Filed by Bowne Pure Compliance
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant þ
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
Ebix, 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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Ebix, Inc.
Five Concourse Parkway
Suite 3200 Atlanta, GA 30328
September 5, 2008
Dear Stockholder:
On behalf of our Board of Directors, I cordially invite you to the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of Ebix, Inc. to be held at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on September 26, 2008,
at our Atlanta office, located at Five Concourse Parkway, Suite 3200, Atlanta, Georgia 30328.
The business of the meeting is described in detail in the attached notice of meeting and proxy
statement. Also included is a proxy card and postage paid return envelope.
It is important that your shares are represented and voted at the Annual Meeting, regardless
of the size of your holdings. Whether or not you plan to attend, please complete and return the
enclosed proxy to ensure that your shares will be represented at the Annual Meeting. If you attend
the meeting, you may withdraw your proxy by voting in person.
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Sincerely, |
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Robin Raina |
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Chairman of the Board and |
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Chief Executive Officer |
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Ebix, Inc.
FIVE CONCOURSE PARKWAY, SUITE 3200
ATLANTA, GA 30328
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2008
Notice is hereby given that the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Ebix, Inc. will be held
at our Atlanta office, located at Five Concourse Parkway, Suite 3200 in Atlanta, GA, at 10:00 a.m.,
Eastern Daylight Time, on September 26, 2008, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof, for
the following purposes:
1. To elect six directors to serve until the 2009 Annual Meeting or until their respective
successors are elected and qualified.
2. To amend the Companys Certificate of Incorporation to increase the Companys number of
authorized shares from 10,000,000 to 20,000,000.
3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting and any
adjournments or postponements thereof.
Our Board of
Directors has fixed the close of business on August 29, 2008, as the record
date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual
Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.
Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, please complete, sign, date and return the
enclosed proxy in the envelope provided.
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By Order of the Board of Directors |
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Robin Raina |
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Chairman of the Board and |
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Chief Executive Officer |
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Dated: September 5, 2008 |
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Ebix, Inc.
FIVE CONCOURSE PARKWAY, SUITE 3200
ATLANTA, GA 30328
(678) 281-2020
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2008
GENERAL INFORMATION
We are providing these proxy materials to you in connection with the solicitation of proxies
by the Board of Directors of Ebix, Inc. for the 2008 Annual Meeting (the Annual Meeting) of our
stockholders to be held on September 26, 2008, and any adjournment or postponement of the Annual
Meeting. In this proxy statement, we refer to Ebix, Inc., as Ebix, the Company, we, or us.
We are holding our Annual Meeting at the Companys Atlanta, Georgia office located at Five
Concourse Parkway, Suite 3200 on Friday, September 26, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
We intend to mail this proxy statement and accompanying proxy card to our stockholders starting on
or about September 5, 2008. Our annual report for the year ended December 31, 2007, is being sent
to each stockholder of record along with this proxy statement.
ABOUT THE MEETING
At our Annual Meeting, our stockholders will act upon the matters outlined in the accompanying
notice of meeting, including the election of directors. In addition, our management will report on
our performance during the 2007 year and respond to questions from stockholders.
VOTING INFORMATION
All shares represented by properly executed proxies received by the Board of Directors
pursuant to this solicitation will be voted in accordance with the holders directions specified on
the proxy. If no directions have been specified by marking the appropriate places on the
accompanying proxy card, the shares will be voted in accordance with the Boards recommendations
which are:
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FOR the election of Robin Raina, Hans U. Benz, Neil D. Eckert, Pavan Bhalla, Rolf
Herter and Hans Ueli Keller to our Board of Directors for a term of one year. |
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For the amendment of the Companys Certificate of Incorporation to increase the
number of authorized shares from 10,000,000 to 20,000,000. |
A stockholder signing and returning the accompanying proxy has power to revoke it at any time
prior to its exercise by delivering to the Company a later dated proxy or by giving notice to the
Company in writing or at the meeting, but without affecting any vote previously taken.
Record Date
You may vote all
shares that you owned as of August 29, 2008, which is the record date for
the Annual Meeting. As of August 29, 2008, we had 3,176,385 shares of common stock outstanding.
Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote on each matter properly brought before the
meeting.
4
Ownership Of Shares
If your shares are registered directly in your name, you are the holder of record of these
shares, and we are sending these proxy materials directly to you. As the holder of record, you
have the right to give your proxy directly to us or vote in person at the Annual Meeting. If you
hold your shares in a brokerage account or through a bank or other holder of record, you hold the
shares in street name, and your broker, bank or other holder of record is sending these proxy
materials to you. As a holder in street name, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or
other holder of record how to vote by filling out a voting instruction form that accompanies your
proxy materials. Regardless of how you hold your shares, we invite you to attend the Annual
Meeting.
How To Vote
Your Vote Is Important. We encourage you to vote promptly. You may vote in the following
way:
By Mail: If you are a holder of record, you can vote by marking, dating, and signing your
proxy card and returning it by mail in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. If you hold your shares
in street name, please complete and mail the voting instruction card.
At The Annual Meeting: If you vote your shares now it will not limit your right to change your
vote at the Annual Meeting if you attend in person. If you hold your shares in street name, you
must obtain a proxy, executed in your favor, from the holder of record if you wish to vote your
shares at the Annual Meeting.
All shares that have been properly voted and not revoked will be voted at the meeting. If you
sign and return your proxy card without any voting instructions, your shares will be voted as the
Board of Directors recommends.
Revocation Of Proxies: You can revoke your proxy at any time before your shares are voted if
you: (1) send a written notice to our Secretary indicating that you want to revoke your proxy; or
(2) deliver to our Secretary a duly executed proxy (or voting instructions if you hold your shares
in street name) bearing a later date, which revokes all previous proxies; or (3) attend the meeting
in person, give written notice of revocation to the secretary of the meeting prior to the voting of
your proxy and vote your shares in person, although your attendance at the meeting will not by
itself revoke your proxy.
Quorum And Required Vote
Quorum: We will have a quorum and will be able to conduct the business of the Annual Meeting
if the holders of a majority of the votes that shareholders are entitled to cast are present at the
meeting, either in person or by proxy.
Vote Required for Proposals:
Directors are elected by a plurality of the shares of common stock that are present in person
or represented by proxy.
The amendment to the Companys Certificate of Incorporation to increase the Companys number
of authorized shares from 10,000,000 to 20,000,000 requires a majority of the shares of common
stock that are present in person or represented by proxy.
Routine And Non-Routine Proposals: NASDAQ rules determine whether proposals presented at the
shareholder meetings are routine or not routine. If a proposal is routine, a broker or other
entity holding shares for an owner in street name may vote for the proposal without voting
instructions from the owner.
If a proposal is not routine, the broker or other entity may vote on the proposal only if the
owner has provided voting instructions. A broker non-vote occurs when the broker or other entity
is unable to vote on a proposal because the proposal is not routine and the owner does not provide
any instructions.
Under NASDAQ rules, the election of directors is a routine item. Under NASDAQ rules, the
amendment of a Companys certificate of incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares
is not a routine item.
5
How We Count Votes: In determining whether we have a quorum, we count abstentions and broker
non-votes as present and entitled to vote.
In counting votes on the proposals:
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We do not count abstentions or broker non-votes, if any, as votes cast for
the election of directors, but we do count votes withheld for one or more
nominees as votes cast. |
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Because directors are elected by a plurality, this means that the six
nominees receiving the highest number of FOR votes will be elected. Neither
abstentions nor broker non-votes will have any effect in determining the
outcome of the election of directors. |
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In tabulating whether the proposal to amend the Companys Certificate of
Incorporation has received a majority of votes of the Companys outstanding
shares, it should be noted that abstentions are counted in tabulations of the
votes cast and thus have the same effect as a vote against a proposal, whereas
broker non-votes are not counted for purposes of determining whether a
proposal has been approved. |
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE OF THE COMPANY
Our business is managed by the Companys employees under the direction and oversight of the
Board of Directors. Except for Mr. Raina, none of our current Board members is an employee of the
Company. We keep Board members informed of our business through discussions with management,
materials we provide to them, visits to our offices, and facilities, and their participation in
Board and Board committee meetings. The Board has three standing committees: the Audit Committee,
the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Board limits
membership of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee to independent, non-management directors.
The Audit Committee exercises oversight responsibility regarding the quality and integrity of
our auditing and financial reporting practices. In discharging this responsibility, the Audit
Committee, among other things, selects the independent registered public accounting firm,
pre-approves the audit and any non-audit services to be provided by the auditors and reviews the
results and scope of the annual audit performed by the auditors. The Audit Committee currently
consists of Messrs. Bhalla (Chairman), Keller and Benz. After reviewing the qualifications of the
current members of the committee, and any relationships they may have with the Company that might
affect their independence from the Company, our Board of Directors has determined that (1) all
current members of the Audit Committee are independent as that concept is defined in Section 10A
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, (2) all current members of the Audit Committee are
independent as that concept is defined in the NASDAQ listing standards, (3) all current members
of the Audit Committee are financially literate, and (4) Mr. Bhalla qualifies as an audit
committee financial expert as defined under SEC rules promulgated under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002. The Audit Committee met five times during 2007. The Audit Committee exercises its authority
pursuant to a written charter that was adopted in October 2004 and is attached to this proxy
statement as Exhibit A.
The Compensation Committee is responsible for approving compensation of officers and directors
and administration of our various employee benefit plans. The Compensation Committee operates
pursuant to a written charter that is posted on our website at www.ebix.com. The Compensation
Committee currently consists of Messrs. Benz and Keller (Chairman), each of whom is independent
as that concept is defined in the NASDAQ listing standards. The Compensation Committee met four
times during 2007. The Compensation Committee exercises its authority pursuant to a written
charter that was adopted in October 2004 and attached to this proxy statement as Exhibit B.
The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee has responsibility for recommending to the
Board of Directors the persons to be nominated for election as directors by stockholders and
recommending the persons to be elected by the Board of Directors to fill any vacancies. It also
makes recommendations to the Board of Directors concerning the qualifications of members of the
Board of Directors committees, committee member appointment and removal and appointment of
committee chairs. In addition, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee consider matters
of corporate governance generally and reviews and recommends to the Board of Directors,
periodically, our Corporate Governance Guidelines. The Corporate Governance and Nominating
Committee currently consist of Messrs. Eckert (Chairman) and Herter, each of whom is independent
as that concept is defined in the NASDAQ listing standards. The Corporate Governance and Nominating
Committee met once in 2007. See Nominating Procedures. The Corporate Governance and Nominating
Committee exercises its authority pursuant to a written charter which was adopted
in October 2004. Its charter, along with the Audit and Compensation Committee charters and
our Corporate Governance Guidelines posted on our website at www.ebix.com.
The Board of Directors held five meetings during 2007. All but one of these meetings was
conducted via teleconference. All directors attended at least 75% or more of the meetings.
6
Corporate Governance Practices and Policies
Our Board of Directors has been carefully following the corporate governance developments that
have been taking place as a result of the adoption of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the rules
adopted thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), new NASDAQ listing standards
and other corporate governance recommendations. In October 2004, our Board designated a new
committee, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, and also adopted new charters for the
Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee, as well as our Corporate Governance Guidelines.
Our Corporate Governance Guidelines address, among other things, the Boards composition,
qualifications and responsibilities, director education and stockholder communication with
directors. These Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that directors are expected to attend our
annual meeting of stockholders.
Our Board of Directors also has adopted a Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers, which
is applicable to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Controller and any
other persons designated as senior financial officers. Our Board of Directors also has adopted a
Code of Conduct, articulating standards of business and professional ethics, which is applicable to
all of our directors, officers and employees. The full texts of the Code of Ethics for Senior
Financial Officers and Code of Conduct are available on our website.
Nominating Procedures
The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will consider candidates for the Board of
Directors from any reasonable source, including stockholder recommendations. The Corporate
Governance and Nominating Committee will not evaluate candidates differently based on who has made
the proposal. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee has the authority under its charter
to hire and pay a fee to consultants or search firms to assist in the process of identifying and
evaluating candidates. No such consultants or search firms have been used to date and, accordingly,
no fees have been paid to consultants or search firms in the past fiscal year. The Corporate
Governance and Nominating Committee will consider many factors when considering candidates for
election to the Board of Directors, including that the proper skills and experiences are
represented on the Board of Directors and its committees and that the composition of the Board of
Directors and each such committee satisfies applicable legal requirements and the NASDAQ listing
standards. Depending upon the current needs of the Board of Directors, certain factors may be
weighed more or less heavily by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.
Stockholders who wish to suggest qualified candidates should write to Ebix, Inc., Five
Concourse Parkway, Suite 3200, Atlanta, Georgia 30328 specifying the name of the candidates and
stating in detail the qualifications of such persons for consideration by the Corporate Governance
and Nominating Committee. A written statement from the candidate consenting to be named as a
candidate and, if nominated and elected, to serve as a director should accompany any such
recommendation.
Stockholder Communications
The Board of Directors has provided a means by which stockholders may send communications to
the Board or to individual members of the Board. Such communications, whether by letter, e-mail or
telephone, should be directed to the Corporate Compliance Officer of the Company who will forward
them to the intended recipients. However, unsolicited advertisements or invitations to conferences
or promotional material, in the discretion of the Corporate Compliance Officer or his designee, may
not be forwarded to the directors.
If a stockholder wishes to communicate to the Chairman of the Audit Committee about a concern
relating to the Companys financial statements, accounting practices or internal controls, the
concern should be submitted in writing to the Chairman of the Audit Committee in care of the
Companys Corporate Compliance Officer at the Companys headquarters address. If the concern
relates to the Companys governance practices, business ethics or corporate conduct, the concern
likewise should be submitted in writing to the Chairman of the Audit Committee in care of the
Companys Corporate Compliance Officer at the Companys headquarters address. If the shareholder
is unsure as to which category
his or her concern relates, he or she may communicate it to any one of the independent
directors in care of the Companys Secretary. The Companys whistleblower policy prohibits the
Company or any of its employees from retaliating or taking any adverse action against anyone for
raising a concern. If a shareholder or employee nonetheless prefers to raise his or her concern in
a confidential or anonymous manner, the concern may be directed to the Corporate Compliance Officer
at the Companys headquarters or by telephone at (678) 281-2020.
7
Independence
We require that a majority of the Board of Directors consist of independent, non-management
directors, who also meet the criteria for independence required by the NASDAQ. Under such rules, a
director is independent if he or she does not have a material relationship with the Company. Our
Board annually evaluates each members independence status.
The Board of
Directors has determined that as of August 29, 2008, five (5) of the Companys
six (6) incumbent directors are independent, including under NASDAQ guidelines: Messrs. Bhalla,
Keller, Benz, Eckert and Herter. Mr. Raina as management director, participate in the Boards
activities and provide valuable insights and advice.
Non-management directors have access to individual members of management or to other employees
of the Company on a confidential basis. Directors also have access to Company records and files
and directors may contact other directors without informing Company management of the purpose or
even the fact of such contact.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND
MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
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Common Stock |
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Percent of |
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Name of Beneficial Owner (1) |
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Ownership |
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Class |
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BRiT Insurance Holdings PLC (2) |
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330,163 |
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10.4 |
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Rennes Foundation (3) |
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351,977 |
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11.1 |
% |
Luxor Capital Group (4) |
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472,767 |
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14.9 |
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EEA Fund Management (5) |
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222,223 |
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7.0 |
% |
Robin Raina (6) |
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485,240 |
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15.3 |
% |
Robert F. Kerris (7) |
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% |
Pavan Bhalla (8) |
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6,375 |
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% |
Hans Ueli Keller (9) |
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6,150 |
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% |
Hans U. Benz (10) |
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2,875 |
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% |
Neil D. Eckert (11) |
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2,750 |
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% |
Rolf Herter (12) |
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2,875 |
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All directors, executive officers and nominees as a group (7 persons) |
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14.6 |
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Less than 1%. |
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The following table sets forth, as of August 29, 2008, the ownership of our Common Stock by
each of our directors, by each of our Named Executive Officers (as defined on page 12), by all of
our current executive officers and directors as a group, and by all persons known to us to be
beneficial owners of more than five percent of our Common Stock. The information set forth in the
table as to the current directors, executive officers and principal stockholders is based, except
as otherwise indicated, upon information provided to us by such persons. Unless otherwise
indicated, each person has sole investment and voting power with respect to the shares shown below
as beneficially owned by such person. |
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The address of BRiT Insurance Holdings PLC is 55 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 3AS, United
Kingdom. The address and information set forth in the table as to this stockholder are based on a
Schedule 13D/A filed by this stockholder on October 21, 2002. |
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The address of the Rennes
Foundation is Aeulestrasse 38, FL 9490 Vaduz, Principality of Liechtenstein. The address and
information set forth in the table as to this stockholder are based on a Schedule 13G/A filed by
this stockholder on February 12, 2004. |
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Ownership consists of shares of the Companys common stock beneficially owned by Luxor Capital
Partners, LP, Luxor Capital Partners Offshore, Ltd., Luxor Capital Group, LP, Luxor Management,
LLC, LCG Holdings, LLC and Christian Leone (collectively Luxor ), as investment managers and
investment advisers as disclosed on its joint filing on Schedule 13G dated June 13, 2007 as filed
with the SEC. Luxor reports that it has shared voting power with respect to 500,000 shares and
shared investment power as to 500,000 shares. The address of Luxor Capital Partners, LP, Luxor
Capital Group, LC, Luxor Management, LLC, LCG Holdings, LLC and Christian Leone is 767 Fifth
Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, New York 10153, and the address of Luxor Capital Partners Offshore,
Ltd. is M&C Corporate Services Limited, P.O. Box 309 GT, Ugland House, South Church Street, George
Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. |
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The address of EEA Fund Management is c/o Simon Shaw, Investment Manager, 55 Bishopsgate,
London, EC2N 3AS, United Kingdom. |
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Mr. Rainas ownership includes 18,994 shares of restricted stock as well
as options and restricted stock to
purchase 465,811 shares of our common stock which are exercisable as
of August 29, 2008, or that
will become exercisable within 60 days after that date. The address of Mr. Raina is 5 Concourse
Parkway, Suite 3200, Atlanta, Georgia 30328. |
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Mr. Kerris ownership includes 0 shares of restricted stock as well as options to purchase 0
shares of our common stock which are exercisable as of August 29, 2008, or that will become
exercisable within 60 days after that date. |
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Mr. Bhallas ownership includes options to purchase 6,375 shares of our common stock which
are exercisable as of August 29, 2008, or that will become exercisable within 60 days after that
date. |
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Mr. Kellers ownership includes options to purchase 6,150 shares of our common stock which are
exercisable as of August 29, 2008, or that will become exercisable within 60 days after that
date. |
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Mr. Benzs ownership includes options to purchase 2,875 shares of our common stock which are
exercisable as of August 29, 2008, or that will become exercisable within 60 days after that
date. |
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Mr. Eckerts ownership includes options to purchase 2,750 shares of our common stock which
are exercisable as of August 29, 2008, or that will become exercisable within 60 days after that
date. |
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(12) |
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Mr. Herters ownership includes options to purchase 2,875 shares of our common stock which
are exercisable as of August 29, 2008, or that will become exercisable within 60 days after that
date. |
PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Our bylaws provide for a Board of Directors consisting of not less than four, nor more than
eight, directors. The number of directors has been set as six (6), each of which will be elected
at the Annual Meeting. The elected directors will hold offices until their successors are elected
(which should occur at the next Annual Meeting) and qualified, unless they die, resign or are
removed from office prior to that time. In the absence of specific instructions, executed proxies
which do not indicate for whom votes should be cast will be voted FOR the election of the
nominees named below as directors. In the event that any nominee is unable or declines to serve as
a director (which is not anticipated), the proxyholders will vote for such substitute nominee as
the Board of Directors recommends or vote to allow the vacancy to remain open until filled by the
Board of Directors, as the Board of Directors recommends.
Set forth below is information as to each nominee for director, including age, principal
occupation and employment during the past five years, directorships with other publicly-held
companies, and period of service as a member of our Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors has
determined that all of our non-employee directors and nominees (all of the directors and nominees
other than Robin Raina, our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer to Ebix, Inc.) are
independent as that concept is defined in the NASDAQ listing standards.
ROBIN RAINA, 42, has been a director at Ebix since February 2000. Mr. Raina joined Ebix, Inc.
in October 1997 as our Vice President Professional Services and was promoted to Senior Vice
PresidentSales and Marketing in February 1998. Mr. Raina was promoted to Executive Vice
President, Chief Operating Officer in December 1998. Mr. Raina was appointed President effective
August 2, 1999, Chief Executive Officer effective September 23, 1999 and Chairman in May 2002.
Prior to joining us, from 1990 to 1997, Mr. Raina held senior management positions for Mindware, an
international technology consulting firm, serving in Asia and North America. While employed by
Mindware, Mr. Raina was responsible for managing projects for multinational corporations, including
setting up offshore laboratories, building intranets, managing service bureaus and support
centers, providing custom programming, and year 2000 conversions. Mr. Raina holds an Industrial
Engineering degree from Thapar University in Punjab, India.
9
HANS U. BENZ, 62, has, for the last six years been President of the holding group BISON, a
Swiss corporation that develops and implements business solution software in German-speaking parts
of Europe. Prior to this position, he was president of a banking software company named BOSS Lab.
His business experience extends from wholesale and retail trading to the Swiss private insurance
industry. Mr. Benz is currently also a principal investor in HuB Venture Capital Projects. He has
been a director since 2005.
PAVAN BHALLA, 45, has been a director since June 2004. Mr. Bhalla currently serves as
Corporate Controller of Hewitt Associates, Inc. He has served in this position since July 2006.
Mr. Bhalla served as Senior Vice PresidentFinance of MCI, Inc., a global telecommunications
company, and oversaw financial management of MCIs domestic retail business units from August 2003
until joining Hewitt Associates, Inc. Before joining MCI in August 2003, Mr. Bhalla spent over
seven years with BellSouth Corporation, a telecommunications company, serving in a variety of
executive positions, including Chief Financial Officer of BellSouth Long Distance Inc. from 1999 to
2002, Corporate Controller of BellSouth Cellular Corp. from 1997 to 1999, and Regional Director of
Finance of BellSouth Cellular Corp. from 1996 to 1997.
NEIL D. ECKERT, 46, is currently a director of BriT Insurance Holdings, plc. Until April
2005, he served as Chief Executive Officer of BriT and had been such since 1999. In 1995, he
co-founded BriT as a listed investment trust. Mr. Eckert is also Non-Executive Chairman of Design
Technology and Innovation Limited, a patenting and intellectual property company, as well as a
director of Ri3K, an internet hub for reinsurance. He was a member of the Board of Directors of
the Benfield Group from 1991 to 2000. He is also CEO Climate Exchange, a £750M London Stock
Exchange AIM listed company trading Carbon Credits, Chairman of Trading Emissions plc and Econergy
plc both public quoted AIM listed companies with combined market capitalization in excess of $1bn.
He has been a director since 2005.
ROLF HERTER, 45, is the managing partner of Streichenberg, Attorneys at Law in Zurich,
Switzerland. Streichenberg is a mid-sized commercial law firm, and Mr. Herter has been managing
partner since 2004. Mr. Herters practice consists primarily of representation of information
technology companies, both private and publicly traded. He has served on the Board of Directors of
several companies and is currently serving as a member of the Board of Directors of IC Companys
Switzerland AG and Roccam Rocca Asset Management AG. He also serves as a supervisor of investments
for several Swiss and German companies. He has been a director since 2005.
HANS UELI KELLER, 57, has been a director since July 2004. Mr. Keller spent over 20 years
with Zurich-based Credit Suisse, a global financial services company, serving as Executive Board
Member from 1997 to 2000, Head of Retail Banking from 1993 to 1996, and Head of Marketing from 1985
to 1992. He is presently also serving as Chairman of the Board of both Swisscontent Corp. AG and
Engel & Voelkers Commercial, Switzerland.
Required Vote
The six nominees receiving the highest number of votes will be elected to the Board of
Directors. Stockholders do not have the right to cumulate their votes in the election of
directors.
Board Recommendation
Our Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR the election of the nominees for
director listed above.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Discussion of Director Compensation
Under the Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan (the 1998 Director Option Plan),
each non-employee director, upon initial election or appointment to serve on the Board of
Directors, receives a grant of an option to purchase 1,500 shares of Common Stock at an exercise
price per share of 100% of the fair market value of a share on the date of the grant. Of the 1,500
shares of Common Stock subject to such an option, the option becomes exercisable with respect to
(a) 500 shares on the day prior to the first annual anniversary of the date of the grant and
(b) 125 shares on the last day of each of the eight calendar quarters commencing on the last day of
the calendar
quarter ending on or after the first annual anniversary of the date of the grant. Each option has a
term of ten years beginning on the date of the grant. In addition, the 1998 Director Option
Plan provides for each non-employee director, immediately following each Annual Meeting of our
stockholders, to be granted an option to purchase 450 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price
per share of 100% of the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of the grant. Of
the 450 shares of Common Stock subject to each such option, the option becomes exercisable with
respect to 112.5 shares on the last day of each of the four calendar quarters beginning with the
calendar quarter ending on or after the date of the grant. Each option has a term of ten years
beginning on the date of grant.
10
On December 16, 2005, the Company held the annual meeting of stockholders. Immediately
following that annual meeting of stockholders, each non-employee director received options to
purchase 1,500 shares of Common Stock, including the options automatically awarded under the 1998
Director Option Plan, at an exercise price per share of $19.51 which was the fair market value of a
share of Common Stock on that date. In addition, each non-employee director received an annual cash
retainer of $14,000. Each member of the Audit Committee and Compensation Committee, other than its
Chairman, received cash compensation of $3,000 in 2005. Mr. Drislane, Keller and Merin received
$3,000 following the December 16, 2005 annual meeting. Mr. Rich received $5,000 following the
December 16, 2005 meeting for serving on both the Audit and Compensation Committees. The Audit
Committee Chairman, Mr. Bhalla received cash compensation of $5,000 following the December 16, 2005
meeting.
On October 20, 2006, the Company held the annual meeting of stockholders. Immediately
following that annual meeting of stockholders, each non-employee director received options to
purchase 1,500 shares of Common Stock, including the options automatically awarded under the 1998
Director Option Plan, at an exercise price per share of $21.24 which was the fair market value of a
share of Common Stock on that date. In addition, each non-employee director received an annual cash
retainer of $14,000. Each member of the Audit Committee and Compensation Committee, other than its
Chairman, received cash compensation of $3,000 in 2006. Mr. Keller and Benz received $5,000 each
following the October 20, 2006 meeting for serving on both the Audit and Compensation Committees.
The Audit Committee Chairman, Mr. Bhalla received cash compensation of $5,000 following the
October 20, 2006 meeting.
On November 11, 2007, the board of directors met and decided to double the amount of
options granted to each non-employee director it to 3000 stock options after each annual meeting of
stockholders. During 2007, however, no stock options or restricted stock were granted to any
non-employee director. Each non-employee director received an annual cash retainer of $14,000
during 2007. Mr. Keller and Benz received $5,000 following the annual meeting of stockholders on
November 15, 2007 for serving on both the Audit and Compensation Committees. The Audit Committee
Chairman, Mr. Bhalla received cash compensation of $5,000 following the November 15, 2007 meeting.
Director Compensation Chart
Director Compensation
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Change in |
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Pension Value |
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Fees Earned |
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Option |
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Non-Equity |
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and Nonqualified |
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or Paid in |
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Stock |
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Awards |
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Incentive Plan |
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Deferred |
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All Other |
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|
Name |
|
Cash |
|
|
Awards |
|
($) |
|
|
Compensation |
|
Compensation |
|
Compensation |
|
Total |
|
(a) |
|
($) |
|
|
($) |
|
(1) |
|
|
($) |
|
Earnings |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
Pavan Bhalla |
|
$ |
19,000 |
|
|
None |
|
$ |
21,676 |
|
|
None |
|
None |
|
None |
|
$ |
40,676 |
|
Hans Ueli Keller |
|
$ |
19,000 |
|
|
None |
|
$ |
23,153 |
|
|
None |
|
None |
|
None |
|
$ |
42,153 |
|
Hanz U. Benz |
|
$ |
19,000 |
|
|
None |
|
$ |
28,996 |
|
|
None |
|
None |
|
None |
|
$ |
47,996 |
|
Neil D. Eckert |
|
$ |
14,000 |
|
|
None |
|
$ |
37,188 |
|
|
None |
|
None |
|
None |
|
$ |
56,188 |
|
Rolf Herter |
|
$ |
14,000 |
|
|
None |
|
$ |
28,996 |
|
|
None |
|
None |
|
None |
|
$ |
47,996 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Amounts reflect the dollar amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, in accordance with SFAS 123(R) and thus may include
amounts from awards granted prior to 2006. The following lists the grant date fair value of
each stock award computed in accordance with FAS 123(R). |
11
The following table lists the aggregate number of outstanding options held by each director as
of August 29, 2008.
|
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
Outstanding Options Held |
|
Pavan Bhalla |
|
|
6,375 |
|
Hans Ueli Keller |
|
|
6,150 |
|
Hanz U. Benz |
|
|
2,875 |
|
Neil D. Eckert |
|
|
2,750 |
|
Rolf Herter |
|
|
2,875 |
|
PROPOSAL 2: AMENDMENT OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
Introduction
Our Certificate of Incorporation currently authorizes the issuance of 10,000,000 shares of
Common Stock, par value $0.10. As of August 29, 2008, the Record Date there were 3,176,385
shares of our Common Stock were outstanding.
Description of the Amendment
On August 28, 2008, our Board of Directors unanimously approved an amendment to Article IV of
the Certificate of Incorporation (the Amendment), subject stockholder approval, to increase the
number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Certificate of Incorporation by
10,000,000 to a total of 20,000,000 shares.
If the Amendment is approved by a majority of stockholders, it will become effective upon its
filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The Company expects to file the
Amended with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware very shortly after its approval by
stockholders. The authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock would be available for issuance
from time to time for such purposes and for such consideration as the Board of Directors may
determine to be appropriate without further action by the stockholders, except for those instances
in which applicable law or stock exchange rules require stockholder approval. The additional
shares of authorized Common Stock, when issued, would have the same rights and privileges as the
shares of common stock currently issued and outstanding.
The last sentence of Article IV of the Certificate of Incorporation is proposed to be amended
and restated in its entirety. This article currently provides that:
The total number of shares of Common Stock authorized to be issued is 10,000,000 and
each such shares will have a par value of ten cents ($.10).
As amended and restated, the last sentence of the first paragraph of Article IV of the
Certificate of Incorporation is proposed to read as follows:
The total number of shares of Common Stock authorized to be issued is 20,000,000 and
each such shares will have a par value of ten cents ($.10).
Purposes of the Amendment
The primary purpose of the Amendment is to provide additional shares of common stock which may
be used by us: (i) to grant a dividend in the form of a forward stock split (ii) to increase the
number of shares available to be issued for issuance to holders of convertible preferred stock,
options and warrants granted prior to or after the date hereof, (iii) to establish additional
employee compensation plans or to increase the shares available under current plans, (iv) for
issuance in connection with future financing activities of the Company, including public and
private offerings of the Common Stock or upon conversion of other equity or debt securities, (v)
for issuance in connection with future corporate
acquisitions, or (vi) other corporate purposes.
12
Upon the effective
date of the Amendment, we will have approximately 15,365,250 shares of
common stock authorized and available for future issuance. Very shortly after the approval of the
Amendment of the Certificate and its filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware,
the Board of Directors plans to set a record date for a three -for- one forward split of
outstanding common stock of the Company. Other than such stock split or as permitted or required
under our existing contractual obligations and outstanding options, the Board of Directors has no
immediate plans, understandings, agreements or commitments to issue additional shares of common
stock for any purposes.
The Board of Directors believes that the increase in the number of authorized shares of common
stock will make a sufficient number of shares available, should we decide to use our shares for one
or more of such previously mentioned purposes or otherwise. We reserve the right to seek a further
increase in authorized shares from time to time in the future as considered appropriate by the
Board of Directors.
Other Potential Effects of the Amendment
Upon filing the Amendment, the Board of Directors may cause the issuance of additional shares
of common stock without further vote of our stockholders, except as provided under the DGCL (or any
national securities exchange on which shares of our common stock are then listed or traded). Under
our Certificate of Incorporation, our stockholders do not have preemptive rights to subscribe to
additional securities which may be issued by the Company, which means that current stockholders do
not have a prior right to purchase any new issue of our capital stock in order to maintain their
proportionate ownership of common stock. In addition, if the Board of Directors elects to issue
additional shares of common stock, for purposes other than to facilitate the previously discussed
three-for-one stock split, such issuance could have a dilutive effect on the earnings per share,
voting power and holdings of current stockholders.
In addition to the corporate purposes discussed above, the Amendment could, under certain
circumstances, have an anti-takeover effect, although this is not the intent of the Board of
Directors. For example, the existence of authorized but unissued shares of common stock could
render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest,
tender offer, merger or otherwise.
Board Recommendation
Our Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR the Amendment.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
We have two executive officers, Robin Raina and Robert F. Kerris. Information as to Mr. Raina
is provided above.
ROBERT F. KERRIS, 54, joined the Company as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary on
October 22, 2007. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Kerris was Chief Financial Officer at Aelera
Corporation. He held this position from May 2006 to October 2007. Previously he was a Financial
Vice President at Equifax, Inc. from November 2003 to April 2006, Corporate Controller at
Interland, Inc. from September 2002 to October 2003, and held senior financial management positions
at AT&T, BellSouth, and Northern Telecom. Mr. Kerris is a licensed certified public accountant and
holds an accounting and economics degree from North Carolina State University.
13
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Disclosure and Analysis
Objectives and Goals
The objectives of the committee has been to adopt a compensation approach that is
basically simple, internally equitable and externally competitive, and that attracts, motivates and
retains qualified people capable of contributing to the growth, success and profitability of the
Company, thereby contributing to long-term stockholder value.
Simplicity. The committee believes that a compensation package with
three major elements of compensation is the simplest approach consistent with the Companys
goals. The Company generally does not utilize special personal perquisites such as private
jets, payment of country club dues, Company-furnished motor vehicles, permanent lodging or
defrayment of the cost of personal entertainment.
Internal Equity. Internal equity has generally been evaluated based on
an assessment of the relative contributions of the members of the management team. In 2007,
the committee did not undertake any formal audit or similar analysis of compensation equity
with respect to either the CEO relative to the other members of the management team or with
respect to the management team relative to the Companys employees generally. However, the
committee believes that the relative difference between CEO compensation and the
compensation of the Companys other executives is consistent with such differences found in
the Companys insurance services peer group and the market for executive level personnel for
public companies of similar size.
External Competitiveness. The committee believes it is important to
management retention and morale that compensation be competitive with our competitors. As a
part of that exercise, the committee hired an outside compensation consultant to review the
competitive landscape and to establish transparent criterion for CEO compensation. Based on
the consultants report and the contributions provided by individual board members, based on
their business experiences, the compensation committee established a transparent plan for
CEO compensation. The plan was unanimously adopted by the board of directors.
Major Compensation Components
The principal components of compensation for our executive officers are base salary,
short-term incentives, generally in the form of cash bonus programs, and long-term incentives,
generally in the form of equity-based awards such as stock awards. We believe the Companys goals
are best met by utilizing an approach to compensation with these three distinct elements.
Base Salaries. The Companys base salaries are intended to be
consistent with the committees understanding of competitive practices, levels of executive
responsibility, qualifications necessary for the particular executive position, and the
expertise and experience of the executive officer. Salary adjustments reflect the
committees belief as to competitive trends, the performance of the individual and, to some
extent, the overall financial condition of the Company.
Short-Term Incentives. The short-term incentive for an executive is the
opportunity to earn an annual cash bonus. The committee has concluded that bonus payments
should be primarily based on the achievement of specific predetermined profit and expense
control targets while a smaller portion should be discretionary based on the committees
evaluation of an executives individual performance in specific qualitative areas. We do not
disclose specific profit and expense control targets or other specific quantitative or
qualitative performance related factors. Such targets and information are intended as a way
to allocate risk and reward in the best manner to motivate the Companys management.
Likewise, such targets may be subject to change based on subsequent developments or may be
dependent on events or assumptions which are, either in whole or in part, beyond the control
of the Company or the named officer.
Short-term incentive compensation is generally based on three performance
criteria: (a) profitability, (b) revenue growth, and (c) other specific performance
criteria. Under the short-term incentive plan for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007,
an incentive bonus of $1,050,000 was paid to Robin Raina, our one named executive officer
who was employed during the entire fiscal year.
When determining bonuses for executive officers, we particularly took into
account two factors, Ebixs performance as compared to its industry peers and the increased
operating income performance. Potential bonuses, as a percentage of base salary, were higher
for our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, reflecting their
greater responsibility for and greater ability to influence the achievement of targets.
14
The following table sets forth for each named executive officer, the bonus
percentage potentially attributable to performance targets and the percentage attributable
to the committees discretion. The committee has the authority to adjust, waive or reset
targets.
The following chart sets forth information regarding the actual annual cash
incentive awards made to Robin Raina as the only named executive officer employed during the
all of 2007.
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Award |
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Target |
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Actual |
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|
Actual |
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Percentage |
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Incentive |
|
|
|
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|
|
Annual |
|
|
Incentive |
|
|
|
Subject to |
|
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Award as a |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive |
|
|
Award as a |
|
|
|
Objective/ |
|
|
Percentage |
|
|
Actual Annual |
|
|
Award as a |
|
|
Percentage |
|
|
|
Subjective |
|
|
of Base |
|
|
Incentive |
|
|
Percentage |
|
|
of Base |
|
Short Term Incentive Plan Participant |
|
Criteria |
|
|
Salary |
|
|
Award |
|
|
of Target |
|
|
Salary |
|
(Name and Position) |
|
(%) |
|
|
(%) |
|
|
($) |
|
|
(%) |
|
|
(%) |
|
Robin Raina, Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
100/ |
|
|
|
189 |
|
|
|
1,050,000 |
|
|
|
117 |
|
|
|
221 |
|
Long-Term Incentives. While salary and short-term incentives are
primarily designed to compensate current and past performance, the primary goal of the
long-term incentive compensation program is to directly link management compensation with
the long-term interests of the stockholders.
Types of Equity Awards and Criteria for Award Type Selection. Prior
to 2005, we relied heavily on stock options to provide incentive compensation to our
executive officers and other key employees and to align their interests with those
of our stockholders. Based on changes in U.S. accounting rules and a general trend
toward increased use of restricted stock and decreased use of stock options, the
committee has increased the number of awards using restricted stock and decreased
the number utilizing stock options. For the immediate future, we intend to rely
primarily on restricted stock grants to provide long-term incentive compensation to
our officers and key employees, without excluding the possibility of continuing to
also grant stock options as a form of incentive compensation.
Criteria for Award Amounts. In considering whether to grant equity
incentives, the committee looks at a variety of factors, with no formal weighting
assigned to any single factor or group of factors. The committee evaluates equity
incentive awards made by our competitors (both individually and as part of a
comparative compensation analysis), other insurance services and technology
companies, historical levels of the Companys equity incentives, the extent to which
value under the award is subject to risk, whether the award vehicle has intrinsic
value, and the need to motivate and retain persons eligible to participate under the
Companys plans.
Vesting and Holding Periods for Equity Incentive Compensation. As a
means to encourage long term thinking and encourage continued employment with us,
the Companys equity awards are usually subject to a multi-year vesting period.
Historically, our grants of stock options and restricted stock have vested over a
three year period and the committee anticipates that future awards will continue to
be subject to multi-year vesting, most likely for similar three year periods.
Historically, the Company has not imposed minimum equity ownership requirements for
equity compensation awarded to its executive officers, nor has it required any
continued ownership of the securities issued pursuant to such awards after vesting.
The committee is still evaluating whether such a policy of minimum stock ownership
levels or award retention should be implemented and the potential parameters for any
award retention policy. It is anticipated that any such policy would provide for
sales in the event of hardship and sales sufficient to generate sufficient income to
pay taxes in connection with the award or other awards. The Committee does not
anticipate making any determination on whether to implement any such policies or the
scope of any such policies before the winter of 2008.
Equity Awards in 2007
In 2007, no stock options and 11,001 shares of restricted stock were granted to the
named executive officers of the Company.
Other Compensation Components
Company executives are eligible to participate in the Companys health care, insurance
and other welfare and employee benefit programs, which are the same for all eligible employees,
including Ebixs executive officers.
15
Use of Employment and Severance Agreements
In the past, the committee has determined that competitive considerations merit the
use of employment contracts or severance agreements for certain members of senior management.
Recapture and Forfeiture Policies
Historically the Company has not had formal policies with respect to the adjustment or
recapture of performance based awards where the financial measures on which such awards are based
or to be based are adjusted for changes in reported results such as, but not limited to, instances
where the Companys financial statements are restated. The committee does not believe that
repayment should be required where the Plan participant has acted in good faith and the errors are
not attributable to the participants gross negligence or willful misconduct. In such later
situations, the committee believes the Company has or will have available negotiated or legal
remedies. However, the committee may elect to take into account factors such as the timing and
amount of any financial restatement or adjustment, the amounts of benefits received, and the
clarity of accounting requirements lending to any restatement in fixing of future compensation.
Deductibility of Compensation and Related Tax Considerations
As one of the factors in its review of compensation matters, the committee considers
the anticipated tax treatment to the Company and to the executives of various payments and
benefits.
Section 162(m). Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the Code) generally limits to $1 million the amount that a publicly-held
corporation is allowed each year to deduct for the compensation paid to each of the
corporations chief executive officer and the corporations four most highly compensated
executive officers, other than the chief executive officer. However, performance-based
compensation is not subject to the $1 million deduction limit. In general, to qualify as
performance-based compensation, the following requirements must be satisfied: (i) payments
must be computed on the basis of an objective, performance-based compensation standard
determined by a committee consisting solely of two or more outside directors, (ii) the
material terms under which the compensation is to be paid, including the business criteria
upon which the performance goals are based, and a limit on the maximum amount which may be
paid to any participant pursuant to any award with respect to any performance period, are
approved by a majority of the corporations stockholders, and (iii) the committee certifies
that the applicable performance goals were satisfied before payment of any performance-based
compensation is made.
Although the Companys stock option plans generally have been structured with
the goal of complying with the requirements of Section 162(m), and the compensation
committee believes the restricted staock and stock options awarded there under should
qualify as performance-based compensation exempt from limitations on deductibility under
Section 162(m), the deductibility of any compensation was not a condition to any
compensation decision. The Company does not expect its ability to deduct executive
compensation to be limited by operation of Section 162(m). However, due to interpretations
and changes in the tax laws, some types of compensation payments and their deductibility
depend on the timing of an executives vesting or exercise of previously granted rights and
other factors beyond the compensation committees control which could affect the
deductibility of compensation.
The compensation committee will continue to carefully consider the impact of
Section 162(m) when designing compensation programs, and in making compensation decisions
affecting the Companys Section 162(m) covered executives. We fully expect the majority of
future stock awards will be excludable from the Section 162(m) $1 million limit on
deductibility, since vesting of any such awards will likely be tied to performance-based
criteria, or be part of compensation packages which are less than $1 million dollars.
Nonetheless, the compensation committee believes that in certain circumstances factors other
than
tax deductibility are more important in determining the forms and levels of executive
compensation most appropriate and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
Accordingly, it may award compensation in excess of the deductibility limit, with or without
requiring a detailed analysis of the estimated tax cost of non-deductible awards to the
Company. Given our dynamic and rapidly changing industry and business, as well as the
competitive market for outstanding leadership talent, the compensation committee believes it
is important to retain the flexibility to design compensation programs consistent with its
compensation philosophy for the Company, even if some executive compensation is not fully
deductible.
16
Section 280G. Code Section 280G generally denies a deduction for a
significant portion of certain compensatory payments made to corporate officers, certain
shareholders and certain highly-compensated employees if the payments are contingent on a
change of control of the employer and the aggregate amounts of the payments to the relevant
individual exceed a specified relationship to that individuals average compensation from
the employer over the preceding five years. In addition, Code Section 4999 imposes on that
individual a 20% excise tax on the same portion of the payments received for which the
employer is denied a deduction under Section 280G. In determining whether to approve an
obligation to make payments for which Section 280G would deny the Company a deduction or
whether to approve an obligation to indemnify (or gross-up) an executive against the
effects of the Section 4999 excise tax, the committee has adopted an approach similar to
that described above with respect to payments which may be subject to the deduction
limitations of Section 162(m).
Chief Executive Officer Compensation
The compensation policies described above apply equally to the compensation of the
Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Committee Conclusion
Attracting and retaining talented and motivated management and employees is essential
to create long-term stockholder value. Offering a competitive, performance-based compensation
program with a large equity component helps to achieve this objective by aligning the interests of
the Companys CEO and other executive officers with those of stockholders. The committee believes
that Ebixs 2007 compensation program met these objectives. Likewise, based on our review, the
committee finds the total compensation (and, in the case of the severance and change-in-control
scenarios, the potential payouts) to the Companys CEO and other named executive officer in the
aggregate to be reasonable and not excessive.
Compensation Committee and Management Review and Authorization
The compensation committee has reviewed the above Compensation Disclosure and Analysis
with the Companys Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Based on a review of this
Compensation Disclosure and Analysis report and discussion with the compensation committee, the
Companys Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have approved the inclusion of the
Compensation Disclosure and Analysis report in this Form 10-K.
Authorization
This report has been submitted by the compensation committee:
Hans U. Benz and Hans Ueli Keller
The foregoing report shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general
statement incorporating by reference this proxy statement into any filing under the Securities Act
of 1933 or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that we specifically
incorporate this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts.
17
Summary Compensation Table
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|
Change in |
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|
Pension Value |
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and |
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|
|
|
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|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
Nonqualified |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Equity |
|
|
Deferred |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Awards |
|
|
Option |
|
|
Incentive Plan |
|
|
Compensation |
|
|
All Other |
|
|
|
|
Name and |
|
|
|
|
|
Salary |
|
|
Bonus |
|
|
($) |
|
|
Awards |
|
|
Compensation |
|
|
Earnings |
|
|
Compensation |
|
|
|
|
Principal Position |
|
Year |
|
|
($) |
|
|
($) |
|
|
(1) |
|
|
($) |
|
|
($) |
|
|
($) |
|
|
($) |
|
|
Total |
|
Robin Raina, |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
$ |
475,000 |
|
|
$ |
1,050,000 |
|
|
$ |
153,595 |
(1) |
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
$ |
3,300 |
(5) |
|
$ |
1,681,895 |
|
President, Chief |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
$ |
400,000 |
|
|
$ |
700,000 |
|
|
$ |
84,417 |
(2) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
3,300 |
(5) |
|
$ |
1,187,711 |
|
Executive
Officer |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
$ |
380,731 |
|
|
$ |
700,000 |
|
|
$ |
101,285 |
(3) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
3,150 |
(5) |
|
$ |
1,185,166 |
|
and Chairman of the
Board |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard J. Baum, |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
$ |
110,000 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
$ |
|
(5) |
|
$ |
110,000 |
|
Former Executive |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
$ |
220,000 |
|
|
$ |
135,000 |
|
|
$ |
49,500 |
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
3,300 |
(5) |
|
$ |
407,800 |
|
Vice President |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
$ |
214,682 |
|
|
$ |
110,000 |
|
|
$ |
45,489 |
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
3,150 |
|
|
$ |
373,321 |
|
Chief
Financial Officer
and Secretary |
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|
|
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|
|
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|
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|
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carl Serger, |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
$ |
98,750 |
|
|
$ |
41,250 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
142,100 |
|
Former Senior Vice
PresidentChief
Financial Officer
and Secretary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
|
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|
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|
|
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|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert Kerris, |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
$ |
25,962 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
25,962 |
|
Senior Vice
PresidentChief
Financial Officer
and Secretary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
Footnotes
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|
|
(1) |
|
During May 2007, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company gave
final approval to award 8,501 shares of restricted stock to Robin Raina, the Companys
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President. Likewise, on November 11, 2007, the
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company gave final approval to award
2,500 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Raina. These awards were made pursuant to the 2006
incentive compensation program (the 2006 Program) approved by the Companys Board of
Directors. These number of shares of restricted stock issued to Mr. Raina represent
approximately 23% and 12% of the aggregate of the his total salary and cash bonus
compensation earned for 2006 and 2007, respectively, multiplied by the market price of the
Companys stock on May 9, 2007 and November 11, 2007, respectively. These are the dates that
the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approved the restricted stock grants.
The Company recognized compensation expense of approximately $65,000 related to these shares
during the year ended December 31, 2007. |
|
(2) |
|
On February 3, 2006, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company
gave final approval to awards of 8,354 shares of restricted stock to Robin Raina, the
Companys Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, and 2,506 shares of restricted
stock to Richard J. Baum, the Companys then Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer and Secretary, under the Companys 1996 Incentive Plan. The awards were made
pursuant to a 2005 incentive compensation program (the 2005 Program) approved by the
Companys Board of Directors. In accordance with the 2005 Program, the number of shares of
restricted stock issued to each of Messrs. Raina and Baum represents 15% of the aggregate of
the total salary and cash bonus compensation earned by him for 2005 (such aggregate
compensation being $1,100,000 in the case of Mr. Raina and $330 in the case of Mr. Baum),
by the market price of the Companys stock on February 3, 2006, the date the Board approved
the restricted stock grants. The Company recognized compensation expense of approximately
$100,000 related to these shares during the year ended December 31, 2006. |
|
(3) |
|
On June 1, 2005, the Compensation Committee approved such terms and forms of restricted
stock agreements and the shares of restricted stock were issued to each of Messrs. Raina and
Baum on such date. In accordance with the 2004 Program, the number of shares of restricted
stock issued to each of Messrs. Raina and Baum represents 10% of the aggregate of the total
salary and cash bonus compensation earned by him for 2004 (such aggregate compensation being
$1,013,000 in the case of Mr. Raina and $455,000 in the case of Mr. Baum), multiplied by the
market price of the Companys stock on April 11, 2005, the date the Board approved the
restricted stock grants. The Company recognized
compensation expense of approximately $34,000 related to these shares during the year ended
December 31, 2006. The Company recognized compensation expense of approximately $65,000
related to these shares during the year ended December 31, 2005. |
|
(4) |
|
There was no FAS123(R) expense related to executive stock options as all of their options
were vested as of December 31, 2005. |
|
(5) |
|
Company matching grant made pursuant to 401(k) Plan. |
18
Grants of Plan-Based Award
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All |
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Other |
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All Other |
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|
Estimated Future |
|
|
Estimated Future |
|
|
Stock |
|
|
Option |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payments Under Non |
|
|
Payouts Under Equity |
|
|
Awards: |
|
|
Awards: |
|
|
Exercise |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity Incentive |
|
|
Incentive Plan |
|
|
Number of |
|
|
Number of |
|
|
or Base |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Awards |
|
|
Awards |
|
|
Shares of |
|
|
Securities |
|
|
Price of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thresh- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maxi- |
|
|
Thresh- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maxi- |
|
|
Stock or |
|
|
Underlying |
|
|
Option |
|
|
Full Grant |
|
|
|
Grant |
|
|
old |
|
|
Target |
|
|
mum |
|
|
old |
|
|
Target |
|
|
mum |
|
|
Units |
|
|
Options |
|
|
Awards |
|
|
Date Fair |
|
Name |
|
Date |
|
|
($) |
|
|
($) |
|
|
($) |
|
|
(#) |
|
|
(#) |
|
|
(#) |
|
|
(#) |
|
|
(#) |
|
|
($/Sh) |
|
|
Value |
|
Robin Raina, |
|
|
05/09/07 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,501 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
250,000 |
|
President, Chief |
|
|
11/11/07 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
167,000 |
|
Executive Officer
and Chairman of the
Board |
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|
Carl Serger, |
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|
Former Senior Vice
PresidentChief
Financial Officer
and Secretary |
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Robert Kerris, |
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|
Senior Vice
PresidentChief
Financial Officer
and Secretary |
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|
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
|
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Option Awards |
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Stock Awards |
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Equity |
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Incentive |
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Equity |
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Plan |
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Incentive |
|
|
Awards: |
|
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|
Equity |
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Plan |
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Market or |
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|
Incentive |
|
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|
Awards: |
|
|
Payout |
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Plan |
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Number of |
|
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Value of |
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|
Awards: |
|
|
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Market |
|
|
Unearned |
|
|
Unearned |
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
Number of |
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
Value of |
|
|
Shares, |
|
|
Shares, |
|
|
|
Securities |
|
|
Securities |
|
|
Securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares or |
|
|
Shares or |
|
|
Units or |
|
|
Units or |
|
|
|
Underlying |
|
|
Underlying |
|
|
Underlying |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Units of |
|
|
Units of |
|
|
Other |
|
|
Other |
|
|
|
Unexercised |
|
|
Unexercised |
|
|
Unexercised |
|
|
Option |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock That |
|
|
Stock That |
|
|
Rights |
|
|
Rights |
|
|
|
Options |
|
|
Options |
|
|
Unearned |
|
|
Exercise |
|
|
Option |
|
|
Have Not |
|
|
Have Not |
|
|
That Have |
|
|
That Have |
|
|
|
(#) |
|
|
(#) |
|
|
Options |
|
|
Price |
|
|
Expiration |
|
|
Vested |
|
|
Vested |
|
|
Not Vested |
|
|
Not Vested |
|
Name |
|
Exercisable |
|
|
Unexercisable |
|
|
(#) |
|
|
($) |
|
|
Date |
|
|
(#) |
|
|
($) |
|
|
(#) |
|
|
($) |
|
Robin Raina, |
|
|
110,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
5.35 |
|
|
|
9-16-2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
President, Chief |
|
|
125,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
5.60 |
|
|
|
8-23-2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive Officer and |
|
|
24,063 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
6.50 |
|
|
|
2-1-2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chairman of the Board |
|
|
20,938 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
6.50 |
|
|
|
2-1-2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
80,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
6.50 |
|
|
|
2-1-2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
15.76 |
|
|
|
4-2-2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
26.24 |
|
|
|
3-23-2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,750 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
26.24 |
|
|
|
3-23-2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,250 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
44.50 |
|
|
|
12-2-2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
53.25 |
|
|
|
8-4-2009 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19,821 |
|
|
$ |
1,450,772 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carl Serger, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Former Senior Vice
PresidentChief
Financial Officer
and Secretary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert Kerris, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Senior Vice
PresidentChief
Financial Officer
and Secretary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19
Option Exercises and Stock Vested
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards |
|
|
Stock Awards |
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares |
|
|
Value |
|
|
Shares |
|
|
Value |
|
|
|
Acquired on |
|
|
Realized on |
|
|
Acquired on |
|
|
Realized on |
|
Name |
|
Exercise |
|
|
Exercise |
|
|
Vesting |
|
|
Vesting |
|
(a) |
|
(#) |
|
|
($) |
|
|
(#) |
|
|
($) |
|
Robin Raina,
President, Chief
Executive Officer
and Chairman of the
Board |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,038 |
|
|
$ |
197,092 |
|
Carl Serger, Former
Senior Vice
PresidentFormer Chief
Financial Officer
and Secretary |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
Robert Kerris,
Senior Vice
PresidentChief
Financial Officer
and Secretary |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
Pension Benefits and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
The Company does not generally offer non-tax qualified pension benefit plans or
nonqualified deferred compensation to its officers, and none of its named executive officers
currently participate or have participated in any non-tax qualified pension benefit plans or
nonqualified deferred compensation plan during the past fiscal year.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
As of August 29,
2008, BRiT Insurance Holdings PLC (BriT) held 330,163 shares of Common
Stock, representing approximately 10.4% percent of our outstanding Common Stock. During 2005, we
recognized approximately $3,762,000 as services revenue from BRiT and its affiliates. During 2006,
we recognized approximately $3,117,000 as
services revenue from BRiT and its affiliates. During 2007, we recognized approximately $
1,680,000 as services revenue from BRiT and its affiliates. Total accounts receivable from BRiT
and its affiliates at December 31, 2008 were $665,000. We continue to provide services for BRiT
and its affiliates and to receive payments for such services.
20
Rahul Raina, is the Companys Assistant Vice President of Business Process Outsourcing and the
brother of Robin Raina, our Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer. During
2007 Rahul Raina was paid a salary of $120,000 and received a bonus of $111,000. Previously in 2003
Rahul Raina was granted options to purchase 25,000 shares of our common stock. The options vest
over four years from the date of grant and expire ten years from the date of grant. The options had
originally been granted with an exercise price below the fair market value on the date of the
grant. In December 2006 these options were amended and the exercise price was increased from $2.85
per share to $6.70 per share, which is equal to the fair market value of the common stock
underlying the stock options at the original grant date. The option grant was valued using the
Black-Scholes option pricing model. This grant was not subject to any of our stockholder approved
stock incentive plans. The Company recognized compensation expense of $28,000 during 2007, $41,000
during 2006, and $24,000 during 2005 related to these options.
REPORT OF AUDIT COMMITTEE
The authority, duties and responsibilities of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of
the Company are set forth in detail in the written Audit Committee charter, which was adopted by
the Board of Directors of the Company and which complies with the applicable rules of the NASDAQ.
The Audit Committee has three members, each of whom is independent, under both the applicable rules
of the NASDAQ as well as the Companys corporate governance policies. In accordance with section
407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Pavan Bhalla, the Chairman of the Audit Committee, has been
identified as an Audit Committee Financial Expert. The
Audit Committee met five times during
2007.
The Audit Committee reviews and assesses the adequacy of its charter on an annual basis. A
copy of the Audit Committee charter is attached to this proxy statement as Exhibit A and is
available on the Companys website, www.ebix.com.
The Companys management is responsible for preparing the Companys financial statements and
has represented to the Committee that the financial statements were prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles. The independent registered public accounting firm is
responsible for auditing the financial statements. The Audit Committee is responsible for
overseeing the Companys financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors.
Management of the Company has the primary responsibility for the Companys financial reporting
process, principles and internal controls as well as preparation of its financial statements. The
Companys independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an audit of
the Companys financial statements and expressing an opinion as to the conformity of such financial
statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the Companys audited financial statements as
of and for the year ended December 31, 2006 with management and the independent registered public
accounting firm. The Audit Committee has discussed with the independent registered public
accounting firm the matters required to be discussed under auditing standards generally accepted in
the United States, including those matters set forth in Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61
(Communication with Audit Committees), as currently in effect, and amended by Statement on Auditing
Standards No. 89 (Audit Adjustments) and Statement on Auditing Standards No. 90 (Audit Committee
Communications). The independent registered public accounting firm has provided to the Audit
Committee the written disclosures and the letter required by Independence Standards Board Standard
No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees), as currently in effect. The Audit
Committee has also considered whether the independent registered public accountants provision of
non-audit services to the Company is compatible with maintaining the independent registered public
accountants independence. The Audit Committee has concluded that the independent registered
public accountants are independent from the Company and its management.
In addition, the members of the Audit Committee reviewed, and the chairman of the committee
discussed with management and Habif, Arogeti, & Wynne, LLP (HAW) (the Companys independent
registered public accounting firm), the interim financial information contained in each quarterly
earnings release prior to the release of such information to the public.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the terms of the engagement of
HAWare subject to the specific pre-approval of the Audit Committee. All audit and permitted
non-audit services to be performed by HAW require pre-approval by the Audit Committee in accordance
with pre-approved procedures established by the Audit Committee. The procedures require all
proposed engagements of HAW for services of any kind to be directed to the
Companys Chief Financial Officer and then submitted for approval to the Audit Committee prior
to the beginning of any services.
In fiscal 2007 100% of the audit fees, audit related fees and tax fees were approved either by
the Audit Committee or its designee. The Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of
non-audit services by the Companys independent registered public accounting firm is compatible
with maintaining auditor independence and believes that the provision of such services is
compatible. Further, the Audit Committee discussed with the Companys independent registered
public accounting firm the overall scope and plans for their respective audits.
21
As a result of the reviews and discussions with management and HAW referred to above, the
Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors and the Board has approved that the audited
financial statements of the Company be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2007, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
This report has been submitted by the Audit Committee:
Respectfully submitted,
The Members of the Audit Committee
Pavan Bhalla
Hans Ueli Keller
Hans U. Benz
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
BDO Seidman, LLP served as Ebixs independent registered public accountants for the year
ending December 31, 2006. On April 20, 2007, Ebix hired Miller Ray Houser & Stewart, LLP, as its
independent registered public accountants. On January 14, 2008, Ebix was informed by Miller Ray
Houser & Stewart, LLP, that it had been acquired by Habif, Arogeti & Wynne, LLP and that from
henceforward Habif, Arogeti & Wynne, LLP would serve as the Companys independent registered public
accounting firm. Habif, Arogeti & Wynne served as Ebixs registered public accountants for the year
ended December 31, 2007.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees
The following table presents fees billed for professional services rendered in connection with
the audit of our annual financial statements for 2007 and 2006 and fees billed for other services
rendered during 2007 and 2006, and through August 29, 2008 by Habif, Arogeti & Wynne, LLP and BDO
Seidman, LLP who served as our independent registered public accounting firms during these periods.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Services Rendered by BDO Seidman, LLP |
|
2007 |
|
|
2006 |
|
Audit Fees(1) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
532,000 |
|
Audit Related Fees |
|
$ |
55,000 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
Tax Fees(3) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
54,000 |
|
All Other Fees |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Services Rendered by Habif, Arogeti & Wynne, LLP |
|
2007 |
|
|
2006 |
|
Audit Fees(1) |
|
$ |
322,600 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
Audit Related Fees(2) |
|
$ |
36,500 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
Tax Fees(3) |
|
$ |
3,487 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
All Other Fees |
|
$ |
17,341 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Including fees for the audit of our annual financial statements included in our Form 10-K and
reviews of the financial statements in our Forms 10-Q, but excluding audit-related fees. |
|
(2) |
|
Including fees related to the audit of a recently acquired business. |
|
(3) |
|
Includes the preparation of our federal income tax return. |
22
The Audit Committee considered and pre-approved all of the above-referenced fees and services.
Pursuant to a policy adopted by our Board of Directors, the Audit Committee requires advance
approval of all audit services and permitted non-audit services to be provided by the independent
registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our officers and directors and
persons who beneficially own more than ten percent of a registered class of our equity securities
to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission reports of securities ownership on Form 3 and
changes in such ownership on Forms 4 and 5 Officers. Directors and more than ten percent
beneficial owners also are required by rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission
to furnish us with copies of all such Section 16(a) reports that they file. Based solely upon a
review of the copies of Forms 3, 4, and 5 furnished to us and/or representations by certain
executive officers and directors that no such reports were required for them, we believe that,
during 2007, all of our directors, officers and more than ten percent beneficial owners filed all
such reports on a timely basis except for the failure of Robin Raina to file Form 4s for two grants
of restricted stock on May 9, 2007 and November 11, 2007.
OTHER MATTERS
We know of no matters to be brought before the Annual Meeting other than those described
above. If you execute the enclosed proxy and any other business should come before the meeting, we
expect that the persons named in the enclosed proxy will vote your shares in accordance with their
best judgment on that matter.
COST OF SOLICITATION
We will pay for the cost of soliciting proxies, which also includes the preparation, printing,
and mailing of this proxy statement. We will solicit proxies primarily through the mail, but
certain of our directors and employees may also solicit proxies by telephone, telegram, telex,
telecopy or personal interview. Employees who solicit proxies for us will not receive any
additional pay for their services other than their regular compensation. Our transfer agent,
Mellon Investor Services, LLC, will assist us in the solicitation of proxies from brokers and
nominees. We do not anticipate the fee paid to Mellon Investor Services, LLC, will be greater than
$10,000.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE 2009 ANNUAL MEETING
Any stockholder proposal intended to be presented at our 2009 Annual Meeting of stockholders
must be received by us at our principal executive offices on or before May 7, 2009 to be included
in our proxy statement relating to that meeting. If we do not receive notice of a stockholder
proposal to be presented at the 2009 meeting (but not included in our proxy material) by August 19,
2009, any proxies returned to us can confer discretionary authority to vote on such matters as the
proxyholders see fit.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have mailed our 2007 Annual Report to Shareholders in connection with this proxy
solicitation. If you would like a copy of our 2006 or 2005 Annual Report on FORM 10-K, excluding
certain exhibits, please contact Robert Kerris, at Ebix, Inc., Five Concourse Parkway, Suite 3200,
Atlanta, Georgia 30328.
Please date, sign and return the proxy card at your earliest convenience in the enclosed
return envelope. No postage is required if mailed in the United States.
|
|
|
|
|
By Order of the Board of Directors |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robin Raina |
|
|
Chairman of the Board and |
|
|
Chief Executive Officer |
Dated: September 5, 2008 |
|
|
23
EXHIBIT A
Ebix, Inc.
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
A. Purpose
The Audit Committee (the Committee) of the Board of Directors (the Board) of Ebix, Inc.
(the Company) shall oversee the Companys accounting and financial reporting processes and the
audits of the Companys financial statements, and shall otherwise exercise oversight
responsibility, and assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight functions, with respect to matters
involving the accounting, auditing, financial reporting and internal control functions of the
Company. In so doing, it shall be the goal of the Committee to maintain free and open means of
communication between the members of the Board, the Companys independent public accountants who
audit the Companys financial statements (the Auditors) and the Companys financial management.
While it is not the Committees responsibility to certify the Companys financial statements or to
guarantee the Auditors report, the Committee will facilitate discussions among the Board, the
Auditors and the Companys management.
B. Composition
The Committee shall be comprised of three or more directors, as determined by the Board on the
recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Each member of the Committee
shall be independent as defined by the rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ) and the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) that are applicable to Audit Committee members.
Each committee member shall also be free from any relationship that, in the opinion of the Board,
would interfere with the exercise of his or her independent judgment as a member of the Committee.
All members of the Committee shall have a basic understanding of finance and accounting and be
able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including the Companys balance
sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. At least one member of the Committee shall have
accounting or related financial management expertise consisting of employment experience in finance
or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting, or other comparable experience
or background, which results in the individuals financial sophistication, including being or
having been a chief executive officer, chief financial officer or other senior officer with
financial oversight responsibilities.
The Committee shall comply with any other Audit Committee composition requirements of NASDAQ
and the SEC.
C. Meetings
The Committee shall meet with such frequency and at such intervals as it shall determine
necessary to carry out its duties and responsibilities, but not less than quarterly. In addition,
the Committee shall hold any special meetings as may be necessary or called by the Chairperson of
the Committee or at the request of the Auditors or the Companys management. Representatives of
the Auditors, members of the Companys management and others may attend meetings of the Committee
at the invitation of the Committee and shall provide pertinent information as necessary. As part
of its purpose to foster open and candid communication, the Committee shall meet periodically as
necessary with the Auditors, the Companys management and any others that the Committee invites to
meet with it in separate executive sessions to discuss any matters that the Committee or these
individuals believe should be discussed privately with the Committee. The Committee may meet via
telephone conference calls or take action in writing executed by all of the members. Except as
otherwise specifically provided for in this Charter, a quorum shall consist of [two] members.
Unless the Board elects a Chairperson of the Committee (the Chairperson) the Committee shall
elect a Chairperson by majority vote. The Chairperson of the Committee shall set the agenda of
each meeting and arrange for the distribution of the agenda, together with supporting material, to
the Committee members prior to each meeting. The Chairperson will also cause to be prepared and
circulated to the Committee members minutes of each meeting.
24
D. Functions
In carrying out its functions, the Committees policies and procedures shall remain flexible,
so that it may be in a position to react or respond to changing circumstances or conditions. The
Committee shall review and reassess no less than annually the adequacy of the Committees charter.
The Committees functions may be divided into the following general categories: (1) overseeing
financial reporting, (2) evaluating independent audit processes, (3) reviewing internal controls
established by management, and (4) other functions. The Committee shall:
1. Financial Information and Reports
a. Meet with the Auditors and the Companys management to discuss, review and comment upon
the interim financial statements to be included in each of the Companys Quarterly Reports
on Form 10-Q prior to the public announcement of financial results and the filing of the
Form 10-Q with the SEC. All members of the Committee are encouraged to attend these
meetings; however, a quorum for these meetings or for this portion of regular meetings of
the Committee may be the Chairperson of the Committee as authorized by applicable rules.
b. Review with the Auditors and the Companys management the Companys annual financial
statements to be included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K prior to the public
announcement of financial results and the filing of the Form 10-K with the SEC.
c. Review the disclosure under Managements Discussion and Analysis and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations in each Annual Report on Form 10-K and
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, prior the filing thereof with the SEC.
d. Review the Companys press releases announcing financial results or financial forecasts
of the Company prior to their dissemination.
e. Discuss with the Auditors their judgments about the quality, not just the acceptability,
of the Companys accounting principles and financial disclosure practices used or proposed
and the appropriateness of significant management judgments.
f. Discuss with the Companys management and the Auditors the effect of regulatory and
accounting initiatives, as well as off-balance sheet structures, on the Companys financial
statements.
g. Based upon discussions with, and reliance upon, the Auditors and the Companys
management, prepare any Audit Committee reports or other Audit Committee-related disclosure,
in filings with the SEC or otherwise, required by applicable securities laws, rules and
regulations or by the rules of any securities exchange or market on which securities of the
Company are listed, including a report to be included in the Companys proxy statement
stating whether the Committee has (i) reviewed and discussed the audited financial statement
with management, (ii) discussed with the Auditors the matters required to be discussed by
Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, (iii) received from the Auditors disclosures
regarding their independence required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 and
discussed with the Auditors their independence. The proxy statement shall also contain a
statement as to whether the Committee members are independent and that the Committee has
adopted a charter.
h. Review a report from the Auditors periodically, but no less than annually, as to (i) all
critical accounting policies to be used, (ii) all alternative disclosures and treatments of
financial information within generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) that have
been discussed with the Companys management, the ramifications of the use of such
alternative disclosures and treatments and the disclosures and treatments preferred by the
Auditors; and (iii) other material written communications between the Auditors and the
Companys management, including management letters and schedules of unadjusted differences.
i. Recommend to the Board, based upon the review and discussion described above, whether the
annual financial statements should be included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K.
25
2. Audit Processes
a. Be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the
work of the Auditors, including resolution of disagreements between management and the
Auditors regarding financial reporting, for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit
report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Company. The Auditors
shall report directly to the Committee.
b. Pre-approve all audit services and non-audit services (including the fees and terms
thereof) to be performed for the Company by the Auditors to the extent required by, and in a
manner consistent with, applicable law and policies established by the Committee. The
Committee may delegate, subject to any rules or limitations it deems appropriate, to one or
more designated members of the Committee the authority to grant such pre-approvals;
provided, however, that the decisions of any member to whom authority is so delegated to
pre-approve an activity shall be presented to the full Committee for ratification at its
next meeting.
c. On an annual basis, review the Auditors independence and objectivity by (i) inquiring
into matters such as all relationships between the Auditors and the Company and
(ii) reviewing annual disclosures from the Auditors regarding their independence as required
by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1.
d. On an annual basis, obtain and review a report from the Auditors concerning their
internal quality control review of the firm, any inquiry or investigation by governmental or
professional authorities within the preceding five (5) years respecting one or more
independent audits carried out by the firm and any steps taken to address material issues
raised by such review or any such inquiry or investigation.
e. Review the experience and qualifications of the senior members of the Auditors team.
f. Review the annual audit plan of the Auditors and evaluate their performance and adherence
to the prior years audit plan.
g. Require the rotation of the lead audit partner on a regular basis in accordance with the
requirements of Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act).
h. Review and approve or veto the Companys hiring of employees or former employees of the
Auditors who participated in any capacity in the audits of the Company.
i. Following completion of the annual audit, review separately with the Companys management
and the Auditors the effectiveness of the audit effort, including significant difficulties
encountered during the course of the audit and any restrictions on the scope of work or
access to required information.
3. Risk Management and Controls
a. Inquire of the Auditors and the Companys management about significant risks or exposures
and assess the steps which management has taken to minimize such risks and monitor control
of these areas.
b. Review and monitor compliance with the Companys Code of Ethics for Senior Financial
Officers.
c. Review with the Auditors and the Companys management their findings on the adequacy and
effectiveness of internal controls and their recommendations for improving the internal
control environment, including managements controls and security procedures with respect to
the Companys information systems.
d. Review with the Auditors and the Companys management the extent to which changes or
improvements in financial or accounting practices, as approved by the Committee, have been
implemented. This review will be conducted at an appropriate time subsequent to the
implementation of changes or improvements, as decided by the Committee.
e. Periodically review with the Companys legal counsel any matters that could have a
significant impact on the Companys financial statements, such as compliance with laws,
rules and regulations, litigation and inquiries received from governmental agencies and
regulators.
f. Review and approve the appointment, replacement, reassignment or dismissal of the
Companys principal financial officer.
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4. Other Functions
a. Establish procedures for the receipt, retention, and treatment of complaints received by
the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters.
b. Establish procedures for the confidential, anonymous submission by Company employees of
concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
c. Review and approve related party transactions and conflicts of interest questions between
Board members or senior management, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand (as
defined and required by applicable securities laws, rules and regulations and the rules of
the NASDAQ).
d. Oversee and review the Companys asset management policies, including an annual review of
the Companys investment policies and performance for cash and short-term investments.
e. Review and monitor compliance with Company standards of business conduct and monitor
compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
f. Conduct or authorize investigations into any other matters within the Committees scope
of responsibilities.
g. Have the authority to retain independent counsel, accountants, or other advisors, as it
determines necessary to carry out its duties.
h. Determine appropriate funding, which the Company shall provide, for payment of:
(i) compensation to the Auditors engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit
report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Company,
(ii) compensation to any advisors employed by the Committee, and (iii) ordinary
administrative expenses of the Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out
its duties.
i. Perform such other functions assigned by law, the Companys charter or bylaws, or the
Board of Directors.
E. Scope of Responsibilities
While the Committee has the functions set forth in this Charter, it is not the duty of the
Committee to plan or conduct audits or to determine that the Companys financial statements are
complete and accurate or are in accordance with GAAP. The Companys management is principally
responsible for Company accounting policies, the preparation of the financial statements and
ensuring that the financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP. Management is also
responsible for implementing procedures to help ensure that the Company and its employees comply
with applicable laws and regulations and with the Companys applicable ethics standards. The
Auditors are responsible for auditing and attesting to the Companys financial statements and
understanding the Companys system of internal controls in order to plan and to determine the
nature, timing and extent of audit procedures to be performed.
The Committee plays a critical role in serving as a check and balance for the Companys
financial reporting system. In carrying out its functions, the Committees goal is to help ensure
that management properly develops and adheres to a sound system of internal controls and that the
Auditors, through their own review, objectively assess the Companys financial reporting practices.
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EXHIBIT B
Ebix, Inc.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE CHARTER
A. Authority
The Compensation Committee (the Committee) of the Board of Directors (the Board) of Ebix, Inc.
(the Company) is established pursuant to Section 141(c) of the Delaware General Corporation Law
and Article III, Section 1 of the Companys Bylaws. The Chairperson of the Committee (the
Chairperson) shall be designated by the Board, provided that, if the Board does not so designate
a Chairperson, the members of the Committee, by majority vote, may designate a Chairperson.
B. Membership
The Committee shall consist of a minimum of two members of the Board, both of whom shall meet (i)
the independence requirements of NASD Rule 4200, (ii) the non-employee director definition of
Rule 16b-3 promulgated under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the
Exchange Act), and (iii) the outside director definition of Section 162(m) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
C. Scope of Powers and Functions
The Committee shall have such powers and functions as may be assigned to it by the Board of
Directors from time to time; provided however, that such functions shall, at a minimum, include the
following, as well as any functions as shall be required of Compensation Committees by the rules of
The NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ):
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1. |
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Officer Compensation. The Committee shall review, monitor and make recommendations to
the full Board regarding the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the
other officers (as defined in Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act and Rule 16a-1
thereunder) of the Company, including salary, bonus and incentive compensation levels,
deferred compensation, executive perquisites, equity compensation (including awards to
induce employment), severance arrangements, retirement and other post-employment benefits,
and change-in-control benefits. In making recommendations regarding officer compensation,
the Committee shall review and recommend goals and objectives relevant to such compensation
(both internal and in comparison to industry performance levels) and evaluate officer
performance in light of those goals and objectives, with a view toward encouraging
extraordinary effort and performance. Furthermore, the Committee shall endeavor to promote
an appropriate balance between short-term pay and long-term incentives. |
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2. |
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Director Compensation. The Committee shall periodically review and make
recommendations to the Board with respect to director compensation. |
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3. |
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General Goals. The Committee shall review and make recommendations to the Board
regarding general compensation goals, guidelines and policies for the Companys employees. |
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4. |
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Plans and Programs. The Committee shall administer the Companys stock incentive plans
and grant stock options and other awards pursuant to such plans, and supervise the
administration of Company plans and benefit programs falling with the scope of the Employee
Retirement Security Act of 1974, as amended. The Company shall also make recommendations
concerning new stock incentive plans and other executive compensation programs. |
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5. |
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Committee Report on Executive Compensation. The Committee shall prepare for inclusion
where necessary in a proxy or information statement of the Company relating to an Annual
Meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected (or special meeting or written
consents in lieu of such meeting), the report described in Item 402(k) of Regulation S-K.
In addition, the Committee will provide any other Compensation Committee-related
disclosure, in the Companys filings with the SEC or otherwise, required by applicable
securities laws, rules and regulations and by the rules of NASDAQ. |
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6. |
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Review of Charter. The Committee shall periodically review and update this Charter. |
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7. |
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Committee Performance. The Committee shall review the performance of the Committee,
not less than annually, and report on such performance to the Board. |
In addition, the Committee, subject to Board approval, has sole authority to retain and terminate
any compensation consultant or consulting firm to assist in the evaluation of CEO, other officer or
director compensation, including the authority to approve the consultants fees and other retention
terms. The Committee may also, at its discretion, engage outside legal counsel or other advisors
as it deems necessary to carry out its functions.
The Committee shall discharge its responsibilities, and shall assess the information provided by
management and the Committees advisors, in Accordance with its business judgment.
D. Administrative
The Committee shall meet at least two times annually and shall hold any additional meetings as may
be called by the Chairperson or the Board. Members of senior management or others may attend
meetings of the Committee at the invitation of the Committee and shall provide pertinent
information as necessary, except that the CEO shall not be present during voting or deliberations
by the Committee on the subject of the CEOs compensation. The Chairperson shall set the agenda of
each meeting and arrange for the distribution of the agenda, together with supporting material, to
the Committee members prior to each meeting. The Chairperson will also cause minutes of each
meeting to be prepared and circulated to the Committee members. The Committee shall regularly
report its activities and determinations to the full Board, including providing copies to the full
Board of all approved minutes.
The Committee may meet via telephone conference calls. A majority of the members of the Committee
shall constitute a quorum for all purposes.
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