensure appropriate counting but
avoid double counting; and provided, further, that the number of Shares deemed to be issued under
the Plan upon exercise of an Option or an Other Stock-Based Award in the nature of a stock purchase
right shall be reduced by the number of Shares surrendered by the Participant in payment of the
exercise or purchase price of the Award.
(b) Adjustments. In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of
cash, Shares, other securities or other property), recapitalization, forward or reverse stock
split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase,
liquidation, dissolution, exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, or other similar
corporate transaction or event affects the Shares such that an adjustment is necessary or
determined by the Board to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the
Participants rights under the Plan, then the Board shall proportionately adjust any or all of (i)
the number and kind of Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other
securities or property) which may thereafter be issued in connection with Awards; (ii) the number
and kind of Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or
property) issued or issuable with respect to outstanding Awards; and (iii) the grant, exercise or
purchase price with respect to any Award; provided, in each case, that with respect to Awards of
Incentive Stock Options, no such adjustment shall be authorized to the extent that such authority
would cause the Plan to violate Section 422(b)(1) of the Code, as from time to time amended.
(c) Sources of Shares. Any Shares delivered pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in
part, of authorized and unissued Shares or of treasury Shares, including Shares repurchased by the
Company for purposes of the Plan.
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Section 5. Eligibility.
Awards may be granted under the Plan only to Eligible Persons, except that only Eligible
Persons who are employees of the Company or a Subsidiary shall be eligible for the grant of
Incentive Stock Options.
Section 6. Specific Terms of Awards.
(a) General. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, Awards
may be granted as set forth in this Section 6. In addition, the Board may impose on any Award or
the exercise thereof, at the date of grant or thereafter (subject to the terms of Section 10
hereof), such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as
the Board shall determine, including terms requiring forfeiture of Awards in the event of
termination of employment by the Participant and terms permitting a Participant to make elections
pertaining to his Award. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall have the right to
accelerate the vesting or exercising of any Award granted under the Plan. Except as provided in
Section 7(a) hereof, or as required by applicable law, Awards shall be granted for no consideration
other than prior and future services.
(b) Options. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board is authorized to grant Options
to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:
(i) Exercise Price. The exercise price per Share of an Option shall be determined by the
Board; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 7(a), such exercise price shall not
be less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of such Option.
(ii) Option Term. The term of each Option shall be determined by the Board.
(iii) Methods of Exercise. The Board shall determine the time or times at which or the
circumstances under which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on
achievement of performance goals and/or service requirements), the methods by which such exercise
price may be paid or deemed to be paid, and the form of such payment, including, without
limitation, cash, Shares, other outstanding Awards or other property (including notes or other
contractual obligations of Participants to make payment on a deferred bases, to the extent
permitted by law) or any combination thereof, having a Fair Market Value equal to the exercise
price.
(iv) Incentive Stock Options. The terms of any Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan
shall comply in all material respects with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code or any
successor provision thereto. Incentive Stock Options may only be issued to employees of the
Company or a Subsidiary. Anything in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no term of the Plan
relating to ISOs (including any SAR in tandem therewith) shall be interpreted, amended or altered,
nor shall any discretion or authority granted under the Plan be exercised, so as to disqualify
either the Plan or any ISO under Section 422, unless the Participant has first requested the change
that will result in such disqualification.
(v) Director Options. Options or other Awards may be granted to Non-Employee Directors in the
discretion of the Board or the Committee of such kinds, in such amounts and at such times as the
Board or the Committee shall decide in its sole discretion.
(c) Stock Appreciation Rights. The Board is authorized to grant Stock Appreciation Rights to
Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:
(i) Right to Payment. A Stock Appreciation Right shall confer on the Participant to whom it
is granted a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of a
Share on the date of exercise (or, in the case of a Limited SAR, the Fair Market Value determined
by reference to the Change in Control Price), or, if the Board shall so determine in the case of
any such right other than one related to any Incentive Stock Option, at any time during a specified
period before or after the date of exercise, over (B) the grant price of the Stock Appreciation
Right as determined by the Board as of the date of grant of the Stock Appreciation Right, which,
except as provided in Section 7(a) hereof, shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Share
on the date of grant.
(ii) Other Terms. The term, methods of exercise, methods of settlement and any other terms
and conditions of any Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Board. Limited SARs
that may only be exercised in
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connection with a Change in Control or other event as specified by the Board may be granted on such
terms, not inconsistent with this Section 6(c), as the Board may determine. SARs and Limited SARs
may be awarded either on a free-standing basis or in tandem with other Awards.
(d) Restricted Stock. The Board is authorized to grant Restricted Stock to Eligible Persons
on the following terms and conditions:
(i) Grant and Restrictions. Restricted Stock shall be subject to such restrictions on
transferability, risk of forfeiture and other restrictions as the Board may impose (including,
without limitation, limitations on the right to vote Restricted Stock or the right to receive
dividends thereon), which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, under
such circumstances (including based on the achievement of performance goals and/or future service
requirements), in such installments, or otherwise, as the Board shall determine at the time of
grant or thereafter. Except to the extent restricted under the terms of the Plan and any Award
Agreement relating to the Restricted Stock, a Participant granted Restricted Stock shall have all
of the rights of a stockholder, including the right to vote the Restricted Stock and the right to
receive dividends thereon (subject to any mandatory reinvestment or other requirement imposed by
the Board). During the restricted period applicable to the Restricted Stock, subject to Section 11
hereof, the Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, margined or
otherwise encumbered by the Participant.
(ii) Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the Board at the time of grant or
thereafter, upon termination of employment or service on the Board (as determined under criteria
established by the Board) during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Stock that is at
that time subject to restrictions shall be forfeited and reacquired by the Company; provided,
however, that restrictions on Restricted Stock shall be waived in whole or in part in the event of
terminations resulting from specified causes, and the Board may in other cases waive in whole or in
part restrictions on or the forfeiture of Restricted Stock.
(iii) Certificates for Shares. Restricted Stock granted under the Plan may be evidenced in
such manner as the Board shall determine, including, without limitation, issuance of certificates
representing Shares. Certificates representing Shares of Restricted Stock shall be registered in
the name of the Participant and shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions
and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, and the Board may require that the Company
retain physical possession of the Certificates, and that the Participant deliver a stock power to
the Company, endorsed in blank, relating to the Restricted Stock.
(iv) Dividends and Splits. As a condition to the grant of an Award of Restricted Stock, the
Board may require that any cash dividends paid on a share of Restricted Stock be automatically
reinvested in additional shares of Restricted Stock or applied to the purchase of additional Awards
under the Plan. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, Shares distributed in connection with a
stock split or stock dividend, and other property distributed as a dividend, shall be subject to
restrictions and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Stock with respect to
which such Shares or other property has been distributed.
(e) Deferred Stock. The Board is authorized to grant Deferred Stock to Eligible Persons on
the following terms and conditions:
(i) Issuance and Limitations. Delivery of Shares shall occur upon expiration of the deferral
period specified for the Award of Deferred Stock by the Board. In addition, an Award of Deferred
Stock shall be subject to such limitations (including a risk of forfeiture) as the Committee may
impose (if any), which limitations may lapse at the expiration of the deferral period or at other
specified times (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service
requirements, separately or in combination, in installments or otherwise, as the Committee shall
determine at the time of grant or thereafter. A Participant awarded Deferred Stock shall have no
voting rights and shall have no rights to receive dividends in respect of Deferred Stock, unless
and only to the extent that the Committee shall award Dividend Equivalents in respect of such
Deferred Stock.
(ii) Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the Board upon termination of employment
with or service to the Company (as determined under criteria established by the Board) during the
applicable deferral period or portion thereof to which forfeiture conditions apply, Deferred Stock
that is at that time subject to deferral (other than a deferral at the election of the Participant)
shall be forfeited; provided, however, that the Board may provide, by rule or regulation or in any
Award Agreement or may determine in any individual case, that restriction or forfeiture conditions
relating to Deferred Stock shall be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations
resulting from specified causes, and the Board may in other cases waive in whole or in part the
forfeiture of Deferred Stock.
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(iii) Section 409A. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the terms and conditions of any Award of
Deferred Stock under the Plan shall satisfy the requirements for exemption under Section 409A or
shall satisfy the requirements of Section 409A determined by the Board prior to such deferral.
(f) Bonus Shares and Awards in Lieu of Obligations. The Board is authorized to grant Shares
or other Awards as a bonus to Eligible Persons or in lieu of obligations to pay cash or deliver
other property under the Plan or under other plans or compensatory arrangements (including salary
requirements), provided that, in the case of Participants subject to Section 16 of the Exchange
Act, the amount of such grants remains within the discretion of the Board to the extent necessary
to ensure that acquisitions of Shares or other Awards are exempt from liability under Section 16(b)
of the Exchange Act. Shares or Awards granted hereunder shall be subject to such other terms as
shall be determined by the Board.
(g) Dividend Equivalents. The Board is authorized to grant Dividend Equivalents to a
Participant. Dividend Equivalents shall confer upon the Participant rights to receive, currently
or on a deferred basis, cash, Shares, other Awards or other property equal in value to dividends
paid with respect to a specified number of Shares, or otherwise, as determined by the Board. The
Board may provide that Dividend Equivalents shall be paid or distributed when accrued or shall be
deemed to have been reinvested in additional Shares or Awards or other investment vehicles, and
subject to such restrictions or transferability and risk of forfeiture, as the Board may specify.
Dividend Equivalents may be awarded on a free-standing basis or with another Award. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the terms and conditions of any Award of Dividend Equivalents under the Plan shall
comply with any applicable requirements under Section 409A.
(h) Other Stock-Based Awards. The Board is authorized, subject to limitations under
applicable law, to grant to Participants such other Awards that are denominated or payable in,
valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Shares, as deemed
by the Board to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan, including, without limitation,
purchase rights for Shares, Shares awarded which are not subject to any restrictions or conditions,
convertible or exchangeable debt securities or other rights convertible or exchangeable into
Shares, Awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the Company or any other
factors designated by the Board, and Awards valued by reference to the book value of Shares or the
value of securities of or the performance of specified Subsidiaries as the Board determines. The
Board shall determine the terms and conditions of such awards. Except as provided in Section 7(a)
hereof, Shares or securities delivered pursuant to an Award in the nature of a purchase right
granted under this Section 6(h) shall be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such times,
by such methods and in such forms, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other outstanding
Awards or other property or any combination thereof, as the Committee shall determine. Cash
awards, as an element of or supplement to any other Award under the Plan, may also be granted
pursuant to this Section 6(h).
(i) Exchange Provisions. The Board may at any time offer to exchange or buy out any
previously granted Award for a payment in cash, Shares, another Award or other property, based on
such terms and conditions as the Board shall determine and communicate to the Participant at the
time that such offer is made, provided such terms and conditions comply with any applicable
requirements of Section 409A.
Section 7. General Terms of Awards.
(a) Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem and Substitute Awards. Awards granted under the Plan may,
in the discretion of the Board, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with or in
substitution or exchange for, any other Award granted under the Plan or any award granted under any
other plan of the Company or any Subsidiary (subject to the terms of Section 10 hereof), or any
other right of a Participant to receive payment from the Company or any Subsidiary. Such
additional, tandem, substitute or exchange Awards may be granted at any time. If an Award is
granted in substitution or exchange for another Award or award, the Board shall require the
surrender of such other Award or award in consideration for the grant of the new Award. The
exercise price of any Option, the grant price of any Stock Appreciation Right or the purchase price
of any other Award conferring a right to purchase Share retroactively granted in tandem with an
outstanding Award or award shall be either not less than the Fair Market Value of Shares at the
date of grant of the later Award or equal to the Fair Market Value of Shares at the date of grant
of the earlier Award or award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the exercise price of any Option,
grant price of any Stock Appreciation Right or purchase price of any other Award conferring a right
to purchase Shares which is granted in exchange or substitution for an option, stock appreciation
right or other award granted by the Company (other than in connection with a transaction described
in Section 9(a) hereof) shall not be less than the exercise price, grant price or purchase price of
the exchanged or substituted Option, Stock Appreciation Right or other Award, and outstanding
Awards shall not be amended (other than in connection with a transaction described in Section 4(b)
hereof to reduce the exercise price, grant price or purchase price of any such Award.
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(b) Decisions Required to be Made by the Board. Other provisions of the Plan and any Award
Agreement notwithstanding, if any decision regarding an Award or the exercise of any right by a
Participant, at any time such Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act or is a
Covered Employee under Section 162(m) of the Code, is required to be made or approved by the Board
in order that a grant to or transaction by such Participant will be exempt under Rule 16b-3 or
qualify as qualified performance-based compensation for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code
then the Board shall retain full and exclusive power and authority to make such decision or to
approve or disapprove any such decision by the Participant.
(c) Term of Awards. The term of each Award shall be for such period as may be determined by
the Board; provided, however, that in no event shall the term of any Incentive Stock Option, or a
Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem therewith, exceed a period of ten years from the date of
its grant; and provided, further, that the terms and conditions of each Award shall comply with any
applicable requirements of Section 409A.
(d) Form and Timing of Payment of Awards. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable
Award Agreement, payments or substitutions to be made by the Company or a Subsidiary upon the
grant, exercise or settlement of an Award may be made in such forms as the Board shall determine at
the time of grant or thereafter (subject to the terms of Section 10 hereof), including, without
limitation, cash, Shares, other Awards or other property or any combination thereof, and may be
made in a single payment or substitution, in installments or on a deferred basis, in each case in
accordance with rules and procedures established by the Board. Such rules and procedures may
include, without limitation, provisions for the payment or crediting of reasonable interest on
installment or deferred payments or the grant or crediting of Dividend Equivalents in respect of
installment or deferred payments. The settlement of any Award may be accelerated, and cash paid in
lieu of Shares in connection with such settlement, in the discretion of the Board or upon
occurrence of one or more specified events (in addition to a Change in Control), provided such
terms and conditions of any such settlement comply with any applicable requirements of Section
409A.
(e) Exemptions from Section 16(b) Liability. It is the intent of the Company that the grant
of any Awards to or other transaction by a Participant who is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange
Act shall be exempt under Rule 16b-3 (except for transactions acknowledged in writing to be
non-exempt by such Participant). Accordingly, if any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement
does not comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 as then applicable to any such transaction,
such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to the
applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 so that such Participant shall avoid liability under Section
16(b).
(f) Share Certificates. All certificates for Shares delivered under the terms of the Plan
shall be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem
advisable under federal or state securities laws, rules and regulations thereunder, and the rules
of any national securities exchange, the Nasdaq Stock Market or any other automated quotation
system on which Shares are listed or quoted. The Board may cause a legend or legends to be placed
on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions or any other
restrictions or limitations that may be applicable to Shares. In addition, during any period in
which Awards or Shares are subject to restrictions or limitations under the terms of the Plan or
any Award Agreement, or during any period during which delivery or receipt of an Award or Shares
has been deferred by the Board or a Participant, the Board may require any Participant to enter
into an agreement providing that certificates representing Shares issuable or issued pursuant to an
Award shall remain in the physical custody of the Company or such other Person as the Committee may
designate.
Section 8. Performance Awards.
(a) Performance Conditions. The right of a Participant to exercise or receive a grant or
settlement of any Award, and the timing thereof, may be subject to such performance conditions as
may be specified by the Board. The Board may use such business criteria and other measures of
performance as it may deem appropriate in establishing any performance conditions, and may exercise
its discretion to reduce or increase the amounts payable under any Award subject to performance
conditions, except as limited under Section 8(b) hereof in the case of a Performance Award intended
to qualify under Section 162(m) of the Code.
(b) Performance Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees. If the Board determines that
a Performance Award to be granted to an Eligible Person who is designated by the Board as likely to
be a Covered Employee should qualify as performance-based compensation for purposes of Section
162(m) of the Code, the Board shall comply with the pre-established performance goals and other
terms set forth in this Section 8(b).
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(i) Performance Goals Generally. The performance goals for such Performance Awards shall
consist of one or more business criteria and a targeted level or levels of performance with respect
to each of such criteria, as specified by the Board consistent with this Section 8(b).
Performance goals shall be objective and shall otherwise meet the requirements of Section 162(m) of
the Code, including the requirement that the level or levels of performance targeted by the Board
result in the achievement of performance goals being substantially uncertain. The Board may
determine that such achievement of performance be granted, exercised and/or settled upon
achievement of any one performance goal or that two or more of the performance goals must be
achieved as a condition to grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Performance Awards.
Performance goals may differ for Performance Awards granted to anyone Participant or to different
Participants.
(ii) Business Criteria. One or more of the following business criteria for the Company, on a
consolidated basis, and/or for specified Subsidiaries or business units of the Company (except with
respect to the total stockholder return and earnings per share criteria), shall be used by the
Board in establishing performance goals for such Performance Awards: (1) earnings per share; (2)
revenues; (3) cash flow; (4) return on investment; (5) return on net assets, assets, capital or
equity; (6) economic value added; (7) operating margin; (8) net income; (9) pretax earnings; (10)
pretax earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization; (11) pretax operating earnings
after interest expense and before extraordinary or special items; (12) operating earnings; (13)
total stockholder return; (14) price of the shares (and changes thereof); and (15) any of the above
goals as compared to the performance of a published or special index deemed applicable by the Board
including, but not limited to, the Standard & Poors 500 Stock Index or a group of comparable
companies.
(iii) Performance Period; Timing for Establishing Performance Goals. Achievement of
performance goals in respect of such Performance Awards shall be measured over a performance period
of up to 10 years, a specified by the Board. Performance goals shall be established not later than
90 days after the beginning of any performance period applicable to such Performance Awards or at
such other date as may be required or permitted for performance-based compensation under Section
162(m) of the Code.
(iv) Performance Award Pool. The Board may establish a Performance Award pool, which shall be
an unfunded pool for purposes of measuring performance of the Company in connection with
Performance Awards. The amount of such Performance Award pool shall be based upon the achievement
of a performance goal or goals based on one or more of the business criteria set forth in Section
8(b)(ii) hereof during the given performance period, as specified by the Board in accordance with
Section 8(b)(iii) hereof. The Board may specify the amount of the Performance Award pool as a
percentage of any such business criteria, a percentage thereof in excess of a threshold amount, or
as another amount which need not bear a strictly mathematical relationship to such business
criteria.
(v) Settlement of Performance Awards; Other Terms. Settlement of such Performance Awards
shall be in cash, Stock, other Awards or other property, in the discretion of the Board. The Board
may, in its discretion, reduce the amount of a settlement otherwise to be made in connection with
such Performance Awards, but may not exercise discretion to increase any such amount payable to a
Covered Employee in respect of a Performance Award subject to this Section 8(b). The Board shall
specify the circumstances in which such Performance Awards shall be paid or forfeited in the event
of termination of employment by the Participant prior to the end of a performance period or
settlement of Performance Awards.
(c) Written Determinations. All determinations by the Board as to the establishment of
performance goals, the amount of any Performance Award pool or potential individual Performance
Awards and as to the achievement of performance goals relating to Performance Awards under Section
8(b) hereof shall be made in writing in the case of any Award intended to qualify under Section
162(m) of the Code. The Board may not delegate any responsibility relating to such Performance
Awards.
(d) Status of Section 8(b) Awards under Section 162(m) of the Code. It is the intent of the
Company that Performance Awards under Section 8(b) granted to persons who are designated by the
Committee as likely to be Covered Employees within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and
the regulations thereunder shall, if so designated by the Board, constitute performance-based
compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code of the Code and the regulations
thereunder. The foregoing notwithstanding, because the Board cannot determine with certainty
whether a given participant will be a Covered Employee with respect to a fiscal year that has not
yet been completed, the term Covered Employee as used herein shall mean only a person designated
by the Committee, at the time of grant of Performance Awards or an Annual Incentive Award, as
likely to be a Covered Employee with respect to that fiscal year. If any provision of the Plan as
in effect on the date of adoption or any agreements relating to performance Awards or Annual
Incentive Awards that are designated as intended to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code does not
comply or is
B-9
inconsistent with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code, such provision shall be construed
or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements.
Section 9. Change in Control.
(a) Acceleration of Exercisability and Lapse of Restrictions and Cash-Out of Awards upon
Change in Control. In the event of a Change in Control, subject only to the applicable
restrictions set forth in Section 11(a) hereof, the following provisions shall apply unless
otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, and:
(i) All outstanding Awards, pursuant to which the Participant may have a right to exercise
which was not previously exercisable and vested, shall become fully exercisable and vested as of
the time of the Change in Control and shall remain exercisable and vested for the balance of the
stated term of such Award without regard to any termination of employment or services by the
Participant.
(ii) Unless the right to lapse of restrictions or limitations is waived or deferred by a
Participant prior to such lapse, all restrictions (including risks of forfeiture and deferrals) on
outstanding Awards subject to restrictions or limitations under the Plan shall lapse and such
Awards shall be deemed fully vested as of the time of the Change in Control.
(iii) All performance criteria, goals and other conditions to payment of Awards under which
payments of cash, Shares or other property are subject to conditions shall be deemed to be achieved
or fulfilled as of the time of the Change in Control.
(iv) For a period of 60 days following a Change in Control, each Participant may elect to
surrender any outstanding Award and to receive, in full satisfaction therefor, a cash payment equal
to the value of such Award calculated on the basis of the Change in Control Price of any Shares or
the Fair Market Value of any property other than Shares relating to such Award; provided, however,
that in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, or a Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem
therewith, the payment shall be based upon the Fair Market Value of Shares on the date which the
Change in Control occurred; provided further, however, that in the case of a Change in Control
described in Section 9(b)(i)(C) or (D) hereof, the payment described in this sentence shall not
necessarily be made in cash but instead shall be made in the same form (i.e., cash, Shares, other
securities or combination thereof) as holders of Shares receive in exchange for their Shares in the
transaction that results in the Change in Control. In the event that an Award is granted in tandem
with another Award such that the Participants right to payment for such Award is an alternative to
payment of another Award, the Participant electing to surrender any such tandem Award shall
surrender all alternative Awards related thereto and receive payment for the Award which produces
the highest payment to the Participant.
(b) Definition of Certain Terms. For purposes of this Section 9, the following definitions,
in addition to those set forth in Section 2, shall apply:
(i) Change in Control means and shall be deemed to have occurred if:
(A) any Person, other than the Company or a Related Party, is or becomes the beneficial
owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, except that a Person shall be deemed to be
the beneficial owner of all Shares that such Person has the right to acquire pursuant to any
agreement or arrangement or upon exercise, conversation rights, warrants, options or otherwise,
without regard to the 60 day period referred to in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or
indirectly, of Voting Securities representing 25% or more of the total voting power of all the then
outstanding Voting Securities, except that there shall be excluded from the number of Voting
Securities deemed to be beneficially owned by a Person a number of Voting Securities representing
not more than 10 percent of the then outstanding voting power if such Person is (1) eligible to
file a Schedule 13G pursuant to Rule 13-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act with respect to Voting
Securities or (2) an underwriter who becomes the beneficial owner of more than 20% of the then
outstanding Voting Securities pursuant to a firm commitment underwriting agreement with the
Company; or
(B) the individuals who, as of the effective date of the Plan, constitute the members of the
Board together with those directors who are first elected subsequent to such date and whose
election by the Board or nomination for election by the Companys stockholders was approved by a
vote of at least a majority of the members of the Board then still in office who were either
directors as of the effective date of the Plan or whose election or nomination for election was
previously so approved (the Continuing Directors), cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the members of the Board; or
B-10
(C) the consummation of a merger, consolidation, recapitalization or reorganization of the
Company, reverse spilt of any class of Voting Securities, or in an acquisition of securities or
assets by the Company, other than (1) any such transaction which would result in at least 75% of
the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding
immediately after such transaction being beneficially owned by at least 75% of the holders of
outstanding Voting Securities immediately prior to the transaction, with the voting power of each
such continuing holder relative to other such continuing holders not substantially altered in the
transaction, or (2) any such transaction which would result in a Related Party beneficially owning
more than 50% of the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such
transaction; or
(D) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or
an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the
Companys assets other than (1) any such transaction which would result in a Related Party owning
or acquiring more than 50 percent of the assets owned by the Company immediately prior to the
transaction, or (2) a sale or disposition immediately after which such assets will be owned
directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as
their ownership of the common stock of the Company immediately prior to such sale or disposition.
(E) any other event occurs which the Board determines, in its discretion, would materially
alter the structure of the Company or its ownership.
(ii) Change in Control Price means, with respect to a Share, the higher of (A) the highest
Fair Market Value of the Shares at any time during the 60 calendar days preceding and the 60 days
following the Change in Control; or (B) the highest price paid per Share in a transaction which
either (1) results in a Change in Control or (2) would be consummated but for another transaction
which results in a Change in Control and, if it were consummated, would result in a Change in
Control. With respect to clause (B) in the preceding sentence, the price paid will be equal to
the sum of (1) the face amount of any portion of the consideration consisting of cash or cash
equivalents and (2) the Fair Market Value of any portion of the consideration consisting or real or
personal property other than cash or cash equivalents, as established by an independent appraiser
selected by the Board.
(iii) Related Party means (A) a Subsidiary of the Company; or (B) an employee or group of
employees of the Company or any majority-owned Subsidiary of the Company; or (C) a trustee or other
fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any majority-owned
Subsidiary of the Company; or (D) an entity owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the
Company in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of Voting Securities.
(iv) Voting Securities or Security means any securities of the Company which carry the right
to vote generally in the election of directors.
Section 10. Amendments to and Termination of the Plan and Awards.
(a) Generally. The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan or the
Committees authority to grant Awards under the Plan without the consent of stockholders or
Participants, except that (i) any amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination
shall be subject to approval of the Companys stockholders not later than the annual meeting next
following such Board action if stockholder approval is required by any federal or state law or
regulation or the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market or on any national securities exchange, stock
market or automated quotation system on which the Shares are then listed, traded or quoted, or if
the Board in its discretion determines that obtaining such stockholder approval is for any reason
advisable; provided, however, that, without the consent of the Participant, no amendment,
alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination of the Plan may materially and adversely
affect the rights of such Participant under any Award theretofore granted to him; and (ii) the
exercise price of any outstanding Option may not be reduced, directly or indirectly, including
without limitation by canceling any outstanding Option for the purpose of reissuing the Option to
the Participant at a lower exercise price, without the prior approval of the Companys
stockholders. The Board may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or amend,
alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate, any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or
retrospectively; provided, however, that, without the consent of the Participant, no amendment,
alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination of any Award may materially and adversely
affect the rights of such Participant under any Award theretofore granted to him.
(b) Section 409A. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to the extent applicable,
notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Plan and Awards issued hereunder shall be
interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and
other interpretative guidance issued thereunder. Notwithstanding
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any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that the Board or the Committee, if any,
determines that any amounts payable hereunder will be taxable to a Participant under Section 409A,
the Company may (a) adopt such amendments to the Plan and Awards and appropriate policies and
procedures, including amendments and policies with retroactive effect, that the Board or the
Committee, if any, determines necessary or appropriate to preserve the intended tax treatment of
the benefits provided by the Plan and Awards hereunder and/or (b) take such other actions as the
Board or the Committee, if any, determines necessary or appropriate to avoid the imposition of an
additional tax under Section 409A.
Section 11. General Provisions.
(a) Compliance with Legal and Other Requirements. The Company may, to the extent deemed
necessary or advisable by the Board, postpone the issuance or delivery of Shares or payment of
other benefits under any Award until completion of such registration or qualification of such
Shares or other required action under any federal or state law, rule or regulation, listing or
other required action with respect to the Nasdaq Stock Market or any national securities exchange,
automated quotation system or any other stock exchange or stock market upon which the Shares or
other securities of the Company are listed or quoted, or compliance with any other obligation of
the Company, as the Board may consider appropriate, and may require any Participant to make such
representations, furnish such information and comply with or be subject to such other conditions as
it may consider appropriate in connection with the issuance or delivery of Shares or payment of
other benefits in compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations, listing requirements, or
other obligations. The foregoing notwithstanding, in connection with a Change in Control, the
Company shall take or cause to be taken no action, and shall undertake or permit to arise no legal
or contractual obligation, that results or would result in any postponement of the issuance or
delivery of Stock or payment of benefits under any Award or the imposition of any other conditions
on such issuance, delivery or payment, to the extent that such postponement of other condition
would represent a greater burden on a Participant than existed on the 90th day preceding the Change
in Control.
(b) Transferability. No Award granted under the Plan, nor any other rights acquired by a
Participant under the Plan, shall be assignable or transferable by a Participant, other than by a
will or the laws of descent and distribution, or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order
as defined under the Code or Title I of the Board of Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and
each such Award or right shall be exercisable during the Participants lifetime only by the
Participant or, if admissible under applicable law, by the Participants guardian or legal
representative or a transferee receiving such Award pursuant to a QDRO; provided, however, that the
Board may, in its sole discretion, authorize all or a portion of an Award to be transferable by the
Participant, but only to (i) any immediate family members of the Participant, (ii) any trust or
trusts for the exclusive benefit of such immediate family members, or (iii) a partnership or
limited liability company in which such immediate family members are the only partners or members,
provided that (A) there may be no consideration for any such transfer, other than an interest in a
transferees partnership, limited liability company or other similar entity, (B) the Award
Agreement related to the Award must expressly provide for such transferability in a manner
consistent with this section 11(b), (C) the Board, in granting an Award, may impose additional
restrictions on transfer or prohibit such transfer entirely, (D) following any transfer, any such
Award shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately
prior to transfer, provided that for purposes of the Plan, any reference to a Participant shall be
deemed to refer to the transferee, (E) in the event of a transferees death, an Award may be
exercised by the personal representative of the transferees estate or, if no personal
representative has been appointed, by the successor or successors in interest determined under the
transferees will or under the applicable laws of descent and distribution. Following any such
transfer, any transferee shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were
applicable immediately prior to transfer, provided for purposes of Section 11(b) hereof, the term
Participant shall be deemed to refer to the transferee, and any event of termination of
employment of the Participant as set forth in the Award Agreement or in this Plan shall continue to
be applied with respect to the original Participant, following which the Award shall be exercisable
by the transferee only to the extent, and for the period specified by, the Award Agreements.
(c) No Rights to Awards; No Stockholder Rights. Nothing in the Plan shall be construed as
giving any Participant, Eligible Person or other Person any right to claim to be granted any Award
under the Plan, or to be treated uniformly with other Participants and Eligible Persons. No Award
shall confer on any Participant any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company unless and until
Shares are in fact issued to such Participant in connection with the terms of such Award.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with each grant of Restricted Stock hereunder, the
applicable Award shall specify if and to what extent the Participant shall not be entitled to the
rights of a stockholder in respect of such Restricted Stock.
(d) Withholding. The Company or any Subsidiary is authorized to withhold from any Award
granted or any payment due under the Plan, including from a distribution of Shares, amounts of
withholding and other taxes due with respect to an Award, its exercise or any payment thereunder,
and to take such other action as the Committee may deem
B-12
necessary or advisable to enable the Company and Participants to satisfy obligations for the
payment of withholding taxes and other tax obligations relating to any Awards. This authority
shall include authority to withhold or receive Shares, Awards or other property and to make cash
payments in respect thereof in satisfaction of such tax obligations.
(e) No Right to Employment. Nothing contained in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall
confer, and no grant of an Award shall be construed as, (i) conferring, upon any Participant or any
Eligible Person, any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or any Subsidiary or
(ii) interfering in any way with the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to (A) terminate any
Participants or Eligible Persons employment or service at any time or (B) increase or decrease
the compensation of any Participant or Eligible Person from the rate in existence at the time of
granting of an Award, except as may be expressly provided in any Award Agreement or other
compensation arrangement.
(f) Unfunded Status of Awards; Creation of Trusts. The Plan is intended to constitute an
unfunded plan for incentive and deferred compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made
to Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award shall give any such
Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company;
provided, however, that the Board may authorize the creation of trusts or make other arrangements
to meet the Companys obligations under the Plan to deliver cash, Shares or other property pursuant
to any Award, which trusts or other arrangements shall be consistent with the unfunded status of
the Plan unless the Board otherwise determines.
(g) No Limit on Other Compensatory Arrangements. Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent
the Company or any Subsidiary from adopting or continuing in effect other or additional
compensation arrangements (which may include, without limitation, employment agreements with
executives and arrangements which relate to Awards under the Plan), and such arrangements may be
either generally applicable only in specific cases.
(h) No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the
Plan or any Award. The Board shall determine whether cash, other Awards or other property shall be
issued or paid in lieu of fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto
shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.
(i) Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and effect of the Plan, any
rules and regulations relating to the Plan and any Award Agreement shall be governed by the laws of
the State of Delaware (without regard to provisions governing conflicts of laws) and applicable
federal law.
(j) Severability.
(i) If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any Person or Award, or would disqualify the
Plan or any Award under any law deemed amended to conform to applicable laws or, if it cannot be
construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Board, materially altering the
intent of the Plan, it shall be deleted and the remainder of the Plan shall remain in full force
and effect; provided, however, that, unless otherwise determined by the Board, the provision shall
not be construed or deemed amended or deleted with respect to any Participant whose rights and
obligations under the Plan are not subject to the law of such jurisdiction or the law deemed
applicable by the Board.
(ii) If any of the terms or provisions of the Plan conflict with the requirements of
applicable law or applicable rules and regulations thereunder, including the requirements of
Section 162(m) of the Code, Rule 16b-3 and/or Section 422A of the Code, then such terms or
provisions shall be deemed inoperative to the extent necessary to avoid the conflict with
applicable law, or applicable rules and regulations, without invalidating the remaining provisions
hereof. With respect to ISOs, if the Plan does not contain any provision required to be included
herein under Section 422A of the Code, such provisions shall be deemed to be incorporated herein
with the same force and effect as if such provision had been set out at length herein; provided,
further, that to the extent any Option which is intended to qualify as an ISO cannot so qualify,
such Option, to that extent, shall be deemed to be a Nonqualified Stock Option for all purposes of
the Plan.
(k) Rule 16b-3 Compliance. With respect to persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act,
transactions under the Plan are intended to comply with all applicable terms and conditions of Rule
16b-3 and any successor provisions. To the extent that any provision of the Plan or action by the
Board fails to so comply, it shall be deemed null and void, to the extent permitted by law and
deemed advisable by the Board.
B-13
(l) Headings. Headings are given to the sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a
convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or
relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.
(m) Award Agreements. Each Award hereunder shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement which
shall be delivered to the Participant and shall specify the terms and conditions of the Award and
any rules applicable thereto. Such terms may include, but are not limited to, the effect on such
Award of the death, retirement or other termination of employment of a Participant and the effect,
if any, of a change in control of the Company.
(n) Indemnification. Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Committee, if any,
or of the Board shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss,
cost, liability or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him in connection
with or resulting from any claim, action, suit or proceeding to which he may be made a party or in
which he may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and against
and from any and all amounts paid by him in settlement thereof, with the Companys approval, or
paid by him in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding against him,
provided he shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the
same before he undertakes to handle and defend it on his own behalf. The foregoing right of
indemnification shall not be exclusive and shall be independent of any other rights of
indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Companys Certificate of
Incorporation or By-laws, by contract, as a matter of law, or otherwise.
(o) Construction. For purposes of the Plan, the following rules of construction shall apply:
(i) the word or is disjunctive but not necessarily exclusive; (ii) words in the singular include
the plural; words in the plural include the singular; and words in the neuter gender include the
masculine and feminine genders; and (iii) words in the masculine or feminine gender include the
other and neuter genders.
Section 12. Effective Date and Termination.
(a) The Plan originally became effective as of June 12, 1998, the date the Plan was originally
adopted and approved by the stockholders of the Company. The Plan, as amended and restated, shall
become effective June 12, 2006.
(b) Awards may not be granted under the Plan after June 12, 2008. Unless otherwise expressly
provided in the Plan or in an applicable Award Agreement, any Award granted hereunder may, and the
authority of the Board to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue or terminate any such Award or
to waive any conditions or rights under any such Award shall, continue after June 12, 2008.
Section 13. Section 409A.
The Company intends that any and all Awards under the Plan satisfy the requirements of
Section 409A to avoid the imposition of excise taxes thereunder, and the provisions of this Plan
shall be interpreted in a manner that is consistent with such intention. Notwithstanding other
provisions of the Plan or any Award agreements thereunder, no Award shall be granted, deferred,
accelerated, extended, paid out or modified under this Plan in a manner that would result in the
imposition of an additional tax under Section 409A upon a Participant. In the event that it is
reasonably determined by the Committee that, as a result of Section 409A, payments in respect of
any Award under the Plan may not be made at the time contemplated by the terms of the Plan or the
relevant Award agreement, as the case may be, without causing the Participant holding such Award to
be subject to taxation under Section 409A, the Company will make such payment on the first day that
would not result in the Participant incurring any tax liability under Section 409A.
B-14
PROXY -- METRETEK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR THE 2006 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD JUNE 12, 2006
The undersigned stockholder of Metretek Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
Company), hereby appoints W. Phillip Marcum and A. Bradley Gabbard, or either of them, with full
power and substitution, as proxy or proxies of the undersigned, to represent the undersigned, and
to exercise all the powers that the undersigned would have if personally present to act and to vote
all of the shares of the Company that the undersigned is entitled to vote, at the 2006 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders of the Company (the Annual Meeting) called to be held on Monday, June 12,
2006, at 9:00 a.m. at The Warwick Hotel, 1776 Grant Street, Denver, Colorado, and at any
adjournments or postponements thereof, as indicated on the reverse.
The shares represented by this proxy card when properly executed will be voted as specified. If no
specification is made, the shares will be voted FOR Items 1, 2 and 3 and in accordance with
the discretion of the proxies upon such other business as may properly come before the Annual
Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. All proxies previously given are hereby
revoked. Receipt of the accompanying Proxy Statement is hereby acknowledged.
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED SELF-ADDRESSED
ENVELOPE, WHICH REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.
A. Election of Director
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE FOLLOWING NOMINEE:
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To elect one director of the Company, to serve for a term of three years and until his successor is duly elected and qualified. |
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Anthony D. Pell
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o FOR o WITHHOLD |
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B. Issues
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE FOLLOWING PROPOSALS:
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2.
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To approve proposed amendments to the Companys
1998 Stock Incentive Plan to increase the number of
shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance
thereunder by 1,000,000 shares to an aggregate
of 3,750,000 shares and to effect certain other
amendments.
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o FOR
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o AGAINST
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o ABSTAIN |
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3.
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To ratify the appointment of Hein & Associates LLP
as the Companys independent registered public
accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006.
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o FOR
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o AGAINST
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o ABSTAIN |
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4.
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In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to take
action and to vote upon such other business as may
properly come before the Annual Meeting or any
adjournments or postponements thereof. |
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Please check this box if you are planning to attend
the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
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C. Authorized Signatures - Sign Here - This section must be completed for your instructions to be executed.
INSTRUCTIONS: Please sign exactly as your name appears on the label above and return this
proxy card promptly in the accompanying envelope. When shares are held by joint tenants, both
should sign. When shares are held in the name of a corporation, partnership, limited liability
company or other entity, please sign the full entity name by an authorized officer, partner,
manager, member or other authorized person. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator,
trustee, guardian or in any other representative capacity, please give your full title as such.
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Signature 1 -- Please keep signature within the box
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Signature 2 -- Please keep signature within the box
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Date(mm/dd/yy) |
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/ / |