DEF 14A
1
d59373_def14a.txt
DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant |X|
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant |_|
Check the appropriate box:
|_| Preliminary Proxy Statement |_| Confidential, For Use
of the Commission
Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2)
|X| Definitive Proxy Statement
|_| Definitive Additional Materials
|_| Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-(11(c) or Rule 14a-12
PDI, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
|X| No Fee required
[LOGO] PDI 10 Mountainview Road Suite C200
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
T: 800.242.7494 F: 201.258.8400
www.pdi-inc.com
Charles T. Saldarini
Vice Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
April 22, 2004
Dear Stockholder:
You are invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of PDI, Inc.
to be held on June 16, 2004, at 10:30 A.M., Eastern time, at the Sheraton
Crossroads Hotel, One International Boulevard, Mahwah, New Jersey 07495.
At this year's meeting you will be asked to elect two directors; to
consider and approve the PDI, Inc. 2004 Stock Award and Incentive Plan; and to
ratify the selection of the Company's independent auditors. The accompanying
Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement describe these proposals. We urge you to
read this information carefully.
Your Board of Directors unanimously believes that the election of its
nominees for directors, the approval of our 2004 Stock Award and Incentive Plan
and the ratification of its selection of independent auditors are in the best
interests of PDI and its stockholders, and, accordingly, recommends a vote FOR
the election of the nominees for director and FOR proposals 2 and 3.
In addition to the formal business to be transacted at the Annual Meeting,
management will make a presentation on developments of the past year and respond
to comments and questions of general interest to stockholders. I personally look
forward to greeting those PDI stockholders able to attend the meeting.
Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting in person, it is
important that your shares are represented. Therefore, please promptly complete,
sign, date, and return the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying envelope,
which requires no postage if mailed in the United States. You are, of course,
welcome to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person even if you previously
returned your proxy card.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Charles T. Saldarini
Vice Chairman of the Board,
Chief Executive Officer
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structure/strategy/vision
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[LOGO] PDI 10 Mountainview Road Suite C200
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
T: 800.242.7494 F: 201.258.8400
www.pdi-inc.com
PDI, INC.
10 Mountainview Road
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
----------
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD JUNE 16, 2004
----------
To the Stockholders of PDI, Inc.:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of PDI,
Inc. (the "Company") will be held at the Sheraton Crossroads Hotel, One
International Boulevard, Mahwah, New Jersey 07495 on June 16, 2004 at 10:30 a.m.
Eastern time, for the following purposes:
1. To elect two Class I directors of the Company, each to serve for a term
of three years.
2. To consider and approve the PDI, Inc. 2004 Stock Award and Incentive
Plan.
3. To ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers as the Company's
independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004.
4. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting
or any adjournments thereof.
Only the stockholders of record at the close of business on April 21, 2004
are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournments
or postponements thereof.
All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the meeting. Whether or
not you expect to attend, you are requested to sign, date and return the
enclosed proxy promptly. Stockholders who execute proxies retain the right to
revoke them at any time prior to the voting thereof. A return envelope, which
requires no postage if mailed in the United States, is enclosed for your
convenience.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Beth R. Jacobson,
Executive Vice President,
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Dated: April 22, 2004
PDI, INC.
PROXY STATEMENT
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by
the Board of Directors of PDI, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company" or
"PDI"), of proxies in the form enclosed for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders
to be held at the Sheraton Crossroads Hotel, One International Boulevard,
Mahwah, New Jersey 07495 on June 16, 2004 at 10:30 a.m., Eastern time, and for
any adjournments or postponements thereof, for the purposes set forth in the
accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Board of Directors
knows of no other business which will come before the meeting.
Record Date and Quorum
Stockholders of record at the close of business on April 21, 2004 are
entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. As of the record date,
there were 14,558,493 shares of common stock of the Company outstanding. Each
share of common stock outstanding on the record date is entitled to one vote on
each matter presented for action at the meeting. Shares of common stock were the
only voting securities of the Company outstanding on the record date. A quorum
will be present at the Annual Meeting if a majority of the shares of common
stock outstanding on the record date are present at the meeting in person or by
proxy.
Voting of Proxies
The persons acting as proxies pursuant to the enclosed proxy will vote the
shares represented as directed in the signed proxy. Unless otherwise directed in
the proxy, the proxyholders will vote the shares represented by the proxy: (i)
for election of the two Class I director nominees named in this Proxy Statement;
(ii) for approval of the PDI, Inc. 2004 Stock Award and Incentive Plan; (iii)
for ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers as independent
auditors to audit the financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year
ending December 31, 2004; and (iv) in the proxyholders' discretion, on any other
business that may come before the meeting and any adjournments of the meeting.
All votes will be tabulated by the inspector of election appointed for the
Annual Meeting, who will separately tabulate affirmative and negative votes,
abstentions and broker non-votes. Under the Company's bylaws and Delaware law:
(1) shares represented by proxies that reflect abstentions or "broker non-votes"
(i.e., shares held by a broker or nominee that are represented at the meeting,
but with respect to which such broker or nominee is not empowered to vote on a
particular proposal) will be counted as shares that are present and entitled to
vote for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum; (2) there is no
cumulative voting, and the director nominees receiving the highest number of
votes, up to the number of directors to be elected, are elected and,
accordingly, abstentions, broker non-votes and withholding of authority to vote
will not affect the election of directors; and (3) proxies that reflect
abstentions or non-votes will be
treated as unvoted for purposes of determining approval of that proposal and
will not be counted as votes for or against that proposal.
Voting Requirements
Election of Directors. The election of directors requires a plurality of
the votes cast for the election of directors; accordingly, the directorships to
be filled at the Annual Meeting will be filled by the nominees receiving the
highest number of votes. In the election of directors, votes may be cast in
favor of or withheld with respect to any or all nominees; votes that are
withheld will be excluded entirely from the vote and will have no effect on the
outcome of the vote.
Approval of the PDI, Inc. 2004 Stock Award and Incentive Plan and
Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Auditors. The affirmative vote of
a majority of the votes cast for or against the matter by stockholders entitled
to vote at the Annual Meeting is required to approve the PDI, Inc. 2004 Stock
Award and Incentive Plan and to ratify the appointment of our independent
auditors. An abstention from voting on this matter will be treated as "present"
for quorum purposes. However, since an abstention is not treated as a "vote" for
or against the matter, it will have no effect on the outcome of the vote.
Revocability of Proxy
A stockholder who has signed and returned the enclosed proxy may revoke it
at any time before it is voted by (i) submitting to the Company a properly
executed proxy bearing a later date, (ii) submitting to the Company a written
revocation of the proxy or (iii) voting in person at the Annual Meeting.
Expenses of Solicitation
We will pay the expenses of the preparation of proxy materials and the
solicitation of proxies for the Annual Meeting. In addition to the solicitation
of proxies by mail, solicitation may be made by certain directors, officers or
employees of PDI telephonically, electronically or by other means of
communication. We will reimburse brokers and other nominees for costs incurred
by them in mailing proxy materials to beneficial owners in accordance with
applicable rules.
PROPOSAL NO. 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors consists of nine members and is divided into three
classes, with three directors in each of Classes I, II and III. Directors serve
for three-year terms with one class of directors being elected by the Company's
stockholders at each annual meeting.
At the Annual Meeting, two Class I directors will be elected to serve
until the annual meeting of stockholders in 2007 and until each director's
successor is elected and qualified. John
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P. Dugan and Dr. Joseph T. Curti are the nominees for re-election as the Class I
directors. Mr. Mossinghoff, who is a Class I director, will be retiring from the
Board of Directors and therefore is not standing for re-election. The Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee is currently exploring possible candidates to
succeed Mr. Mossinghoff as a Class I director but has not yet approved,
recommended or nominated a candidate. All of the nominees currently are members
of the Board of Directors who have been approved, recommended and nominated for
re-election to the Board of Directors by the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee and by the Board of Directors. The accompanying form of proxy will be
voted for the election of John P. Dugan and Dr. Joseph T. Curti as directors,
unless the proxy contains contrary instructions. Management has no reason to
believe that either of Mr. Dugan or Dr. Curti will not be a candidate or will be
unable to serve. However, in the event that either should become unable or
unwilling to serve as a director, the proxy will be voted for the election of
such person or persons as shall be designated by the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors Recommends a
Vote FOR the Election of the Foregoing Nominees and
Proxies that are Returned will be so Voted
Unless Otherwise Instructed.
* * * * *
Set forth below is information as of April 15, 2004 regarding the nominees
for election as Class I directors and all other members of the Board of
Directors who will continue in office.
Nominees for Election as Class I Directors
Term Expiring 2007
John P. Dugan, age 68. Mr. Dugan is the Company's founder, chairman of the Board
of Directors and director of strategic planning. He served as president from
inception until January 1995 and as PDI's chief executive officer from inception
until November 1997. In 1972, Mr. Dugan founded Dugan Communications, a medical
advertising agency that later became known as Dugan Farley Communications
Associates Inc. and he served as its president until 1990. PDI was a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Dugan Farley in 1990 when Mr. Dugan became its sole
stockholder. Mr. Dugan was a founder and served as the president of the Medical
Advertising Agency Association from 1983 to 1984. Mr. Dugan also served on the
board of directors of the Pharmaceutical Advertising Council (now known as the
Healthcare Marketing Communications Council, Inc.) and was its president from
1985 to 1986. Mr. Dugan received an M.B.A. from Boston University in 1964.
Dr. Joseph T. Curti, age 66. Dr. Curti became a director in August 2003. Dr.
Curti was most recently president and chief executive officer of Ferring
Pharmaceuticals in Tarrytown, New York. He previously held the position of
president and chief executive officer of Neurochem, Inc. in Kingston, Ontario
and President of North American Operations of Searle in Skokie, IL. He spent 19
years at Pfizer in a number of senior positions, both domestically and
internationally, directing clinical drug development, drug regulatory, licensing
and marketing activities. He is
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currently a member of the board of trustees and executive committee of Morehouse
School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Curti received a B.S. from St. Joseph's
University in Philadelphia in 1959 and an M.D. from Thomas Jefferson University
in Philadelphia in 1963.
Incumbent Class II Directors
Term Expiring 2006
Charles T. Saldarini, age 40. Mr. Saldarini has been a director since 1997 and
is PDI's vice chairman and chief executive officer. Since joining PDI in 1987,
Mr. Saldarini has held positions of increasing responsibility, becoming
president of PDI in January 1995, chief executive officer in November 1997, and
vice chairman in June 2000. In his 17 years at PDI, his contributions have
spanned the full range of the Company's development. Prior to PDI, Mr. Saldarini
worked at Merrill Dow Pharmaceuticals. He received a B.A. in political science
from Syracuse University in 1985.
John M. Pietruski, age 71. Mr. Pietruski has been a director since May 1998.
Since 1990 Mr. Pietruski has been the chairman of the board of Encysive
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a pharmaceutical research and development company. He is
a retired chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Sterling Drug
Inc., where he was employed from 1977 until his retirement in 1988. Mr.
Pietruski is a member of the board of directors of First Energy Corp. and Xylos
Corporation. Mr. Pietruski graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.S. in business
administration with honors from Rutgers University in 1954.
Frank Ryan, age 64. Mr. Ryan has been a director since November 2002. Mr. Ryan's
career includes a 38-year tenure with Johnson & Johnson. Mr. Ryan recently
retired as Company Group Chairman with responsibility for worldwide Ethicon
franchises and Johnson & Johnson Canada. In addition, Mr. Ryan was a member of
the Medical Devices and Diagnostics Operating Group and Leader for the Group in
Process Excellence (Six Sigma) and IT. Throughout the years, Mr. Ryan held
positions of increasing responsibility, including Worldwide President of
Chicopee, President of Johnson and Johnson Hospital Services Co. and President
of Ethicon, Inc. Mr. Ryan received a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from
the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1965 and an M.B.A. from the University
of Chicago Graduate School of Business in 1969.
Incumbent Class III Directors
Term Expiring 2005
Larry Ellberger, age 56. Mr. Ellberger has been a director since February 2003.
Mr. Ellberger is a founder and partner in Healthcare Ventures Associates, Inc.,
a consulting firm to pharmaceutical, biotech, vaccines and medical device
companies. Until July 2003 Mr. Ellberger was senior vice president, corporate
development at PowderJect, PLC, a London Stock Exchange listed vaccines company.
He had been a member of PowderJect's Board of Directors since 1997. From
November 1996 through May 1999, Mr. Ellberger served as Chief Financial Officer
of W. R. Grace and from May 1995 through September 1999 he served as Senior Vice
President - Corporate Development of W. R. Grace. Mr. Ellberger is a Director of
Avant
4
Immunotherapeutics and The Jewish Children's Museum. Mr. Ellberger received a
B.A. in economics from Columbia College in 1968 and a B.S. in chemical
engineering from Columbia School of Engineering in 1969.
John Federspiel, age 50. Mr. Federspiel has been a director since October 2001.
Mr. Federspiel is president of Hudson Valley Hospital Center, a 120-bed,
short-term, acute care, not-for-profit hospital in Westchester County, New York.
Prior to joining Hudson Valley Hospital in 1987, Mr. Federspiel spent an
additional 10 years in health administration, during which he held a variety of
executive leadership positions. Mr. Federspiel is an appointed Member of the
State Hospital Review and Planning Council, and has served as chairman of the
Northern Metropolitan Hospital Association, as well as other affiliations. Mr.
Federspiel received a B.S. degree from Ohio State University in 1975 and an
M.B.A. from Temple University in 1977.
Jan Martens Vecsi, age 60. Ms. Vecsi has been a director since May 1998. Ms.
Vecsi is the sister-in-law of John P. Dugan, our chairman. Ms. Vecsi was
employed by Citibank, N.A. from 1967 through 1996 when she retired. Starting in
1984 she served as the senior human resources officer and vice president of the
Citibank Private Bank. Ms. Vecsi received a B.A. in psychology and elementary
education from Immaculata College in 1965.
Corporate Governance
During 2003, we further enhanced our corporate governance policies and
procedures. In 2003, the Board adopted Guidelines on Corporate Governance, a
Code of Business Conduct and new charters for all board committees. In addition,
the Board established a Governance and Nominating Committee. The Guidelines on
Corporate Governance, Code of Business Conduct and the charters for each Board
committee can be found on our website at http://www.pdi-inc.com. We believe that
as a result of these actions we are in compliance with the relevant provisions
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the corporate governance rules of Nasdaq.
Board of Directors Meetings and Committees
During the year ended December 31, 2003, the Board of Directors, the
Compensation and Management Development Committee and the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee each held six meetings, the Audit Committee held
nine meetings, and the Science and Technology Committee did not hold any
meetings. Each committee member is a non-employee director of the Company who
meets the independence requirements of The Nasdaq Stock Market ("Nasdaq") and
applicable law. Each of our incumbent directors attended at least 75% of the
total number of Board of Directors meetings and committee meetings on which he
or she served during 2003.
We have recently adopted a policy encouraging our directors to attend
annual meetings of stockholders and believe that attendance at annual meetings
is just as important as attendance at meetings of the Board of Directors. In the
future we expect to schedule Board of Directors and committee meetings to
coincide with the dates of our annual meetings. Three of our directors who were
serving at the time attended our annual meeting held on July 15, 2003.
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Our Board of Directors has four standing committees, each of which is
described below.
Audit Committee
Since 1998, our Board of Directors has maintained an Audit Committee. The
Audit Committee is currently composed of Messrs. Ellberger (chairperson), Ryan
and Federspiel, and Dr. Curti. The primary purposes of our Audit Committee are
(a) to assist the Board of Directors in its oversight of (i) the integrity of
our financial statements, (ii) our compliance with legal and regulatory
requirements, (iii) our independent auditors' qualifications and independence,
(iv) the performance of our internal audit function and independent auditors and
(v) our management of market, credit, liquidity and other financial and
operational risks; (b) to decide whether to appoint, retain or terminate our
independent auditors and to pre-approve all audit, audit-related and other
services, if any, to be provided by the independent auditors; and (c) to prepare
any report of the Audit Committee required by the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") for inclusion in our annual proxy
statement.
Our Board of Directors and the Corporate Governance and Nominating
Committee have determined that each of the members of our Audit Committee is
independent within the meaning of the rules of both Nasdaq and the SEC. No
member of the Audit Committee is an officer of the Company or employed or
affiliated with PricewaterhouseCoopers, nor has any member of the Audit
Committee been an officer of the Company within the past three years. No member
of the Audit Committee has any relationship with the Company that, in the
opinion of the Board of Directors, would interfere with his independence from
management and the Company. Each member of the Audit Committee is, in the
judgment of the Board of Directors and the Corporate Governance and Nominating
Committee, financially literate, and at least one member of the Audit Committee
has accounting or related financial management experience. The Board of
Directors and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee have determined
that the Chairperson of the Audit Committee, Mr. Ellberger, is an "audit
committee financial expert," as that term is defined in Item 401(h) of
Regulation S-K, and "independent" for purposes of current and recently-adopted
Nasdaq listing standards and Section 10A(m)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the "Exchange Act").
The Audit Committee and our Board of Directors have established a
procedure whereby complaints or concerns with respect to accounting, internal
controls and auditing matters may be submitted to the Audit Committee, which is
described under "Other Matters -- Policies on Reporting of Concerns Regarding
Accounting and Other Matters and on Communicating with Non-Management Directors"
below.
Our Audit Committee Charter was included as Appendix A to our proxy
statement in connection with our 2003 annual meeting of stockholders.
Additionally, it is posted and can be viewed on our website at www.pdi-inc.com.
6
Compensation and Management Development Committee
Since 1998, our Board of Directors has maintained a Compensation
Committee. During 2003, this Committee was renamed the Compensation and
Management Development Committee. The Compensation and Management Development
Committee is currently comprised of Messrs. Ryan (chairperson), Pietruski,
Mossinghoff and Ellberger. Each member of our Compensation and Management
Development Committee is "independent" within the meaning of the rules of Nasdaq
and as required by the Compensation and Management Development Committee
Charter. The primary purposes of our Compensation and Management Development
Committee are: (a) to establish and maintain executive compensation policies for
the Company consistent with corporate objectives and stockholder interests, (b)
to oversee the competency and qualifications of our senior management personnel,
(c) to provide senior management succession planning, and (d) to prepare a
report on executive compensation required by the rules and regulations of the
SEC. The Compensation and Management Development Committee also administers our
equity compensation plans.
Our Compensation and Management Development Committee Charter is posted
and can be viewed on our website at www.pdi-inc.com.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
In February 2003, our Board of Directors established a Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee is currently comprised of Messrs. Pietruski (chairperson), Federspiel
and Mossinghoff and Dr. Curti. Each member of our Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee is "independent" within the meaning of the rules of Nasdaq.
The primary purposes of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are to
select individuals qualified to serve as directors of the Company and on
committees of the Board of Directors; to advise the Board of Directors with
respect to the board composition, procedures and committees; to advise the Board
of Directors with respect to the corporate governance principles applicable to
the Company; to advise the Board of Directors with respect to director
compensation issues and to oversee the evaluation of the Board of Directors. In
identifying and recommending nominees for positions on the Board of Directors,
the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee places primary emphasis on (i)
a candidate's judgment, character, expertise, skills and knowledge useful to the
oversight of our business; (ii) a candidate's business or other relevant
experience; and (iii) the extent to which the interplay of the candidate's
expertise, skills, knowledge and experience with that of other members of the
Board of Directors will build a Board of Directors that is effective, collegial
and responsive to our needs.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not set specific,
minimum qualifications that nominees must meet in order for the committee to
recommend them to the Board of Directors, but rather believes that each nominee
should be evaluated based on his or her individual merits, taking into account
our needs and the composition of the Board of Directors. Members of the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee discuss and evaluate possible
candidates in detail, and suggest individuals to explore in more depth. Outside
consultants have
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also been employed to help in identifying candidates. Once a candidate is
identified whom the committee wants to seriously consider and move toward
nomination, the chairperson of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
enters into a discussion with that nominee. The Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee will consider nominees recommended by stockholders. The
policy adopted by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee provides
that nominees recommended by stockholders are given appropriate consideration in
the same manner as other nominees. Stockholders who wish to submit nominees for
director for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
for election at our 2005 annual meeting of stockholders may do so by submitting
in writing such nominees' names, in compliance with the procedures and along
with the other information required by our bylaws, to Beth R. Jacobson,
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at PDI, Inc.,
10 Mountainview Drive, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 between December 1, 2004 and
December 24, 2004.
Science and Technology Committee
In November 2003, our Board of Directors established a Science and
Technology Committee. Dr. Curti is currently the sole member of this committee.
Each member of our Scientific and Technology Committee is, and will be,
"independent" within the meaning of the rules of Nasdaq and, as required by the
Scientific and Technology Committee Charter. The primary purposes of our Science
and Technology Committee are: (a) to advise the Board of Directors on scientific
matters regarding potential new business opportunities that relate to the
identification, evaluation, acquisition or licensing of pharmaceutical products
and technologies and the Company's internal research and development program;
and (b) to periodically examine management's direction regarding the
identification, evaluation, acquisition or licensing of pharmaceutical products,
the Company's research and development program and its technology initiatives.
Our Science and Technology Committee Charter is posted and can be viewed
on our website at www.pdi-inc.com.
Compensation of Directors
Each of our non-employee directors receives an annual director's fee of
$40,000, payable quarterly in arrears. In addition, the chairperson of the Audit
Committee, Compensation and Management Development Committee, Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee and the Science and Technology Committee receives
an additional annual fee of $15,000, $10,000, $5,000 and $15,000, respectively.
Under our stock option plans, each non-employee director is granted options to
purchase 10,000 shares upon first being elected to our Board of Directors. In
addition, each non-employee director will receive options to purchase an
additional 7,500 shares of common stock on the date of our annual stockholders'
meeting. All options have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of
the common stock on the date of grant and vest one-third on the date of grant
and one-third at the end of each of the next two subsequent years of service on
the Board of Directors.
8
STOCKHOLDER RETURN PERFORMANCE GRAPH
Set forth below is a line graph comparing the yearly percentage change in
the cumulative total stockholder return on the Company's common stock, based on
the market price of the Company's common stock, with the total return of
companies included within the Nasdaq Stock Market Index and a peer company
engaged in contract sales and outsourcing for the pharmaceutical industry for
the period commencing December 31, 1998 and ending December 31, 2003. The peer
company is Ventiv, Inc. The calculation of total cumulative return assumes a
$100 investment in the Company's common stock, the Nasdaq Stock Market Index and
the peer company on December 31, 1998, and the reinvestment of all dividends.
[THE FOLLOWING DATA WAS REPRESENTED IN A LINE GRAPH]
NASDAQ PDII VTIV
Dec-98 100.00 100.00
Jun-99 122.50 83.19
Dec-99 185.59 105.98 100.00
Jun-00 180.88 120.58 121.08
Dec-00 112.67 374.39 136.73
Jun-01 98.53 325.66 224.64
Dec-01 88.95 79.01 39.83
Jun-02 66.73 54.83 30.69
Dec-02 60.91 38.19 22.09
Jun-03 74.01 36.21 44.62
Dec-03 91.37 94.90 99.59
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial
ownership of our common stock as of April 14, 2004 by:
o each person known to us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5%
of our outstanding shares;
o each of our directors;
o each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table
below;
o all of our directors and executive officers as a group.
Except as otherwise indicated, the persons listed below have sole voting
and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock owned by them.
All information with respect to beneficial ownership has been
9
furnished to us by the respective stockholder. The address for each of Messrs.
Dugan and Saldarini is c/o PDI, Inc., 10 Mountainview Road, Upper Saddle River,
New Jersey 07458.
Number of Shares Percentage of Shares
Name of Beneficial Owner Beneficially Owned(1) Beneficially Owned
------------------------ --------------------- --------------------
Executive officers and directors:
John P. Dugan....................................................... 4,869,878 33.5%
Charles T. Saldarini................................................ 830,634(2) 5.7%
Steven K. Budd...................................................... 88,502(3) *
Bernard C. Boyle.................................................... 68,363(4) *
Deborah Schnell..................................................... 34,261(5) *
Christopher Tama.................................................... 44,185(6) *
Joseph T. Curti..................................................... 3,333(7) *
Larry Ellberger..................................................... 9,166(7) *
John C. Federspiel.................................................. 17,500(7) *
Gerald J. Mossinghoff............................................... 33,750(7) *
John M. Pietruski................................................... 35,750(8) *
Frank J. Ryan....................................................... 9,166(7) *
Jan Martens Vecsi................................................... 33,750(7) *
All executive officers and directors as a group (16 persons)........ 6,133,647(9) 42.1%
5% stockholders:
Brown Capital Management, Inc.(10).................................. 2,076,575 14.3%
1201 N. Calvert Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
----------
* Less than 1%.
(1) Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the
SEC. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and
the percentage ownership of that person, shares of common stock subject to
options and warrants held by that person that are currently exercisable or
exercisable within 60 days of April 14, 2004 are deemed outstanding. Such
shares, however, are not deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing
the percentage ownership of any other person.
(2) Includes 51,134 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60
days of the date of this Proxy Statement.
(3) Includes 62,463 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60
days of the date of this Proxy Statement.
(4) Includes 52,671 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60
days of the date of this Proxy Statement.
(5) Includes 26,363 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60
days of the date of this Proxy Statement.
(6) Includes 35,449 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60
days of the date of this Proxy Statement.
(7) Represents shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days
of the date of this Proxy Statement.
(8) Includes 33,750 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60
days of the date of this Proxy Statement.
(9) Includes 408,488 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60
days of the date of this Proxy Statement.
(10) This information was derived from the Schedule 13g filed by the reporting
person.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our officers and directors, and
persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of our equity
securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC.
Officers, directors and greater than ten-percent stockholders are required by
SEC regulation to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
Based solely on review of the copies of such forms furnished to us, or written
representations that no Forms 5 were required, we believe that all Section 16(a)
filing requirements applicable to our officers and directors were complied with,
except that a Form 4 filing on behalf of each of Messrs. Ellberger, Federspiel,
Mossinghoff, Pietruski and Ryan, and Ms. Vecsi, relating to the stock options
automatically granted to each of them as outside directors on the date of the
2003 annual stockholders meeting, was not timely filed.
10
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth the names, ages and principal position, of
the executive officers of the Company:
NAME AGE POSITION
------------------------------------------- --- ---------------------------------------------------------------
John P. Dugan.............................. 68 Chairman of the Board of Directors and director of strategic
planning
Charles T. Saldarini....................... 40 Chief executive officer and vice chairman of the Board of
Directors
Steven K. Budd............................. 47 President, global sales and marketing services group
Bernard C. Boyle........................... 59 Chief financial officer, executive vice president and treasurer
Stephen P. Cotugno......................... 44 Executive vice president-- corporate development and
investor relations
Beth R. Jacobson........................... 43 Executive vice president, general counsel and corporate
secretary
Alan L. Rubino............................. 49 Executive vice president and general manager-- sales
teams business
Deborah Schnell............................ 49 Executive vice president-- business development
Christopher Tama........................... 45 Executive vice president and general manager--
pharmaceutical products
The principal occupation and business experience for at least the last
five years for each executive officer is set forth below (except for Messrs.
Dugan and Saldarini, each of whose business experience is discussed above).
Steven K. Budd has served as our global president of the sales and
marketing services group since September 2003. In this capacity, Mr. Budd is
accountable for the financial performance of PDI's service related business
units, including overseeing PDI's minority ownership of a U.K.-based sales
service company, In2Focus. In addition, Mr. Budd leads the development of
strategies for expanding and growing PDI's sales & marketing services group.
Prior to his current role, he was our president and chief operating officer, a
position he held since June 2000. Mr. Budd joined us in April 1996 as vice
president, account group sales. He became executive vice president in July 1997,
chief operating officer in January 1998, and our president in June 2000. From
January 1994 through April 1995, Mr. Budd was employed by Innovex, Inc. as
director of new business development. From 1989 through December 1993, he was
employed by Professional Detailing Network (now known as Nelson Professional
Sales, a division of Publicis), as vice president with responsibility for
building sales teams and developing marketing strategies. Mr. Budd received a
B.A. in history and education from Susquehanna University in 1978.
Bernard C. Boyle has served as our chief financial officer, executive vice
president and treasurer since March 1997. In 1990, Mr. Boyle founded BCB
Awareness, Inc., a firm that provided management advisory services, and served
as its president until March 1997. During that period he was also a partner in
Boyle & Palazzolo, Partners, an accounting firm. From 1982 through 1990 he
served as controller and then chief financial officer and treasurer of William
Douglas McAdams, Inc., an advertising agency. From 1966 through 1971, Mr. Boyle
was
11
employed by the national accounting firm then known as Coopers & Lybrand as
supervisor/senior audit staff. Mr. Boyle received a B.B.A. in accounting from
Manhattan College in 1965 and an M.B.A. in corporate finance from New York
University in 1972.
Stephen P. Cotugno became our executive vice president - corporate
development and investor relations in January 2000. He joined us as a consultant
in 1997 and in January 1998 he was hired full time as vice president-corporate
development. Prior to joining us, Mr. Cotugno was an independent financial
consultant. He received a B.A. in finance and economics from Fordham University
in 1981.
Beth R. Jacobson joined us in November 2002 as executive vice president
and general counsel and she was appointed corporate secretary in July 2003.
Previously, she was with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP for 15 years,
where she practiced corporate law. She received a B.A. from Wesleyan University
in 1983 and a J.D. from New York University Law School in 1987.
Alan L. Rubino joined us in January 2004 as executive vice president and
general manager of our sales teams business. Most recently, he was senior vice
president of the Pharmaceuticals Division within Cardinal Health. He joined
Cardinal through the acquisition of BLP, Inc., a healthcare marketing services
company, where he was the executive vice president and managing director. Prior
to Cardinal/BLP, Mr. Rubino had a distinguished 24-year career with
Hoffmann-LaRoche where he held senior executive positions in marketing, sales,
human resources, strategy, business development and operations within Roche. He
also headed 8 of the 20 US pharma business units as vice president, business
operations. He received a B.A. in Economics from Rutgers University in 1976 with
a minor in biology and chemistry and has completed several executive management
courses at Harvard Business School and IMEDE in Europe. He is a board member of
the Rutgers Business School for Newark and New Brunswick.
Deborah Schnell is our executive vice president - business development.
She was one of the founders of ProtoCall which was acquired by us in 1999. Prior
to joining ProtoCall, Ms. Schnell spent approximately 20 years with IBM
Corporation where she worked across a broad range of areas, including
manufacturing, distribution and healthcare. She received a B.A. in speech
pathology and audiology from Miami of Ohio University in 1976.
Christopher Tama joined us as executive vice president and general manager
in January 2000. Mr. Tama is responsible for PDI Pharmaceutical Products Group
involving the commercialization of prescription pharmaceutical products secured
through licensing and acquisition. Prior to joining us, Mr. Tama was vice
president of marketing at Novartis Pharmaceuticals from 1996 through 2000. His
previous experience also includes the position of vice president of marketing at
G.D. Searle U.S. Operations and various marketing and sales positions of
increasing responsibility during his 13 years with Pharmacia. His marketing and
sales experience range many different therapeutic areas with both domestic and
global responsibility. He received a B.A. in economics from Villanova University
in 1981.
12
PROPOSAL NO. 2
APPROVAL OF THE 2004 PDI, INC. STOCK AWARD AND INCENTIVE
COMPENSATION PLAN
At the annual meeting, stockholders will be asked to approve the PDI, Inc.
2004 Stock Award and Incentive Plan (the "2004 Plan"), which was approved by the
Board of Directors on March 30, 2004. If approved by stockholders, the 2004 Plan
would replace our 2000 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan and 1998 Stock Option
Plan (the "Preexisting Plans"), reserving 2,896,868 shares for options,
restricted stock, and a variety of other types of awards. If stockholders
approve the 2004 Plan, an estimated 20% of the outstanding class of common stock
will be available for issuance under the 2004 Plan.
Our Board of Directors and the Compensation and Management Development
Committee (referred to this Proposal No. 2 as the "Committee") believe that
attracting and retaining executives, other key employees, non-employee directors
and other service providers of high quality has been and will continue to be
essential to our growth and success. The 2004 Plan, like the Preexisting Plans,
will enable us to implement a compensation program with different types of
incentives for motivating employees and other leaders of the Company and
encouraging them to give us long-term, excellent service. In particular, stock
options, restricted stock and stock-related-awards are an important element of
compensation for employees and directors, because such awards enable them to
acquire or increase their proprietary interest in us, thereby promoting a closer
identity of interests between them and our stockholders. Annual incentive awards
and other performance-based awards provide rewards for achieving specific
performance objectives, such as earnings goals. The ability to grant such awards
as compensation under the 2004 Plan will help us to remain competitive, and
provide a stronger incentive for each person granted an award to expend his or
her maximum efforts for the success of our business. Our Board of Directors and
the Committee therefore view the 2004 Plan as a key part of our compensation
program.
The 2004 Plan authorizes a broad range of awards, including:
o stock options
o stock appreciation rights ("SARs")
o restricted stock, a grant of actual shares subject to a risk of
forfeiture and restrictions on transfer
o deferred stock, a contractual commitment to deliver shares at a
future date; if such a grant is forfeitable, it may be referred to
as "restricted stock units"
o other awards based on Common Stock
o dividend equivalents
o stock-based performance awards, which are in effect deferred stock
awards that may be earned by achieving specific performance
objective(s)
o cash-based performance awards tied to achievement of specific
performance objective(s)
13
o shares issuable in lieu of rights to cash compensation, including
under the Company's elective deferred compensation program
o discounted options pursuant to an employee stock purchase program
If the 2004 Plan is approved by our stockholders, no new awards would be
authorized for grant under the Preexisting Plans, but previously authorized
awards under those plans would remain in effect.
Reasons for Stockholder Approval
Our Board of Directors seeks stockholder approval of the 2004 Plan in
order to satisfy certain legal requirements, including requirements of Nasdaq.
In addition, our Board of Directors regards stockholder approval of the 2004
Plan as desirable and consistent with corporate governance best practices.
Our Board of Directors and the Committee also seek to preserve our ability
to claim tax deductions for compensation paid, to the greatest extent
practicable. Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") limits the
deductions a publicly held company can claim for compensation in excess of $1
million in a given year paid to the chief executive officer and the four other
most highly compensated executive officers serving on the last day of the fiscal
year (generally referred to as the "named executive officers").
"Performance-based" compensation that meets certain requirements is not counted
against the $1 million deductibility cap, and therefore remains fully
deductible. We are seeking stockholder approval of the material terms that may
be used to determined certain awards under the 2004 Plan, including annual
incentive awards, to named executive officers in order to meet a key requirement
for such awards to qualify as "performance-based" under Section 162(m). If the
2004 Plan is approved by stockholders, annual incentive awards granted under the
2004 Plan to named executives generally will be payable only upon achievement of
pre-established performance goals relating to the Company as a whole or specific
business units for which the individual executive has principal responsibility.
Our Board of Directors and the Committee believe that such annual incentive
awards have and will continue to provide strong motivation to executives to
achieve performance objectives set by the Committee, and in that way place
strong emphasis on the building of value for all stockholders.
For purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code, approval of the 2004 Plan will
be deemed also to include approval of the eligibility of executive officers and
other employees and service providers to participate in the 2004 Plan, the
annual per-person limitations described below under the caption "Description of
the 2004 Plan -- Per-Person Award Limitations," the general business criteria
upon which performance objectives for performance awards, including annual
incentive awards, are based, described below under the caption
"Performance-Based Awards" and "Annual Incentive Awards," and the stock-price
appreciation performance goal inherent in stock options and SARs. Because
stockholder approval of general business criteria, without specific targeted
levels of performance, qualifies incentive awards for a period of approximately
five years, stockholder approval of such business criteria will meet the
requirements under Section 162(m) until 2009. Stockholder approval of the
performance goal inherent in stock options and SARs (increases in the market
price of stock) is not subject to a time limit under Section 162(m).
14
In addition, stockholder approval will permit designated stock options to
qualify as incentive stock options under the Code. Such qualification can give
the holder of the options more favorable tax treatment, as explained below.
Description of the 2004 Plan
The following is a brief description of the material features of the 2004
Plan. This description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full
text of the 2004 Plan, a copy of which is attached to this Proxy Statement as
Appendix A.
Shares Available under the 2004 Plan. The 2004 Plan will reserve
893,916 shares of common stock for new awards, plus any shares remaining
available under the Preexisting Plans or which later become available due to
forfeitures or expirations of awards or otherwise under the share counting
provisions of the Preexisting Plans. The number of shares reserved under the
2004 Plan is subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits, stock
dividends, and other extraordinary events.
Based on our equity award plans in effect and outstanding awards at March
31, 2004, if stockholders approve the 2004 Plan, the total number of shares
available for future awards under all such plans plus the number of shares
subject to outstanding options and non-vested awards would be 893,916 new +
517,642 leftover + 1,485,310 outstanding shares, or 20% of the shares then
outstanding (excluding any plans qualified under Section 401 of the Code). We
may in the future adopt other plans relating to common stock.
Only the number of shares actually delivered to and retained by
participants in connection with an award after all restrictions have lapsed will
be counted against the number of shares reserved under the 2004 Plan. Thus,
shares will become available again for new awards if an award expires, is
forfeited, or is settled in cash, if shares are withheld or separately
surrendered to pay the exercise price of an option or to satisfy tax withholding
obligations relating to an award, if fewer shares are delivered upon exercise of
an SAR than the number to which the SAR related, or if shares that had been
issued as restricted stock are forfeited. Shares delivered under the 2004 Plan
may be either newly issued or treasury shares.
On April 20, 2004, the last reported sale price of our common stock on
Nasdaq was $26.25 per share.
Per-Person Award Limitations. The 2004 Plan includes limitations on the
amount of awards that may be granted to a participant in a given year in order
to qualify awards as "performance-based" compensation not subject to the
limitation on deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Code. Under this annual
per-person limitation, a participant may in any year be granted share-based
awards of each type authorized under the 2004 Plan -- options, SARs, restricted
stock, deferred stock, bonus stock or stock in lieu of other compensation
obligations, dividend equivalents, and other stock-based awards -- relating to
no more than his or her "Annual Limit." The Annual Limit equals 400,000 shares
plus the amount of the participant's unused
15
Annual Limit relating to share-based awards as of the close of the previous
year, subject to adjustment for splits and other extraordinary corporate events.
With respect to incentive awards not valued by reference to Common Stock at the
date of grant, the 2004 Plan limits such performance awards that may be earned
by a participant to the participant's defined Annual Limit, which for this
purpose equals $3,500,000 plus the amount of the participant's unused cash
Annual Limit as of the close of the previous year. The per person limit on
stock-based awards is independent of the limit on cash-denominated performance
awards. These limits apply only to awards under the 2004 Plan, and do not limit
our ability to enter into compensation arrangements outside of the 2004 Plan.
Adjustments to Shares Reserved, Awards and Award Limits. Adjustments to
the number and kind of shares subject to the share limitations and specified in
the share-based Annual Limit are authorized in the event of a large, special or
non-recurring dividend or distribution, recapitalization, stock split, stock
dividend, reorganization, business combination, or other similar corporate
transaction or event affecting the Common Stock. Adjustments also will be made
to outstanding awards upon occurrence of these events, including to the number
of shares subject to an award, any exercise price or share price referenced in
the award terms (such as an SAR's base price) and other terms of the award to
preserve without enhancing the value of the award. The Committee is also
authorized to adjust performance conditions and other terms of awards in
response to these kinds of events or to changes in applicable laws, regulations,
or accounting principles.
Eligibility. Executive officers and other officers and employees of the
Company and our subsidiaries (including directors), non-employee directors of
the Company, and any other person who provides substantial services will be
eligible to be granted awards under the 2004 Plan. A prospective employee may be
granted an award, but no value may be realized under it if such person does not
become an employee.
Administration. The 2004 Plan will be administered by the Committee,
except that our Board of Directors may itself act in place of the Committee to
administer the 2004 Plan and determinations with respect to grants to
non-employee directors must be made by our Board of Directors. The members of
the Committee must be non-employee directors. Subject to the terms and
conditions of the 2004 Plan, the Committee is authorized to select participants,
determine the type and number of awards to be granted and the number of shares
to which awards will relate or the amount of an annual or long-term incentive
award, specify times at which awards will be exercisable or settled, including
performance conditions that may be required as a condition thereof, set other
terms and conditions of such awards, prescribe forms of award agreements,
interpret and specify rules and regulations relating to the 2004 Plan, and make
all other determinations which may be necessary or advisable for the
administration of the 2004 Plan. Nothing in the 2004 Plan precludes the
Committee from authorizing payment of other compensation, including bonuses
based upon performance, to executive officers and other employees. The Committee
is permitted to delegate authority to executive officers for the granting of
awards, but action pursuant to delegated authority generally will be limited to
grants to employees who are below the executive officer level. The 2004 Plan
provides that Committee
16
members shall not be personally liable, and shall be fully indemnified, in
connection with any action, determination, or interpretation taken or made in
good faith under the 2004 Plan.
Stock Options and SARs. The Committee is authorized to grant stock
options, including both incentive stock options ("ISOs"), which can result in
potentially favorable tax treatment to the participant, and non-qualified stock
options. SARs may also be granted, entitling the participant to receive the
excess of the fair market value of a share on the date of exercise over the
SAR's designated "base price." The exercise price of an option and the base
price of an SAR are determined by the Committee, but generally may not be less
than the fair market value of the shares on the date of grant (except as
described below under "Other Terms of Awards"). The maximum term of each option
or SAR will be ten years. Subject to this limit, the times at which each option
or SAR will be exercisable and provisions requiring forfeiture of unexercised
options at or following termination of employment or upon the occurrence of
other events generally are fixed by the Committee. Options may be exercised by
payment of the exercise price in cash, shares or other property (which may
include through broker-assisted cashless exercise procedures) or by surrender of
other outstanding awards having a fair market value equal to the exercise price.
Methods of exercise and settlement and other terms of SARs will be determined by
the Committee. SARs may be exercisable for shares or for cash, as determined by
the Committee.
Restricted and Deferred Stock/Restricted Stock Units. The Committee is
authorized to grant restricted stock and deferred stock. Prior to the end of the
restricted period, shares granted as restricted stock may not be sold, and will
be forfeited in the event of termination of employment in specified
circumstances. The Committee will establish the length of the restricted period
for awards of restricted stock. Aside from the risk of forfeiture and
non-transferability, an award of restricted stock entitles the participant to
the rights of a stockholder of the Company, including the right to vote the
shares and to receive dividends, unless otherwise determined by the Committee.
Deferred stock gives a participant the right to receive shares at the end
of a specified deferral period. Deferred stock subject to forfeiture conditions
may be denominated as an award of "restricted stock units." The Committee will
establish any vesting requirements for deferred stock/restricted stock units
granted for continuing services. One advantage of restricted stock units, as
compared to restricted stock, is that the period during which the award is
deferred as to settlement can be extended past the date the award becomes
non-forfeitable, so the Committee can require or permit a participant to
continue to hold an interest tied to common stock on a tax-deferred basis. Prior
to settlement, deferred stock awards, including restricted stock units, carry no
voting or dividend rights or other rights associated with stock ownership, but
dividend equivalents will be paid or accrue if authorized by the Committee.
Other Stock-Based Awards, Stock Bonus Awards, and Awards in Lieu of Other
Obligations. The 2004 Plan authorizes the Committee to grant awards that are
denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or
otherwise based on or related to common stock. The Committee will determine the
terms and conditions of such awards, including the consideration to be paid to
exercise awards in the nature of purchase rights, the periods during
17
which awards will be outstanding, and any forfeiture conditions and restrictions
on awards. In addition, the Committee is authorized to grant shares as a bonus
free of restrictions, or to grant shares or other awards in lieu of obligations
under other plans or compensatory arrangements, subject to such terms as the
Committee may specify.
Performance-Based Awards. The Committee may grant performance awards,
which may be cash-denominated awards or share-based awards. Generally,
performance awards require satisfaction of pre-established performance goals,
consisting of one or more business criteria and a targeted performance level
with respect to such criteria as a condition of awards being granted or becoming
exercisable or settleable, or as a condition to accelerating the timing of such
events. Performance may be measured over a period of any length specified by the
Committee. If so determined by the Committee, in order to avoid the limitations
on tax deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Code, the business criteria
used by the Committee in establishing performance goals applicable to
performance awards to the named executive officers will be selected from among
the following:
o earnings per share (basic or fully diluted);
o revenues;
o earnings, before or after taxes, from operations (generally or
specified operations), before or after interest expense,
depreciation, amortization, incentives, or extraordinary or special
items;
o cash flow; free cash flow, cash flow return on investment
(discounted or otherwise), net cash provided by operations, or cash
flow in excess of cost of capital;
o return on net assets, return on assets, return on investment, return
on capital, return on equity;
o economic value created (representing the amount by which the Company
or a business unit's income exceeds the cost of the capital used by
the Company or the business unit during the performance period, as
determined by the Committee);
o operating margin or operating expense;
o net income;
o stock price or total stockholder return; and
o strategic business criteria, consisting of one or more objectives
based on meeting specified market penetration, geographic business
expansion goals, cost targets, customer satisfaction, employee
satisfaction, management of employment practices and employee
benefits, supervision of litigation and information technology, and
goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures of subsidiaries,
affiliates or joint ventures.
These goals may be set with fixed, quantitative targets, targets relative to our
past performance, or targets compared to the performance of other companies,
such as a published or special index or a group of companies selected by the
Committee for comparison. The Committee may specify that these performance
measures will be determined before payment of bonuses, capital charges,
non-recurring or extraordinary income or expense, or other financial and general
and administrative expenses for the performance period, if so specified by the
Committee.
18
Annual Incentive Awards. One type of performance award that may be granted
under the 2004 Plan is Annual Incentive Awards, settleable in cash or in shares
upon achievement of preestablished performance objectives achieved during a
specified period of up to one year. The Committee generally must establish the
terms of annual incentive awards, including the applicable performance goals and
the corresponding amounts payable (subject to per-person limits), and other
terms of settlement, and all other terms of these awards, not later than 90 days
after the beginning of the fiscal year. As stated above, annual incentive awards
granted to named executives are intended to constitute "performance-based
compensation" not subject to the limitation on deductibility under Code Section
162(m). In order for such an annual incentive award to be earned, one or more of
the performance objectives described in the preceding paragraph will have to be
achieved. The Committee may specify additional requirements for the earning of
such awards.
Employee Stock Purchase Program. All of our employees of the Company or a
subsidiary who have been determined to be eligible by the Committee may
participate in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "ESPP"), provided that the
Committee has discretion to determine employees eligible to participate, and in
exercising such discretion, may exclude those employees who have been employed
less than two years, work fewer than 20 hours a week, work fewer than five
months in any calendar year or are considered "highly compensated employees"
within the meaning of the Code. Any employee who would own more than 5% of the
voting power of our stock immediately after a grant under the ESPP is not
eligible to participate, and no participant may purchase more than $25,000 of
common stock in any one calendar year, based on the undiscounted value of the
common stock at the beginning of each offering period. The aggregate number of
shares of stock that may be granted as options under the ESPP is determined on
an annual basis by the Committee, and the terms and conditions of such options
shall be specified in a separate agreement. No option under the ESPP may be
exercised after the expiration of 5 years (if the option is granted at an
exercise price no less than 85% of the fair market value as of the date of
grant) or 27 months. The purchase price of the options underlying the ESPP shall
not be less than the lesser of 85% of the fair market value at the time of grant
or an amount which under the terms of the option may not be less than 85% of the
fair market value of such stock at the time of the exercise of the option.
Other Terms of Awards. Awards may be settled in cash, shares, other awards
or other property, in the discretion of the Committee. The Committee may require
or permit participants to defer the settlement of all or part of an award,
including shares issued upon exercise of an option, in accordance with such
terms and conditions as the Committee may establish, including payment or
crediting of interest or dividend equivalents on any deferred amounts. The
Committee is authorized to place cash, shares or other property in trusts or
make other arrangements to provide for payment of our obligations under the 2004
Plan. The Committee may condition awards on the payment of taxes, such as by
withholding a portion of the shares or other property to be distributed in order
to satisfy tax obligations. Awards granted under the 2004 Plan generally may not
be pledged or otherwise encumbered and are not transferable except by will or by
the laws of descent and distribution, or to a designated beneficiary upon the
participant's death, except that the Committee may permit transfers of awards
other than incentive stock options on a
19
case-by-case basis. This flexibility can allow for estate planning or other
limited transfers consistent with the incentive purpose of the 2004 Plan.
The Committee is authorized to impose non-competition, non-solicitation,
confidentiality, non-disparagement and other requirements as a condition on the
participant's right to retain an award or gains realized by exercise or
settlement of an award. Awards under the 2004 Plan may be granted without a
requirement that the participant pay consideration in the form of cash or
property for the grant (as distinguished from the exercise), except to the
extent required by law. The Committee may, however, grant awards in substitution
for, exchange for or as a buyout of other awards under the 2004 Plan, awards
under other Company plans, or other rights to payment from the Company, and may
exchange or buy out outstanding awards for cash or other property. The Committee
also may grant awards in addition to and in tandem with other awards, awards, or
rights. In granting a new award, the Committee may determine that the
in-the-money value of any surrendered award may be applied to reduce the
exercise price of any option, base price of any SAR, or purchase price of any
other award.
Dividend Equivalents. The Committee may grant dividend equivalents. These
are rights to receive payments equal in value to the amount of dividends paid on
a specified number of shares of common stock while an award is outstanding.
These amounts may be in the form of cash or rights to receive additional awards
or additional shares of common stock having a value equal to the cash amount.
The awards may be granted on a stand-alone basis or in conjunction with another
award. Typically, rights to dividend equivalents are granted in connection with
restricted stock units or deferred stock, so that the participant can earn
amounts equal to dividends paid on the number of shares covered by the award
while the award is outstanding.
Vesting, Forfeitures, and Related Award Terms. The Committee may, in its
discretion, determine the vesting schedule of options and other awards, the
circumstances that will result in forfeiture of awards, the post-termination
exercise periods of options and similar awards, and the events that will result
in acceleration of the ability to exercise and the lapse of restrictions, or the
expiration of any deferral period, on any award.
Upon a change in control, as defined, unless the Committee limited these
rights in the grant agreement, awards will become vested and exercisable and
restrictions thereon will lapse, any option that was not vested and exercisable
throughout the 60-day period prior to the change in control may be surrendered
for a cash payment equal to spread, determined based on the highest market price
during that 60-day period prior to or following the change in control or, if
higher, the consideration received by shareholders in the change in control
transaction. The Committee may also specify in any award agreement that
performance conditions will be deemed met upon a change in control.
Amendment and Termination of the 2004 Plan. Our Board of Directors may
amend, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the 2004 Plan or the Committee's
authority to grant awards thereunder without stockholder approval, except as
required by law or regulation or under the Nasdaq rules. Proposed changes to
Nasdaq rules, if adopted, will require stockholder approval of material
modifications to plans such as the 2004 Plan. Under these rules, stockholder
approval
20
will not necessarily be required for amendments which might increase the cost of
the 2004 Plan or broaden eligibility. Unless earlier terminated, the 2004 Plan
will terminate at such time that no shares reserved under the 2004 Plan remain
available and we have no further obligation with respect to any outstanding
award.
Federal Income Tax Implications of the 2004 Plan
We believe that under current law the following Federal income tax
consequences generally would arise with respect to awards under the 2004 Plan.
The grant of an option or an SAR will create no federal income tax consequences
for the participant or the Company. A participant will not have taxable income
upon exercising an option which is an ISO, except that the alternative minimum
tax may apply. Upon exercising an option which is not an ISO, the participant
generally must recognize ordinary income equal to the difference between the
exercise price and the fair market value of the freely transferable and
nonforfeitable shares acquired on the date of exercise. Upon exercising an SAR,
the participant must generally recognize ordinary income equal to the cash or
the fair market value of the shares received.
Upon a disposition of shares acquired upon exercise of an ISO before the
end of the applicable ISO holding periods, the participant must generally
recognize ordinary income equal to the lesser of (i) the fair market value of
the ISO shares at the date of exercise minus the exercise price or (ii) the
amount realized upon the disposition of the ISO shares minus the exercise price.
Otherwise, a participant's sale of shares acquired by exercise of an option
generally will result in short-term or long-term capital gain or loss measured
by the difference between the sale price and the participant's tax "basis" in
such shares. The tax "basis" normally is the exercise price plus any amount he
or she recognized as ordinary income in connection with the option's exercise. A
participant's sale of shares acquired by exercise of an SAR generally will
result in short-term or long-term capital gain or loss measured by the
difference between the sale price and the tax "basis" in the shares, which
generally is the amount he or she recognized as ordinary income in connection
with the SAR's exercise.
We normally can claim a tax deduction equal to the amount recognized as
ordinary income by a participant in connection with an option or SAR, but no tax
deduction relating to a participant's capital gains. Accordingly, we will not be
entitled to any tax deduction with respect to an ISO if the participant holds
the shares for the applicable ISO holding periods before selling the shares.
We may, however, permit participants to elect to defer taxation upon
certain exercises of options other than ISOs. Under such a transaction, the
participant must pay for the option exercise by surrendering shares, and the
option shares that represent the gain upon exercise are deferred as to delivery
by us. The participant generally should not realize income upon exercise, but
will realize ordinary income equal to the value of shares delivered at the end
of the specified deferral period. We are not entitled to a tax deduction at the
time of exercise, but become entitled to a tax deduction at the time shares are
delivered at the end of the deferral period. Proposed legislation may limit this
kind of deferral, however.
21
With respect to awards other than options and SARs that result in a
transfer to the participant of cash or shares or other property, if no
restriction on transferability or substantial risk of forfeiture applies to the
transferred amounts, the participant generally must recognize ordinary income
equal to the cash or the fair market value of shares or other property actually
received. Thus, for example, if we grant an award of deferred stock or permits
the participant to elect to defer receipt of cash or shares under a 2004 Plan
award, the participant will defer the time he or she becomes subject to income
tax, and our right to claim a tax deduction will be likewise deferred. If a
restriction on transferability and substantial risk of forfeiture applies to
shares or other property transferred to a participant under an award (such as,
for example, restricted stock), the participant generally must recognize
ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the transferred amounts at the
earliest time either the transferability restriction or risk of forfeiture
lapses. In all cases, we can claim a tax deduction in an amount equal to the
ordinary income recognized by the participant, except as discussed below. A
participant may elect to be taxed at the time of grant of restricted stock or
other property rather than upon lapse of restrictions on transferability or the
risk of forfeiture, but if the participant subsequently forfeits such shares or
property he or she would not be entitled to any tax deduction, including as a
capital loss, for the value of the shares or property on which he or she
previously paid tax.
As discussed above, compensation that qualifies as "performance-based"
compensation is excluded from the $1 million deductibility cap of Code Section
162(m), and therefore remains fully deductible by the company that pays it.
Under the 2004 Plan, options and SARs granted with an exercise price or base
price at least equal to 100% of fair market value of the underlying stock at the
date of grant, annual incentive awards to employees the Committee expects to be
named executive officers at the time compensation is received, and certain other
awards which are conditioned upon achievement of performance goals are intended
to qualify as such "performance-based" compensation. A number of requirements
must be met in order for particular compensation to so qualify, however, so
there can be no assurance that such compensation under the 2004 Plan will be
fully deductible under all circumstances. In addition, other awards under the
2004 Plan generally will not so qualify, so that compensation paid to certain
executives in connection with such awards may, to the extent it and other
compensation subject to Section 162(m)'s deductibility cap exceed $1 million in
a given year, not be deductible by us as a result of Section 162(m).
The ESPP is intended to qualify as an "employee stock purchase plan" under
Section 423 of the Code. An employee will not recognize income upon electing to
participate in the ESPP or upon purchasing shares under the ESPP. If the
employee does not dispose of shares for at least two years from the beginning of
the offering period in which the shares were purchased, or in the event of his
or her death (whenever occurring), the employee will realize ordinary income
upon the disposition (including by sale, gift or death) in an amount equal to
the lesser of: (i) the excess of the fair market value of the shares at the time
of disposition over their purchase price, or (ii) the excess of the fair market
value of the shares on the first day of the offering period over their purchase
price. Any additional gain will be taxed as long-term capital gain. If the fair
market value of the shares at the time of their disposition is below the
purchase price, the employee will not recognize any ordinary income, and any
loss will be a long-term capital loss. We will not have a
22
deductible expense as a result of the purchase of stock under the ESPP, unless
there is a "disqualifying" disposition, as described in the next paragraph.
If shares purchased under the ESPP are sold by an employee within two
years after the beginning of the offering period in which the shares were
purchased, then that sale constitutes a "disqualifying" disposition in which the
employee will realize (1) ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of
the fair market value of the shares on the date of purchase (i.e., the last day
of the offering period) over the purchase price, and (2) a capital gain or loss
equal to the difference between (i) the amount received for the shares and (ii)
the sum of the purchase price and the amount of ordinary income recognized. If
the disqualifying disposition occurs more than one year after the date of
purchase, any capital gain or loss will be long-term; otherwise it will be
short-term. If an employee recognizes ordinary income as a result of a
disqualifying disposition, we will be entitled to a corresponding deduction. To
the extent required under the Code and Internal Revenue Service guidance, we
will withhold income and employment taxes with respect to purchases and
dispositions of shares under the ESPP.
The foregoing provides only a general description of the application of
federal income tax laws to certain awards under the 2004 Plan. This discussion
is intended for the information of stockholders considering how to vote at the
Annual Meeting and not as tax guidance to participants in the 2004 Plan, as the
consequences may vary with the types of awards made, the identity of the
recipients and the method of payment or settlement. Different tax rules may
apply, including in the case of variations in transactions that are permitted
under the 2004 Plan (such as payment of the exercise price of an option by
surrender of previously acquired shares). The summary does not address the
effects of other federal taxes (including possible "golden parachute" excise
taxes) or taxes imposed under state, local, or foreign tax laws.
The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote FOR the Approval of the
PDI, Inc. 2004 Stock Award and Incentive Plan and
Proxies that are Returned will be so Voted
Unless Otherwise Instructed.
PROPOSAL NO. 3
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT
OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Board of Directors has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers as our
independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004. Although
stockholder approval is not required, we desire to obtain from the stockholders
an indication of their approval or disapproval of the Board of Directors' action
in appointing PricewaterhouseCoopers as the independent auditors of the Company
and its subsidiaries. If the stockholders do not ratify this appointment, such
appointment will be reconsidered by the Audit Committee and the Board of
Directors.
A representative of PricewaterhouseCoopers will be present at the Annual
Meeting and will be afforded an opportunity to make a statement and to respond
to questions.
23
The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote FOR the Ratification of the
Appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers for Fiscal Year 2004 and
Proxies that are Returned will be so Voted
Unless Otherwise Instructed.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The Audit Committee is comprised of four non-management Directors and
operates pursuant to a written Charter that was amended and restated in May
2003. The Charter is available on our website at http://www.pdi-inc.com. During
fiscal 2003, the Audit Committee held nine meetings and nine private sessions
with the independent auditors. The Audit Committee's purpose is to assist the
Board of Directors in its oversight of (i) the integrity of our financial
statements, (ii) our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (iii)
our independent auditors' qualifications and independence, (iv) the performance
of our internal audit function and independent auditors and (v) our management
of market, credit, liquidity and other financial and operational risks; to
decide whether to appoint, retain or terminate our independent auditors and to
pre-approve all audit, audit-related and other services, if any, to be provided
by the independent auditors; and to prepare this Report. The Board of Directors
has determined, upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee, that each member of the Audit Committee is "independent"
within the meaning of the rules of both Nasdaq and the SEC. The Board of
Directors has also determined that each member is financially literate and at
least one member of the Audit Committee has accounting or related financial
management expertise, as such qualifications are defined under the rules of
Nasdaq, and that Mr. Ellberger is an "audit committee financial expert" within
the meaning of the rules of the SEC.
Management is responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity
of our financial statements, accounting and financial reporting principles and
the establishment and effectiveness of internal controls and procedures designed
to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and
regulations. The independent auditors are responsible for performing an
independent audit of the financial statements in accordance with generally
accepted auditing standards. The independent auditors have free access to the
Audit Committee to discuss any matters they deem appropriate.
In performing its oversight role, the Audit Committee has considered and
discussed the audited financial statements with management and the independent
auditors. The Audit Committee has also discussed with the independent auditors
the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61,
Communication with Audit Committees, as currently in effect. The Audit Committee
has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent
auditors required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, Independence
Discussions with Audit Committees, as currently in effect, and has discussed
with the auditors the auditors' independence. All non-audit services performed
by the independent auditors must be specifically pre-approved by the Audit
Committee or a member thereof.
24
During fiscal 2003, the Audit Committee performed all of its duties and
responsibilities under the Audit Committee Charter. In addition, based on the
reports and discussions described in this Report, the Audit Committee
recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements of
PDI for fiscal 2003 be included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for such
fiscal year.
Submitted by the Audit Committee
Larry Ellberger, Chairperson
Dr. Joseph T. Curti
John C. Federspiel
Frank Ryan
Audit Committee Matters and Fees Paid to Independent Auditors
Under its charter, the Audit Committee must pre-approve all engagements of
our independent auditor unless an exception to such pre-approval exists under
the Exchange Act or the rules of the SEC. Each year, the independent auditor's
retention to audit our financial statements, including the associated fee, is
approved by the Audit Committee before the filing of the preceding year's Annual
Report on Form 10-K. At the beginning of the fiscal year, the Audit Committee
will evaluate other known potential engagements of the independent auditor,
including the scope of the work proposed to be performed and the proposed fees,
and approve or reject each service, taking into account whether the services are
permissible under applicable law and the possible impact of each non-audit
service on the independent auditor's independence from management. At each
subsequent Audit Committee meeting, the Audit Committee will receive updates on
the services actually provided by the independent auditor, and management may
present additional services for approval. Typically, these would be services
such as due diligence for an acquisition, that would not have been known at the
beginning of the year. The Audit Committee has delegated to the Chairperson of
the Audit Committee the authority to evaluate and approve engagements on behalf
of the Audit Committee in the event that a need arises for pre-approval between
committee meetings. This might occur, for example, if we proposed to execute a
financing on an accelerated timetable. If the Chairperson so approves any such
engagements, he will report that approval to the full Audit Committee at the
next Audit Committee meeting.
Since the May 6, 2003 effective date of the SEC rules stating that an
auditor is not independent of an audit client if the services it provides to the
client are not appropriately approved, each new engagement of
PricewaterhouseCoopers was approved in advance by the Audit Committee, and none
of those engagements made use of the de minimis exception to pre-approval
contained in the SEC's rules.
25
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
2003 2002
-------- ----------
Audit Fees $281,300 $ 248,350
Audit-Related Fees 60,625 48,850
Tax Fees 111,949 159,488
All Other Fees 0 1,426,486
-------- ----------
Total Fees $453,874 $1,883,174
======== ==========
The amounts shown for "Audit-related fees" were primarily for audits of
employee benefit plans and consultations regarding generally accepted accounting
principles. The amounts shown for "Tax fees" were for federal and state tax
advice. The amounts shown for "All other fees" were primarily for ePharma
Systems Design and Implementation Fees (Siebel).
COMPENSATION AND
MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The purpose of our executive compensation program is to attract, retain
and motivate qualified executives to lead and manage our business in a manner
consistent with strategic, financial and stock performance goals. In order to
enhance the effectiveness of the compensation package provided to our
executives, the Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board
of Directors has engaged and consulted with a nationally recognized human
resource consulting firm to assist in the review of our current compensation
methods and to make recommendations regarding modification of the compensation
elements within the executive compensation package. After careful analysis of
our needs and an examination of the competitive practices among peer
organizations, the Board of Directors approved the adoption of the Variable
Incentive Compensation Plan, an annual incentive plan providing incentives to
officers based on performance tied to our success and growth. In addition, the
Board of Directors adopted deferred compensation arrangements which provide for
the deferral of cash compensation by executives.
The executive compensation package is made up of a number of key elements
which address current and future performance and reflect competitive market
practices. These include the executive's annual base salary, an annual incentive
opportunity under the Variable Incentive Compensation Plan and awards under the
2000 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan. The Compensation and Management
Development Committee annually considers and makes recommendations to the Board
of Directors as to changes in these plans, as well as considering the addition
of new compensation components that are consistent with our goals. The
Compensation and Management Development Committee has approved and recommends
the adoption of the new PDI, Inc. 2004 Stock Award and Incentive Plan which is
described in detail under Proposal Two herein. In recommending any changes to
the annual compensation of our executive officers, the Compensation and
Management Development Committee considers the overall performance of the
Company, the performance of the division of the Company for which
26
the executive has responsibility, and the individual contribution and
performance of the executive. While increases in stockholders' value is
considered important by the Compensation and Management Development Committee,
the annual compensation program focuses on our strategic plans and corporate
performance in relation to those plans.
Annual Incentive Program
The Company's officers, executives and senior management are eligible to
participate in PDI's Variable Incentive Compensation Plans ("VICP"). Under the
VICP, participants can earn annual awards based on our financial and strategic
performance, their contributions to the success of their functional business
area, as well as on their achievement of individual performance objectives.
Annual performance measures and relative targets are determined at the beginning
of each fiscal year, based on our business focus, and may change from year to
year. Each participant's target bonus is expressed as a percentage of his or her
base salary. Awards are payable under the VICP only if defined minimum
performance levels are met. If performance targets are exceeded, a participant
may earn additional VICP awards, determined by the extent by which the
performance exceeds the target. Awards under the VICP are subject to the
determination and final approval of the Compensation and Management Development
Committee.
Long-Term Incentive Program
The Company's officers, executives and senior management are eligible to
participate in PDI's 2000 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan. Long-term
incentive awards, including stock-based awards such as stock options, restricted
stock and performance shares, may be granted under the 2000 Omnibus Incentive
Compensation Plan. In determining individual eligibility for awards, the size of
the award, and the type of the incentive, the Compensation and Management
Development Committee considers factors including the overall performance of the
Company, the executive's strategic impact, competitive market practices,
alignment with stockholder interests based on equity ownership of the management
team, total stockholder dilution and annual share utilization rates, and the
balance with other pay elements. The Compensation and Management Development
Committee believes that long-term incentives, and especially stock-based
incentive compensation, enhance the Company's ability to attract and retain
qualified personnel and provide the motivation to improve the long-term
performance of the Company and its subsidiaries.
Deferred Compensation
In order to complement the total compensation package of its key
employees, in December 1999, the Compensation and Management Development
Committee adopted the Officer and Director Deferred Compensation Plans, covering
officers, selected highly compensated executives and members of the Board of
Directors. Subsequently, the Compensation and Management Development Committee
adopted the Senior Management Deferred Compensation Plan, covering selected
members of senior management. The purpose of each of the plans is to allow
participants to defer receipt of current cash compensation, which
27
would allow them to maximize deferrals that could not otherwise be put into
Qualified Plans, such as the 401(k). The plans also allow members of the Board
of Directors to defer board fees.
For each year, a participant may make an irrevocable election to defer all
or a portion of his or her cash compensation. The Company may, but is not
required to, make supplemental contributions on a totally discretionary basis. A
participant is immediately 100% vested in his/her account with respect to the
cash compensation deferred that he/she would have received, had it not been
deferred; Company contributions, if any, would vest to the participant over a
five year period. A deferred account is established for each participant in a
grantor "rabbi" trust that tracks deferrals and any interest that may be
accrued, and will be held under a trust to be established by and between the
Company and a named trustee. All funds within a participant's deferred account
remain subject to the claims of the creditors of the Company regardless of
vesting, in the event of the Company's bankruptcy or insolvency.
Compensation of the Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Saldarini's base salary of $376,486 was paid in accordance with his
Employment Agreement with the Company entered into in November 2001. Mr.
Saldarini's Employment Agreement provides for bonuses and incentive compensation
in the discretion of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof. In
determining the compensation for Mr. Saldarini, the Compensation and Management
Development Committee reviews performance factors consistent with those used to
determine the compensation of other executives. Based upon the Company's
performance in 2003 as measured by specific performance benchmarks established
by the Compensation and Management Development Committee, Mr. Saldarini received
a cash bonus of $752,972 for his 2003 performance.
Compliance with Section 162(m) of the Code
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1996, as amended (the
"Code"), generally disallows a tax deduction to public companies for
compensation over $1 million paid to the Company's chief executive officer and
four other most highly compensated executive officers, unless the compensation
is considered performance based. The compensation disclosed in this Proxy
Statement does exceed the $1 million limit, however the compensation was
primarily performance based. The executive compensation for 2004 is expected to
qualify for deductibility. The Company currently intends to structure the
performance based portion of its executive officers' compensation to achieve
maximum deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Code with minimal sacrifices
in flexibility and corporate objectives.
28
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation in Compensation
Decisions
During 2003, the Compensation and Management Development Committee
consisted of Messrs. Ryan, Pietruski, Mossinghoff and Federspiel, all of whom
are non-employee directors. No member of the Compensation and Management
Development Committee has a relationship that would constitute an interlocking
relationship with executive officers or directors of another entity.
Submitted By The Compensation and Management Development Committee
Frank J. Ryan, Chairperson
Larry Ellberger
Gerald J. Mossinghoff
John M. Pietruski
* * * * *
COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Summary compensation. The following table sets forth certain information
concerning compensation paid for services in all capacities awarded to, earned
by or paid to the Company's chief executive officer and the other four most
highly compensated executive officers during 2003, 2002 and 2001 whose aggregate
compensation exceeded $100,000.
Annual compensation Long-term compensation
------------------------------ -------------------------------
Shares of
common
Restricted stock
stock underlying All other
Name and Principal Position Salary Bonus awards(1) options compensation
--------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ------------
Charles T. Saldarini
Vice chairman and chief
executive officer
2003 ...................... $ 376,486 $ 752,972 $1,000,238 -- $ 4,392
2002 ...................... 350,000 -- -- 25,602 3,867
2001 ...................... 336,864 179,212 -- 34,066 11,514
Steven K. Budd
President, global sales and
marketing group
2003 ...................... 289,620 477,875 500,119 -- 7,300
2002 ...................... 281,187 -- -- 21,188 5,385
2001 ...................... 262,500 103,819 44,494 23,338 6,737
Bernard C. Boyle
Chief financial officer,
executive vice president and
treasurer
2003 ...................... 263,293 394,939 266,730 -- 10,231
2002 ...................... 255,625 -- -- 19,156 9,705
2001 ...................... 232,292 93,863 40,227 19,900 9,101
29
Annual compensation Long-term compensation
------------------------------ -------------------------------
Christopher Tama
Executive vice president -
pharmaceutical products
2003 ...................... 224,000 336,000 166,706 -- 6,629
2002 ...................... 203,500 -- -- 15,421 7,638
2001 ...................... 189,583 75,561 32,383 20,168 5,566
Deborah Schnell
Executive vice president -
business development
2003 ...................... 225,000 337,500 66,683 -- 13,040
2002 ...................... 214,967 50,000 -- 25,000 10,210
2001 ...................... 160,000 124,967 31,217 6,196 3,286
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) For the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2001, a portion of the named
executive officers' annual bonus was paid in restricted stock. For the
year ended December 31, 2002, there were no bonuses awarded. The number of
shares were calculated by dividing the portion of bonus expense
attributable to restricted stock by a trailing 20-day average stock price
on December 31, 2003 and 2001, which was $26.67 and $20.47, respectively.
The fair market value of the restricted shares owned by the named
executive officers on December 31, 2003, based upon the closing price of
our common stock of $26.81 on that date, was as follows: Mr. Saldarini --
$1,005,375 (37,500 shares); Mr. Budd -- $560,946 (20,923 shares); Mr.
Boyle -- $320,782 (11,965 shares); Mr. Tama -- $209,949 (7,831 shares) and
Ms. Schnell -- $107,910 (4,025 shares).
Option grants. No options were granted by us in 2003 to any of the
executives named in the Summary Compensation Table.
Option exercises and year-end option values. The following table provides
information with respect to options exercised by the named executive officers
during 2003 and the number and value of unexercised options held by the named
executive officers as of December 31, 2003.
Aggregated Option Exercise in Last Fiscal Year and Year-End Option Values
Number of Shares Underlying Value of Unexercised In-the-
Unexercised Options at Fiscal Money Options At Fiscal
Year-End Year-End (2)
----------------------------- -----------------------------
Shares Acquired
Name on Exercise (#) Value Realized (1) Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable
---- --------------- ------------------ ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
Charles T. Saldarini -- $ -- 31,245 28,423 $ 94,471 $188,943
Steven K. Budd -- -- 47,621 21,905 78,184 156,367
Bernard C. Boyle -- -- 39,652 19,404 70,686 141,371
Deborah Schnell -- -- 15,964 18,732 92,250 184,500
Christopher Tama -- -- 23,586 17,003 56,903 113,807
----------
(1) For the purposes of this calculation, value is based upon the difference
between the exercise price of the options and the stock price at date of
exercise.
(2) For the purposes of this calculation, value is based upon the difference
between the exercise price of the exercisable and unexercisable options
and the stock price at December 31, 2003 of $26.81 per share.
Employment Contracts
In January 1998, the Company entered into an agreement with John P. Dugan
providing for his appointment as chairman of the Board of Directors and director
of strategic planning. The agreement provides for an annual salary of $125,000.
30
In November 2001, the Company entered into an employment agreement with
Charles T. Saldarini providing for his employment as chief executive officer and
vice chairman of the Board of Directors for a term expiring on October 31, 2005
subject to automatic one-year renewals unless either party gives written notice
one year prior to the end of the then current term of the agreement. The
agreement provides for an annual base salary of $350,000 (subject to yearly
increases as determined by the Compensation and Management Development
Committee) and for participation in all executive benefit plans. The agreement
also provides that Mr. Saldarini will be entitled to bonus and incentive
compensation awards as determined by the Compensation and Management Development
Committee. Further, the agreement provides, among other things, that, if Mr.
Saldarini's employment is terminated without cause (as defined) or if he
terminates his employment for good reason (as defined), the Company will pay him
an amount equal to three times the sum of his then current base salary plus the
average incentive compensation paid to him during the three years immediately
preceding the termination date.
In May 2001, the Company entered into an amended and restated employment
agreement with Steven K. Budd providing for his employment as president and
chief operating officer for a term expiring on April 30, 2005 subject to
automatic one-year renewals unless either party gives written notice one year
prior to the end of the then current term of the agreement. The agreement
provides for an annual base salary of $275,000 (subject to yearly increases as
determined by the Compensation and Management Development Committee) and for
participation in all executive benefit plans. The agreement also provides that
Mr. Budd will be entitled to bonus and incentive compensation awards as
determined by the Compensation and Management Development Committee. Further,
the agreement provides, among other things, that, if Mr. Budd's employment is
terminated without cause (as defined) or if he terminates his employment for
good reason (as defined), the Company will pay him an amount equal to three
times the sum of his then current base salary plus the average incentive
compensation paid to him during the three years immediately preceding the
termination date.
In May 2001, the Company entered into an amended and restated employment
agreement with Bernard C. Boyle providing for his employment as executive vice
president and chief financial officer for a term expiring on April 30, 2004
subject to automatic one-year renewals unless either party gives written notice
one year prior to the end of the then current term of the agreement. The
agreement provides for an annual base salary of $250,000 (subject to yearly
increases as determined by the Compensation and Management Development
Committee) and for participation in all executive benefit plans. The agreement
also provides that Mr. Boyle will be entitled to bonus and incentive
compensation awards as determined by the Compensation and Management Development
Committee. Further, the agreement provides, among other things, that, if Mr.
Boyle's employment is terminated without cause (as defined) or if he terminates
his employment for good reason (as defined), the Company will pay him an amount
equal to three times the sum of his then current base salary plus the average
incentive compensation paid to him during the three years immediately preceding
the termination date.
In February 2003, the Company entered into an employment agreement with
Christopher Tama providing for his employment as executive vice president for a
term expiring on February 4, 2006, subject to automatic one-year renewals unless
either party gives written notice at least
31
ninety days prior to the end of the then current term of the agreement. The
agreement provides for an annual base salary of $206,000 (subject to yearly
increases as determined by the Compensation and Management Development
Committee) and for participation in all executive benefit plans. The agreement
also provides that Mr. Tama will be entitled to bonus and incentive compensation
awards as determined by the Compensation and Management Development Committee.
Further, the agreement provides, among other things, that, if Mr. Tama's
employment is terminated without cause (as defined) or if he terminates his
employment for good reason (as defined), the Company will pay him an amount
equal to three times the sum of his then current base salary plus the average
incentive compensation paid to him during the three years immediately preceding
the termination date.
Stock compensation plans
2000 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan
On May 5, 2000, our Board of Directors approved our 2000 Omnibus Incentive
Compensation Plan (the "Omnibus Plan"). The purpose of the Omnibus Plan is to
provide a flexible framework that will permit the Board of Directors to develop
and implement a variety of stock-based incentive compensation programs based on
our changing needs, our competitive market and the regulatory climate. The
maximum number of shares as to which awards or options may at any time be
granted under the Omnibus Plan is 2.2 million shares of our common stock. The
Omnibus Plan is administered by the Compensation and Management Development
Committee of the Board of Directors, which is responsible for developing and
implementing specific stock-based plans that are consistent with the intent and
specific terms of the framework created by the Omnibus Plan. Eligible
participants under the Omnibus Plan include our officers and other employees,
members of our Board of Directors, and outside consultants. The right to grant
awards under the Omnibus Plan will terminate upon the expiration of 10 years
after the date the Omnibus Plan was adopted. No participant may be granted more
than 100,000 shares of our stock from all awards under the Omnibus Plan.
1998 Stock Option Plan
In order to attract and retain persons necessary for our success, in March
1998, our Board of Directors adopted our 1998 stock option plan reserving for
issuance up to 750,000 shares. Officers, directors, key employees and
consultants are eligible to receive incentive and/or non-qualified stock options
under this plan. The plan, which has a term of ten years from the date of its
adoption, is administered by the Compensation and Management Development
Committee. The selection of participants, allotment of shares, determination of
price and other conditions relating to the purchase of options is determined by
the Compensation and Management Development Committee in its sole discretion.
Incentive stock options granted under the plan are exercisable for a period of
up to 10 years from the date of grant at an exercise price which is not less
than the fair market value of the common stock on the date of the grant, except
that the term of an incentive stock option granted under the plan to a
stockholder owning more than 10% of the outstanding common stock may not exceed
five years and its exercise price may not be less than 110% of the fair market
value of the common stock on the date of the grant.
32
Outstanding Options
At March 31, 2004, options for an aggregate of 1,337,574 shares were
outstanding under our stock option plans, including 169,668 granted to Charles
T. Saldarini, our chief executive officer and vice chairman, 144,526 granted to
Steven K. Budd, our president - global sales and marketing services group,
99,056 granted to Bernard C. Boyle, our chief financial officer, 65,589 granted
to Christopher Tama, our executive vice president and general manager -
pharmaceutical products and 44,696 granted to Deborah Schnell, our executive
vice president - business development. The outstanding options also include
41,250 granted to each of John M. Pietruski, Gerald J. Mossinghoff, and Jan
Martens Vecsi, 25,000 granted to John C. Federspiel, 17,500 granted to each of
Frank Ryan and Larry Ellberger, and 10,000 granted to Dr. Joseph Curti, our
outside directors. In addition, as of March 31, 2004, options to purchase an
aggregate of 408,264 shares of common stock had been exercised.
401(k) plan
We maintain a 401(k) retirement plan ("the 401(k) Plan") for all of our
employees. The 401(k) Plan is intended to qualify under sections 401(a) and
401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code and is a defined contribution plan. Under
the 401(k) Plan, through December 31, 2003, we committed to make mandatory cash
contributions to the 401(k) Plan to match employee contributions up to a maximum
of 1% of each participating employee's annual base wages. Effective January 1,
2004, the 401(k) Plan shall provide all "Safe Harbor Eligible" 401(k) Plan
participants with company matching contributions ("Safe Harbor Matching
Contributions) in accordance with the formula described below:
o Employee contributions of up to 3% of base salary will be matched
100%; and
o Employee contributions which exceed 3% but do not exceed 5% will be
matched 50%.
Employees must meet all Safe Harbor Matching Contributions eligibility
requirements as defined in the 401(k) Plan in order to participate. Employees'
account balances derived from the Safe Harbor Matching Contributions are always
100% vested. In addition we can make discretionary contributions to the 401(k)
Plan. Under the 401(k) Plan, there is no option for employees to invest any of
their 401(k) funds in our common stock. Our contribution expense related to the
401(k) Plan for 2003 was approximately $905,000.
Option Exchange Program
In March 2003, the Company initiated an option exchange program pursuant
to which eligible employees, which excluded certain members of senior management
including Charles T. Saldarini, Steven K. Budd, Bernard C. Boyle, Deborah
Schnell and Christopher Tama, were offered an opportunity to exchange an
aggregate of 357,885 outstanding stock options with exercise prices of $30 and
above for either cash or shares of restricted stock, depending upon the number
of options held by an eligible employee. None of the eligible employees had been
granted options during the six month period prior to the offer. The offer
exchange period expired on May
33
12, 2003. Approximately 310,403 eligible options were tendered by eligible
employees and accepted by the Company. This number represents approximately 87%
of the total eligible options. A total of approximately 120 eligible
participants elected to exchange an aggregate of approximately 59,870 eligible
options and received cash in the aggregate amount of approximately $67,000
(which amount includes applicable withholding taxes). A total of approximately
145 eligible participants elected to exchange an aggregate of approximately
250,533 eligible options in exchange for an aggregate of approximately 49,850
shares of restricted stock. All tendered options have been canceled and are
eligible for re-issuance under the Company's option plans. The restricted stock
is subject to three-year cliff vesting and is subject to forfeiture upon
termination of employment other than the event of the recipient's death or
disability.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
Year Ended December 31, 2003
Number of securities
remaining available for
Number of securities Weighted-average future issuance under
to be issued upon exercise price of equity compensation
exercise of outstanding plans (excluding
outstanding options, options, warrants securities reflected in
Plan Category warrants and rights and rights column (a))
--------------------------------------- -------------------- ----------------- -----------------------
(a) (b)
Equity compensation plans
approved by security
holders (2000 Omnibus
Incentive Compensation
Plan and 1998 Stock
Option Plan)........................ 1,037,599 $27.33 942,144
Equity compensation plans
not approved by security
holders(1).......................... -- -- --
Total.................................. 1,037,599 $27.33 942,144
----------
(1) The Company does not have any equity compensation plans which have not
been approved by security holders.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
In connection with our efforts to recruit sales representatives, we place
advertisements in various print publications. These ads are placed on our behalf
through Boomer & Son, Inc. (B&S), which receives commissions from the
publications. Prior to 1998, B&S was wholly-owned by John P. Dugan, our chairman
of the Board of Directors. At the end of 1997, Mr. Dugan transferred his
interest in B&S to his son, Thomas Dugan, and daughter-in-law, Kathleen Dugan.
John P. Dugan is not actively involved in B&S; however, his son, Thomas Dugan,
is active in B&S. For the year ended December 31, 2003, we purchased
approximately $983,000 of advertising through B&S and B&S received commissions
of approximately $118,000. All ads were placed at the stated rates set by the
publications in which they appeared. In addition, we
34
believe that the amounts paid to B&S were no less favorable than would be
available in an arms-length negotiated transaction with an unaffiliated entity.
Peter Dugan, the son of John P. Dugan, our chairman of the Board of
Directors, is employed by us as executive director -investor relations. In 2003,
compensation paid or accrued to Peter Dugan was $201,628.
OTHER MATTERS
The Company knows of no other matters to be submitted to the meeting. If
any other matters properly come before the meeting, it is the intention of the
persons named in the enclosed form of proxy to vote the shares they represent as
the Board of Directors may recommend.
Stockholder Proposals
Stockholders interested in presenting a proposal for consideration at the
annual meeting of stockholders in 2005 must follow the procedures found in Rule
14a-8 under the Exchange Act and our bylaws. To be eligible for inclusion in the
Company's 2005 proxy materials, all qualified proposals must be received by our
Corporate Secretary no later than December 24, 2004. Stockholder proposals
submitted more than thirty but less than sixty days before the scheduled date
for the 2005 annual meeting may be presented at the annual meeting if such
proposal complies with our bylaws, but will not be included in our proxy
materials. A stockholder's notice must set forth, as to each proposed matter:
(i) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election to
the Board of Directors, all information relating to such person that is required
to be disclosed in solicitation of proxies for election of directors in an
election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation
14A under the Exchange Act and Rule 14a-11 thereunder; (ii) a brief description
of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons
for conducting such business at the annual meeting and, if such business
includes a proposal to amend our bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment;
(iii) the name and address, as they appear on our books, of the stockholder
proposing such business; (iv) the number of shares of Company common stock which
are beneficially owned by such stockholder; (v) a representation that the
stockholder is a holder of record of shares of Company common stock entitled to
vote at such annual meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the
annual meeting to propose such business; and (vi) any financial interest of the
stockholder in such proposal or nomination.
Code of Conduct
We have adopted a code of conduct that applies to our principal executive
officer, principal financial officer and other persons performing similar
functions, as well all of our other employees and directors. This code of
conduct is posted and can be viewed on our website at www.pdi-inc.com.
35
Policies on Reporting of Concerns Regarding Accounting and Other Matters and on
Communicating with Non-Management Directors
We have adopted policies on reporting of concerns regarding accounting and
other matters and on communicating with our non-management directors. Any
person, whether or not an employee, who has a concern about our conduct or any
of our people, including with respect to our accounting, internal accounting
controls or auditing issues, may, in a confidential or anonymous manner,
communicate that concern by forwarding them in a sealed envelope to the
Chairperson of the Audit Committee, in care of our Corporate Secretary at PDI,
Inc. Attn: Corporate Secretary, 10 Mountainview Road, Upper Saddle River, NJ
07458, such envelope to be labeled with a legend such as: "Anonymous Submission
of Complaint or Concern." All communication received will be relayed to the
Chairperson of each of our Audit Committee and Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee. The full text of our Policy on Reporting of Concerns
Regarding Accounting and Other Matters is posted and can be viewed on our
website at http://www.pdi-inc.com.
Proxy Materials
We will mail our 2003 Annual Report, this Proxy Statement and the
accompanying proxy card to stockholders beginning on or about April 22, 2004.
The Annual Report and Proxy Statement will also be available on the Internet at
www.pdi-inc.com. The Annual Report is not part of our proxy soliciting
materials.
Incorporation By Reference
To the extent that this Proxy Statement is incorporated by reference into
any other filing by us under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, the
sections of this Proxy Statement entitled "Audit Committee Report" and
"Compensation and Management Development Committee Report on Executive
Compensation" (to the extent permitted by the rules of the SEC) and "Stockholder
Return Performance Graph" will not be deemed incorporated, unless specifically
provided otherwise in such filing.
Availability of Report on Form 10-K
We will provide without charge to each person being solicited by this
Proxy Statement, on the written request of any such person, a copy of our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 including the financial
statements and financial statement schedules included therein. All such requests
should be directed to Beth R. Jacobson, Executive Vice President, General
Counsel and Corporate Secretary, PDI, Inc., 10 Mountainview Road, Upper Saddle
River, New Jersey 07458.
36
By Order of the Board of Directors
Beth R. Jacobson,
Executive Vice President,
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
April 22, 2004
37
APPENDIX A
PDI, INC.
2004 Stock Award and Incentive Plan
1. Purpose. The purpose of this 2004 Stock Award and Incentive Plan
(the "Plan") is to aid PDI, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), in
attracting, retaining, motivating and rewarding employees, non-employee
directors, and other persons who provide substantial services to the Company or
its subsidiaries or affiliates, to provide for equitable and competitive
compensation opportunities, to recognize individual contributions and reward
achievement of Company goals, and promote the creation of long-term value for
stockholders by closely aligning the interests of Participants with those of
stockholders. The Plan authorizes stock-based and cash-based incentives for
Participants.
2. Definitions. In addition to the terms defined in Section 1 above
and elsewhere in the Plan, the following capitalized terms used in the Plan have
the respective meanings set forth in this Section:
"Annual Incentive Award" means a type of Performance Award granted to a
Participant under Section 7(c) representing a conditional right to receive cash,
Stock or other Awards or payments, as determined by the Committee, based on
performance in a performance period of one fiscal year or a portion thereof.
"Award" means any Option, SAR, Restricted Stock, Deferred Stock, Stock granted
as a bonus or in lieu of another award, Dividend Equivalent, Other Stock-Based
Award, Performance Award or Annual Incentive Award, together with any related
right or interest, granted to a Participant under the Plan.
"Beneficiary" means the legal representatives of the Participant's estate
entitled by will or the laws of descent and distribution to receive the benefits
under a Participant's Award upon a Participant's death, provided that, if and to
the extent authorized by the Committee, a Participant may be permitted to
designate a Beneficiary, in which case the "Beneficiary" instead will be the
person, persons, trust or trusts (if any are then surviving) which have been
designated by the Participant in his or her most recent written beneficiary
designation filed with the Committee to receive the benefits specified under the
Participant's Award upon such Participant's death. Unless otherwise determined
by the Committee, any designation of a Beneficiary other than a Participant's
spouse shall be subject to the written consent of such spouse.
"Board" means the Company's Board of Directors.
"Cause" shall mean "Cause" as such term is defined in the Participant's
employment agreement, or if none shall exist, as any of the following: (a) the
Participant's conviction of any crime (whether or not involving the Company)
constituting a felony in the jurisdiction involved; (b) conduct of the
Participant related to the Participant's employment for which either criminal or
1
civil penalties against the Participant or the Company may be sought; (c)
material violation of the Company's policies, including, but not limited to
those relating to sexual harassment, the disclosure or misuse of confidential
information, or those set forth in Company manuals or statements of policy; or
(d) serious neglect or misconduct in the performance of the Participant's duties
for the Company or willful or repeated failure or refusal to perform such
duties.
"Change in Control" and related terms have the meanings specified in Section 9.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. References to any
provision of the Code or regulation (including a proposed regulation) thereunder
shall include any successor provisions and regulations.
"Committee" means the Compensation and Management Development Committee of the
Board, the composition and governance of which is established in the Committee's
Charter as approved from time to time by the Board and subject to any applicable
NASDAQ rule or regulation and other corporate governance documents of the
Company. No action of the Committee shall be void or deemed to be without
authority due to the failure of any member, at the time the action was taken, to
meet any qualification standard set forth in the Committee Charter or this Plan.
The full Board may perform any function of the Committee hereunder, in which
case the term "Committee" shall refer to the Board.
"Covered Employee" means an Eligible Person who is a Covered Employee as
specified in Section 12(j).
"Deferred Stock" means a right, granted to a Participant under Section 6(e), to
receive Stock or other Awards or a combination thereof at the end of a specified
deferral period. Deferred Stock may be denominated as "stock units," "restricted
stock units," "phantom shares," "performance shares," or other appellations.
"Disability" shall mean a disability described in Section 422(c)(6) of the Code.
The existence of a Disability shall be determined by the Committee in its
absolute discretion.
"Dividend Equivalent" means a right, granted to a Participant under Section
6(g), to receive cash, Stock, other Awards or other property equal in value to
all or a specified portion of the dividends paid with respect to a specified
number of shares of Stock.
"Effective Date" means the effective date specified in Section 12(p).
"Eligible Person" has the meaning specified in Section 5.
"Employee Stock Purchase Plan" has the meaning specified in Section 11.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. References
to any provision of the Exchange Act or rule (including a proposed rule)
thereunder shall include any successor provisions and rules.
"Fair Market Value" means, with respect to a share of Stock on an applicable
date:
2
i. If the principal market for the Stock (the "Market") is a
national securities exchange or the National Association of
Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ")
National Market, the last sale price or, if no reported sales
take place on the applicable date, the average of the high bid
and low asked price of Stock as reported for such Market on
such date or, if no such quotation is made on such date, on
the next preceding day on which there were quotations,
provided that such quotations shall have been made within the
ten (10) business days preceding the applicable date;
ii. If the Market is the NASDAQ National List, the NASDAQ
Supplemental List or another market, the average of the high
bid and low asked price for Stock on the applicable date, or,
if no such quotations shall have been made on such date, on
the next preceding day on which there were quotations,
provided that such quotations shall have been made within the
ten (10) business days preceding the applicable date; or,
iii. In the event that neither paragraph i. nor ii. shall apply,
the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on any day shall be
determined in good faith by the Committee in a manner
consistently applied.
"Incentive Stock Option" or "ISO" means any Option designated as an incentive
stock option within the meaning of Code Section 422 or any successor provision
thereto and qualifying thereunder.
"Option" means a right, granted to a Participant under Section 6(b) or 11, to
purchase Stock or other Awards at a specified price during specified time
periods.
"Other Stock-Based Awards" means Awards granted to a Participant under Section
6(h).
"Participant" means a person who has been granted an Award under the Plan that
remains outstanding, including a person who is no longer an Eligible Person.
"Performance Award" means a conditional right, granted to a Participant under
Sections 6(i) and 7, to receive cash, Stock or other Awards or payments, as
determined by the Committee, based upon performance criteria specified by the
Committee.
"Preexisting Plans" means the Company's 2000 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan
and the Company's 1998 Stock Option Plan.
"Qualified Member" means a member of the Committee who is a "Non-Employee
Director" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3) and an "outside director"
within the meaning of Regulation 1.162-27 under Code Section 162(m).
"Restricted Stock" means Stock granted to a Participant under Section 6(d) which
is subject to certain restrictions and to a risk of forfeiture.
3
"Retirement" means termination of employment from the Company by a Participant
whose age and years of service together equal 65.
"Rule l6b-3" means Rule 16b-3, as from time to time in effect and applicable to
Participants, promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under
Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
"Stock" means the Company's Common Stock, and any other equity securities of the
Company that may be substituted or resubstituted for Stock pursuant to Section
12(c).
"Stock Appreciation Rights" or "SAR" means a right granted to a Participant
under Section 6(c).
3. Administration.
(a) Authority of the Committee. The Plan shall be administered by
the Committee, which shall have full and final authority, in each case subject
to and consistent with the provisions of the Plan, to select Eligible Persons to
become Participants; to grant Awards; to determine the type and number of
Awards, the dates on which Awards may be exercised and on which the risk of
forfeiture or deferral period relating to Awards shall lapse or terminate, the
acceleration of any such dates, the expiration date of any Award, whether, to
what extent, and under what circumstances an Award may be settled, or the
exercise price of an Award may be paid, in cash, Stock, other Awards, or other
property, and other terms and conditions of, and all other matters relating to,
Awards; to prescribe documents evidencing or setting terms of Awards (such Award
documents need not be identical for each Participant), amendments thereto, and
rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan and amendments thereto;
to construe and interpret the Plan and Award documents and correct defects,
supply omissions or reconcile inconsistencies therein; and to make all other
decisions and determinations as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable
for the administration of the Plan. Decisions of the Committee with respect to
the administration and interpretation of the Plan shall be final, conclusive,
and binding upon all persons interested in the Plan, including Participants,
Beneficiaries, transferees under Section 12(b) and other persons claiming rights
from or through a Participant, and stockholders. The foregoing notwithstanding,
the Board shall perform the functions of the Committee for purposes of granting
Awards under the Plan to non-employee directors (authority with respect to other
aspects of non-employee director awards is not exclusive to the Board, however).
(b) Manner of Exercise of Committee Authority. At anytime that a
member of the Committee is not a Qualified Member, any action of the Committee
relating to an Award intended by the Committee to qualify as "performance-based
compensation" within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and regulations
thereunder or intended to be covered by an exemption under Rule 16b-3 under the
Exchange Act may be taken by a subcommittee, designated by the Committee or the
Board, composed solely of two or more Qualified Members or may be taken by the
Committee but with each such member who is not a Qualified Member abstaining or
recusing himself or herself from such action, provided that, upon such
abstention or recusal, the Committee remains composed of two or more Qualified
Members. Such action, authorized by such a subcommittee or by the Committee upon
the abstention or recusal of such non-Qualified Member(s), shall be the action
of the Committee for purposes of the Plan. The express grant of any specific
power to the Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not
be
4
construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee. To the fullest
extent authorized under Section 157(c) and other applicable provisions of the
Delaware General Corporation Law, the Committee may delegate to officers or
managers of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate, or committees thereof,
the authority, subject to such terms as the Committee shall determine, to
perform such functions, including administrative functions, as the Committee may
determine, to the extent that such delegation will not cause Awards intended to
qualify as "performance-based compensation" under Code Section 162(m) to fail to
so qualify.
(c) Limitation of Liability. The Committee and each member thereof,
and any person acting pursuant to authority delegated by the Committee, shall be
entitled, in good faith, to rely or act upon any report or other information
furnished by any executive officer, other officer or employee of the Company or
a subsidiary or affiliate, the Company's independent auditors, consultants or
any other agents assisting in the administration of the Plan. Members of the
Committee, any person acting pursuant to authority delegated by the Committee,
and any officer or employee of the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate acting
at the direction or on behalf of the Committee or a delegee shall not be
personally liable for any action or determination taken or made in good faith
with respect to the Plan, and shall, to the extent permitted by law, be fully
indemnified and protected by the Company with respect to any such action or
determination.
4. Stock Subject to Plan.
(a) Overall Number of Shares Available for Delivery. Subject to
adjustment as provided in Section 12(c), the shares of Stock reserved and
available for delivery in connection with Awards under the Plan shall be: (i)
893,916 new shares; (ii) the number of shares remaining under the Preexisting
Plans as of the Effective Date; and (iii) the number of shares which become
available in accordance with Section 4(b) after the Effective Date. In order
that applicable regulations under the Code relating to ISOs shall be satisfied,
the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be delivered upon exercise of
ISOs shall be the number specified in clause (i) of the first sentence of this
Section 4(a), and, if necessary to satisfy such regulations, that same maximum
limit shall apply to the number of shares of Stock that may be delivered in
connection with each other type of Award under the Plan (applicable separately
to each type of Award). Any shares of Stock delivered under the Plan shall
consist of authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares.
(b) Share Counting Rules. The Committee may adopt reasonable
counting procedures to ensure appropriate counting, avoid double counting (as,
for example, in the case of tandem or substitute awards) and make adjustments if
the number of shares of Stock actually delivered differs from the number of
shares previously counted in connection with an Award. Shares that are
potentially deliverable under an Award under the Plan or an award under any
Preexisting Plan that are canceled, expired, forfeited, settled in cash or
otherwise terminated without a delivery of such shares to the Participant will
not be counted as delivered under the Plan or such Preexisting Plan. Shares that
have been issued in connection with an Award (e.g., Restricted Stock) or
Preexisting Plan award that is canceled, forfeited, or settled in cash such that
those shares are returned to the Company will again be available for Awards.
Shares withheld in payment of the exercise price or taxes relating to an Award
or Preexisting Plan award and shares equal to the number surrendered in payment
of any exercise price or taxes relating to an Award or
5
Preexisting Plan award shall be deemed to constitute shares not delivered to the
Participant and shall be deemed to be available for Awards under the Plan. The
foregoing notwithstanding, if issued shares are returned to the Company,
including upon a cash out of Restricted Stock, surrender of shares in payment of
an exercise price or taxes relating to an Award, or withholding of shares in
payment of taxes upon vesting of Restricted Stock, such shares shall not become
available again under the Plan if the transaction resulting in the return of
shares occurs more than ten years after the date of the most recent shareholder
approval of the Plan, and otherwise shares shall not become available under this
Section 4(b) in an event that would constitute a "material revision" of the Plan
subject to shareholder approval under then applicable rules of the NASDAQ. In
addition, in the case of any Award granted in substitution for an award of a
company or business acquired by the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate, shares
issued or issuable in connection with such substitute Award shall not be counted
against the number of shares reserved under the Plan, but shall be available
under the Plan by virtue of the Company's assumption of the plan or arrangement
of the acquired company or business. This Section 4(b) shall apply to the share
limit imposed to conform to the Treasury regulations governing ISOs only to the
extent consistent with applicable regulations relating to ISOs under the Code.
Because shares will count against the number reserved in Section 4(a) upon
delivery, and subject to the share counting rules under this Section 4(b), the
Committee may determine that Awards may be outstanding that relate to a greater
number of shares than the aggregate remaining available under the Plan, so long
as Awards will not result in delivery and vesting of shares in excess of the
number then available under the Plan.
5. Eligibility and Certain Award Limitations.
(a) Eligibility. Awards may be granted under the Plan only to
Eligible Persons. For purposes of the Plan, an "Eligible Person" means an
employee of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate, including any executive
officer, a non-employee director of the Company, a consultant or other person
who provides substantial services to the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate,
and any person who has been offered employment by the Company or a subsidiary or
affiliate, provided that such prospective employee may not receive any payment
or exercise any right relating to an Award until such person has commenced
employment with the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate. An employee on leave
of absence may be considered as still in the employ of the Company or a
subsidiary or affiliate for purposes of eligibility for participation in the
Plan. For purposes of the Plan, a joint venture in which the Company or a
subsidiary has a substantial direct or indirect equity investment shall be
deemed an affiliate, if so determined by the Committee.
(b) Per-Person Award Limitations. In each calendar year during any
part of which the Plan is in effect, an Eligible Person may be granted Awards
intended to qualify as "performance-based compensation" under Code Section
162(m) under each of Section 6(b), 6(c), 6(d), 6(e), 6(f), 6(g) or 6(h) relating
to up to his or her Annual Limit (such Annual Limit to apply separately to the
type of Award authorized under each specified subsection, except that the
limitation applies to Dividend Equivalents under Section 6(g) only if such
Dividend Equivalents are granted separately from and not as a feature of another
Award). Subject to Section 4(a), a Participant's Annual Limit, in any year
during any part of which the Participant is then eligible under the Plan, shall
equal 400,000 shares plus the amount of the Participant's unused Annual
6
Limit relating to the same type of Award as of the close of the previous year,
subject to adjustment as provided in Section 12(c). In the case of an Award
which is not valued in a way in which the limitation set forth in the preceding
sentence would operate as an effective limitation satisfying Treasury Regulation
1.162-27(e)(4) (including a Performance Award under Section 7 not related to an
Award specified in Section 6), an Eligible Person may not be granted Awards
authorizing the earning during any calendar year of an amount that exceeds the
Participant's Annual Limit, which for this purpose shall equal $3,500,000 plus
the amount of the Participant's unused cash Annual Limit as of the close of the
previous year (this limitation is separate and not affected by the number of
Awards granted during such calendar year subject to the limitation in the
preceding sentence). For this purpose, (i) "earning" means satisfying
performance conditions so that an amount becomes payable, without regard to
whether it is to be paid currently or on a deferred basis or continues to be
subject to any service requirement or other non-performance condition, and (ii)
a Participant's Annual Limit is used to the extent an amount or number of shares
may be potentially earned or paid under an Award, regardless of whether such
amount or shares are in fact earned or paid.
6. Specific Terms of Awards.
(a) General. Awards may be granted on the terms and conditions set
forth in this Section 6. In addition, the Committee may impose on any Award or
the exercise thereof, at the date of grant or thereafter (subject to Section
12(e)), such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the
provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine, including terms
requiring forfeiture of Awards in the event of termination of employment or
service by the Participant and terms permitting a Participant to make elections
relating to his or her Award. The Committee shall retain full power and
discretion with respect to any term or condition of an Award that is not
mandatory under the Plan. The Committee shall require the payment of lawful
consideration for an Award to the extent necessary to satisfy the requirements
of the Delaware General Corporation Law, and may otherwise require payment of
consideration for an Award except as limited by the Plan.
(b) Options. The Committee is authorized to grant Options to
Participants on the following terms and conditions:
(i) Exercise Price. The exercise price per share of Stock
purchasable under an Option (including both ISOs and non-qualified
Options) shall be determined by the Committee, provided that such exercise
price shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on
the date of grant of such Option, subject to Section 8(a).
(ii) Option Term; Time and Method of Exercise. The Committee
shall determine the term of each Option, provided that in no event shall
the term of any ISO or SAR in tandem therewith exceed a period of ten
years from the date of grant. The Committee shall determine the time or
times at which or the circumstances under which an Option may be exercised
in whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance goals
and/or future service requirements), the methods by which such exercise
price may be paid or deemed to be paid and the form of such payment
(subject to Section 12(k)), including, without limitation, cash, Stock
(including through withholding
7
of Stock deliverable upon exercise, if such withholding will not result in
additional accounting expense to the Company), other Awards or awards
granted under other plans of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate,
or other property (including through "cashless exercise" arrangements, to
the extent permitted by applicable law), and the methods by or forms in
which Stock will be delivered or deemed to be delivered in satisfaction of
Options to Participants (including deferred delivery of shares
representing the Option "profit," at the election of the Participant or as
mandated by the Committee, with such deferred shares subject to any
vesting, forfeiture or other terms as the Committee may specify).
(iii) ISOs. The terms of any ISO granted under the Plan shall
comply in all respects with the provisions of Code Section 422, including
but not limited to the requirement that no ISO shall be granted more than
ten years after the Effective Date.
(c) Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee is authorized to grant
SARs to Participants on the following terms and conditions:
(i) Right to Payment. A SAR shall confer on the Participant to
whom it is granted a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess
of (A) the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock on the date of exercise
(or, in the case of a "Limited SAR," the Fair Market Value determined by
reference to the Change in Control Price, as defined under Section 9(c)
hereof) over (B) the grant price of the SAR as determined by the
Committee, which grant price shall be not less than the Fair Market Value
of a share of Stock on the date of grant of such SAR.
(ii) Other Terms. The Committee shall determine at the date of
grant or thereafter, the time or times at which and the circumstances
under which a SAR may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on
achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), the
method of exercise, method of settlement, form of consideration payable in
settlement, method by or forms in which Stock will be delivered or deemed
to be delivered to Participants, whether or not a SAR shall be
free-standing or in tandem or combination with any other Award, and the
maximum term of an SAR, which in no event shall exceed a period of ten
years from the date of grant. Limited SARs that may only be exercised in
connection with a Change in Control or other event as specified by the
Committee may be granted on such terms, not inconsistent with this Section
6(c), as the Committee may determine. The Committee may require that an
outstanding Option be exchanged for an SAR exercisable for Stock having
vesting, expiration, and other terms substantially the same as the Option,
so long as such exchange will not result in additional accounting expense
to the Company.
(d) Restricted Stock. The Committee is authorized to grant
Restricted Stock to Participants on the following terms and conditions:
(i) Grant and Restrictions. Restricted Stock shall be subject
to such restrictions on transferability, risk of forfeiture and other
restrictions, if any, as the Committee may impose, which restrictions may
lapse separately or in combination at such
8
times, under such circumstances (including based on achievement of
performance goals and/or future service requirements), in such
installments or otherwise and under such other circumstances as the
Committee may determine at the date of grant or thereafter. Except to the
extent restricted under the terms of the Plan and any Award document
relating to the Restricted Stock, a Participant granted Restricted Stock
shall have all of the rights of a stockholder, including the right to vote
the Restricted Stock and the right to receive dividends thereon (subject
to any mandatory reinvestment or other requirement imposed by the
Committee).
(ii) Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the
Committee, upon termination of employment or service during the applicable
restriction period, Restricted Stock that is at that time subject to
restrictions shall be forfeited and reacquired by the Company; provided
that the Committee may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award
document, or may determine in any individual case, that restrictions or
forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Stock will lapse in whole or
in part, including in the event of terminations resulting from specified
causes.
(iii) Certificates for Stock. Restricted Stock granted under
the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine.
If certificates representing Restricted Stock are registered in the name
of the Participant, the Committee may require that such certificates bear
an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions
applicable to such Restricted Stock, that the Company retain physical
possession of the certificates, and that the Participant deliver a stock
power to the Company, endorsed in blank, relating to the Restricted Stock.
(iv) Dividends and Splits. As a condition to the grant of an
Award of Restricted Stock, the Committee may require that any dividends
paid on a share of Restricted Stock shall be either (A) paid with respect
to such Restricted Stock at the dividend payment date in cash, in kind, or
in a number of shares of unrestricted Stock having a Fair Market Value
equal to the amount of such dividends, or (B) automatically reinvested in
additional Restricted Stock or held in kind, which shall be subject to the
same terms as applied to the original Restricted Stock to which it
relates, or (C) deferred as to payment, either as a cash deferral or with
the amount or value thereof automatically deemed reinvested in shares of
Deferred Stock, other Awards or other investment vehicles, subject to such
terms as the Committee shall determine or permit a Participant to elect.
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, Stock distributed in
connection with a Stock split or Stock dividend, and other property
distributed as a dividend, shall be subject to restrictions and a risk of
forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Stock with respect to
which such Stock or other property has been distributed.
(e) Deferred Stock. The Committee is authorized to grant Deferred
Stock to Participants, which are rights to receive Stock, other Awards, or a
combination thereof at the end of a specified deferral period, subject to the
following terms and conditions:
(i) Award and Restrictions. Issuance of Stock will occur upon
expiration of the deferral period specified for an Award of Deferred Stock
by the
9
Committee (or, if permitted by the Committee, as elected by the
Participant). In addition, Deferred Stock shall be subject to such
restrictions on transferability, risk of forfeiture and other
restrictions, if any, as the Committee may impose, which restrictions may
lapse at the expiration of the deferral period or at earlier specified
times (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future
service requirements), separately or in combination, in installments or
otherwise, and under such other circumstances as the Committee may
determine at the date of grant or thereafter. Deferred Stock may be
satisfied by delivery of Stock, other Awards, or a combination thereof
(subject to Section 12(k)), as determined by the Committee at the date of
grant or thereafter.
(ii) Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the
Committee, upon termination of employment or service during the applicable
deferral period or portion thereof to which forfeiture conditions apply
(as provided in the Award document evidencing the Deferred Stock), all
Deferred Stock that is at that time subject to such forfeiture conditions
shall be forfeited; provided that the Committee may provide, by rule or
regulation or in any Award document, or may determine in any individual
case, that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Deferred
Stock will lapse in whole or in part, including in the event of
terminations resulting from specified causes.
(iii) Dividend Equivalents. Unless otherwise determined by the
Committee, Dividend Equivalents on the specified number of shares of Stock
covered by an Award of Deferred Stock shall be either (A) paid with
respect to such Deferred Stock at the dividend payment date in cash or in
shares of unrestricted Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the
amount of such dividends, or (B) deferred with respect to such Deferred
Stock, either as a cash deferral or with the amount or value thereof
automatically deemed reinvested in additional Deferred Stock, other Awards
or other investment vehicles having a Fair Market Value equal to the
amount of such dividends, as the Committee shall determine or permit a
Participant to elect.
(f) Bonus Stock and Awards in Lieu of Obligations. The Committee is
authorized to grant Stock as a bonus, or to grant Stock or other Awards in lieu
of obligations of the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate to pay cash or
deliver other property under the Plan or under other plans or compensatory
arrangements, subject to such terms as shall be determined by the Committee.
(g) Dividend Equivalents. The Committee is authorized to grant
Dividend Equivalents to a Participant, entitling the Participant to receive
cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property equivalent to all or a portion of
the dividends paid with respect to a specified number of shares of Stock.
Dividend Equivalents may be awarded on a free-standing basis or in connection
with another Award. The Committee may provide that Dividend Equivalents shall be
paid or distributed when accrued or shall be deemed to have been reinvested in
additional Stock, Awards, or other investment vehicles, and subject to
restrictions on transferability, risks of forfeiture and such other terms as the
Committee may specify.
(h) Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee is authorized, subject
to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Participants such other Awards
that may be
10
denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or
otherwise based on, or related to, Stock or factors that may influence the value
of Stock, including, without limitation, convertible or exchangeable debt
securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into Stock, purchase rights
for Stock, Awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the
Company or business units thereof or any other factors designated by the
Committee, and Awards valued by reference to the book value of Stock or the
value of securities of or the performance of specified subsidiaries or
affiliates or other business units. The Committee shall determine the terms and
conditions of such Awards. Stock delivered pursuant to an Award in the nature of
a purchase right granted under this Section 6(h) shall be purchased for such
consideration, paid for at such times, by such methods, and in such forms,
including, without limitation, cash, Stock, other Awards, notes, or other
property, as the Committee shall determine. Cash awards, as an element of or
supplement to any other Award under the Plan, may also be granted pursuant to
this Section 6(h).
(i) Performance Awards. Performance Awards, denominated in cash or
in Stock or other Awards, may be granted by the Committee in accordance with
Section 7.
7. Performance Awards, Including Annual Incentive Awards.
(a) Performance Awards Generally. The Committee is authorized to
grant Performance Awards on the terms and conditions specified in this Section
7. Performance Awards may be denominated as a cash amount, number of shares of
Stock, or specified number of other Awards (or a combination) which may be
earned upon achievement or satisfaction of performance conditions specified by
the Committee. In addition, the Committee may specify that any other Award shall
constitute a Performance Award by conditioning the right of a Participant to
exercise the Award or have it settled, and the timing thereof, upon achievement
or satisfaction of such performance conditions as may be specified by the
Committee. The Committee may use such business criteria and other measures of
performance as it may deem appropriate in establishing any performance
conditions, and may exercise its discretion to reduce or increase the amounts
payable under any Award subject to performance conditions, except as limited
under Sections 7(b) and 7(c) in the case of a Performance Award intended to
qualify as "performance-based compensation" under Code Section 162(m).
(b) Performance Awards Granted to Covered Employees. If the
Committee determines that a Performance Award to be granted to an Eligible
Person who is designated by the Committee as likely to be a Covered Employee
should qualify as "performance-based compensation" for purposes of Code Section
162(m), the grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Performance Award shall be
contingent upon achievement of a preestablished performance goal and other terms
set forth in this Section 7(b).
(i) Performance Goal Generally. The performance goal for such
Performance Awards shall consist of one or more business criteria and a
targeted level or levels of performance with respect to each of such
criteria, as specified by the Committee consistent with this Section 7(b).
The performance goal shall be objective and shall otherwise meet the
requirements of Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder (including
Regulation 1.162-27 and successor regulations thereto), including the
11
requirement that the level or levels of performance targeted by the
Committee result in the achievement of performance goals being
"substantially uncertain." The Committee may determine that such
Performance Awards shall be granted, exercised and/or settled upon
achievement of any one performance goal or that two or more of the
performance goals must be achieved as a condition to grant, exercise
and/or settlement of such Performance Awards. Performance goals may differ
for Performance Awards granted to any one Participant or to different
Participants.
(ii) Business Criteria. One or more of the following business
criteria for the Company, on a consolidated basis, and/or for specified
subsidiaries or affiliates or other business units of the Company, shall
he used by the Committee in establishing performance goals for such
Performance Awards: (1) revenues; (2) earnings from operations, earnings
before or after taxes, earnings before or after interest, depreciation,
amortization, incentives, service fees or extraordinary or special items;
(3) net income or net income per common share (basic or diluted); (4)
return on assets, return on investment, return on capital, or return on
equity; (5) cash flow, free cash flow, cash flow return on investment, or
net cash provided by operations; (6) economic value created or added; (7)
operating margin or profit margin; (8) stock price or total stockholder
return; and (9) strategic business criteria, consisting of one or more
objectives based on meeting specified market penetration or value added,
geographic business expansion goals, cost targets, customer satisfaction,
employee satisfaction, management of employment practices and employee
benefits, supervision of litigation and information technology, and goals
relating to acquisitions or divestitures of subsidiaries, affiliates or
joint ventures. The targeted level or levels of performance with respect
to such business criteria may be established at such levels and in such
terms as the Committee may determine, in its discretion, including in
absolute terms, as a goal relative to performance in prior periods, or as
a goal compared to the performance of one or more comparable companies or
an index covering multiple companies.
(iii) Performance Period; Timing for Establishing Performance
Goals. Achievement of performance goals in respect of such Performance
Awards shall be measured over a performance period of up to one year or
more than one year, as specified by the Committee. A performance goal
shall be established not later than the earlier of (A) 90 days after the
beginning of any performance period applicable to such Performance Award
or (B) the time 25% of such performance period has elapsed.
(iv) Performance Award Pool. The Committee may establish a
Performance Award pool, which shall be an unfunded pool, for purposes of
measuring performance of the Company in connection with Performance
Awards. The amount of such Performance Award pool shall be based upon the
achievement of a performance goal or goals based on one or more of the
business criteria set forth in Section 7(b)(ii) during the given
performance period, as specified by the Committee in accordance with
Section 7(b)(iv). The Committee may specify the amount of the Performance
Award pool as a percentage of any of such business criteria, a percentage
thereof in excess of a threshold amount, or as another amount which need
not bear a strictly mathematical relationship to such business criteria.
12
(v) Settlement of Performance Awards; Other Terms. Settlement
of such Performance Awards shall be in cash, Stock, other Awards or other
property, in the discretion of the Committee. The Committee may, in its
discretion, increase or reduce the amount of a settlement otherwise to be
made in connection with such Performance Awards, but may not exercise
discretion to increase any such amount payable to a Covered Employee in
respect of a Performance Award subject to this Section 7(b). Any
settlement which changes the form of payment from that originally
specified shall be implemented in a manner such that the Performance Award
and other related Awards do not, solely for that reason, fail to qualify
as "performance-based compensation" for purposes of Code Section 162(m).
The Committee shall specify the circumstances in which such Performance
Awards shall be paid or forfeited in the event of termination of
employment by the Participant or other event (including a Change in
Control) prior to the end of a performance period or settlement of such
Performance Awards.
(c) Annual Incentive Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees.
The Committee may grant an Annual Incentive Award to an Eligible Person who is
designated by the Committee as likely to be a Covered Employee. Such Annual
Incentive Award will be intended to qualify as "performance-based compensation"
for purposes of Code Section 162(m), and therefore its grant, exercise and/or
settlement shall be contingent upon achievement of preestablished performance
goals and other terms set forth in this Section 7(c).
(i) Grant of Annual Incentive Awards. Not later than the
earlier of 90 days after the beginning of any performance period
applicable to such Annual Incentive Award or the time 25% of such
performance period has elapsed, the Committee shall determine the Covered
Employees who will potentially receive Annual Incentive Awards, and the
amount(s) potentially payable thereunder, for that performance period. The
amount(s) potentially payable shall be based upon the achievement of a
performance goal or goals based on one or more of the business criteria
set forth in Section 7(b)(ii) in the given performance period, as
specified by the Committee. The Committee may designate an annual
incentive award pool as the means by which Annual Incentive Awards will be
measured, which pool shall conform to the provisions of Section 7(b)(iv).
In such case, the portion of the Annual Incentive Award pool potentially
payable to each Covered Employee shall be preestablished by the Committee.
In all cases, the maximum Annual Incentive Award of any Participant shall
be subject to the limitation set forth in Section 5.
(ii) Payout of Annual Incentive Awards. After the end of each
performance period, the Committee shall determine the amount, if any, of
the Annual Incentive Award for that performance period payable to each
Participant. The Committee may, in its discretion, determine that the
amount payable to any Participant as a final Annual Incentive Award shall
be reduced from the amount of his or her potential Annual Incentive Award,
including a determination to make no final Award whatsoever, but may not
exercise discretion to increase any such amount. The Committee shall
specify the circumstances in which an Annual Incentive Award shall be paid
or forfeited in the event of termination of employment by the Participant
or other event (including a Change in Control) prior to the end of a
performance period or settlement of such Annual Incentive Award.
13
(d) Written Determinations. Determinations by the Committee as to
the establishment of performance goals, the amount potentially payable in
respect of Performance Awards and Annual Incentive Awards, the level of actual
achievement of the specified performance goals relating to Performance Awards
and Annual Incentive Awards, and the amount of any final Performance Award and
Annual Incentive Award shall be recorded in writing in the case of Performance
Awards intended to qualify under Section 162(m). Specifically, the Committee
shall certify in writing, in a manner conforming to applicable regulations under
Section 162(m), prior to settlement of each such Award granted to a Covered
Employee, that the performance objective relating to the Performance Award and
other material terms of the Award upon which settlement of the Award was
conditioned have been satisfied.
8. Certain Provisions Applicable to Awards.
(a) Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem, and Substitute Awards. Awards
granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted
either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution or exchange
for, any other Award or any award granted under another plan of the Company, any
subsidiary or affiliate, or any business entity to be acquired by the Company or
a subsidiary or affiliate, or any other right of a Participant to receive
payment from the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate. Awards granted in
addition to or in tandem with other Awards or awards may be granted either as of
the same time as or a different time from the grant of such other Awards or
awards. Subject to Section 12(k), the Committee may determine that, in granting
a new Award, the in-the-money value or fair value of any surrendered Award or
award may be applied to reduce the exercise price of any Option, grant price of
any SAR, or purchase price of any other Award.
(b) Term of Awards. The term of each Award shall be for such period
as may be determined by the Committee, subject to the express limitations set
forth in Section 6(b)(ii).
(c) Form and Timing of Payment under Awards; Deferrals. Subject to
the terms of the Plan (including Section 12(k)) and any applicable Award
document, payments to be made by the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate upon
the exercise of an Option or other Award or settlement of an Award may be made
in such forms as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation,
cash, Stock, other Awards or other property, and may be made in a single payment
or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis. The settlement of any
Award may be accelerated, and cash paid in lieu of Stock in connection with such
settlement, in the discretion of the Committee or upon occurrence of one or more
specified events (subject to Section 12(k)). Installment or deferred payments
may be required by the Committee (subject to Section 12(e)) or permitted at the
election of the Participant on terms and conditions established by the
Committee. Payments may include, without limitation, provisions for the payment
or crediting of reasonable interest on installment or deferred payments or the
grant or crediting of Dividend Equivalents or other amounts in respect of
installment or deferred payments denominated in Stock.
(d) Exemptions from Section 16(b) Liability. With respect to a
Participant who is then subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a)
of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company, the Committee shall implement
transactions under the Plan and administer the Plan
14
in a manner that will ensure that each transaction with respect to such a
Participant is exempt from liability under Rule 16b-3 or otherwise not subject
to liability under Section 16(b)), except that this provision shall not limit
sales by such a Participant, and such a Participant may engage in other
non-exempt transactions under the Plan. The Committee may authorize the Company
to repurchase any Award or shares of Stock deliverable or delivered in
connection with any Award (subject to Section 12(k)) in order to avoid a
Participant who is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act incurring liability
under Section 16(b). Unless otherwise specified by the Participant, equity
securities or derivative securities acquired under the Plan which are disposed
of by a Participant shall be deemed to be disposed of in the order acquired by
the Participant.
9. Change in Control.
(a) Effect of "Change in Control" on Non-Performance Based Awards.
In the event of a "Change in Control," the following provisions shall apply to
non-performance based Awards, including Awards as to which performance
conditions previously have been satisfied or are deemed satisfied under Section
9(b), unless otherwise provided by the Committee in the Award document:
(i) All deferral of settlement, forfeiture conditions and
other restrictions applicable to Awards granted under the Plan shall lapse
and such Awards shall be fully payable as of the time of the Change in
Control without regard to deferral and vesting conditions, except to the
extent of any waiver by the Participant or other express election to defer
beyond the Change in Control and subject to applicable restrictions set
forth in Section 12(a);
(ii) Any Award carrying a right to exercise that was not
previously exercisable and vested shall become fully exercisable and
vested as of the time of the Change in Control and shall remain
exercisable and vested for the balance of the stated term of such Award
without regard to any termination of employment or service by the
Participant other than a termination for "cause" (as defined in any
employment or severance agreement between the Company or it subsidiary or
affiliate and the Participant then in effect or, if none, as defined by
the Committee and in effect at the time of the Change in Control), subject
only to applicable restrictions set forth in Section 12(a); and
(iii) The Committee may, in its discretion, determine to
extend to any Participant who holds an Option the right to elect, during
the 60-day period immediately following the Change in Control, in lieu of
acquiring the shares of Stock covered by such Option, to receive in cash
the excess of the Change in Control Price over the exercise price of such
Option, multiplied by the number of shares of Stock covered by such
Option, and to extend to any Participant who holds other types of Awards
denominated in shares the right to elect, during the 60-day period
immediately following the Change in Control, in lieu of receiving the
shares of Stock covered by such Award, to receive in cash the Change in
Control Price multiplied by the number of shares of Stock covered by such
Award. In addition, the Committee may provide that Options and SARs shall
be subject to a mandatory cash-out in lieu of accelerated vesting, in
order to limit the extent of "parachute payments" under Sections 280G and
4999 of the Code.
15
(b) Effect of "Change in Control" on Performance-Based Awards. In
the event of a "Change in Control," with respect to an outstanding Award subject
to achievement of performance goals and conditions, such performance goals and
conditions shall be deemed to be met or exceeded if and to the extent so
provided by the Committee in the Award document governing such Award or other
agreement with the Participant.
(c) Definition of "Change in Control." A "Change in Control" shall
be deemed to have occurred if, after the Effective Date, there shall have
occurred any of the following (whether as a result of a series of transactions
or an isolated event): (1) the consummation of any merger by the Company into
another corporation or corporations which results in the stockholders of the
Company immediately prior to such transaction owning less than 55% of the
surviving Corporation; (2) the consummation of any acquisition (by purchase,
lease or otherwise) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company by
any person, corporation or other entity or group thereof acting jointly; (3) the
acquisition of beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, of voting
securities of the Company (defined as Stock of the Company or any securities
having voting rights that the Company may issue in the future) and rights to
acquire voting securities of the Company (defined as including, without
limitation, securities that are convertible into voting securities of the
Company (as defined above) and rights, options warrants and other agreements or
arrangements to acquire such voting securities) by any person, corporation or
other entity or group thereof acting jointly, in such amount or amounts as would
permit such person, corporation or other entity or group thereof acting jointly
to elect a majority of the members of the Board of the Company, as then
constituted; or (4) the acquisition of beneficial ownership, directly or
indirectly, of voting securities and rights to acquire voting securities having
voting power equal to 25% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's
then outstanding voting securities by any person, corporation or other entity or
group thereof acting jointly unless such acquisition as is described in this
part (4) is expressly approved by resolution of the Board of the Company passed
upon affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the Board and adopted at a
meeting of the Board held not later than the date of the next regularly
scheduled or special meeting held following the date the Company obtains actual
knowledge of such acquisition (which approval may be limited in purpose and
effect solely to affecting the rights of a Participant under this Plan).
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, (i) any transaction that involves a mere
change in identity form or place of organization within the meaning of Section
368(a)(1)(F) of the Code, or a transaction of similar effect, shall not
constitute a Change in Control.
(d) Definition of "Change in Control Price." The "Change in Control
Price" means an amount in cash equal to the higher of (i) the amount of cash and
fair market value of property that is the highest price per share paid
(including extraordinary dividends) in any transaction triggering the Change in
Control or any liquidation of shares following a sale of substantially all
assets of the Company, or (ii) the highest Fair Market Value per share at any
time during the 60-day period preceding and 60-day period following the Change
in Control.
10. Additional Award Forfeiture Provisions.
(a) Forfeiture of Options and Other Awards and Gains Realized Upon
Prior Option Exercises or Award Settlements. Unless otherwise determined by the
Committee, each Award granted hereunder shall be subject to the following
additional forfeiture conditions, to
16
which the Participant, by accepting an Award hereunder, agrees. If any of the
events specified in Section 10(b)(i), (ii), or (iii) occurs (a "Forfeiture
Event"), all of the following forfeitures will result, such forfeitures to be
effective at the later of the occurrence of the Forfeiture Event or the
Participant's termination of employment:
(i) The unexercised portion of the Option, whether or not
vested, and any other Award not then settled (except for an Award that has
not been settled solely due to an elective deferral by the Participant and
otherwise is not forfeitable in the event of any termination of service of
the Participant) will be immediately forfeited and canceled upon the
occurrence of the Forfeiture Event; and
(ii) The Participant will be obligated to repay to the
Company, in cash, within five business days after demand is made therefore
by the Company, the total amount of Award Gain (as defined herein)
realized by the Participant upon each exercise of an Option or settlement
of an Award (regardless of any elective deferral) that occurred on or
after (A) the date that is six months prior to the occurrence of the
Forfeiture Event, if the Forfeiture Event occurred while the Participant
was employed by the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate, or (B) the date
that is six months prior to the date the Participant's employment by the
Company or a subsidiary or affiliate terminated, if the Forfeiture Event
occurred after the Participant ceased to be so employed. For purposes of
this Section, the term "Award Gain" shall mean (i) in respect of a given
Option exercise, the product of (X) the Fair Market Value per share of
Stock at the date of such exercise (without regard to any subsequent
change in the market price of shares) minus the exercise price times (Y)
the number of shares as to which the Option was exercised at that date,
and (ii) in respect of any other settlement of an Award granted to the
Participant, the Fair Market Value of the cash or Stock paid or payable to
Participant (regardless of any elective deferral) less any cash or the
Fair Market Value of any Stock or property (other than an Award or award
which would have itself then been forfeitable hereunder and excluding any
payment of tax withholding) paid by the Participant to the Company as a
condition of or in connection with such settlement.
(b) Events Triggering Forfeiture. The forfeitures specified in
Section 10(a) will be triggered upon the occurrence of any one of the following
Forfeiture Events at any time during the Participant's employment by the Company
or a subsidiary or affiliate or during the one-year period following termination
of such employment:
(i) The Participant, acting alone or with others, directly or
indirectly, prior to a Change in Control, (A) engages, either as employee,
employer, consultant, advisor, or director, or as an owner, investor,
partner, or stockholder unless the Participant's interest is
insubstantial, in any business in an area or region in which the Company
conducts business at the date the event occurs, which is directly in
competition with a business then conducted by the Company or a subsidiary
or affiliate; (B) induces any customer or supplier of the Company or a
subsidiary or affiliate, or other company with which the Company or a
subsidiary or affiliate has a business relationship, to curtail, cancel,
not renew, or not continue his or her or its business with the Company or
any subsidiary or affiliate; or (C) induces, or attempts to influence, any
employee of or service
17
provider to the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate to terminate such
employment or service. The Committee shall, in its discretion, determine
which lines of business the Company conducts on any particular date and
which third parties may reasonably be deemed to be in competition with the
Company. For purposes of this Section 10(b)(i), a Participant's interest
as a stockholder is insubstantial if it represents beneficial ownership of
less than five percent of the outstanding class of stock, and a
Participant's interest as an owner, investor, or partner is insubstantial
if it represents ownership, as determined by the Committee in its
discretion, of less than five percent of the outstanding equity of the
entity;
(ii) The Participant discloses, uses, sells, or otherwise
transfers, except in the course of employment with or other service to the
Company or any subsidiary or affiliate, any confidential or proprietary
information of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate, including but
not limited to information regarding the Company's current and potential
customers, organization, employees, finances, and methods of operations
and investments, so long as such information has not otherwise been
disclosed to the public or is not otherwise in the public domain, except
as required by law or pursuant to legal process, or the Participant makes
statements or representations, or otherwise communicates, directly or
indirectly, in writing, orally, or otherwise, or takes any other action
which may, directly or indirectly, disparage or be damaging to the Company
or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or their respective officers,
directors, employees, advisors, businesses or reputations, except as
required by law or pursuant to legal process;
(iii) The Participant fails to cooperate with the Company or
any subsidiary or affiliate by making himself or herself available to
testify on behalf of the Company or such subsidiary or affiliate in any
action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or
investigative, or otherwise fails to assist the Company or any subsidiary
or affiliate in any such action, suit, or proceeding by providing
information and meeting and consulting with members of management of,
other representatives of, or counsel to, the Company or such subsidiary or
affiliate, as reasonably requested; or
(iv) The Participant is terminated for Cause.
(c) Agreement Does Not Prohibit Competition or Other Participant
Activities. Although the conditions set forth in this Section 10 shall be deemed
to be incorporated into an Award, a Participant is not thereby prohibited from
engaging in any activity, including but not limited to competition with the
Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates. Rather, the non-occurrence of the
Forfeiture Events set forth in Section 10(b) is a condition to the Participant's
right to realize and retain value from his or her compensatory Options and
Awards, and the consequence under the Plan if the Participant engages in an
activity giving rise to any such Forfeiture Event are the forfeitures specified
herein. The Company and the Participant shall not be precluded by this provision
or otherwise from entering into other agreements concerning the subject matter
of Section 10(a) and 10(b).
(d) Committee Discretion. The Committee may, in its discretion,
waive in whole or in part the Company's right to forfeiture under this Section,
but no such waiver shall be
18
effective unless evidenced by a writing signed by a duly authorized officer of
the Company. In addition, the Committee may impose additional conditions on
Awards, by inclusion of appropriate provisions in the document evidencing or
governing any such Award.
11. Employee Stock Purchase Program.
(a) Stock Available for Awards. The aggregate number of shares of
Stock that may be granted as Options under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan
("ESPP") shall be determined on an annual basis by the Committee. Shares shall
be deemed to have been granted under the ESPP only to the extent actually issued
and delivered pursuant to the Award. To the extent that an Award lapses or the
rights of the Participant terminate, any shares of Stock subject to such Award
shall again be available for the grant of future Stock Awards.
(b) Eligibility. An Award made pursuant to the ESPP may be granted
to an individual who, at the time of grant, is an employee of the Company or a
subsidiary and has been determined to be eligible for participation. An Award
made pursuant to the ESPP may be granted on more than one occasion to the same
person; each Award shall be evidenced by a written instrument duly executed by
or on behalf of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no employee of the
Company or a subsidiary shall be granted an Option if such employee, immediately
after the Option is granted, owns stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of
the total combined voting power or five percent (5%) or more of the value of all
classes of stock of the Company or any subsidiary. For the purpose of
determining stock ownership, the rules of Section 424(d) of the Code shall
apply. In addition, the Stock which the Participant may purchase under any
outstanding Options shall be treated as stock owned by the Participant. The
Committee may exclude the following employees from receiving Options under the
ESPP:
(1) Employees who have been employed by the Company or a subsidiary less
than two (2) years;
(2) Employees whose customary employment with the Company or a
subsidiary is twenty (20) hours or less per week;
(3) Employees whose customary employment with the Company or a
subsidiary is not for more than five (5) months in any calendar
year; and
(4) Highly compensated employees within the meaning of Section 414(q) of
the Code.
(c) Employee Stock Purchase Plan Stock Option Agreement. Each Option
shall be evidenced by an Option Agreement between the Company and the
Participant which shall contain such terms and conditions as may be approved by
the Committee and are consistent with Section 423 of the Code. The terms and
conditions of the respective Option Agreements need not be identical. Each
Option Agreement shall specify the effect of termination of employment, total
and permanent Disability, Retirement or death on the exercisability of the
Option. Under each Option Agreement, a Participant shall have the right to
appoint any individual or legal entity in writing as his or her Beneficiary in
the event of his or her death. Such designation may be revoked in writing by the
Participant at any time and a new Beneficiary may
19
be appointed in writing on the form provided by the Committee for such purpose.
In the absence of such appointment, the Beneficiary shall be the legal
representative of the Participant's estate.
(d) Option Period. The term of each Option shall be as specified by
the Committee at the date of grant and shall be stated in the Option Agreement;
provided, however, that an Option may not be exercised after the expiration of:
(1) Five (5) years from the date such Option is granted if the ESPP
requires that the Option price must be not less than eighty-five
percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of the Stock at the time the
Option is exercised; or
(2) Twenty-Seven (27) months from the date such Option is granted if the
Option provides for an Option Price in some other permissible manner
under Section 423 of the Code (such as a flat dollar amount).
(e) Limitation on Exercise of Option. An Option may be exercisable
in whole or in such installments and at such times as determined by the
Committee and the applicable term relating to the exercise of the option shall
be stated in the Option Agreement and must be uniform for all employees with the
following exceptions: (1) the Committee may limit the maximum number of Options
that can be exercised under the ESPP, and (2) the Committee may limit the amount
of Options that all employees may be granted to a specified relationship to
total compensation or the base or regular rate of compensation; and provided,
however, that an Option may be exercised at the rate of at least twenty percent
(20%) per year over five (5) years from the date it is granted.
(f) Special Limitation Regarding Exercise of Option. No employee may
be granted an Option which permits his or her rights to exercise Options under
the ESPP of the Company and subsidiaries to accrue at a rate that exceeds
$25,000 of the Fair Market Value of such stock (determined at the time of grant)
for each calendar year in which such Option is outstanding at any time. For the
purpose of this rule:
(1) The right to purchase Stock under an Option accrues when the Option
(or any portion thereof) first becomes exercisable during the
calendar year;
(2) The right to purchase Stock under an Option accrues at the rate
provided in the Option, but in no case shall such rate exceed
$25,000 of Fair Market Value of such stock (determined at the time
of grant) for any one calendar year; and
(3) A right to purchase Stock which has accrued under one Option granted
pursuant to the Plan may not be carried over to any other Option.
The Committee shall determine, in accordance with applicable provisions of the
Code, Treasury Regulations, and other administrative pronouncements which
Options will not constitute Options under Section 423 of the Code because of
such limitation and shall notify the Participant of such determination as soon
as practicable after such determination.
(g) Option Price. The purchase price of Stock issued under each
Option shall be determined by the Committee and shall be stated in the Option
Agreement, but such purchase
20
price shall not be less than the lesser of:
(1) An amount equal to eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market
Value of the Stock at the time the Option is granted; or
(2) An amount which under the terms of the Option may not be less than
eight-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of such Stock at
the time of the exercise of the Option.
(h) Options and Rights in Substitution for Stock Options Granted by
Other Companies. Options may be granted under the Plan from time to time in
substitution for stock options held by employees of companies who become, or who
became prior to the Effective Date of the Plan, employees of the Company or of
any Subsidiary as a result of a merger or consolidation of the employing company
with the Company, or such subsidiary, or the acquisition by the Company or a
subsidiary of all or a portion of the assets of the employing company with the
result that such employing company becomes a subsidiary.
12. General Provisions.
(a) Compliance with Legal and Other Requirements. The Company may,
to the extent deemed necessary or advisable by the Committee, postpone the
issuance or delivery of Stock or payment of other benefits under any Award until
completion of such registration or qualification of such Stock or other required
action under any federal or state law, rule or regulation, listing or other
required action with respect to any stock exchange or automated quotation system
upon which the Stock or other securities of the Company are listed or quoted, or
compliance with any other obligation of the Company, as the Committee may
consider appropriate, and may require any Participant to make such
representations, furnish such information and comply with or be subject to such
other conditions as it may consider appropriate in connection with the issuance
or delivery of Stock or payment of other benefits in compliance with applicable
laws, rules, and regulations, listing requirements, or other obligations. The
foregoing notwithstanding, in connection with a Change in Control, the Company
shall take or cause to be taken no action, and shall undertake or permit to
arise no legal or contractual obligation, that results or would result in any
postponement of the issuance or delivery of Stock or payment of benefits under
any Award or the imposition of any other conditions on such issuance, delivery
or payment, to the extent that such postponement or other condition would
represent a greater burden on a Participant than existed on the 90th day
preceding the Change in Control.
(b) Limits on Transferability; Beneficiaries. No Award or other
right or interest of a Participant under the Plan shall be pledged, hypothecated
or otherwise encumbered or subject to any lien, obligation or liability of such
Participant to any party (other than the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate
thereof), or assigned or transferred by such Participant otherwise than by will
or the laws of descent and distribution or to a Beneficiary upon the death of a
Participant, and such Awards or rights that may be exercisable shall be
exercised during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant or his
or her guardian or legal representative, except that Awards and other rights
(other than ISOs and SARs in tandem therewith) may be transferred to one or more
transferees during the lifetime of the Participant, and may be exercised
21
by such transferees in accordance with the terms of such Award, but only if and
to the extent such transfers are permitted by the Committee, subject to any
terms and conditions which the Committee may impose thereon (including
limitations the Committee may deem appropriate in order that offers and sales
under the Plan will meet applicable requirements of registration forms under the
Securities Act of 1933 specified by the Securities and Exchange Commission). A
Beneficiary, transferee, or other person claiming any rights under the Plan from
or through any Participant shall be subject to all terms and conditions of the
Plan and any Award document applicable to such Participant, except as otherwise
determined by the Committee, and to any additional terms and conditions deemed
necessary or appropriate by the Committee.
(c) Adjustments. In the event that any large, special and
non-recurring dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash or
property other than Stock), recapitalization, forward or reverse split, Stock
dividend, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination,
repurchase, share exchange, liquidation, dissolution or other similar corporate
transaction or event affects the Stock such that an adjustment is determined by
the Committee to be appropriate under the Plan, then the Committee shall, in
such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of (i) the number and
kind of shares of Stock which may be delivered in connection with Awards granted
thereafter, (ii) the number and kind of shares of Stock by which annual
per-person Award limitations are measured under Section 5(b) (iii) the number
and kind of shares of Stock subject to or deliverable in respect of outstanding
Awards, and (iv) the exercise price, grant price or purchase price relating to
any Award or, if deemed appropriate, the Committee may make provision for a
payment of cash or property to the holder of an outstanding Option (subject to
Section 12(k)). In addition, the Committee is authorized to make adjustments in
the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards (including
Performance Awards and performance goals and any hypothetical funding pool
relating thereto) in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including,
without limitation, events described in the preceding sentence, as well as
acquisitions and dispositions of businesses and assets) affecting the Company,
any subsidiary or affiliate or other business unit, or the financial statements
of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate, or in response to changes in
applicable laws, regulations, accounting principles, tax rates and regulations
or business conditions or in view of the Committee's assessment of the business
strategy of the Company, any subsidiary or affiliate or business unit thereof,
performance of comparable organizations, economic and business conditions,
personal performance of a Participant, and any other circumstances deemed
relevant; provided that no such adjustment shall be authorized or made if and to
the extent that the existence of such authority (i) would cause Options, SARs,
or Performance Awards granted under Section 8 to Participants designated by the
Committee as Covered Employees and intended to qualify as "performance-based
compensation" under Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder to otherwise
fail to qualify as "performance-based compensation" under Code Section 162(m)
and regulations thereunder, or (ii) would cause the Committee to be deemed to
have authority to change the targets, within the meaning of Treasury Regulation
1.162-27(e)(4)(vi), under the performance goals relating to Options or SARs
granted to Covered Employees and intended to qualify as "performance-based
compensation" under Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder.
(d) Tax Provisions.
22
(i) Withholding. The Company and any subsidiary or affiliate
is authorized to withhold from any Award granted, any payment relating to
an Award under the Plan, including from a distribution of Stock, or any
payroll or other payment to a Participant, amounts of withholding and
other taxes due or potentially payable in connection with any transaction
involving an Award, and to take such other action as the Committee may
deem advisable to enable the Company and Participants to satisfy
obligations for the payment of withholding taxes and other tax obligations
relating to any Award. This authority shall include authority to withhold
or receive Stock or other property and to make cash payments in respect
thereof in satisfaction of a Participant's withholding obligations, either
on a mandatory or elective basis in the discretion of the Committee. Other
provisions of the Plan notwithstanding, only the minimum amount of Stock
deliverable in connection with an Award necessary to satisfy statutory
withholding requirements will be withheld, except a greater amount of
Stock may be withheld if such withholding would not result in additional
accounting expense to the Company.
(ii) Required Consent to and Notification of Code Section
83(b) Election. No election under Section 83(b) of the Code (to include in
gross income in the year of transfer the amounts specified in Code Section
83(b)) or under a similar provision of the laws of a jurisdiction outside
the United States may be made unless expressly permitted by the terms of
the Award document or by action of the Committee in writing prior to the
making of such election. In any case in which a Participant is permitted
to make such an election in connection with an Award, the Participant
shall notify the Company of such election within ten days of filing notice
of the election with the Internal Revenue Service or other governmental
authority, in addition to any filing and notification required pursuant to
regulations issued under Code Section 83(b) or other applicable provision.
(iii) Requirement of Notification Upon Disqualifying
Disposition Under Code Section 421(b). If any Participant shall make any
disposition of shares of Stock delivered pursuant to the exercise of an
Incentive Stock Option under the circumstances described in Code Section
421(b) (relating to certain disqualifying dispositions), such Participant
shall notify the Company of such disposition within ten days thereof.
(e) Changes to the Plan. The Board may amend, suspend or terminate
the Plan or the Committee's authority to grant Awards under the Plan without the
consent of stockholders or Participants; provided, however, that any amendment
to the Plan shall be submitted to the Company's stockholders for approval not
later than the earliest annual meeting for which the record date is after the
date of such Board action if such stockholder approval is required by any
federal or state law or regulation or the rules of any stock exchange or
automated quotation system on which the Stock may then be listed or quoted, and
the Board may otherwise, in its discretion, determine to submit other amendments
to the Plan to stockholders for approval and provided further, that, without the
consent of an affected Participant, no such Board action may materially and
adversely affect the rights of such Participant under any outstanding Award.
23
(f) Right of Setoff. The Company or any subsidiary or affiliate may,
to the extent permitted by applicable law, deduct from and set off against any
amounts the Company or it subsidiary or affiliate may owe to the Participant
from time to time, including amounts payable in connection with any Award, owed
as wages, fringe benefits, or other compensation owed to the Participant. Such
amounts as may be owed by the Participant to the Company, including but not
limited to amounts owed under Section 10(a), although the Participant shall
remain liable for any part of the Participant's payment obligation not satisfied
through such deduction and setoff. By accepting any Award granted hereunder, the
Participant agrees to any deduction or setoff under this Section 12(f).
(g) Unfunded Status of Awards; Creation of Trusts. The Plan is
intended to constitute an "unfunded" plan for incentive and deferred
compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant or
obligation to deliver Stock pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan
or any Award shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than
those of a general creditor of the Company; provided that the Committee may
authorize the creation of trusts and deposit therein cash, Stock, other Awards
or other property, or make other arrangements to meet the Company's obligations
under the Plan. Such trusts or other arrangements shall be consistent with the
"unfunded" status of the Plan unless the Committee otherwise determines with the
consent of each affected Participant.
(h) Nonexclusivity of the Plan. Neither the adoption of the Plan by
the Board nor its submission to the stockholders of the Company for approval
shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or a
committee thereof to adopt such other incentive arrangements, apart from the
Plan, as it may deem desirable, including incentive arrangements and awards
which do not qualify under Code Section 162(m), and such other arrangements may
be either applicable generally or only in specific cases.
(i) Payments in the Event of Forfeitures; Fractional Shares. Unless
otherwise determined by the Committee, in the event of a forfeiture of an Award
with respect to which a Participant paid cash consideration, the Participant
shall be repaid the amount of such cash consideration. No fractional shares of
Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award. The
Committee shall determine whether cash, other Awards or other property shall be
issued or paid in lieu of such fractional shares or whether such fractional
shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.
(j) Compliance with Code Section 162(m). It is the intent of the
Company that Options and SARs granted to Covered Employees and other Awards
designated as Awards to Covered Employees subject to Section 7 shall constitute
qualified "performance-based compensation" within the meaning of Code Section
162(m) and regulations thereunder, unless otherwise determined by the Committee
at the time of allocation of an Award. Accordingly, the terms of Sections 7(b),
(c), and (d), including the definitions of Covered Employee and other terms used
therein, shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with Code Section 162(m)
and regulations thereunder. The foregoing notwithstanding, because the Committee
cannot determine with certainty whether a given Participant will be a Covered
Employee with respect to a fiscal year that has not yet been completed, the term
Covered Employee as used herein shall mean only a person designated by the
Committee as likely to be a Covered Employee with respect to a
24
specified fiscal year. If any provision of the Plan or any Award document
relating to a Performance Award that is designated as intended to comply with
Code Section 162(m) does not comply or is inconsistent with the requirements of
Code Section 162(m) or regulations thereunder, such provision shall be construed
or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements, and
no provision shall be deemed to confer upon the Committee or any other person
discretion to increase the amount of compensation otherwise payable in
connection with any such Award upon attainment of the applicable performance
objectives.
(k) Certain Limitations Relating to Accounting Treatment of Awards.
At any time that the Company is accounting for stock-denominated Awards under
Accounting Principles Board Opinion 25 ("APB 25"), the Company intends that,
with respect to such Awards, the compensation measurement date for accounting
purposes shall occur at the date of grant or the date performance conditions are
met if an Award is fully contingent on achievement of performance goals, unless
the Committee specifically determines otherwise. Therefore, other provisions of
the Plan notwithstanding, in order to preserve this fundamental objective of the
Plan, if any authority granted to the Committee hereunder or any provision of
the Plan or an Award agreement would result, under APB 25, in "variable"
accounting or a measurement date other than the date of grant or the date such
performance conditions are met with respect to such Awards, if the Committee was
not specifically aware of such accounting consequence at the time such Award was
granted or provision otherwise became effective, such authority shall be limited
and such provision shall be automatically modified and reformed to the extent
necessary to preserve the accounting treatment of the award intended by the
Committee. This provision shall cease to be effective if and at such time as the
Company no longer accounts for equity compensation under APB 25.
(l) Governing Law. The validity, construction, and effect of the
Plan, any rules and regulations relating to the Plan and any Award document
shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware,
without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws, and applicable
provisions of federal law.
(m) Awards to Participants Outside the United States. The Committee
may modify the terms of any Award under the Plan made to or held by a
Participant who is then resident or primarily employed outside of the United
States in any manner deemed by the Committee to be necessary or appropriate in
order that such Award shall conform to laws, regulations, and customs of the
country in which the Participant is then resident or primarily employed, or so
that the value and other benefits of the Award to the Participant, as affected
by foreign tax laws and other restrictions applicable as a result of the
Participant's residence or employment abroad shall be comparable to the value of
such an Award to a Participant who is resident or primarily employed in the
United States. An Award may be modified under this Section 12(m) in a manner
that is inconsistent with the express terms of the Plan, so long as such
modifications will not contravene any applicable law or regulation or result in
actual liability under Section 16(b) for the Participant whose Award is
modified.
(n) Limitation on Rights Conferred under Plan. Neither the Plan nor
any action taken hereunder shall be construed as (i) giving any Eligible Person
or Participant the right to continue as an Eligible Person or Participant or in
the employ or service of the Company or a
25
subsidiary or affiliate, (ii) interfering in any way with the right of the
Company or a subsidiary or affiliate to terminate any Eligible Person's or
Participant's employment or service at any time, (iii) giving an Eligible Person
or Participant any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan or to be treated
uniformly with other Participants and employees, or (iv) conferring on a
Participant any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company unless and until
the Participant is duly issued or transferred shares of Stock in accordance with
the terms of an Award or an Option is duly exercised. Except as expressly
provided in the Plan and an Award document, neither the Plan nor any Award
document shall confer on any person other than the Company and the Participant
any rights or remedies thereunder.
(o) Severability; Entire Agreement. If any of the provisions of this
Plan or any Award document is finally held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable (whether in whole or in part), such provision shall be deemed
modified to the extent, but only to the extent, of such invalidity, illegality
or unenforceability, and the remaining provisions shall not be affected thereby;
provided, that, if any of such provisions is finally held to be invalid,
illegal, or unenforceable because it exceeds the maximum scope determined to be
acceptable to permit such provision to be enforceable, such provision shall be
deemed to be modified to the minimum extent necessary to modify such scope in
order to make such provision enforceable hereunder. The Plan and any Award
documents contain the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the
subject matter thereof and supersede all prior agreements (unless an employment
agreement entered into between the Company and the Participant specifically
provides contradictory terms, in which case the terms of the employment
agreement shall govern), promises, covenants, arrangements, communications,
representations and warranties between them, whether written or oral with
respect to the subject matter thereof.
(p) Plan Effective Date and Termination. The Plan shall become
effective if, and at such time as, the stockholders of the Company have approved
it by the affirmative votes of the holders of a majority of the voting
securities of the Company present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote on
the subject matter at a duly held meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is
present. Unless earlier terminated by action of the Board, the Plan will remain
in effect until such time as no Stock remains available for delivery under the
Plan and the Company has no further rights or obligations under the Plan with
respect to outstanding Awards under the Plan.
26
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF
PDI, INC.
June 16, 2004
Please date, sign and mail
your proxy card in the
envelope provided as soon
as possible.
v Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided. v
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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE ELECTION OF EACH
DIRECTOR NOMINEE AND "FOR" PROPOSALS 2 AND 3. PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN
PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK
INK AS SHOWN HERE |X|
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1. Election of two Class I Directors:
NOMINEES:
|_| FOR ALL NOMINEES ( ) John P. Dugan
( ) Dr. Joseph T. Curti
|_| WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
FOR ALL NOMINEES
|_| FOR ALL EXCEPT
(See instructions below)
INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s),
mark "FOR ALL EXCEPT" and fill in the circle next to each
nominee you wish to withhold, as shown here: |X|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
2. Approval of PDI, Inc. 2004 Stock Award and |_| |_| |_|
Incentive Plan.
3. Ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP |_| |_| |_|
as independent auditors for fiscal 2004.
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To change the address on your account, please check the box at right and
indicate your new address in the address space above. Please note that |_|
changes to the registered name(s) on the account may not be submitted via
this method.
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_______________________________ _______________
Signature of Stockholder _______________________________ Date: _______________
_______________________________ _______________
Signature of Stockholder _______________________________ Date: _______________
Note: Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When
shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as
executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give
full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full
corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as
such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by
authorized person.
PROXY SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PDI, INC.
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
JUNE 16, 2004
The undersigned stockholder of PDI, Inc. (the "Company") hereby appoints John P.
Dugan and Charles T. Saldarini and each of them acting singly, with power of
substitution, the attorneys and proxies of the undersigned and authorizes them
to represent and vote on behalf of the undersigned, as designated, all of the
shares of capital stock of the Company that the undersigned is entitled to vote
at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held on June 16,
2004, and at any adjournment or postponement of such meeting for the purposes
identified on the reverse side of this proxy and with discretionary authority as
to any other matters that properly come before the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of the Company, in accordance with and as described in the Notice
of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and the Proxy Statement. This proxy when
properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned
stockholder. If this proxy is returned without direction being given, this proxy
will be voted FOR all proposals.
(IMPORTANT - TO BE SIGNED AND DATED ON THE REVERSE SIDE)