BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
Number, Term and Election of Directors
Our articles of incorporation provide
that the number of directors shall be determined in the manner provided by our bylaws. Our bylaws provide that the number of directors shall not be
less than four or more than ten, with the precise number to be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is currently
composed of eight directors and divided into three classes as follows:
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|
Two Class I Directors Messrs. Ivesdal and Pahre, whose
terms will expire at the Annual Meeting. Messrs. Ivesdal and Pahre have been nominated for re-election at the Annual Meeting to serve three-year terms
ending in 2011. |
|
|
Three Class II Directors Messrs. Gilberto H. Gonzalez and
Albert A. James and Ms. Agatha L. Maza, whose terms will expire at the 2009 annual meeting. |
|
|
Three Class III Directors Dr. Rhett R. Atkins, Mr. Jon E.
M. Jacoby and Dr. William T. Weyerhaeuser, whose terms will expire at the 2010 annual meeting. |
Generally, one class of directors will
be elected each year by our shareholders. Each director will hold office until the election and qualification of his or her successor or upon earlier
resignation or removal. Any additional directorships resulting from an increase in the number 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 following individuals are
continuing Class II Directors (terms to expire in 2009) and are not standing for election this year:
Gilberto H. Gonzalez (age 60)
has served as one of our directors since February 2003. Mr. Gonzalez currently serves as Chairman of Evergreen Business Group, LLC, a company involved
in real estate marketing, investing and development, and as Chairman of Select Capital Group, a financial services company. Beginning in 1970, Mr.
Gonzalez has worked in the agricultural chemical business in various executive capacities in sales and marketing. Most recently, Mr. Gonzalez served as
Executive Vice President of Micro Flo Company, an agricultural chemical production company, from 1991 to 1999, and Regional Sales Manager from 1985 to
1989. From 1970 to 1985, Mr. Gonzalez worked for Helena Chemical Company in a variety of managerial roles, most notably Division Manager of the Midwest
and Northcentral Divisions, and as Director of the Andean Block for Vertac International, an international division of Helena. Mr. Gonzalez received a
B.S. degree in Agricultural Business and Economics from Texas A&M University.
Albert A. James (age 76) has
served as one of our directors since May 1995 and as our Secretary from May 1995 to June 2000. Mr. James is a private investor and currently serves as
a general partner in several real estate projects in the western United States. Mr. James has also served as a director of several privately held
companies. From 1982 to November 1997, Mr. James served as Managing Partner of Bellevue Associates, a commercial real estate management company. He
served as Secretary and Treasurer of Anthonys Restaurants, a regional chain of restaurants, from 1976 to June 1995, and, from 1981 to March 1994,
Mr. James served as Vice President of Alpine Industries, a window and laminated glass manufacturing company. In 1957, Mr. James founded a discount drug
and cosmetic business that merged with a chain of discount retail drug stores, which was ultimately sold to Payless Drug Stores Northwest in 1969. Mr.
James received a B.S. degree in Pharmacy from the University of Washington.
Agatha L. Maza (age 68) has
served as one of our directors since May 1995. From February 1994 to October 1995, Ms. Maza served as Chief Executive Officer of the National Testing
Laboratory in Portland, a division of the American Red Cross involved in biological testing of blood. From July 1991 to January 1994, she served as
Chief Executive Officer of Medical Arts Laboratory and, from January 1988 to December 1990, as Chief Executive Officer of Eastside Medical Laboratory,
both of which are medical diagnostics services laboratories. From 2001 to 2005, Ms. Maza served as Chief Executive Officer and President of
Roadable
3
Aircraft International, Inc., a
start-up company involved in the research and development of new transportation technologies. Currently, Ms. Maza serves as managing partner of several
privately held companies. Ms. Maza received a B.S. degree from Seattle University and an M.B.A. degree from City University and has completed the
Executive Marketing Management Program at Stanford University.
The following individuals are
continuing Class III Directors (terms to expire in 2010) and are not standing for election this year:
Rhett R. Atkins, D.B.A. (age 54)
has served as one of our directors since June 2002. He served as our President and Chief Executive Officer from June 2002 to December 2006. Dr. Atkins
is currently managing member of Agriprax LLC, an agriculture consulting firm. From January 2001 to June 2002, Dr. Atkins was President of Palmetto Ag
Inc., a retail provider of seed and chemical crop inputs. From September 1991 to December 2000, Dr. Atkins worked for Micro Flo Company, an
agricultural chemical production company, in various executive positions related to sales, marketing and research and development. From 1981 to 1991,
Dr. Atkins worked for BASF, a chemical company, in sales and marketing. Dr. Atkins received a B.S. degree from Clemson University, an M.B.A. degree
from Campbell University and a D.B.A. degree from Nova Southeastern University.
Jon E. M. Jacoby (age 69) has
served as one of our directors since February 1999. Mr. Jacoby currently is Vice-Chairman and Senior Principal of The Stephens Group LLC, a private,
family owned investment firm. Until his retirement in October 2003, Mr. Jacoby worked in various capacities since 1963, most recently as Vice-Chairman
and member of the Executive Committee, for Stephens Inc. and SF Holding Corp. (formerly Stephens Group, Inc.), collectively engaged in investment
banking and other business activities. He is also a director of Power-One, Inc., a power supplies manufacturer; and Conns Inc., retail stores
specializing in electronics. Mr. Jacoby received a B.S. degree from the University of Notre Dame and an M.B.A. degree from Harvard Business
School.
William T. Weyerhaeuser, Ph.D.
(age 64) has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors since November 2001 and as one of our directors since May 1998. Dr. Weyerhaeuser was in
private practice as a clinical psychologist from 1975 to 1999. From May 1993 to June 1994, he served as President of Rock Island Company, a private
investment company, and from July 1994 to June 1998 as its Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Weyerhaeuser currently serves as the
Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Potlatch Corporation, a public timber REIT, and as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Columbia Banking
System, Inc., a public financial institution. Dr. Weyerhaeuser also currently serves as a director of several privately held companies and foundations.
Dr. Weyerhaeuser received a B.A. degree from Stanford University, an M.A. degree from Fuller Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. degree from the Fuller
Graduate School of Psychology.
Independence of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors has reviewed the
relationships between Eden Bioscience and each of its directors and has determined that all of the directors, other than Dr. Atkins, Eden
Biosciences President and Chief Executive Officer until December 2006, are independent under Rule 4200 of Nasdaqs Marketplace
Rules.
Board Attendance
During 2007, there were 10 meetings of
the Board of Directors. During fiscal 2007, each director attended at least 75% of all meetings of the Board of Directors and board committees on which
he or she served, other than Jon Jacoby who attended 67%.
The Board of Directors has adopted a
policy that each director is encouraged to attend Eden Biosciences regularly scheduled annual meeting of shareholders. Three out of eight
directors as of May 24, 2007 attended Eden Biosciences 2007 annual meeting of shareholders held on that date.
Board of Directors Compensation
Our directors do not receive cash
compensation for their services as directors or members of committees of the Board of Directors, but are reimbursed for their reasonable expenses
incurred in attending meetings of
4
the Board of Directors and its
committees. We do not have a standard arrangement pursuant to which directors receive equity compensation for their services as directors. Rather,
directors in the past have been and may in the future be granted equity awards at the discretion of the Board of Directors. The amounts shown below in
the column titled Option Awards represent stock compensation expense recognized in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with Financial
Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (FAS
123R).
Name
|
|
|
|
Option Awards ($)(1)
|
|
Total ($)
|
William T.
Weyerhaeuser |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rhett R.
Atkins |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gilberto H.
Gonzalez |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Roger M.
Ivesdal |
|
|
|
$ |
6,700 |
|
|
$ |
6,700 |
|
Jon E. M.
Jacoby |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Albert A.
James |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Agatha L.
Maza |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard N.
Pahre |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
The assumptions used in calculating these amounts are provided
in Note 1 (Accounting for Stock Compensation) of our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28, 2008. |
No equity awards were granted to
directors in 2007. In September 2005, the Board of Directors granted Mr. Ivesdal an option to purchase 10,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise
price of $8.10 per share, with the option to vest annually in equal installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant. The
options expire in September 2015. In February 2003, the Board of Directors granted each of Messrs. Gonzalez and Pahre an option to purchase 3,888
shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $12.60 per share, of which options to purchase 555 shares were vested immediately and the remaining
options vest annually in equal installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant. The options expire in February 2013. In
July 2003, the Board of Directors granted each non-employee director, except for Messrs. Gonzalez and Pahre, an option to purchase 3,333 shares of our
common stock at an exercise price of $16.65 per share, with each option to vest annually in equal installments on the first, second and third
anniversaries of the date of grant. The options expire in July 2013. In June 2002, the Board of Directors granted Dr. Atkins an option to purchase
55,555 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $13.86, with the option to vest annually in equal installments on the first, second, third
and fourth anniversaries of the date of grant. The options expire in June 2012. The total stock options outstanding at December 31, 2007 for each of
the directors were (after taking into account the 1-for-3 reverse stock split effective on February 22, 2008):
Name
|
|
|
|
Total Outstanding Stock Options
|
William T.
Weyerhaeuser |
|
|
|
|
6,666 |
|
Rhett R.
Atkins |
|
|
|
|
55,555 |
|
Gilberto H.
Gonzalez |
|
|
|
|
3,888 |
|
Roger M.
Ivesdal |
|
|
|
|
3,333 |
|
Jon E. M.
Jacoby |
|
|
|
|
6,666 |
|
Albert A.
James |
|
|
|
|
6,666 |
|
Agatha L.
Maza |
|
|
|
|
11,666 |
|
Richard N.
Pahre |
|
|
|
|
3,888 |
|
Stock options granted to directors have
an exercise price equal to the closing market price of our common stock on the grant date. We do not have a program, plan or practice to time stock
option grants to
5
our existing or new directors in
coordination with the release of material nonpublic information nor do we have a program, policy or practice to release material nonpublic information
for the purpose of affecting the value of director compensation.
Dr. Atkins served as Chief Executive
Officer of the Company until December 15, 2006. He did not receive any compensation as a nonemployee director for 2007. He received $30,000 for
consulting services rendered from January 1 to February 28, 2007.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Compensation Committee
Eden Bioscience has a standing
Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee currently consists of Messrs. Jacoby, James and Gonzalez (Chair). Each member of the Compensation
Committee is an independent director under Nasdaq listing standards.
The primary function of the
Compensation Committee is to discharge the responsibilities of the Board of Directors relating to the compensation of Eden Biosciences executive
officers. The Compensation Committee has overall responsibility for approving and evaluating executive officer compensation plans, policies and
programs. In addition, the Compensation Committee considers incentive compensation plans for our employees and carries out duties assigned to it under
our option plans. The Compensation Committee has historically recommended to the Board of Directors for its approval of all stock option grants to
executive officers. In the future, the Compensation Committee will approve all stock option grants to executive officers and directors. The
Compensation Committee is also responsible for performing other related responsibilities as set forth in its written charter which is available to
shareholders on Eden Biosciences website at www.edenbio.com under the menu About UsGovernance Materials. Please read
Board of Directors Compensation elsewhere in this proxy statement for a discussion of how any compensation awarded to the Board of
Directors is determined.
The Compensation Committee has the
authority to retain and terminate compensation consulting fims, including authority to approve the firms fees and other retention terms. The
Compensation Committee when appropriate may form and delegate authority to subcommittees and may delegate its authority to one or more designated
members of the Board of Directors or our officers. To date, the Compensation Committee has not engaged compensation consultants for assistance in
compensation matters.
The Compensation Committee establishes,
and reviews as necessary, policies regarding executive compensation. With respect to our President, each year, the Compensation Committee solicits
input from the full Board of Directors and, based on that input, develops and approves corporate goals and objectives relevant to the Presidents
compensation, evaluates the Presidents performance in light of those goals and objectives and sets the Presidents compensation based on
this evaluation and other relevant information. Our executive officers do not have a role in determining or recommending the amount or form of
executive or director compensation.
Minutes of each meeting of the
Compensation Committee are prepared by the Compensation Committee Chair or by his designee and sent to each Compensation Committee member. In addition,
the Compensation Committee reports regularly to the Board of Directors on any significant matters arising from the Compensation Committees work,
including awards to executives, compensation and severance arrangements.
The Compensation Committee held two
meetings in 2007.
Audit Committee
Eden Bioscience has a
separately-designated standing Audit Committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the Exchange Act). The Audit Committee currently consists of Ms. Maza and Messrs. Gonzalez and Pahre (Chair). Each member of
the
6
Audit Committee is an independent director under the rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) and Nasdaq listing standards. The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Pahre meets the definition of an
audit committee financial expert under SEC rules. In making this determination, the Board of Directors considered, among other factors, Mr.
Pahres experience as a former audit partner of Moss Adams LLP.
The primary function of the Audit
Committee is to represent and assist the Board of Directors with the oversight of:
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|
the integrity of Eden Biosciences financial statements and
internal controls; |
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|
Eden Biosciences compliance with legal and regulatory
requirements; |
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|
the independent auditors qualification; and |
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the performance of the audit function by the independent
auditor. |
In addition, the Audit Committee has
ultimate authority to select, evaluate, and where appropriate, replace the independent auditor, approve all audit engagement fees and terms, and engage
outside advisors, including its own counsel and other advisors, as it determines necessary to carry out its duties. The Audit Committee is also
responsible for reviewing and approving all related person transactions and performing other related responsibilities set forth in its written charter,
which is available to shareholders on Eden Biosciences website at www.edenbio.com under the menu About Us Governance
Materials.
The Audit Committee held five meetings
in 2007.
Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee
Eden Bioscience has a standing
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee currently consists of Messrs. Gonzalez, Ivesdal,
Jacoby, James and Pahre, Ms. Maza and Dr. Weyerhaeuser (Chairman). Each member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is an independent
director under Nasdaq listing standards.
The primary function of the Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee is to:
|
|
identify individuals qualified to become members of the Board of
Directors; |
|
|
approve and recommend to the Board of Directors candidates for
election to the Board of Directors; |
|
|
develop, update as necessary and recommend to the Board of
Directors corporate governance principles and policies applicable to Eden Bioscience; and |
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|
monitor compliance with such principles and
policies. |
The Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee is also responsible for performing other related responsibilities set forth in its written charter available to shareholders on Eden
Biosciences website at www.edenbio.com under the menu About Us Governance Materials.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee did not hold a meeting in 2007.
Director Nomination Procedures
The Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee is generally responsible for the identification, review, selection and recommendation to the Board of Directors of candidates for director
nominees, including the development of policies and procedures to assist in the performance of these responsibilities. The Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee reviews with the Board of Directors the requisite qualifications, skills and characteristics for Board of Directors nominees and
composition and the specific considerations relating to individual director candidates. Upon the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees
recommendations, the Board of Directors recommends the director nominees to the shareholders for election.
7
Potential director candidates are
referred to the Chairperson of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee, which may then recommend the director candidate to the Board of Directors for its consideration, if deemed appropriate. If necessary or
desirable in the opinion of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will determine
appropriate means for seeking additional director candidates, including engagement of an outside consultant to assist in the identification of director
candidates.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee will consider director candidates recommended by shareholders. Shareholders wishing to suggest director candidates should submit their
suggestions in writing to the Chairperson of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, c/o the Corporate Secretary of Eden Bioscience
Corporation at 11618 North Creek Parkway N., Bothell, WA 98011-8201, providing the candidates name, biographical data and other relevant
information.
Shareholders who intend to nominate a
director for election at the 2009 annual meeting of shareholders must provide advance written notice of such nomination to the Corporate Secretary of
Eden Bioscience in the manner described below under Shareholder Proposals for 2009 Annual Meeting.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee has recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors has adopted, Director Selection Guidelines set out in Exhibit A to the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter. In accordance with the Director Selection Guidelines, the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee and the Board of Directors, as appropriate, will review the following considerations, among others, in their evaluation of candidates for
Board of Directors nomination, including those candidates recommended by shareholders:
|
|
personal and professional ethics; |
|
|
training and experience in making and overseeing policy in
business, government and/or educational sectors; |
|
|
willingness and ability to keep an open mind when considering
matters affecting interests of Eden Bioscience and its constituents; |
|
|
willingness and ability to devote the required time and effort
to effectively fulfill the duties and responsibilities related to the Board of Directors and committee membership; |
|
|
willingness and ability to serve on the Board of Directors for
multiple terms to enable development of a deeper understanding of Eden Biosciences business affairs; |
|
|
willingness not to engage in activities or interests that may
create a conflict of interest with a directors responsibilities and duties to Eden Bioscience and its constituents; |
|
|
willingness to act in the best interests of Eden Bioscience and
its constituents; |
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|
professional experience, industry knowledge, skills and
expertise; |
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|
leadership qualities; and |
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|
previous public company board of directors and committee
experience. |
The Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee periodically reviews with the Board of Directors the appropriate process for and the considerations to be made in the evaluation of director
candidates. In the event there is a vacancy on the Board of Directors, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will initiate the effort to
identify appropriate director candidates.
8
Shareholder Communications with the Board of
Directors
Shareholders of Eden Bioscience may
contact the Board of Directors as a group or an individual director by the U.S. Postal mail directed to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, c/o the
Corporate Secretary of Eden Bioscience Corporation at 11618 North Creek Parkway N., Bothell, WA 98011-8201. Shareholders should clearly specify in each
communication the name of the individual director or group of directors to whom the communication is addressed. All communications will be forwarded to
the intended directors or to the Board of Directors as a whole, as applicable.
Shareholders wishing to submit
proposals for inclusion in the proxy statement relating to the 2009 annual meeting of shareholders should follow the procedures specified under the
sections below entitled Shareholder Proposals for 2009 Annual Meeting. These sections outline the procedures for submission of shareholder
proposals for inclusion in Eden Biosciences proxy statement for the 2009 annual meeting of shareholders and submission of nominations of persons
for election to the Board of Directors or proposals for other business to be considered at the 2009 annual meeting of shareholders.
Additional Corporate Governance
Information
The following corporate governance
materials of Eden Bioscience are available in the About Us Governance Materials section of Eden Biosciences website at
www.edenbio.com, and a copy of the materials will be mailed to you, without charge, upon request to Eden Bioscience Corporation, Investor Relations,
11618 North Creek Parkway N., Bothell, WA 98011-8201 or by calling 425-984-2120:
|
|
Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee Charters; |
|
|
Code of Ethics applicable to our President and Chief Financial
Officer; and |
|
|
Code of Conduct applicable to all directors, officers and
employees of Eden Bioscience. |
If we waive any material provision of
our Code of Ethics applicable to our President and Chief Financial Officer or substantively amend the Code of Ethics, we will disclose that fact on our
website within four business days.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider
Participation
During the year ended December 31,
2007, Messrs. Jacoby, James and Gonzalez served on our Compensation Committee, and none of these committee members served as an officer or employee of
Eden Bioscience during that time. Mr. James served as our Secretary from May 1995 to June 2000. None of our executive officers served as a member of
the board of directors or compensation committee of any other entity that had one or more executive officers serving as members of our Board of
Directors or Compensation Committee during fiscal 2007.
Related Person Transactions
Under its written Audit Committee
Charter, the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors is required to review and approve all related person transactions. Other than the Audit
Committee Charter, our Board of Directors has not adopted a separate written policy for the review and approval or ratification of related person
transactions.
Our directors and executive officers
are expected to disclose to our Chief Financial Officer the material facts of any transaction that could be considered a related person transaction
promptly upon gaining knowledge of the transaction. In addition, on an annual basis we require our directors and officers to complete written
questionnaires designed to identify any potential related person transactions. A related person transaction is defined as any transaction required to
be disclosed under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. Any transaction reported to the CFO or disclosed in the annual questionnaire is reviewed to determine
if disclosure
9
of the transaction is required
under the SECs related person transaction disclosure rule. If disclosure is required, the CFO will submit the transaction to the Audit Committee
for review and approval or ratification.
When determining whether to approve or
ratify a related person transaction, the Audit Committee will review relevant facts regarding the related person transaction,
including:
|
|
the extent of the related persons interest in the
transaction; |
|
|
whether the terms are comparable to those generally available in
arms length transactions; and |
|
|
whether the related person transaction is consistent with the
best interests of Eden Bioscience. |
If any related person transaction is
not approved or ratified, the Audit Committee may take such action as it may deem necessary or desirable in the best interests of Eden Bioscience and
its shareholders.
There were no related person
transactions required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) or (d) of Regulation S-K in fiscal years 2007 or 2006.
Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors
Bradley S. Powell (age 47) was
appointed President on December 15, 2006. He served as our Interim President from November 2001 to June 2002, and has served as Secretary since June
2000 and as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance since July 1998. From March 1994 to July 1998, he served as Vice President and
Corporate Controller of Omega Environmental, Inc., a provider of products and services to owners of underground storage tanks. In 1983, Mr. Powell
joined KPMG Peat Marwick, an international public accounting firm, as a certified public accountant and, from 1990 to March 1994, served as a Senior
Audit Manager. Mr. Powell received a B.S. degree from Central Washington University.
10
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND
MANAGEMENT AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management
The following table summarizes certain
information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of March 20, 2008 (or such earlier date as indicated in the tables
footnotes), and reflects the 1-for-3 reverse stock split effective on February 22, 2008 for:
|
|
each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation
Table; |
|
|
all our directors and executive officers as a group;
and |
|
|
each person or group that we know owns more than 5% of our
common stock. |
Beneficial ownership is determined in
accordance with SEC rules and includes shares over which the indicated beneficial owner exercises sole or shared voting or investment power. Shares of
our common stock subject to options or warrants currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days after March 20, 2008 are deemed outstanding for
computing the percentage ownership of the person holding the options or warrants, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage ownership
of any other person. Except as otherwise indicated, we believe the beneficial owners of our common stock listed below, based on information furnished
by them, have sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares listed opposite their names. Unless otherwise indicated, the following
officers, directors and shareholders can be reached at the principal offices of Eden Bioscience.
|
|
|
|
Shares of Eden Bioscience Corporation Common
Stock
|
|
Name of Beneficial Owners
|
|
|
|
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership
|
|
Percent of Class (1)
|
Executive
Officers and Directors:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
William T.
Weyerhaeuser |
|
|
|
|
143,129 |
(2) |
|
|
5.26 |
% |
Agatha L.
Maza |
|
|
|
|
78,050 |
(3) |
|
|
2.86 |
% |
Jon E. M.
Jacoby |
|
|
|
|
60,042 |
(4) |
|
|
2.20 |
% |
Albert A.
James |
|
|
|
|
67,965 |
(5) |
|
|
2.50 |
% |
Rhett R.
Atkins |
|
|
|
|
56,288 |
(6) |
|
|
2.03 |
% |
Bradley S.
Powell |
|
|
|
|
48,464 |
(7) |
|
|
1.75 |
% |
Richard N.
Pahre |
|
|
|
|
4,554 |
(8) |
|
|
* |
|
Gilberto H.
Gonzalez |
|
|
|
|
4,054 |
(9) |
|
|
* |
|
Roger Ivesdal
|
|
|
|
|
3,333 |
(10) |
|
|
* |
|
All directors
and executive officers as a group (9 persons) |
|
|
|
|
465,879 |
(11) |
|
|
16.27 |
% |
|
Other 5%
Shareholders:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SF Holding
Corp. (formerly Stephens Group, Inc.) |
|
|
|
|
451,037 |
(12) |
|
|
16.60 |
% |
111 Center
Street Suite 2500 Little Rock, AR 72201
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yorktown
Avenue Capital, LLC |
|
|
|
|
352,967 |
(13) |
|
|
12.99 |
% |
415 South
Boston, 9th Floor Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Based on 2,716,518 shares outstanding as of March 15,
2008. |
11
(2) |
|
Represents 28,833 shares owned directly by Dr. Weyerhaeuser;
106,519 shares held by the WBW Trust Number One, of which Dr. Weyerhaeuser is trustee; 1,111 shares owned by Dr. Weyerhaeusers wife; and 6,666
shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days after March 20, 2008. Dr. Weyerhaeuser disclaims beneficial ownership of shares held by his wife
and two sons, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest in such shares. |
(3) |
|
Represents 34,466 shares owned directly by Ms. Maza; 16,799
shares held by Prudential Securities as custodian for the Agatha L. Maza IRA; 111 shares owned by Ms. Mazas spouse; 15,008 shares held by the
Maza Family LLC, of which Ms. Maza is a co-manager; and 11,666 shares subject to options that are exercisable within 60 days after March 20, 2008. Ms.
Maza disclaims beneficial ownership of shares held by the Maza Family LLC, except to the extent of her pecuniary interest in such shares. |
(4) |
|
Includes 5,000 shares owned directly by Mr. Jacoby; 23,710
shares owned by Jacoby Enterprises, Inc., of which Mr. Jacoby is President; 20,889 shares held by Stephens EBC, LLC for the benefit of Jacoby
Enterprises, Inc. and that are subject to the voting trust described in footnote 12; 3,333 shares held by Stephens EBC, LLC for the benefit of J
& J Partners, of which Mr. Jacoby is a partner, and that are subject to the voting trust described in footnote 12; and 6,666 shares subject to
options that are exercisable within 60 days after March 20, 2008. Also includes the following shares as to which Mr. Jacoby disclaims beneficial
ownership: 222 shares owned by Grandchilds Trust One and 222 shares owned by Grandchilds Trust Three, as to which Mr. Jacoby, as
co-trustee, has shared power of disposition and shared power to vote. Does not include shares beneficially owned by SF Holding Corp. (formerly Stephens
Group, Inc.), of which Mr. Jacoby was an executive officer until his retirement on October 1, 2003 and of which he was a director until November
2006. |
(5) |
|
Represents 12,839 shares held by the Albert A. James Family
Partnership, of which Mr. James is a co-general partner; 48,460 shares held by the Albert A. James Living Trust, of which Mr. James is trustee; and
6,666 shares subject to options that are exercisable within 60 days after March 20, 2008. |
(6) |
|
Represents 733 shares owned directly by Dr. Atkins and 55,555
shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days after March 15, 2008. |
(7) |
|
Represents 48,442 shares subject to options exercisable within
60 days after March 20, 2008; and 22 shares held in a trust for the benefit of Mr. Powells minor sons, of which Mr. Powells father serves
as trustee. Mr. Powell disclaims beneficial ownership of all such shares held in trust, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest in such
shares. |
(8) |
|
Represents 666 shares owned directly by Mr. Pahre and 3,888
shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days after March 20, 2008. |
(9) |
|
Represents 166 shares owned directly by Mr. Gonzalez and 3,888
shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days after March 20, 2008. |
(10) |
|
Represents 3,333 shares subject to options exercisable within 60
days after March 20, 2008. |
(11) |
|
Includes 146,770 shares subject to options that are exercisable
within 60 days after March 20, 2008. |
(12) |
|
Represents 451,037 shares beneficially owned by Stephens
EBC, LLC, of which SF Holding Corp. (formerly Stephens Group, Inc.) is the sole managing member. Jon E. M. Jacoby, a director of Eden Bioscience, was
an executive vice president of SF Holding Corp. until October 1, 2003 and a director of SF Holding Corp. until November 2006. Stephens EBC, LLC
has contributed all of its shares to a voting trust pursuant to which the trustee of the trust, James Sommer, 237 Cherokee Road, Charlotte, NC 28027,
an individual not affiliated with Stephens Group, Inc., has sole voting power. The trustee is required to vote such shares for or
against proposals submitted to our shareholders in the same proportion as the votes cast for or against such
proposals by all other shareholders, excluding abstentions. The voting trust agreement also imposes limitations on the sale or other disposition of the
shares subject to the voting trust. The voting trust agreement expires in 2010 or earlier upon the occurrence of certain events set forth in the voting
trust agreement, including Stephens ceasing to be a market maker of our common stock. |
12
(13) |
|
Information provided is based solely on a Schedule 13D/A filed
on August 14, 2007 (the Schedule 13D/A) by Yorktown Avenue Capital, LLC (Yorktown), Boston Avenue Capital, LLC
(Boston), Value Fund Advisors, LLC (Value Fund) and Charles M. Gillman (Gillman). According to the Schedule 13D/A,
(a) the amount shown above includes 262,090 held by Yorktown and 90,877 held by Boston, (b) Boston and Yorktown are Oklahoma limited liability
companies whose principal business is business investment, (c) Value Fund is an Oklahoma limited liability company whose principal business is
investment management, and (d) Gillman is a U.S. citizen in the business of managing various investment entities. Value Fund, as general manager of
Boston and Yorktown, and Gillman, as manager of Value Fund, may also be deemed to beneficially own the 352,967 shares of our common stock held by
Boston and Yorktown. |
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table presents summary
information about our equity compensation plans at December 31, 2007, as adjusted to take into account the 1-for-3 reverse stock split that was
effective on February 22, 2008:
Plan category
|
|
|
|
(a) Number of securities to be issued upon
exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights
|
|
(b) Weighted-average exercise price of
outstanding options, warrants and rights
|
|
(c) Number of securities remaining available
for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))
|
Equity
compensation plans approved by security holders |
|
|
|
|
146,776 |
|
|
$ |
30.06 |
|
|
|
274,131 |
(1)(2) |
Equity
compensation plans not approved by security holders |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
146,776 |
|
|
$ |
30.06 |
|
|
|
274,131 |
(1)(2) |
(1) |
|
The Amended and Restated 2000 Stock Incentive Plan (the
2000 Plan) incorporates an evergreen formula pursuant to which the number of shares authorized for issuance is increased annually on the
first day of each fiscal year by a number of shares equal to the lesser of (a) 166,666 shares; (b) 5% of the outstanding shares of common stock on a
fully diluted basis as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year; and (c) a lesser amount as may be determined by the Board of Directors.
Since the inception of the 2000 Plan, the Board of Directors has never used the evergreen provision to add shares. In addition, all reserved but
ungranted shares under our 1995 Combined Incentive and Nonqualified Stock Option Plan (the 1995 Plan) and any shares subject to outstanding
options under the 1995 Plan that expire or are otherwise cancelled without being exercised will be added to the shares available under the 2000
Plan. |
(2) |
|
Under the 2000 Plan, in addition to options, we may make awards
of our common stock or awards denominated in units of our common stock. The type of award and the number of shares of common stock subject to the award
granted under the 2000 Plan is in the discretion of the Board of Directors. |
13
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING
COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act
requires Eden Biosciences officers, directors and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of Eden Biosciences equity securities
to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. Officers, directors and greater-than-10% shareholders are required by SEC
regulation to furnish Eden Bioscience with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
Based solely on our review of the
copies of such forms we received, or written representations from certain reporting persons that no forms were required for those persons, we believe
that during 2007 all of our officers, directors and greater-than-10% beneficial owners complied with all applicable filing requirements of Section
16(a).
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
As described in greater detail in our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28, 2008, we completed the
sale on February 28, 2007 of our proprietary harpin protein technology and substantially all of the assets related to our worldwide agricultural and
horticultural markets (the Harpin Protein Technology) to Plant Health Care, Inc. (PHC). We retained our cash, accounts
receivable and assets relating to our home and garden business, consisting primarily of our inventory of harpin protein-based products designated for
the home and garden market. We have no current intention of making substantial additional investments in our home and garden business. We have incurred
significant operating losses since our inception and we believe that the best way to build value for our shareholders is to use any revenue generated
by our home and garden business to support our continued operations while we explore whether there may be opportunities to realize potential value from
our remaining business assets, primarily our tax loss carryforwards. We have accordingly substantially reduced our administrative, marketing, sales,
manufacturing and development personnel, and currently have only one executive officer, Bradley S. Powell, who has served as our Vice President of
Finance and Chief Financial Officer since July 1998 and, since December 15, 2006, has also served as our President and principal executive
officer.
On July 25, 2007, we entered into an
employment agreement with Mr. Powell to help ensure the retention of his services during the critical period following the sale of our Harpin Protein
Technology. Under the terms of the employment agreement, we agreed to pay Mr. Powell an annual base salary initially set at $205,000. The increase from
$174,739 in base salary in 2006 was to compensate Mr. Powell for the additional duties assigned to him when he became President. We also paid Mr.
Powell a lump sum amount equal to the retroactive application of his annual base salary to December 15, 2006, the date on which he became our
President. Mr. Powell will be paid a cash bonus equal to one times his annual base salary upon completion of an acquisition, merger or consolidation to
which the Company is a party. Mr. Powell is also entitled to participate, subject to and in accordance with applicable eligibility requirements, in
medical, dental, short and long-term disability benefit programs provided to our other employees.
The employment agreement also
extinguished Mr. Powells change-in-control agreement, dated August 16, 2000, and severance agreement, dated January 28, 2002, in exchange for
supplemental retention payments totaling $356,145. The supplemental payments were payable in installments as follows: one-half on execution of the
employment agreement; one-quarter on September 30, 2007; and one-quarter on January 1, 2008. Under the terms of the employment agreement, the September
30 and January 1 supplemental payments would not have been made if Mr. Powell had voluntarily terminated his employment for any reason or we had
terminated Mr. Powells employment for cause, as defined in the agreement. If we had terminated his employment without cause or his employment had
terminated as a result of his death or total disability, as defined in the agreement, any remaining unpaid supplemental payments would have accelerated
and been paid on the date of termination. The Compensation Committee approved the employment agreement, including the supplemental payments, for
purposes of retention and in order to resolve any uncertainty as to the timing and amount of payments to which Mr. Powell was or could be entitled
under the change-in-control agreement. The
14
employment agreement also includes
noncompetition and nonsolicitation provisions that apply to Mr. Powell during his employment and for a period of 18 months thereafter, and includes
customary nondisclosure and inventions assignment provisions.
Because of the Companys current
circumstances, we did not continue our annual cash incentive program or our long-term incentive program of stock option grants in 2007. Due to our
continuing operating losses and limited revenue from harpin protein-based products, our stock options are highly speculative. Unless we are able to
ultimately generate profits and realize value from our tax loss carryforwards, stock options are unlikely to have substantial value over the long-term.
As of the date of this Proxy Statement, our Compensation Committee has not recommended any program to our Board of Directors for, or separately
approved, the grant of stock options to our executive officer in 2008. However, the Compensation Committee may approve such incentive programs or other
grants of stock options which the Compensation Committee believes will appropriately align the interests of our executive with the creation of value
for our shareholders.
The Compensation Committee will in the
future approve all stock option grants to executive officers. Stock options granted to executive officers have an exercise price equal to the closing
market price of our common stock on the grant date and vest over a period of three or four years. We do not have a program, plan or practice to time
stock option grants in coordination with the release of material nonpublic information nor do we have a program, policy or practice to release material
nonpublic information for the purpose of affecting the value of stock options.
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue
Code imposes a limitation on deductibility of compensation payments in excess of $1 million to a companys chief executive officer and the three
other most highly compensated executive officers holding office at the end of the fiscal year. Certain performance-based compensation is not subject to
the limitation on deductibility. In 2007, compensation to our President and Chief Financial Officer did not exceed $1 million for purposes of Section
162(m) and we expect the same to be true for 2008.
15
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table
The following table provides
information concerning the compensation for services rendered to Eden Bioscience in all capacities for the year ended December 31, 2007 by our
President and Chief Financial Officer.
Name and Principal Position
|
|
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary ($)
|
|
Option Awards ($)(1)
|
|
All Other Compensation ($)
|
|
Total ($)
|
Bradley S.
Powell |
|
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
$ |
206,261 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
267,109 |
(2) |
|
$ |
473,370 |
|
President,
Chief Financial
|
|
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
174,739 |
|
|
|
31,344 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
206,083 |
|
Officer and
Secretary
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
The amounts in this column represent stock compensation expense
recognized in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with FAS 123R. The assumptions used in calculating these amounts are provided in Note
1 (Accounting for Stock Compensation) of our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on March 28, 2008. |
(2) |
|
The employment agreement extinguished Mr. Powells
change-in-control agreement, dated August 16, 2000, and severance agreement, dated January 28, 2002, in exchange for supplemental payments totaling
$356,145. The supplemental payments were paid in three installments as follows: $178,073 was paid on July 25, 2007; $89,036 was paid on September 30,
2007; and $89,036 was paid on January 15, 2008. |
2007 Grants of Plan-Based Awards
No annual incentive awards or long-term
incentive awards were established in 2007 and we did not grant any options to purchase shares of our common stock.
16
Outstanding Equity Awards at 2007 Fiscal
Year-End
The following table sets forth
information regarding outstanding equity awards held by Mr. Powell as of December 31, 2007 (as adjusted to reflect the 1-for-3 reverse stock split
effective February 22, 2008).
|
|
|
|
Option Awards
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised
Options (#)
|
|
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised
Options (#)
|
|
Name
|
|
|
|
Exercisable
|
|
Unexercisable
|
|
Grant Year
|
|
Option Exercise Price ($)
|
|
Option Expiration Date
|
Bradley S.
Powell |
|
|
|
|
8,333 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1998 |
|
|
$ |
27.00 |
|
|
|
7/16/2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,555 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2000 |
|
|
|
54.00 |
|
|
|
2/17/2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,555 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2000 |
|
|
|
126.00 |
|
|
|
8/9/2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,666 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
13.86 |
|
|
|
6/14/2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
14.76 |
|
|
|
1/21/2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,333 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
6.75 |
|
|
|
11/16/2014 |
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
48,442 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007 Option Exercises and Stock Vested
No stock options were exercised during
2007.
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in
Control
No incremental compensation is payable
upon termination or change in control for Mr. Powell and all stock option grants are fully vested.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The Compensation Committee has reviewed
and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management. Based on the Compensation Committees review and discussions, the
Compensation Committee has recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors has approved, that the Compensation Discussion and
Analysis be included in Eden Biosciences Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 and proxy statement for filing
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Compensation Committee
of the
Board of Directors
Gilberto H. Gonzalez,
Chairman
Jon E. M. Jacoby
Albert A. James
17
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The members of the Audit Committee are
independent under SEC rules and Nasdaq listing standards. The Board of Directors adopted a written Audit Committee Charter, which is available in the
About Us Governance Materials section of Eden Biosciences web site at www.edenbio.com.
In fulfilling its oversight
responsibilities, the Audit Committee met and held discussions with management and the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit
Committee also met separately with the independent registered public accounting firm. Management represented to the Audit Committee that Eden
Biosciences audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 were prepared in accordance with U.S generally accepted
accounting principles, The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with management and the independent registered public accounting firm the audited
financial statements for the 2007 fiscal year.
The Audit Committee also discussed with
the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, including a
discussion of the quality, not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments and the clarity of
disclosures in the financial statements. In addition, the Audit Committee has received from the independent registered public accounting firm the
written disclosures and the letter required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, and discussed with the independent registered public
accounting firm their independence relating to Eden Bioscience. In accordance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Audit Committee pre-approves all
audit and non-audit services performed by the independent auditors.
Based on the Audit Committees
review and discussions of the matters referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors has
approved, that the audited financial statements be included in Eden Biosciences Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2007 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Audit Committee
of the Board
of Directors
Richard N. Pahre, Chairman
Gilberto H. Gonzalez
Agatha L. Maza
18
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING
FIRM
Change of Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firms
On March 6, 2007, we filed a Current
Report on Form 8-K with the SEC (the Original 8-K) reporting that on March 2, 2007, KPMG LLP (KPMG), Eden Biosciences
independent registered public accounting firm, notified us that the auditor-client relationship between Eden Bioscience and KPMG would cease upon the
completion of the audit of Eden Biosciences financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2006, and the issuance of KPMGs
report thereon. KPMG completed the audit of Eden Biosciences financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2006 and issued their
report thereon dated March 28, 2007, which report is included in Eden Biosciences Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006
filed on March 30, 2007. Accordingly, as we reported on an amendment to the Original 8-K filed with the SEC on April 4, 2007 (the Amended
8-K) the auditor-client relationship between Eden Bioscience and KPMG effectively ceased on March 30, 2007 as KPMG declined to stand for
re-election. KPMGs decision to decline to stand for re-election as Eden Biosciences independent registered public accounting firm was not
recommended or approved by the Audit Committee of Eden Biosciences Board of Directors.
The audit reports of KPMG on Eden
Biosciences consolidated financial statements as of and for the years December 31, 2006 and 2005 did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer
of opinion, nor were such reports qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles except as follows:
|
|
KPMGs report on the consolidated financial statements of
Eden Bioscience and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2006, and for the year ended December 31, 2006 contained a separate paragraph stating that
As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, Eden Bioscience Corporation and subsidiaries adopted the provisions of Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment, effective January 1, 2006. |
|
|
KPMGs report on the consolidated financial statements of
Eden Bioscience and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2005 contained a separate paragraph stating that As discussed in Note 12 to the
consolidated financial statements, the Company changed its method of accounting for asset retirement obligations effective January 1,
2003. |
During the fiscal years ended December
31, 2006 and 2005 and the subsequent interim period through March 30, 2007, there were no disagreements on any matter of accounting principles or
practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of KPMG, would have
caused it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with its reports. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2006
and 2005 and the subsequent interim period through March 30, 2007, there were no reportable events as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation
S-K.
Our Audit Committee engaged Peterson
Sullivan PLLC (Peterson Sullivan) as our independent registered public accounting firm as of April 18, 2007 for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2007. From January 1, 2005 through April 18, 2007, we did not consult Peterson Sullivan with respect to the application of accounting
principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on our consolidated financial
statements, or any other matters or reportable events set forth in Items 304(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of Regulation S-K.
We provided KPMG with copies of the
Original 8-K and the Amended 8-K and requested KPMG to furnish us with letters addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether KPMG
agreed with the statements made by us in those filings, and, if not, identifying the statements with which it does not agree. KPMGs letters are
filed as Exhibits 16.1 to the Original 8-K and the Amended 8-K. We also provided a copy of the foregoing disclosure in this proxy statement to KPMG and
to Peterson Sullivan in advance of our filing the proxy statement with the SEC. Neither KPMG nor Peterson Sullivan provided us with statements
indicating that in their view any of the foregoing disclosures were incorrect or incomplete.
19
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The aggregate fees billed for
professional services rendered by Peterson Sullivan and KPMG for fiscal years 2007 and 2006 were as follows:
|
|
|
|
Peterson Sullivan
|
|
KPMG
|
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
|
Audit Fees (1)
|
|
|
|
$ |
40,000 |
|
|
$ |
174,660 |
|
Audit-Related
Fees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tax Fees
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All Other Fees
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Fees
|
|
|
|
$ |
40,000 |
|
|
$ |
174,660 |
|
(1) |
|
Represents fees for professional services rendered for the audit
of our annual consolidated financial statements and review of our interim consolidated financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form
10-Q and services that are normally provided by our independent registered public accounting firm in connection with statutory and regulatory filings
or engagements. |
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy
The Audit Committee has adopted a
policy for the pre-approval of all audit and non-audit services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm. The policy is designed
to ensure that the provision of these services does not impair the registered public accounting firms independence. Under the policy, any
services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm, including audit, audit-related, tax and other services, must be specifically
pre-approved by the Audit Committee.
The Audit Committee may delegate
pre-approval authority to one or more of its members. The member or members to whom such authority is delegated shall report any pre-approval decisions
to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. The Audit Committee does not delegate responsibilities to pre-approve services performed by the
independent registered public accounting firm to management.
For 2007, all services provided by
Peterson Sullivan were pre-approved.
2008 Independent Auditors
Peterson Sullivan, independent
registered public accounting firm, has been selected by the Audit Committee to audit the consolidated financial statements of Eden Bioscience for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 2008. Peterson Sullivan has been our independent registered public accounting firm since April 28,
2007.
Representatives of Peterson Sullivan
are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting. They 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.
20
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2009 ANNUAL
MEETING
Submission of Shareholder Proposals for Inclusion in the Proxy
Statement
Under the SECs proxy rules,
shareholder proposals that meet certain conditions may be included in Eden Biosciences proxy statement and form of proxy for a particular annual
meeting. Shareholders that intend to present a proposal at Eden Biosciences 2009 annual meeting of shareholders must give notice of the proposal
to Eden Bioscience no later than December 23, 2008 to be considered for inclusion in the proxy statement and form of proxy relating to the 2009 annual
meeting of shareholders.
Advance Notice Procedures for Director Nominations and Other
Business
Shareholders who intend to nominate
persons for election to the Board of Directors or to present a proposal at the 2009 annual meeting of shareholders without inclusion of the proposal in
our proxy materials must provide advance written notice of such nomination or proposal in the manner required by Eden Biosciences Bylaws. Notice
of nominations or other business proposed to be considered by shareholders, complying with Sections 2.6 or 3.3, as applicable, of the Bylaws, must be
delivered to the Corporate Secretary no earlier than February 21, 2009 and no later than March 23, 2009. Notices should be sent to: Corporate
Secretary, Eden Bioscience Corporation, 11816 North Creek Parkway, Bothell, Washington 98011-8201.
For proposals that are not timely
filed, Eden Bioscience retains discretion to vote proxies it receives. For such proposals that are timely filed, Eden Bioscience retains discretion to
vote proxies it receives provided that (1) Eden Bioscience includes in its proxy statement advice on the nature of the proposal and how it intends to
exercise its voting discretion and (2) the proponent does not issue a proxy statement.
OTHER MATTERS
As of the date of this Proxy Statement,
the Board of Directors does not intend to present, and has not been informed that any other person intends to present, any matters for action at the
Annual Meeting other than the matters specifically referred to in this Proxy Statement. If other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is
intended that the holders of the proxies will act with respect thereto in accordance with their best judgment.
Copies of the Eden Bioscience 2007
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, including the financial statements and financial statement schedules, as filed
with the SEC are being mailed to shareholders, together with this Proxy Statement, form of proxy and Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Additional copies may be obtained, without charge, from the Corporate Secretary of Eden Bioscience Corporation at 11816 North Creek Parkway N.,
Bothell, Washington 98011-8201.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS,
Bradley S.
Powell
President, Chief Financial Officer, and Secretary
Bothell, Washington
April 22, 2008
21
|
|
|
|
This proxy, when properly signed, will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned shareholder. IF NO DIRECTION
IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR PROPOSAL 1.
|
|
Please
Mark Here
for Address
Change or
Comments
|
o
|
|
|
SEE REVERSE SIDE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.
|
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS:
Class I (terms expiring 2011)
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FOR ALL
NOMINEES
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01 Roger M. Ivesdal
02 Richard N. Pahre
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WITHHOLD
ALL NOMINEES
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WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR
ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE. WRITE
NUMBER(S) OF NOMINEE(S) BELOW.
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IMPORTANT PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN PROMPTLY.
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Signature _______________________________
Signature _______________________________
Dated _________, 2008
When shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, or guardian,
please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by President or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in
partnership name by an authorized person.
FOLD AND DETACH HERE
You can now access your Eden Bioscience Corporation account online.
Access your Eden Bioscience Corporation stockholder account online via Investor ServiceDirect® (ISD).
The transfer agent for Eden Bioscience Corporation, now makes it easy and convenient to get current information on
your shareholder account.
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View account status
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View payment history for dividends
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View certificate history
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Make address changes
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View book-entry information
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Obtain a duplicate 1099 tax form
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Establish/change your PIN
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Visit us on the web at http://www.bnymellon.com/shareowner/isd
For Technical Assistance Call 1-877-978-7778 between 9am-7pm
Monday-Friday Eastern Time
****TRY IT OUT****
www.bnymellon.com/shareowner/isd
Investor ServiceDirect®
Available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week
TOLL FREE NUMBER: 1-800-370-1163
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PROXY
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FOR THE 2008 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF
EDEN BIOSCIENCE CORPORATION
This Proxy Is Solicited On Behalf Of The Board Of Directors
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The undersigned hereby appoints Bradley S. Powell and William T. Weyerhaeuser (collectively, the
Proxies), and each of them, with full power of substitution, as proxies to vote the shares that the
undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Eden Bioscience Corporation
to be held at the Country Inn & Suites, 19333 North Creek Parkway, Bothell, Washington on Thursday,
May 22, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and at any adjournments thereof. Such shares shall be voted
as indicated with respect to the proposals listed on the reverse side hereof and in the Proxies discretion
on such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
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(Continued and to be signed on reverse side.)
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Address Change/Comments (Mark the corresponding box on the reverse side)
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FOLD
AND DETACH HERE