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UNITED STATES |
OMB APPROVAL |
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION |
OMB Number: 3235-0059 |
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Washington, D.C. 20549 |
Expires: January 31, 2008 |
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SCHEDULE 14A |
Estimated average burden hours per response... 14 |
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
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o | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
o | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
x | Definitive Proxy Statement |
o | Definitive Additional Materials |
o | Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule §240.14a-12 |
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SEC 1913 (04-05) Persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. |
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You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Chordiant Software, Inc., a Delaware corporation. The meeting will be held on September 27, 2005 at 9:00 a.m. local time at our corporate headquarters located at 20400 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Suite 400, Cupertino, California 95014, for the following purposes:
1. | To elect two (2) directors to hold office until the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders; |
2. | To ratify the selection of BDO Seidman, LLP as Chordiants independent registered public accounting firm for its fiscal year ending September 30, 2005; |
3. | To approve Chordiants 2005 Equity Incentive Plan; and |
4. | To conduct any other business properly brought before the meeting. |
These items of business are more fully described in the Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice.
The record date for the Annual Meeting is August 4, 2005. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on that date may vote at the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Cupertino, California
August 24, 2005
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR THE 2005 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
September
27, 2005
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THIS PROXY MATERIAL AND VOTING
Why am I receiving these materials?
We sent you this proxy statement and the enclosed proxy card because the Board of Directors of Chordiant Software, Inc. (referred to as Chordiant or we or us) is soliciting your proxy to vote at the 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. You are invited to attend the annual meeting to vote on the proposals described in this proxy statement. However, you do not need to attend the meeting to vote your shares. Instead, you may simply complete, sign and return the enclosed proxy card, or follow the instructions below to submit your proxy over the telephone or on the Internet.
We intend to mail this proxy statement and accompanying proxy card on or about August 24, 2005 to all stockholders of record entitled to vote at the annual meeting.
Who can vote at the annual meeting?
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on August 4, 2005 will be entitled to vote at the annual meeting. On this record date, there were 77,584,298 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote.
Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name
If on August 4, 2005 your shares were registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, EquiServe, then you are a stockholder of record. As a stockholder of record, you may vote in person at the meeting or vote by proxy. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, we urge you to fill out and return the enclosed proxy card or vote by proxy over the telephone or on the Internet as instructed below to ensure your vote is counted.
Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker or Bank
If on August 4, 2005 your shares were held, not in your name but rather in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, dealer, or other similar organization, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in street name and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by that organization. The organization holding your account is considered to be the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the annual meeting. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker or other agent on how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend the annual meeting. However, since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares in person at the meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your broker or other agent.
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What am I voting on?
There are three matters scheduled for a vote:
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Election of two (2) directors; |
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Ratification of BDO Seidman, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending September 30, 2005; |
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Approval of our 2005 Equity Incentive Plan. |
What are the recommendations of Chordiants Board of Directors on the matters scheduled for a vote?
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that the stockholders vote FOR the election of the nominees for two (2) directors to hold office until the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, FOR the ratification of the selection of BDO Seidman, LLP as Chordiants independent registered public accounting firm for its fiscal year ended September 30, 2005, and FOR the approval of our 2005 Equity Incentive Plan.
How do I vote?
You may either vote For all the nominees to the Board of Directors or you may withhold your vote for any nominee you specify. For each of the other matters to be voted on, you may vote For or Against or abstain from voting. The procedures for voting are fairly simple:
Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name
If you are a stockholder of record, you may vote in person at the annual meeting, vote by proxy using the enclosed proxy card, vote by proxy over the telephone, or vote by proxy on the Internet. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, we urge you to vote by proxy to ensure your vote is counted. You may still attend the meeting and vote in person if you have already voted by proxy.
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To vote in person, come to the annual meeting and we will give you a ballot when you arrive. |
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To vote using the proxy card, simply complete, sign and date the enclosed proxy card and return it promptly in the envelope provided. If you return your signed proxy card to us before the annual meeting, we will vote your shares as you direct. |
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To vote over the telephone, dial toll-free 1-800-690-6903 using a touch-tone phone and follow the recorded instructions. You will be asked to provide the company number and control number from the enclosed proxy card. Your vote must be received by 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on September 26, 2005 to be counted. |
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To vote on the Internet, go to http://www.proxyvote.com to complete an electronic proxy card. You will be asked to provide the company number and control number from the enclosed proxy card. Your vote must be received by 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on September 26, 2005 to be counted. |
Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of Broker or Bank
If you are a beneficial owner of shares registered in the name of your broker, bank, or other agent, you should have received a proxy card and voting instructions with these proxy materials from that organization rather than from us. Simply complete and mail the proxy card to ensure that your vote is counted. Alternatively, you may vote by telephone or over the Internet as instructed by your broker or bank. To vote in person at the annual meeting, you must obtain a valid proxy from your broker, bank, or other agent. Follow the instructions from your broker or bank included with these proxy materials, or contact your broker or bank to request a proxy form.
How many votes do I have?
On each matter to be voted upon, you have one vote for each share of common stock you own as of August 4, 2005.
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What if I return a proxy card but do not make specific choices?
If you return a signed and dated proxy card without marking any voting selections, your shares will be voted For the election of the two (2) nominees for director, For the ratification of BDO Seidman, LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005 and For the approval of the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan. If any other matter is properly presented at the meeting, your proxy (one of the individuals named on your proxy card) will vote your shares using his or her best judgment.
Who is paying for this proxy solicitation?
We will pay for the entire cost of soliciting proxies. In addition to these mailed proxy materials, our directors, employees and The Altman Group may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone, or by other means of communication. Directors and employees will not be paid any additional compensation for soliciting proxies and The Altman Group will be paid its customary fee of approximately $5,500 plus out-of-pocket expenses if it solicits proxies. We may also reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other agents for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners.
What does it mean if I receive more than one proxy card?
If you receive more than one proxy card, your shares are registered in more than one name or are registered in different accounts. Please complete, sign and return each proxy card to ensure that all of your shares are voted.
Can I change my vote after submitting my proxy?
Yes. You can revoke your proxy at any time before the final vote at the meeting. If you are a record holder of your shares, you may revoke your proxy in any one of three ways:
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You may submit another properly completed proxy card with a later date. |
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You may send a written notice via certified or registered mail that you are revoking your proxy to our Corporate Secretary, George de Urioste, at 20400 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Suite 400, Cupertino, California 95014. |
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You may attend the annual meeting and vote in person. Simply attending the meeting will not, by itself, revoke your proxy. |
If your shares are held by your broker or bank as a nominee or agent, you should follow the instructions provided by your broker or bank.
When are stockholder proposals due for next years annual meeting?
To be considered for inclusion in next years proxy materials, your proposal must be submitted in writing by April 26, 2006, to our Corporate Secretary at 20400 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Suite 400, Cupertino, California 95014. However, if the date of next years annual meeting changes by more than 30 days from the date of this years annual meeting, the deadline for submitting your proposal is a reasonable time before Chordiant begins to print and mail its proxy materials for next years annual meeting.
If you wish to submit a proposal that is not to be included in next years proxy materials or nominate a director, you must do so no earlier than March 31, 2006, nor later than May 30, 2006. However, if the date of next years annual meeting changes by more than 30 days from the date of this years annual meeting, the deadline for submitting your proposal is no earlier than March 31, 2006, nor later than May 30, 2006 or the tenth day following the day on which the public announcement of the date of next years annual meeting is first made. You are also advised to review Chordiants Bylaws, which contain additional requirements about advance notice of stockholder proposals and director nominations.
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How are votes counted?
Votes will be counted by the inspector of election appointed for the meeting, who will separately count For and Withhold and, with respect to proposals other than the election of directors, Against votes, abstentions and broker non-votes. Abstentions will be counted towards the vote total for each proposal, and will have the same effect as Against votes. Broker non-votes have no effect and will not be counted towards the vote total for any proposal.
If your shares are held by your broker as your nominee (that is, in street name), you will need to obtain a proxy form from the institution that holds your shares and follow the instructions included on that form regarding how to instruct your broker to vote your shares. If you do not give instructions to your broker, your broker can vote your shares with respect to discretionary items, but not with respect to non-discretionary items. Discretionary items are proposals considered routine under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on which your broker may vote shares held in street name in the absence of your voting instructions. On non-discretionary items for which you do not give your broker instructions, the shares will be treated as broker non-votes.
How many votes are needed to approve each proposal?
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For the election of directors, the two (2) nominees receiving the most For votes (among votes properly cast in person or by proxy) will be elected. Only votes For or Withheld will affect the outcome. |
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The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the annual meeting will be required to ratify the selection of BDO Seidman, LLP. Abstentions will be counted toward the tabulation of votes cast on proposals presented to the stockholders and will have the same effect as negative votes. Broker non-votes are counted towards a quorum, but are not counted for any purpose in determining whether this matter has been approved. |
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The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the annual meeting will be required to approve the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan. Abstentions will be counted toward the tabulation of votes cast on proposals presented to the stockholders and will have the same effect as negative votes. Broker non-votes are counted towards a quorum, but are not counted for any purpose in determining whether this matter has been approved. |
What is the quorum requirement?
A quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. A quorum will be present if at least a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote are represented by stockholders present at the meeting or by proxy. On the record date, there were 77,584,298 shares outstanding and entitled to vote. Thus, 38,792,150 shares must be represented by stockholders present at the meeting or by proxy to have a quorum.
Your shares will be counted towards the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy vote (or one is submitted on your behalf by your broker bank or other nominee) or vote in person at the meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted towards the quorum requirement. If there is no quorum, a majority of the votes present at the meeting may adjourn the meeting to another date.
How can I find out the results of the voting at the annual meeting?
Preliminary voting results will be announced at the annual meeting. Final voting results will be published in our annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2005.
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PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Our Board of Directors (the Board) is divided into three classes. Each class consists, as nearly as possible, of one-third of the total number of directors, and each class has a three-year term. Vacancies on the Board may be filled only by persons elected by a majority of the remaining directors. A director elected by the Board to fill a vacancy in a class shall serve for the remainder of the full term of that class, and until the directors successor is elected and qualified. This includes vacancies created by an increase in the number of directors.
The Board presently has seven (7) seats, of which all are currently filled. There are two (2) directors in the class whose term of office expires in 2005. One (1) nominee for election to this class, Stephen Kelly, is a director of ours who was previously elected by the stockholders. One (1) nominee, Steven R. Springsteel, was elected by our Board to fill a vacancy. Mr. Springsteel was recommended to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for consideration by the chairman of the Board, who is also an executive officer of Chordiant. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee then recommended to the Board the election of Mr. Springsteel. If elected at the annual meeting, each of these nominees would serve until the 2008 annual meeting and until his successor is elected and has qualified, or until the directors death, resignation or removal. It is our policy to encourage directors and nominees for directors to attend the Annual Meeting and they may attend telephonically. Except for Mr. Kelly and Mr. Spadafora, none of the directors attended the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
The following is a brief biography of each nominee and each director whose term will continue after the annual meeting.
Nominees for Election for Three-year Terms Expiring at the 2008 Annual Meeting
Stephen Kelly, age 43, has been a director of ours since March 2001 and our chief executive officer since January 2002. From October 2000 through January 2002, he served as our president and chief operating officer, and from October 1998 through October 2000 he served as our senior vice president of Europe, Middle East and Africa operations. From October 1997 to September 1998, Mr. Kelly served as our vice president of Europe, Middle East and Africa operations. From 1987 to 1997, Mr. Kelly worked in various sales, alliances and marketing roles at the European operations of Oracle Corporation, an enterprise software company, where he most recently served as director of Europe, Middle East and Africa alliances and industry groups. Mr. Kelly received his B.Sc. with honors in business administration from the University of Bath, England.
Steven R. Springsteel, age 47, has been a director of ours since January 2004. Since January 2003, he has served as senior vice president of finance and administration and chief financial officer of Verity, Inc., a publicly traded provider of intellectual capital management software. From November 2001 to January 2003, Mr. Springsteel served as the chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Sagent Technology, Inc., a publicly traded business intelligence software company, whose assets were acquired by Group 1 Software, Inc. in 2003. From October 2000 to November 2001, Mr. Springsteel served as the chief operating officer and chief financial officer of NOCpulse, a software company (subsequently sold to Red Hat). From November 1996 to October 2000, Mr. Springsteel served as the executive vice president and chief financial officer of Chordiant. Mr. Springsteel holds a BA in Business Administration from Cleveland State University.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE IN FAVOR OF EACH
NAMED
NOMINEE.
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Directors Continuing in Office Until the 2006 Annual Meeting
William Raduchel, Ph.D. age 59, has been a director of ours since February 2003, and previously served as a director of Chordiant between August 1998 and May 2001. Since February 2005, he has served as a director of Blackboard Inc., a public company that provides enterprise software and services to the education industry. Since March 2004, he has served as the chairman and, since May 2004, chief executive officer of Ruckus Network, a digital entertainment network for students at colleges and universities over the university network. Since 2003, Dr. Raduchel has served as a director of In2Books, a non-profit educational organization. Since April 2003, Dr. Raduchel has served as a strategic advisor to Silicon Image, Inc., a semiconductor company. From time to time, he has advised Myriad International Holdings, a cable television and internet services company, Hyperspace Communications, a communications software company, and WildTangent, Inc., an online game publisher. From September 1999 through January 2001, he was chief technology officer of AOL becoming chief technology officer of AOL Time Warner (now known as Time Warner Inc.) at that time, a position he held through 2002. Time Warner Inc. is a publicly traded media company. After leaving AOL Time Warner, he served as a part-time strategic advisor to America Online, Inc. (a subsidiary of Time Warner Inc.) from March 2003 through February 2004. Infoworld magazine named Dr. Raduchel chief technology officer of the year in 2001. Dr. Raduchel joined AOL from Sun Microsystems, Inc., a public computer systems and networking company, where he was chief strategy officer and a member of its executive committee. In his eleven years at Sun, he also served as chief information officer, chief financial officer, acting vice president of human resources and vice president of corporate planning and development and oversaw relationships with major Japanese partners. He has been recognized as chief information officer of the year by CIO Magazine and, in 1991, was recognized as best chief financial officer in the computer industry by Wall Street Transcript. In addition, he has held senior executive roles at Xerox Corporation and McGraw-Hill, Inc. He has been a member of the National Advisory Board for the Salvation Army (and chairman of its Committee on Business Administration) since 1999, the Conference of Business Economists, the National Academy Committee on Internet Navigation and Domain Name Services (now ended) and the Board on Science, Technology and Economic Policy of the National Academy of Sciences since 2000. He has several issued and pending patents. After attending Michigan Technological University, which gave him an honorary doctorate in 2002, Dr. Raduchel received his undergraduate degree in economics from Michigan State University, and earned his A.M. and Ph.D. degrees in economics at Harvard University. In both the fall and spring of 2003 he was the Castle Lecturer on Computer Science at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
Samuel T. Spadafora, age 62, has been chairman of our board of directors since November 1999 and has been our chief strategy officer since November 2003. Mr. Spadafora is the chairman of our strategic planning committee which was formed in January 2004. Mr. Spadafora served as our chief executive officer and a director from June 1998 to January 2002. From June 1998 until October 2000, he was also our president. From April 1994 to June 1998, Mr. Spadafora served as vice president of worldwide field operations for the microelectronic business of Sun Microsystems, Inc., a public computer systems and networking company. Mr. Spadafora serves on the board of directors of Embarcadero Technologies, Inc. and Niku Corporation, both public information technology companies. Mr. Spadafora holds a B.A. in marketing from Eastern Michigan University.
David A. Weymouth, age 50, has been a director of ours since January 2005. Since July 2005, Mr. Weymouth has been an associate with Deloitte & Touche LLP, a firm providing audit, tax, consulting and corporate finance services in the U.K. From January 2005 to June 2005, Mr. Weymouth served as corporate responsibility director for Barclays Group, a U.K.-based financial services company. From February 2000 until December 2004, Mr. Weymouth served as the group chief information officer for Barclays Group. Prior to February 2000, Mr. Weymouth held a number of senior positions with Barclays Group, including managing director of service provision for retail and corporate banking and chief operating officer of Corporate Banking. Mr. Weymouth holds a Bachelor degree in French and an M.B.A. from University of London.
Directors Continuing in Office Until the 2007 Annual Meeting
Charles E. Hoffman, age 56, has been a director of ours since January 2005. Since June 2001, Mr. Hoffman has served as the president, chief executive officer, and a director of Covad Communications Group, Inc., a public internet communications and services company. From January 1998 to June 2001, Mr. Hoffman served
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as president and chief executive officer of Rogers Wireless, Inc., a Canadian
communications and media company. Mr. Hoffman holds a B.S. and an M.B.A. from the University of Missouri St. Louis.
David R. Springett, Ph.D., age 70, has been a director of ours since January 2000. Dr. Springett has served as president of the Community College Foundation, an educational foundation, since February 1994. Dr. Springett also held various positions during his 26-year career with Xerox Corporation, retiring in 1992 as Vice President of Strategic Marketing. He is a board member of the California Vehicle Foundation and the California State Commission on Welfare Reform and Training. Dr. Springett holds degrees from the Royal Military College of Canada, the University of Toronto, Queens University and Harvard University.
Executive Officers of the Registrant
Our executive officers are: Samuel T. Spadafora, chairman of the Board and chief strategy officer; Stephen Kelly, chief executive officer; George de Urioste, chief operating officer, chief financial officer, and secretary; and Robert Mullen, president of worldwide field operations.
Below is a brief biography of each of our executive officers, except Mr. Kelly and Mr. Spadafora. Biographical information regarding Mr. Kelly can be found above in the section titled, Nominees for Election for Three-year Terms Expiring at the 2008 Annual Meeting and biographical information regarding Mr. Spadafora can be found above in the section titled Directors Continuing in Office Until the 2006 Annual Meeting.
George A. de Urioste, age 50, has served as our chief operating officer since November 2004 and as our chief financial officer and principal accounting officer since January 2005. From July 2003 to November 2003, Mr. de Urioste served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Savi Technology, Inc. a developer of radio frequency identification products. From June 2000 to July 2003, Mr. de Urioste was chief executive officer and co-founder of Aeroprise, Inc. an enterprise software company with products for mobile workflow management. Mr. de Urioste served as chairman of the board of directors of Aeroprise, Inc. from June 2000 until January 2005. Between 1998 and May 2000, Mr. de Urioste was involved in various community service and personal projects. From 1993 through 1998, Mr. de Urioste was vice president of finance and operations and chief financial officer of Remedy Corporation, a publicly traded enterprise software company with products for information technology service management. Mr. de Urioste is a Certified Public Accountant in California, received his M.B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley, and his B.S. in Accounting from the University of Southern California.
Robert Mullen, age 40, has served as our president of worldwide field operations since March 2005. From March 2003 to March 2005, he served as our senior vice president of North American field operations. From January 2001 to March 2003, he served as our senior vice president of sales. From 1999 to January 2001, he served as our general manager of European sales. Prior to joining Chordiant, Mr. Mullen worked at International Business Machines Corporation, a publicly traded information technology and business services company, in the financial services sector as sales manager of the solutions group from 1992 to 1999. Mr. Mullen holds a B.S. with honors in computer science from Kingston University, London.
Independence of The Board of Directors
As required under the Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq) listing standards, a majority of the members of a listed companys board of directors must qualify as independent, as affirmatively determined by the board of directors. The Board consults with Chordiants counsel to ensure that the Boards determinations are consistent with all relevant securities and other laws and regulations regarding the definition of independent, including those set forth in pertinent listing standards of the Nasdaq, as in effect from time to time.
Consistent with these considerations, after review of all relevant transactions or relationships between each director, or any of his or her family members, and Chordiant, its senior management and its independent auditors, the Board affirmatively has determined that all of our directors are independent directors within the meaning of the applicable Nasdaq listing standards, except for Mr. Kelly, Chordiants chief executive officer and Mr. Spadafora, the chairman of the Board.
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Information Regarding the Board of Directors and its Committees
In April 2004, the Board of Directors documented the governance practices followed by Chordiant by adopting Corporate Governance Guidelines to assure that the Board will have the necessary authority and practices in place to review and evaluate our business operations as needed and to make decisions that are independent of our management. The guidelines are also intended to align the interests of directors and management with those of our stockholders. The Corporate Governance Guidelines set forth the practices the Board will follow with respect to board composition and selection, director orientation and education, director compensation, board meetings, board committees, board access to management, and succession planning. The Corporate Governance Guidelines were adopted by the Board to, among other things, reflect changes to the Nasdaq listing standards and Securities and Exchange Commission rules adopted to implement provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Corporate Governance Guidelines, as well as the charters for Audit Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees of the Board, may be viewed on the worldwide web at www.chordiant.com
As required under new Nasdaq listing standards, our independent directors will meet in regularly scheduled executive sessions at which only independent directors are present. Executive sessions will be chaired by David Springett, the Boards lead independent director.
Meetings of the Board of Directors
During fiscal 2004, the Board met eight (8) times. All directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate of the meetings of the Board and of the committees on which they served, held during the period for which they were a director or committee member, respectively.
Committees
During the year, the Board Committees were the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, and the Strategic Planning Committee. The charters of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees, as well as additional information about the our Corporate Governance Policies and Practices, are available on our website at www.chordiant.com/company/ir/overview.html. Such charters and additional information shall not constitute soliciting material, shall not be deemed filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is not to be incorporated by reference into any other company filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent Chordiant specifically incorporates such charters and additional information by reference therein.
Audit Committee
During fiscal 2004, the Audit Committee held five (5) meetings. The Audit Committee consisted of William Raduchel, George Reyes, who served on the Audit Committee until January 2004, David Springett, and Steven Springsteel, who joined the Audit Committee in January 2004. The Audit Committee currently consists of Mssrs. Raduchel (Chair), Springsteel, and Springett.
The Audit Committee of the Board oversees our corporate accounting and financial reporting process, including:
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approving the engagement of the independent auditors and evaluating the performance of and assessing the qualifications of the independent auditors; |
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conferring with management and the independent auditors regarding the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting; and |
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establishing procedures, as required under applicable law, for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by us regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and the confidential and anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. |
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The Board of Directors annually reviews the Nasdaq listing standards definition of independence for Audit Committee members and has determined that all members of our Audit Committee are independent (as independence is currently defined in Rule 4350(d)(2)(A)(i) and (ii) of the Nasdaq listing standards). The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Springsteel qualifies as an audit committee financial expert, as defined in applicable Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules. The Board made a qualitative assessment of Mr. Springsteels level of knowledge and experience based on a number of factors, including his formal education and experience as a chief financial officer for public reporting companies.
Compensation Committee
During fiscal 2004, the Compensation Committee met four (4) times. The Compensation Committee consisted of William Raduchel, George Reyes, who resigned from the Compensation Committee in January 2004, David Springett, and Steven Springsteel, who joined the Compensation Committee in January 2004. The Compensation Committee currently consists of Messrs. Springsteel (Chair), Raduchel and Springett. All members of our Compensation Committee are independent (as independence is currently defined in Rule 4200(a)(15) of the Nasdaq listing standards).
The Compensation Committee of the Board oversees our overall compensation strategy and policies, including:
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reviewing and approving, or recommending to the Board for approval, corporate performance goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of our executive officers and other senior management; |
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reviewing, determining and recommending to the Board for approval the compensation to be paid to our non-employee Directors for service on the Board and its committees; |
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recommending to the Board the adoption, amendment and termination of our stock option plans, stock purchase plans, executive bonus plans and similar programs; and |
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administering our stock option plans, stock purchase plans, executive bonus plans and similar programs. |
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
From the beginning of fiscal 2004 to January 2004, Mr. Reyes was the sole member of Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. In January 2004, the Board reconstituted the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and appointed Messrs. Eckert (Chair) and Springett as members. In June 2005, Mr. Eckert resigned from the board, and in July 2005, the Board appointed Mr. Hoffman as Chair of the committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee currently consists of Mr. Hoffman (Chair) and Mr. Springett. All members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are independent (as independence is currently defined in Rule 4200(a)(15) of the Nasdaq listing standards). In fiscal 2004, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee did not meet. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee charter can be found on the worldwide web at www.chordiant.com.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board is responsible for:
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identifying, evaluating, reviewing and recommending qualified candidates to serve as directors of Chordiant (consistent with criteria approved by the Board); |
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making recommendations to the Board regarding the chairmanship and membership of each committee; and |
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reviewing and assessing Chordiants corporate governance principles. |
The Board will determine the appropriate characteristics, skills and experience for the Board as a whole and for its individual members. The Board considers recommendations for nominees from the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, which is responsible for identifying, reviewing, and evaluating candidates in accordance with the criteria set forth below. In selecting candidates and existing directors for service on the Board, the minimum general criteria set forth below will be considered; specific additional criteria may be added with respect to specific searches. An acceptable candidate may not fully satisfy all of the criteria, but is expected to satisfy nearly all of them.
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The Board believes that candidates for director should have certain minimum qualifications, including being able to read and understand basic financial statements and having the highest personal integrity and ethics. In considering candidates recommended by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Board intends to consider such factors as possessing relevant expertise upon which to be able to offer advice and guidance to management, having sufficient time to devote to Chordiants affairs, demonstrated excellence in his or her field, having the ability to exercise sound business judgment and having the commitment to rigorously represent the long-term interests of our stockholders. However, the Board retains the right to modify these qualifications from time to time. Candidates for director nominees are reviewed in the context of the current composition of the Board, our operating requirements and the long-term interests of stockholders. In conducting this assessment, the Board considers diversity, age, skills, and such other factors as it deems appropriate given the current needs of the Board and Chordiant, to maintain a balance of knowledge, experience and capability. In the case of incumbent directors whose terms of office are set to expire, the Board reviews such directors overall service to Chordiant during their term, including the number of meetings attended, level of participation, quality of performance, and any other relationships and transactions that might impair such directors independence. In the case of new director candidates, the Board also determines whether the nominee is independent for purposes of Nasdaq listing standards.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee uses its network of contacts to compile a list of potential candidates, but may also engage, if it deems appropriate, a professional search firm. The committee conducts any appropriate and necessary inquiries into the backgrounds and qualifications of possible candidates after considering the function and needs of the Board. The committee meets to discuss and consider such candidates qualifications and then selects a nominee for recommendation to the Board. To date, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has not paid a fee to any third party to assist in the process of identifying or evaluating director candidates. In fiscal 2004, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee did not reject a timely director nominee from a stockholder or stockholders holding more than 5% of our voting stock.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider director candidates recommended by stockholders. The Committee does not intend to alter the manner in which it evaluates candidates, including the minimum criteria set forth above, based on whether the candidate was recommended by a stockholder or not. Stockholders who wish to recommend individuals for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to become nominees for election to the Board may do so by delivering a written recommendation via certified or registered mail to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee at the following address: Chordiant Software, Inc. at 20400 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Suite 400, Cupertino, CA 95014, Attention: George de Urioste, Corporate Secretary, not less than six months prior to any meeting at which directors are to be elected. Submissions must include the full name of the proposed nominee, a description of the proposed nominees business experience for at least the previous five years, complete biographical information, a description of the proposed nominees qualifications as a director and a representation that the nominating stockholder is a beneficial or record owner of Chordiants stock. Any such submission must be accompanied by the written consent of the proposed nominee to be named as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected.
Strategic Planning Committee
The Strategic Planning Committee was formed in January 2004. Three (3) members of the Board of Directors comprise the Strategic Planning Committee: Messrs. Spadafora (Chair), Raduchel and Springett. A majority of the directors on our Strategic Planning Committee are independent (as independence is currently defined in Rule 4200(a)(15) of the Nasdaq listing standards).
The Strategic Planning Committee of the Board is responsible for:
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serving as representatives of the Board to review with the chief executive officer, president and other management of Chordiant, the long-range financial and strategic objectives for Chordiant; |
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reviewing with the chief executive officer, president and other management of Chordiant, material changes to the strategic direction of Chordiant, including acquisitions, joint ventures or dispositions of businesses and capital assets and the financing of such transactions; |
10
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reviewing and assessing periodically the adequacy of the committees charter, including the committees role and responsibilities as outlined in the charter, and shall recommend any proposed changes to the Board for its consideration; and |
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undertaking from time to time such additional activities within the scope of the committees primary functions as assigned by the Board. |
Stockholder Communications With The Board Of Directors
The Board has adopted a formal process by which stockholders may communicate with the Board. This information is available on our website on the worldwide web at www.chordiant.com.
Code Of Business Conduct and Ethics
The Company has adopted the Chordiant Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the Code), which applies to all officers, directors and employees. The Code is available on our website at www.chordiant.com/company/ir/corpgov.html. If the Company makes any substantive amendments to the Code or grants any waiver from a provision of the Code to any executive officer, the Company will promptly disclose the nature of the amendment or waiver on its website.
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REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Communications with Management and Independent Accountants
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed our audited financial statements with management. In addition, the Audit Committee has discussed with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Chordiants independent accountants, the matters required to be discussed by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 61, Communications With Audit Committees which includes, among other items, matters related to the conduct of the audit of our financial statements. The Audit Committee also has received written disclosures and the letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP required by the Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, which relates to the accountants independence from Chordiant and its related entities, and has discussed their independence from Chordiant, including whether PricewaterhouseCoopers LLPs provision of non-audit services was compatible with that independence.
Committee Member Independence
The Audit Committee is comprised of three non-employee, independent directors (as independence is defined in NASD Rule 4200(a)(15) of the Nasdaq Stock Market listing standards). The Audit Committee does have a financial expert as defined in applicable SEC rules.
Based on the Audit Committees discussion with management and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, our former independent accountants, and the Audit Committees review of the representation of management and the report of the PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee recommended that the Board include the audited consolidated financial statements in Chordiants Transition Report on Form 10-K/T for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission filed on March 29, 2005.
The material in this report is not soliciting material, is not deemed filed with the SEC, and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company under the 1933 or 1934 Act.
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PROPOSAL 2
RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee of the Board has selected BDO Seidman, LLP as our independent auditors for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005 and has further directed that the selection of independent auditors for ratification by the stockholders be submitted at the Annual Meeting. BDO Seidman, LLP became our independent registered public accounting firm on July 1, 2005. Representatives of BDO Seidman, LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting. They will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
Neither our Bylaws nor other governing documents or law require stockholder ratification of the selection of BDO Seidman, LLP as Chordiants independent auditors. However, the Audit Committee of the Board is submitting the selection of BDO Seidman, LLP to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the stockholders fail to ratify the selection, the Audit Committee of the Board will reconsider whether or not to retain that firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee of the Board in its discretion may direct the appointment of different independent auditors at any time during the year if they determine that such a change would be in our best interests and the best interests of our stockholders.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the annual meeting will be required to ratify the selection of BDO Seidman, LLP. Abstentions will be counted toward the tabulation of votes cast on proposals presented to the stockholders and will have the same effect as negative votes. Broker non-votes are counted towards a quorum, but are not counted for any purpose in determining whether this matter has been approved.
No fees were paid by us to BDO Seidman, LLP for the nine month period ended September 30, 2004 and the year ended December 31, 2003.
Resignation of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
On May 18, 2005, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP informed us that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP declined to stand for reelection as our independent registered public accounting firm. This event was disclosed in our Form 8-K filed on May 24, 2005.
The reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on our consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and the year ended December 31, 2003 did not contain any adverse opinion, or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2004, the year ended December 31, 2003 and through May 18, 2005, there were no disagreements with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP would have caused them to make reference thereto in their report on the financial statements for such periods.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2004, the year ended December 31, 2003 and through May 18, 2005, other than as previously disclosed in Chordiants Form 10-K/T for the period ending September 30, 2004 and Forms 10-Q for the periods ending December 31, 2004 and March 31, 2005 and as described below, there were no reportable events requiring disclosure pursuant to paragraphs (a) (1) (v) of Section 304 of Regulation S-K. The term reportable event means any of the items listed in paragraphs (a) (1) (v) (A)-(D) of Section 304 of Regulation S-K.
Material Weakness Reported for the Quarter ended June 30, 2004
As previously disclosed in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed on August 16, 2004, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, in July 2004, informed our Audit Committee of possible revenue recognition problems for the quarter ended June 30, 2004 arising out of two contracts involving the sale of our enterprise solutions software. The issue with
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one of the contracts related to the timing of the execution of the contract and
the issue with the other contract involved percentage of completion accounting. Our Audit Committee initiated an investigation and also engaged outside
legal counsel to assist in the investigation. The investigation was conducted to (i) identify whether any revenue recognition issues existed at
Chordiant generally, and (ii) review the business practices of our employees as they relate to procedures and controls applicable to the execution of
our contracts. Through this investigation, management and our Audit Committee determined that a material weakness in our internal control over
financial reporting existed relating to our revenue recognition controls.
Material Weakness Reported for the Quarter ended September 30, 2004
We reported in a quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed in October 2004 that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP informed Chordiant and our Audit Committee that the following material weakness arose in the quarter ended September 30, 2004 with respect to our internal control over financial reporting relating to staffing of our finance department and the fact that many finance employees were new hires: (1) inadequate staffing and supervision leading to untimely identification and resolution of certain accounting matters, (2) failure of financial reporting controls in preventing or detecting misstatements of accounting information that resulted in certain adjustments to the financial statements and (3) incomplete or inadequate account analysis, account reconciliations and consolidation procedures.
We requested PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to furnish us a letter addressed to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether it agrees with the above statements. A copy of that letter dated May 23, 2005 is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 24, 2005. In pertinent part, the letter states that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP agrees with the statements above concerning PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, but that it makes no comment whatsoever regarding the current status of the material weakness in internal controls or any remedial actions taken with respect to such material weakness.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Aggregate fees for professional services rendered to Chordiant by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and the twelve months ended December 31, 2003, were:
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004 |
Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2003 |
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Audit
Fees |
||||||||||
Aggregate fees
for professional services rendered for the audits of the consolidated financial statements of the Company, statutory and subsidiary audits, consents,
income tax provision procedures, and assistance with review of documents filed with the SEC: |
$ | 769,379 | $ | 475,655 | ||||||
Audit-Related
Fees |
||||||||||
Aggregate fees
for assurance and related services including benefit plan audits and consultation on acquisitions: |
$ | 74,475 | $ | 6,500 | ||||||
Tax
Fees |
||||||||||
Aggregate fees
for tax services rendered for tax return preparation, tax-payment planning services, tax audits and appeals, tax services for employee benefit plans and requests for rulings or technical advice: |
$ | 10,919 | $ | 50,123 | ||||||
All Other
Fees |
||||||||||
Aggregate fees
for all other services rendered are for information systems reviews, employee benefit plan advisory services and risk management advisory
services: |
$ | | $ | | ||||||
Total: |
$ | 854,773 | $ | 542,278 |
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(1) | The aggregate fees included in Audit are fees billed for the fiscal years set forth for the audit of our annual financial statements and review of our financial statements and statutory and regulatory filings or engagements. The aggregate fees in each of the other categories are fees billed in the fiscal years set forth. |
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures.
Before the independent registered public accounting firm is engaged by the Company or its subsidiaries to render audit or non-audit services, the Audit Committee shall pre-approve the engagement. Audit Committee pre-approval of audit and non-audit services will not be required if the engagement for the services is entered into pursuant to pre-approval policies and procedures established by the Audit Committee regarding Chordiants engagement of the independent accountant, provided the policies and procedures are detailed as to the particular service, the Audit Committee is informed of each service provided and such policies and procedures do not include delegation of the Audit Committees responsibilities under the Exchange Act to Chordiants management. The Audit Committee may delegate to one or more designated members of the Audit Committee the authority to grant pre-approvals, provided such approvals are presented to the Audit Committee at a subsequent meeting. If the Audit Committee elects to establish pre-approval policies and procedures regarding non-audit services, the Audit Committee must be informed of each non-audit service provided by the independent auditor. The Audit Committee pre-approval of non-audit services (other than review and attest services) also will not be required if such services fall within available exceptions established by the SEC.
The Audit Committee has determined the rendering of the tax and other non-audit services by BDO Seidman, LLP is compatible with maintaining the accountants independence. However, we have retained Deloitte & Touche LLP to provide us with tax services.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE IN FAVOR OF PROPOSAL
2.
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PROPOSAL 3
APPROVAL OF 2005 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
In November 1999 the Board adopted our 1999 Equity Incentive Plan (the 1999 Plan), which was approved by our stockholders in December 1999. In July 2005, the Board adopted our 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (the 2005 Plan), subject to stockholder approval at the annual meeting. The 2005 Plan is intended as a successor to, and continuation of, our 1999 Plan.
Subject to stockholder approval, the 2005 Plan will include the following changes to the 1999 Plan:
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Increase the number of shares available for issuance by 5,500,000 shares of common stock from an aggregate total of 1,215,414 shares available under the 1999 Plan as of August 22, 2005 (plus any shares that might in the future be returned to the 2005 plan as a result of the reacquisition of unvested shares, or as a result of cancellations or expirations of options), resulting in an aggregate of approximately 6,715,414 shares available for future grant and issuance under the 2005 Plan; |
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Prohibit the Board from repricing stock awards or canceling and regranting outstanding stock awards without stockholder approval; |
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Clarify that the 2005 Plan allows for the net exercise of options; |
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Permit performance cash awards; |
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Clarify that the minimum exercise price for nonstatutory stock options will be not less than 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant; |
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Eliminate the evergreen provision; |
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Clarify that the Board may delegate to officers of the Company the authority to grant stock awards to employees who are not officers within certain parameters; |
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Clarify that forfeited shares, repurchased shares, shares used to satisfy tax withholding, shares utilized for net exercises, and previously owned shares tendered as payment for exercises or purchases will revert to and again become available for issuance under the 2005 Plan; |
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Provide for immediate termination of outstanding options and stock appreciation rights if participants service is terminated for cause as defined in the 2005 Plan; and |
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Clarify the mechanics of the provision that provides for one years acceleration of vesting in the event of a change in control (as defined below). |
The Board of Directors strongly believes that approval of the 2005 Plan is essential to our continued success. We believe equity compensation gives employees and directors a stake in our future success and view it as a vital component of our ability to offer competitive compensation packages within a highly aggressive industry. As of August 22, 2005, only 1,215,414 shares remained available for future grant and issuance under the 1999 Plan and 371,610 shares remained available for future grant and issuance under our 2000 Nonstatutory Equity Incentive Plan (the 2000 Plan) (plus any shares that might in the future be returned to the these plans as a result of the reacquisition of unvested shares, or as a result of cancellations or expirations of options). The Board believes the current number of shares available for future grant is insufficient and will seriously harm our ability to attract and retain qualified employees and directors. The 2005 Plan is designed to assist us in recruiting, motivating and retaining talented employees and directors who will help us to continue achieving our business goals, including creating long-term value for stockholders.
In order to facilitate approval of this proposal and address stockholder concerns regarding the number of options we intend to grant in a given year, the Board commits to the stockholders that for the next three fiscal years it will not grant in a fiscal year a number of shares subject to equity awards to employees (whether under the 2005 Plan or other plans not approved by stockholders) greater than average burn rate for equity awards by companies in the software and services industry (as stated by Institutional Shareholder Services), which is 5.44% of the number of shares of our common stock that we believe will be outstanding at the end
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of the same fiscal year. For purposes of calculating the number of shares
granted in a year, stock purchase awards, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, performance stock awards and other stock awards with
respect to which the strike price is less than 100% of the fair market value will count as equivalent to (i) 1.5 option shares if our annual stock
price volatility is 53% or higher, (ii) two option shares if our annual stock price volatility is between 25% and 52%, and (iii) four option shares if
our annual stock price volatility is less than 25%. Volatility is calculated pursuant to guidelines specified by Institutional Shareholder
Services.
Upon approval of the 2005 Plan by the stockholders, all stock awards granted by us will be subject to the terms of the 2005 Plan and no additional stock awards will be granted under the 1999 Plan. Any shares remaining available for issuance pursuant to the exercise of options or settlement of stock awards under the 1999 Plan will be added to the share reserve of the 2005 Plan and available for issuance pursuant to stock awards granted under the 2005 Plan. All outstanding stock awards granted under the 1999 Plan will remain subject to the terms of the 1999 Plan, except that the Board may elect to extend one or more of the features of the 2005 Plan to stock awards granted under the 1999 Plan. Any shares subject to outstanding stock awards granted under the 1999 Plan that expire or terminate for any reason prior to exercise or settlement shall be added to the share reserve of the 2005 Plan and become available for issuance pursuant to stock awards granted under the 2005 Plan.
As of August 22, 2005:
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20,000,000 shares of our common stock were authorized and reserved for issuance under the 1999 Plan; |
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awards covering an aggregate of approximately 18,784,586 shares of common stock had been granted under the 1999 Plan (excluding awards returned to the 1999 Plan as a result of the reacquisition of unvested shares or as a result of cancellations or expirations of options); and |
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approximately 1,215,414 shares of common stock (plus any shares that might in the future be returned to the 1999 Plan as a result of cancellation or expiration of awards) remained available for future grants under the 1999 Plan. |
The 1999 Plan contains a provision whereby additional shares are added to the share reserve for the 1999 Plan on October 1st of each calendar year until a cap is met. The cap for the 1999 Plan, 20,000,000 shares, was met in October of 2001, and therefore the evergreen is no longer applicable.
In this Proposal 3, you are requested to approve the adoption of the 2005 Plan. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the annual meeting will be required to approve the adoption of the 2005 Plan. Abstentions will be counted toward the tabulation of votes cast on proposals presented to the stockholders and will have the same effect as negative votes. Broker non-votes are counted towards a quorum, but are not counted for any purpose in determining whether this matter has been approved.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS
A VOTE IN FAVOR OF PROPOSAL
3.
The terms and provisions of the 2005 Plan are summarized below. This summary, however, does not purport to be a complete description of the 2005 Plan. The 2005 Plan has been filed with the SEC as an attachment to this proxy statement and may be accessed from the SECs website at www.sec.gov. The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the 2005 Plan. Any stockholder that wishes to obtain a copy of the actual plan document may do so by written request to our Corporate Secretary at 20400 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Suite 400, Cupertino, California 95014.
General
The 2005 Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, nonstatutory stock options, stock purchase awards, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, stock appreciation rights, performance stock awards, performance cash awards, and other forms of equity compensation (collectively, the stock awards). To date, we have granted no stock awards under the 2005 Plan.
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Incentive stock options granted under the 2005 Plan are intended to qualify as incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code). Nonstatutory stock options granted under the 2005 Plan are not intended to qualify as incentive stock options under the Code. See Federal Income Tax Information for a discussion of the tax treatment of awards.
Purpose
The Board adopted the 2005 Plan to provide a means by which employees, directors and consultants of Chordiant and its affiliates may be given an opportunity to purchase stock in Chordiant, to assist in retaining the services of such persons, to secure and retain the services of persons capable of filling such positions and to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of Chordiant and its affiliates.
As of August 15, 2005, approximately 320 employees, directors, and consultants of Chordiant and its affiliates are eligible to participate in the 2005 Plan.
Administration
The Board administers the 2005 Plan. Subject to the provisions of the 2005 Plan, the Board has the power to construe and interpret the 2005 Plan and to determine the persons to whom and the dates on which awards will be granted, the number of shares of common stock to be subject to each award, the time or times during the term of each award within which all or a portion of such award may be exercised, the exercise price, the type of consideration and other terms of the award. The Board also has the authority to settle all controversies, accelerate vesting of stock awards, suspend or terminate the 2005 Plan, to amend the 2005 Plan, to submit any amendment for stockholder approval, to amend the 2005 Plan with regard to Incentive Stock Options, to amend any stock awards, and to adopt procedures or sub-plans for non-U.S. participants.
The Board has the power to delegate administration of the 2005 Plan to a committee composed of not fewer than two members of the Board. In the discretion of the Board, a committee may consist solely of two or more outside directors in accordance with Section 162(m) of the Code or solely of two or more non-employee directors in accordance with Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act. As used herein with respect to the 2005 Plan, the Board refers to any committee the Board appoints as well as to our Board itself.
The regulations under Section 162(m) of the Code require that the directors who serve as members of the committee must be outside directors. The 2005 Plan provides that, in the Boards discretion, directors serving on the committee may be outside directors within the meaning of Section 162(m). This limitation would exclude from the committee directors who are (i) current employees of Chordiant or an affiliate, (ii) former employees of Chordiant or an affiliate receiving compensation for past services (other than benefits under a tax-qualified pension plan), (iii) current and former officers of Chordiant or an affiliate, (iv) directors currently receiving direct or indirect remuneration from Chordiant or an affiliate in any capacity (other than as a director) and (v) any other person who is otherwise not considered an outside director for purposes of Section 162(m).
The Board also has the power to delegate to one or more of our officers the authority to do one or both of the following: (i) designate employees who are not officers to be recipients of stock awards and the terms thereof, and (ii) determine the number of shares of common stock to be subject to such stock awards granted to such employees; provided, however, that the Board shall specify the total number of shares of common stock that may be subject to the stock awards granted by such officer and that such officer may not grant a stock award to himself or herself.
In the event of a decline in the value of our common stock, the Board does not have the authority to reprice any outstanding stock awards under the 2005 Plan or cancel and re-grant any outstanding stock awards under the 2005 Plan, unless Chordiants stockholders have approved such an action within twelve (12) months prior to such an event.
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Stock Subject to the 2005 Plan
If stockholders approve this Proposal 3, an aggregate of approximately 13,704,466 shares of common stock will be reserved for issuance under the 2005 Plan, including 6,989,052 shares that are subject to outstanding stock awards under the 1999 Plan. If awards granted under the 2005 Plan or previously granted under the 1999 Plan expire or otherwise terminate without being exercised, the shares of common stock not acquired pursuant to such awards will again become available for issuance under the 2005 Plan. If shares of common stock are not issued because such shares instead are used to satisfy an applicable tax withholding requirement or other obligation to Chordiant in connection with the exercise of an award, then such shares will again be available for issuance under the 2005 Plan. In addition, if the exercise price of any award is satisfied by the tender of shares of common stock to us (whether by actual delivery or attestation) only the number of shares of common stock issued, net of any shares so tendered, will be deemed issued to the participant. If we reacquire unvested stock issued under the 2005 Plan, or the stock award is settled in cash, the reacquired stock will become available again for reissuance under the 2005 Plan.
The maximum number of shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of incentive stock options is 13,704,466.
Eligibility
Incentive stock options may be granted under the 2005 Plan only to employees (including officers) of Chordiant and its affiliates. Employees (including officers), directors, and consultants of both Chordiant and its affiliates are eligible to receive all other types of awards under the 2005 Plan.
No incentive stock option may be granted under the 2005 Plan to any person who, at the time of the grant, owns (or is deemed to own) stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of Chordiant or any affiliate of Chordiant, unless the exercise price is at least 110% of the fair market value of the stock subject to the option on the date of grant and the term of the option does not exceed five years from the date of grant. In addition, the aggregate fair market value, determined at the time of grant, of the shares of common stock with respect to which incentive stock options are exercisable for the first time by a participant during any calendar year (under the 2005 Plan and all other such plans of Chordiant and its affiliates) may not exceed $100,000.
No employee may be granted stock options and stock appreciation rights under the 2005 Plan exercisable for more than 5,000,000 shares of common stock during any calendar year (Section 162(m) Limitation).
Terms of Options
The following is a description of the permissible terms of options under the 2005 Plan. Individual option grants may be more restrictive as to any or all of the permissible terms described below.
Exercise Price; Payment. The exercise price of incentive stock options may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the stock subject to the option on the date of the grant and, in some cases (see Eligibility above), may not be less than 110% of such fair market value. The exercise price of nonstatutory stock options may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the stock on the date of grant. As of August 22, 2005, the closing price of our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq National Market System was $2.35 per share.
The exercise price of options granted under the 2005 Plan must be paid in cash at the time the option is exercised, or, at the discretion of the Board, (i) by delivery of other common stock of Chordiant owned by the participant for at least six months (or such other period of time required to avoid a charge in earnings for financial accounting purposes), (ii) pursuant to a deferred payment arrangement; (iii) pursuant to a net exercise arrangement; or (iv) in any other form of legal consideration acceptable to the Board.
Option Exercise. Options granted under the 2005 Plan may become exercisable in cumulative increments (vest) as determined by the Board. Shares covered by currently outstanding options under the 1999 Plan typically vest at the rate of 1/4th on the first anniversary of the date the option holder commenced providing services to us and 1/48th per month thereafter, such that all shares are vested on the fourth anniversary of the
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date the option holder commenced providing services to us, provided that
vesting only continues during the participants employment by, or service as a director or consultant to, Chordiant or an affiliate (collectively,
service), after the first year of employment. Shares covered by options granted in the future under the 2005 Plan may be subject to
different vesting terms. The Board has the power to accelerate the time during which an option may vest or be exercised. To the extent provided by the
terms of an option, a participant may satisfy any federal, state or local tax withholding obligation relating to the exercise of such option by a cash
payment upon exercise, by authorizing us to withhold a portion of the stock otherwise issuable to the participant, by delivering already-owned our
common stock or by a combination of these means.
Term. The maximum term of options under the 2005 Plan is 10 years, except that in certain cases (see Eligibility) the maximum term is 5 years.
Termination of Service. Options under the 2005 Plan generally terminate 3 months after termination of the participants service unless (i) such termination is due to the participants disability in which case the option may, but need not, provide that it may be exercised (to the extent the option was exercisable at the time of the termination of service) at any time before the earlier of 12 months from the date such termination or the expiration of the option; (ii) the participant dies before the participants service has terminated, in which case the option may, but need not, provide that it may be exercised (to the extent the option was exercisable at the time of the participants death) at any time before the earlier of 18 months from the date of the participants death or the expiration of the option, by the person or persons to whom the rights to such option pass by will or by the laws of descent and distribution; or (iii) the option by its terms specifically provides otherwise. A participant may designate a beneficiary who may exercise the option following the participants death. Individual option grants by their terms may provide for exercise within a longer period of time following termination of service.
A participants option agreement may provide that if the exercise of the option following the termination of the participants service would be prohibited because the issuance of stock would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act, then the option will terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the term of the option or (ii) three months after the termination of the participants service during which the exercise of the option would not be in violation of such registration requirements.
Except as explicitly provided otherwise in a participants option agreement, in the event that a participants service is terminated for cause, the option will terminate upon the termination date of such participants service, and the participant will be prohibited from exercising his or her option.
Restrictions on Transfer. The Board has the authority to determine the limitations on transferability of options. Generally, the following restrictions apply: (i) participant may not transfer an option otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution; and (ii) during the lifetime of the participant, only the participant may exercise an option.
Terms of Stock Purchase Awards
Payment. Our Board determines the purchase price under a stock purchase award agreement. The purchase price may be paid either (i) in cash; (ii) by past or future services to Chordiant or an affiliate; or (iii) in any other form of legal consideration acceptable to the Board.
Vesting. Shares of common stock acquired under a stock purchase award agreement may be subject to vesting in accordance with a schedule determined by the Board.
Termination of Service. In the event that a participants service terminates, Chordiant may repurchase any or all of the unvested shares of common stock held by the participant.
Restrictions on Transfer. Rights under a stock purchase award agreement may be transferred as may be expressly authorized by the terms of the applicable stock purchase award agreement.
Terms of Restricted Stock Awards
Payment. A restricted stock award may be awarded in consideration for (i) past or future services rendered to Chordiant or an affiliate or (ii) any other form of legal consideration acceptable to the Board.
20
Vesting. Shares of common stock acquired under a restricted stock award agreement may be subject to vesting in accordance with a schedule determined by the Board.
Termination of Service. In the event that a participants service terminates, Chordiant may receive via a forfeiture condition any or all of the unvested shares of common stock held by the participant.
Restrictions on Transfer. Rights under a restricted stock award agreement may be transferred as may be expressly authorized by the terms of the applicable restricted stock award agreement.
Terms of Restricted Stock Unit Awards
Consideration. The purchase price, if any, for stock unit awards may be paid in any form of legal consideration acceptable to the Board.
Settlement of Awards. A stock unit award may be settled by the delivery of shares of our common stock, in cash, or by any combination of these means or in any other form of consideration as determined by the Board.
Vesting and Additional Restrictions. Stock unit awards vest at the rate specified in the stock unit award agreement as determined by the Board. At the time of grant, the Board may also impose additional restrictions or conditions that delay the delivery of stock or cash subject to the stock unit award after vesting.
Dividend Equivalents. Dividend equivalent rights may be credited with respect to shares covered by a stock unit award. We do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future, however.
Termination of Service. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement, stock units that have not vested will be forfeited upon the participants termination of service.
Terms of Stock Appreciation Rights
Exercise. Each stock appreciation right is denominated in shares of common stock equivalents. Upon exercise of a stock appreciation right, we will pay the participant an amount equal to the excess of (i) the aggregate fair market value of our common stock on the date of exercise, over (ii) the strike price determined by the Board on the date of grant.
Settlement of Awards. The appreciation distribution upon exercise of a stock appreciation right may be paid in cash, shares of our common stock, or any other form of consideration determined by the Board.
Vesting. Stock appreciation rights vest and become exercisable at the rate specified in the stock appreciation right agreement as determined by the Board.
Termination of Service. Upon termination of a participants service, the participant generally may exercise any vested stock appreciation right for three months (or such longer or shorter period specified in the stock appreciation right agreement) after the date such service relationship ends. In no event may a stock appreciation right be exercised beyond the expiration of its term. However, except as explicitly provided otherwise in a participants stock appreciation right agreement, in the event that a participants service is terminated for cause, the stock appreciation right shall terminate upon the termination date of such participants service, and the participant will be prohibited from exercising his or her stock appreciation right.
Terms of Performance-Based Awards
General. The 2005 Plan allows the Board to issue performance stock awards and performance cash awards (together, the performance-based awards) that qualify as performance-based compensation that is not subject to the income tax deductibility limitations imposed by Section 162(m) of the Code, if the issuance of such stock or cash is approved by the Compensation Committee and the grant, vesting, or exercise of one or more stock awards and the delivery of such cash is tied solely to the attainment of certain performance goals during a designed performance period.
Performance Goals. In granting a performance-based award, the Board will set a period of time (a performance period) over which the attainment of one or more goals (performance goals) will be
21
measured for the purpose of determining whether the award recipient has a
vested right in or to such award. Within the time period prescribed by Section 162(m) of the Code (typically before the 90th day of a performance
period), the Board will establish the performance goals, based upon one or more pre-established criteria (performance criteria) enumerated
in the 2005 Plan and described below. As soon as administratively practicable following the end of the performance period, the Board will certify (in
writing) whether the performance goals have been satisfied.
To assure that the compensation attributable to one or more performance awards will qualify as performance-based compensation that will not be subject to the $1,000,000 limitation on the income tax deductibility of the compensation paid per covered executive officer imposed under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Board has the authority to structure one or more of these awards so that stock or cash will be issued or paid pursuant to the award upon the achievement of certain pre-established performance goals. Such goals may be based on any one of, or a combination of, the following performance criteria: (i) earnings per share; (ii) earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation; (iii) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; (iv) total stockholder return; (v) return on equity; (vi) return on assets, investment, or capital employed; (vii) operating margin; (viii) gross margin; (ix) operating income; (x) net income (before or after taxes); (xi) net operating income; (xii) net operating income after tax; (xiii) pre-tax profit; (xiv) operating cash flow; (xv) sales or revenue targets; (xvi) increases in revenue or product revenue; (xvii) expenses and cost reduction goals; (xviii) improvement in or attainment of working capital levels; (xix) economic value added (or an equivalent metric); (xx) market share; (xxi) cash flow; (xxii) cash flow per share; (xxiii) share price performance; (xxiv) debt reduction; (xxv) implementation or completion of projects or processes; (xxvi) customer satisfaction; (xxvii) stockholders equity; and (xxviii) other measures of performance selected by the Board.
At the time of the grant of any performance-based award, the Board is authorized to determine whether, when calculating the attainment of performance goals: (i) to exclude restructuring and/or other nonrecurring charges; (ii) to exclude exchange rate effects, as applicable, for non-U.S. dollar denominated net sales and operating earnings; (iii) to exclude the effects of changes to generally accepted accounting standards required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board; (iv) to exclude the effects of any statutory adjustments to corporate tax rates; and (v) to exclude the effects of any extraordinary items as determined under generally accepted accounting principles. In addition, the Board retains the discretion to reduce or eliminate the compensation or economic benefit due upon attainment of Performance Goals.
If this Proposal 3 is approved by stockholders, compensation attributable to performance-based stock awards under the 2005 Plan will qualify as performance-based compensation, provided that: (i) the award is granted by a compensation committee comprised solely of outside directors, (ii) the award is granted (or exercisable) only upon the achievement of an objective performance goal established in writing by the compensation committee while the outcome is substantially uncertain, (iii) the compensation committee certifies in writing prior to the granting (or exercisability) of the award that the performance goal has been satisfied.
Annual Limitation. The maximum benefit to be received by a participant in any calendar year attributable to performance stock awards may not exceed the value of 3,000,000 shares of common stock. The maximum benefit to be received by a participant in any calendar year attributable to performance cash awards may not exceed $3,000,000.
Terms of Other Stock Awards
The Board may grant other stock awards based in whole or in part by reference to the value of our common stock. Subject to the provisions of the 2005 Plan, the Board has the authority to determine the persons to whom and the dates on which such other equity awards will be granted, the number of shares of our common stock (or cash equivalents) to be subject to each award, and other terms and conditions of such awards. Such awards may be granted either alone or in addition to other stock awards granted under the 2005 Plan.
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Adjustment Provisions
Transactions not involving receipt of consideration by Chordiant, such as a merger, consolidation, reorganization, stock dividend, or stock split, may change the type(s), class(es) and number of shares of common stock subject to the 2005 Plan and outstanding awards. In that event, the 2005 Plan will be appropriately adjusted as to the type(s), class(es) and the maximum number of shares of common stock subject to the 2005 Plan, the Section 162(m) Limitation, and the maximum number of shares a participant can receive under a performance-based stock award. Further, outstanding awards will be adjusted as to the type(s), class(es), number of shares and price per share of common stock subject to such awards.
Effect of Certain Corporate Transactions and a Change in Control
In the event of (i) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of Chordiant, (ii) the sale or other disposition of at least 90% of the outstanding securities of Chordiant, or (iii) certain specified types of merger, consolidation or similar transactions (collectively, corporate transaction), any surviving or acquiring corporation may continue or assume awards outstanding under the 2005 Plan or may substitute similar awards. If any surviving or acquiring corporation does not assume such awards or to substitute similar awards, then with respect to awards held by participants whose service with us or an affiliate has not terminated as of the effective date of the corporate transaction, the vesting of such awards (and, if applicable, the time during which such awards may be exercised) will be accelerated in full, subject to certain limitations, and the awards will terminate if not exercised (if applicable) at or prior to such effective date.
Subject to certain exceptions, in the event a person becomes the owner of Chordiants securities representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of Chordiants then outstanding securities other than by virtue of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction (a change in control), each outstanding stock award (other than a performance stock award) will become immediately vested in that number of shares that would have been vested as of a date twelve months following the date of the change in control. Following the acceleration described in this paragraph, any unvested shares of common stock remaining subject to a stock award shall vest in equal installments over a vesting period that is twelve months shorter than the vesting period immediately prior to the change in control. If the vesting of a stock award is accelerated pursuant to a corporate transaction as described in the immediately preceding paragraph, acceleration on a change of control will not occur.
The acceleration of a stock award in the event of a corporate transaction or a change in control event may be viewed as an anti-takeover provision, which may have the effect of discouraging a proposal to acquire or otherwise obtain control of Chordiant.
Duration, Amendment and Termination
The Board may suspend or terminate the 2005 Plan without stockholder approval or ratification at any time or from time to time. Unless sooner terminated, the 2005 Plan will terminate on July 19, 2015.
The Board may also amend the 2005 Plan at any time or from time to time. However, no amendment will be effective unless approved by our stockholders within 12 months before or after its adoption by the Board if the amendment would (i) modify the requirements as to eligibility for participation (to the extent such modification requires stockholder approval in order for the 2005 Plan to satisfy Section 422 of the Code, if applicable, or Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act); (ii) increase the number of shares reserved for issuance upon exercise of awards; (iii) change any other provision of the 2005 Plan in any other way if such modification requires stockholder approval in order to comply with Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any securities exchange listing requirements; (iv) reprice any outstanding stock awards under the 2005 Plan, or (v) cancel and re-grant any outstanding stock awards under the 2005 Plan. The Board may submit any other amendment to the 2005 Plan for stockholder approval, including, but not limited to, amendments intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code regarding the exclusion of performance-based compensation from the limitation on the deductibility of compensation paid to certain employees.
23
Federal Income Tax Information
Incentive Stock Options. Incentive stock options under the 2005 Plan are intended to be eligible for the favorable federal income tax treatment accorded incentive stock options under the Code.
There generally are no federal income tax consequences to the participant or Chordiant by reason of the grant or exercise of an incentive stock option. However, the exercise of an incentive stock option may increase the participants alternative minimum tax liability, if any.
If a participant holds stock acquired through exercise of an incentive stock option for more than two years from the date on which the option is granted and more than one year from the date on which the shares are transferred to the participant upon exercise of the option, any gain or loss on a disposition of such stock will be a long-term capital gain or loss.
Generally, if the participant disposes of the stock before the expiration of either of these holding periods (a disqualifying disposition), then at the time of disposition the participant will realize taxable ordinary income equal to the lesser of (i) the excess of the stocks fair market value on the date of exercise over the exercise price, or (ii) the participants actual gain, if any, on the purchase and sale. The participants additional gain or any loss upon the disqualifying disposition will be a capital gain or loss, which will be long-term or short-term depending on whether the stock was held for more than one year.
To the extent the participant recognizes ordinary income by reason of a disqualifying disposition, Chordiant will generally be entitled (subject to the requirement of reasonableness, the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code and the satisfaction of a tax reporting obligation) to a corresponding business expense deduction in the tax year in which the disqualifying disposition occurs.
Nonstatutory Stock Options, Stock Purchase Awards and Restricted Stock Awards. Nonstatutory stock options, stock purchase awards and restricted stock awards granted under the 2005 Plan generally have the following federal income tax consequences.
There are no tax consequences to the participant or Chordiant by reason of the grant. Upon acquisition of the stock, the participant normally will recognize taxable ordinary income equal to the excess, if any, of the stocks fair market value on the acquisition date over the purchase price. However, to the extent the stock is subject to certain types of vesting restrictions, the taxable event will be delayed until the vesting restrictions lapse unless the participant elects to be taxed on receipt of the stock. With respect to employees, we are generally required to withhold from regular wages or supplemental wage payments an amount based on the ordinary income recognized. Subject to the requirement of reasonableness, the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code and the satisfaction of a tax reporting obligation, we will generally be entitled to a business expense deduction equal to the taxable ordinary income realized by the participant.
Upon disposition of the stock, the participant will recognize a capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the selling price and the sum of the amount paid for such stock plus any amount recognized as ordinary income upon acquisition (or vesting) of the stock. Such gain or loss will be long-term or short-term depending on whether the stock was held for more than one year. Slightly different rules may apply to participants who acquire stock subject to certain repurchase options or who are subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.
Stock Appreciation Rights. No taxable income is realized upon the receipt of a stock appreciation right, but upon exercise of the stock appreciation right the fair market value of the shares (or cash in lieu of shares) received must be treated as compensation taxable as ordinary income to the participant in the year of such exercise. Generally, with respect to employees, we are required to withhold from the payment made on exercise of the stock appreciation right or from regular wages or supplemental wage payments an amount based on the ordinary income recognized. Subject to the requirement of reasonableness, Section 162(m) of the Code and the satisfaction of a reporting obligation, we will be entitled to a business expense deduction equal to the taxable ordinary income recognized by the participant.
Stock Unit Awards. No taxable income is recognized upon receipt of a stock unit award. The participant will recognize ordinary income in the year in which the vested shares subject to that unit are actually issued to the
24
participant in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares on the
date of issuance. The participant and we will be required to satisfy certain tax withholding requirements applicable to such income. Subject to the
requirement of reasonableness, Section 162(m) of the Code and the satisfaction of a tax reporting obligation, we will be entitled to an income tax
deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the participant at the time the shares are issued. In general, the deduction will be
allowed for the taxable year in which such ordinary income is recognized by the participant.
Potential Limitation on Company Deductions. Section 162(m) of the Code denies a deduction to any publicly held corporation for compensation paid to certain covered employees in a taxable year to the extent that compensation to such covered employee exceeds $1 million. It is possible that compensation attributable to awards, when combined with all other types of compensation received by a covered employee from Chordiant, may cause this limitation to be exceeded in any particular year.
Certain kinds of compensation, including qualified performance-based compensation, are disregarded for purposes of the deduction limitation. In accordance with Treasury Regulations issued under Section 162(m), compensation attributable to stock options and stock appreciation rights will qualify as performance-based compensation if the award is granted by a compensation committee comprised solely of outside directors and either (i) the plan contains a per-employee limitation on the number of shares for which such awards may be granted during a specified period, the per-employee limitation is approved by the stockholders, and the exercise price of the award is no less than the fair market value of the stock on the date of grant, or (ii) the award is granted (or exercisable) only upon the achievement (as certified in writing by the compensation committee) of an objective performance goal established in writing by the compensation committee while the outcome is substantially uncertain, and the award is approved by stockholders.
All other stock awards will qualify as performance-based compensation under the Treasury Regulations only if (i) the award is granted by a compensation committee comprised solely of outside directors, (ii) the award is granted (or exercisable) only upon the achievement of an objective performance goal established in writing by the compensation committee while the outcome is substantially uncertain, (iii) the compensation committee certifies in writing prior to the granting (or exercisability) of the award that the performance goal has been satisfied and (iv) prior to the granting (or exercisability) of the award, stockholders have approved the material terms of the award (including the class of employees eligible for such award, the business criteria on which the performance goal is based, and the maximum amount or formula used to calculate the amount payable upon attainment of the performance goal).
Information Regarding Stock Awards Granted During Fiscal 2004 and Fiscal 2005
The following table presents certain information with respect to stock awards granted under the 1999 Plan and the 2000 Plan during the 2004 fiscal year to (A) the officers listed in the Summary Compensation Table below, (B) all executive officers as a group, (C) all current directors who are not executive officers as a group; and (D) all employees, including current officers who are not executive officers, as a group. Other than Mr. Morrison, no person received five percent or more of the options granted during fiscal 2004. For information concerning stock awards granted to our directors under our 1999 Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan, see Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers Compensation of Directors below.
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Shares Covered by Restricted Stock Awards Granted During the 2004 Fiscal Year |
Shares Covered by Options Granted During the 2004 Fiscal Year |
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stephen Kelly,
Chief Executive Officer |
| 75,000 | ||||||||
Samuel T.
Spadafora, Chairman of the Board |
| 40,000 | ||||||||
Donald J.
Morrison, President* |
| 200,000 | ||||||||
Allen Swann,
President, International Field Operations ** |
| 0 | ||||||||
All current
executive officers as a group |
165,000 | |||||||||
All current
directors who are not executive officers as a group |
| | ||||||||
All employees
who are not executive officers as a group |
8,549 | 2,199,250 |
* | Mr. Morrison resigned from Chordiant effective May 2, 2005. |
** | Mr. Swann resigned from Chordiant effective September 30, 2005. |
In June 2005, Mr. Kelly, our chief executive officer, and Mr. Mullen, our president of worldwide field operations, each received a grant of 125,000 shares of our restricted stock. These shares vest on April 1, 2006, provided Chordiant is current in filing its periodic reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the executive is employed by Chordiant on that date.
In addition, in August 2005, the Board determined to make the following restricted stock awards to Mr. Mullen:
Grant Date |
Number of Shares |
Vesting Schedule |
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
August
2005 |
200,000 |
October 2005
66,666 shares October 2006 66,667 shares October 2007 66,667 shares |
||||||||
April
2006 |
200,000 |
April 2007
66,666 shares April 2008 66,667 shares April 2009 66,667 shares |
||||||||
April
2007 |
200,000 |
April 2008
66,666 shares April 2009 66,667 shares April 2010 66,667 shares |
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EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION (1) (2) (3)
The following table provides certain information with respect to all of our equity compensation plans in effect as of September 30, 2004:
Plan Category |
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (#) (a) |
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights ($/sh) (b) |
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) (#) (c) (4) |
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Equity
compensation plans approved by security holders |
6,713,480 | $ | 2.46 | 1,757,236 | ||||||||||
Equity
compensation plans not approved by security holders |
2,492,742 | $ | 2.07 | 131,812 | ||||||||||
Total |
9,206,222 | $ | 2.36 | 1,889,048 |
(1) | All information set forth in this table is as of September 30, 2004. |
(2) | Upon our acquisition of Prime Response, Inc. and White Spider Software, Inc. in 2001 and 2000, respectively, we assumed outstanding options of Prime Response and White Spider such that these options became exercisable for an aggregate of 768,560 shares of our common stock at a weighted-average exercise price of $9.21 per share. As of September 30, 2004, 108,000 options of Prime Response, Inc. and White Spider Software, Inc are still outstanding with a weighted-average exercise price of $7.20. The option plans governing these options terminated other than with respect to the outstanding options, and no options will be granted in the future pursuant to these plans. These plans were not approved by our stockholders, as no approval was required and the plans were not assumed by us. The shares referenced in this note are not included in any of the numbers set forth in the table. |
(3) | Chordiants 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan provides for an annual automatic increase to the share reserve on October 1 of each year, calculated as follows: the aggregate number of shares of common stock subject to the plan will increase by the greater of (i) the number of shares equal to two percent of the fully diluted outstanding shares of Chordiant or (ii) the number of shares that have been sold pursuant to rights granted under the 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan in the prior year. The Board may, in its discretion, provide for a smaller increase in the share reserve. The total share reserve cannot exceed thirteen million shares of common stock. Chordiants 1999 Non-Employee Directors Plan provides for an annual automatic increase to the share reserve on October 1 of each year, calculated as follows: the aggregate number of shares of common stock subject to the plan will increase by the greater of (i) the number of shares equal to one-half of one percent of the fully diluted outstanding shares of Chordiant or (ii) the number of shares that have been made subject to options granted under the 1999 Non-Employee Directors Plan in the prior year. The Board may, in its discretion, provide for a smaller increase in the share reserve. |
(4) | Excludes the 5,500,000 additional shares that will be reserved for issuance under the 2005 Plan if Proposal 3 is approved by stockholders. |
In March of 2000 the Board adopted our 2000 Nonstatutory Equity Incentive Plan (the 2000 Plan). Stockholder approval of this plan has not been obtained. The 2000 Plan was in effect as of December 31, 2001. In April of 2002, the Board approved an increase to the number of shares reserved under the 2000 Plan from 900,000 shares to 2,400,000 shares, also without stockholder approval as such approval was not required by the 2000 Plan or by applicable law. The 2000 Plan does not have a termination date, and will continue indefinitely until suspended or terminated by the Board. The 2000 Plan provides for the grant of nonstatutory stock options and the issuance of restricted stock and stock bonuses to our employees (other than officers, directors, or beneficial owners of ten percent (10%) or more of our common stock) and consultants who meet certain eligibility requirements. The terms and price of nonstatutory stock options granted under the 2000 Plan are determined by the Board (or a committee of the Board) and are set forth in each optionees option agreement. The Board (or a committee of the Board) sets the terms of stock bonuses and rights to purchase restricted stock.
27
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the ownership of our common stock as of July 22, 2005 by: (i) each director and nominee for director; (ii) each of the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table; (iii) all of our executive officers and directors as a group. In addition, the table sets forth certain information regarding the ownership of our common stock by all those known by us to be beneficial owners of more than five percent of our common stock as of the dates noted below:
Beneficial Ownership(1) |
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Beneficial Owner |
Number of Shares |
Percent of Total |
|||||||||
Five
Percent Stockholders: |
|||||||||||
Institutional Venture Management X, LLC |
|||||||||||
(as of
11/10/04) |
4,500,000 | 5.8% |
|||||||||
3000 Sand Hill
Road, Building 2, Suite 290 Menlo Park, CA 94025 |
|||||||||||
Palo Alto
Investors, LLC |
|||||||||||
(as of 5/05/05)
|
7,678,765 | 9.9% |
|||||||||
470 University
Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301 |
|||||||||||
Directors, Nominees and Executive Officers: |
|||||||||||
Samuel T.
Spadafora |
1,513,896 | (2) | 1.9% |
||||||||
Stephen
Kelly |
1,202,232 | (3) | 1.5% |
||||||||
William
Raduchel |
115,156 | (4) | *% |
||||||||
David R.
Springett |
85,000 | (5) | *% |
||||||||
Steven R.
Springsteel |
57,500 | (6) | *% |
||||||||
Charles E.
Hoffman |
25,000 | (7) | *% |
||||||||
David A.
Weymouth |
25,000 | (8) | *% |
||||||||
Don
Morrison** |
651,478 | (9) | *% |
||||||||
Allen
Swann*** |
378,432 | (10) | *% |
||||||||
All executive
officers and directors as a group (9 persons)**** |
5,864,248 | (11) | 6.0% |
* | Less than one percent. |
** | Mr. Morrison resigned from Chordiant effective May 2, 2005. |
*** | Mr. Swann retired from Chordiant effective September 30, 2004. |
**** | Does not include Messrs. Morrison and Swann as they are no longer executive officers of Chordiant. |
(1) | This table is based upon information supplied by our executive officers, directors and principal stockholders and Schedules 13D and 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table, and subject to community property laws were applicable, we believe that each of the stockholders named in this table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares indicated as beneficially owned. Applicable percentages are based on 77,498,895 shares outstanding on July 22, 2005, adjusted as required by rules promulgated by the SEC. |
(2) | Consists of (a) 432,977 shares held by the Samuel T. and Cheryl M. Spadafora 1992 Family Trust and (b) 1,080,919 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options that are exercisable within sixty (60) days of July 22, 2005. |
(3) | Consists of (a) 12,043 shares acquired pursuant to our employee stock purchase plan, (b) 237,823 shares held by Mr. Kellys spouse, (c) 35,415 shares acquired through the exercise of options, (d) 351,045 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options that are exercisable within sixty (60) days of July 22, 2005, and (e) 565,906 shares acquired as a restricted stock award. |
(4) | Consists of (a) 60,156 shares issued upon the exercise of options, and (b) 55,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options that are exercisable within sixty (60) days of July 22, 2005. |
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(5) | Consists of 85,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options that are exercisable within sixty (60) days of July 22, 2005. |
(6) | Consists of (a) 10,000 shares acquired on the open market, (b) 10,000 shares held by two of Mr. Springsteels children and (c) 37,500 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options that are exercisable within sixty (60) days of July 22, 2005. |
(7) | Consists of 25,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options that are exercisable within sixty (60) days of July 22, 2005. |
(8) | Consists of 25,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options that are exercisable within sixty (60) days of July 22, 2005. |
(9) | Consists of (a) 1,935 shares acquired pursuant to Chordiants 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, (b) 5,000 shares held by the Julia Elise Morrison 1999 Trust, (c) 5,000 shares held by the Whitney Ann Ellis 1999 Trust, (d) 5,000 shares held by the Tyler Rhoads Ellis 1999 Trust, (e) 458,170 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options that are exercisable within sixty (60) days of July 22, 2005, (g) 42,345 shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of certain options, and (h) 134,028 shares acquired as a restricted stock award. Mr. Morrison is trustee of the aforementioned trusts, which benefit Mr. Morrisons children. |
(10) | Consists of (a) 57,852 shares acquired pursuant to Chordiants 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, (b) 80,663 shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of certain options, (c) 158,499 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options that are exercisable within sixty (60) days of July 22, 2005, and (d) 162,081 shares acquired as a restricted stock award. |
(11) | Includes shares described in notes (2) through (8) above, as applicable. |
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the 1934 Act) requires our directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of our equity securities, to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of common stock and other equity securities of Chordiant. 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.
To our knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of such reports furnished to the Company, during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners were complied with, except as follows: Two option exercises by Samuel T. Spadafora were reported late on Form 5.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Compensation of Directors
On June 2, 2005, the Board approved compensation to be paid to our non-employee directors as follows.
Non-employee directors receive cash compensation from us for their services as members of the Board or for attendance at committee meetings as follows: Directors receive a quarterly retainer of $7,500 for service as a member of the Board (subject to attendance at three out of four regularly scheduled meetings). Directors also receive $1,500 per meeting of the Audit Committee, not to exceed $6,000 per quarter, and $1,500 per meeting of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, not to exceed $3,000 per quarter. Chairs of the Compensation Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and Strategy Committee each receive $2,000 per quarter. The Chair of the Audit Committee receives $3,000 per quarter. The Lead Independent Director receives $2,000 per quarter and, for a special assignment for the period January through September 2005, $1,500 per meeting not to exceed $6,000 per quarter. Other committees do not carry separate cash compensation. Directors are also eligible for reimbursement for expenses incurred in connection with attendance at Board meetings in accordance with our policy.
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During fiscal year 2004, we paid cash compensation to non-employee directors as follows: Directors received a quarterly retainer of $7,500 for service as a member of the Board (subject to attendance at meetings) and $750 per quarter for service on the audit committee and $750 per quarter for service on the compensation committee (each subject to attendance at committee meetings). The Lead Independent Director received $750 for each meeting he convened of the independent directors. Other committees such as the nominating committee or other special ad hoc committees formed did not carry separate compensation.
Each non-employee director receives stock option grants under the 1999 Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan (the Directors Plan) (only non-employee directors of ours or of an affiliate of ours are eligible to receive options under the Directors Plan). Options granted under the Directors Plan are non-discretionary and are intended by us not to qualify as incentive stock options.
Under the Directors Plan, each non-employee director is automatically entitled to receive an initial option to purchase 25,000 shares of our common stock. Pursuant to the terms of the Directors Plan, initial grants to purchase 25,000 shares of our common stock were made to those non-employee directors serving on the Board on February 14, 2000, the effective date of our initial public offering. Each director elected or appointed subsequent to February 14, 2000 has received or will receive an initial option to purchase 25,000 shares of our common stock on the date of such non-employee directors election or appointment to the Board. These option grants are immediately exercisable with 1/3rd of the shares vesting on the anniversary of the grant date and 1/36th of the shares initially granted vesting each month thereafter that the director serves on the Board, such that all shares are fully vested over three years.
In addition, on the day after each of our annual meetings of stockholders, each person who is then a non-employee director is automatically granted an annual option to purchase 7,500 shares of our common stock. These annual option grants are immediately exercisable, with the shares vesting in equal monthly installments over a year period measured from the date of grant. If a non-employee director is appointed to the Board between annual meetings, the annual option is prorated to reflect the amount of time to be served until the next annual meeting.
Finally, on the day after each of our annual meetings, each non-employee director who is then serving on a Board committee will automatically receive, pursuant to the terms of the Directors Plan, an option to purchase 5,000 shares of our common stock. The option is exercisable immediately and vests monthly over the year period measured from the date of grant. If the non-employee director is appointed to a committee after the annual meeting, the option is prorated according to the time to be served until the next annual meeting.
The exercise price of options granted under the Directors Plan is the fair market value of our common stock on the date of the grant, as determined by the closing price reported on the Nasdaq National Market for the date of grant. Each option grant made pursuant to the Directors Plan has a term of ten years. However, the time in which an option granted under the Directors Plan may be exercised ends three months from the date the optionees service with us is terminated, with the exception of termination resulting from death or disability of the optionee, in which case the option terminates 18 months following such optionees death and 12 months following such optionees disability. In no event, however, may an option be exercised after its term expires. In addition, in the event of a dissolution, liquidation, sale of substantially all of our assets, a merger or consolidation in which we are not the surviving corporation, a reverse merger in which we are the surviving corporation but the shares of our common stock outstanding immediately preceding the merger are converted by virtue of the merger into other property or the acquisition by any person, entity or group of the beneficial ownership of our securities representing at least 50% of the combined voting power permitted to vote in the election of directors, then those unvested options issued under the Directors Plan held by optionees then performing services as an employee or director of, or consultant to, us are accelerated by one year.
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Compensation Of Executive Officers
Summary Compensation Table
The following table shows for the twelve months ended September 30, 2004, December 31, 2003, and December 31, 2002,* compensation awarded or paid to, or earned by, our chief executive officer and our other most highly compensated executive officers at September 30, 2004 (the Named Executive Officers):
Annual Compensation |
Long Term Compensation Awards |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name and Principal Position |
Year* |
Salary ($) |
Bonus ($) |
Restricted Stock Awards ($) |
Securities Underlying Options (#) |
All Other Compensation ($) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Samuel T.
Spadafora |
2004 | 232,787 | 12,500 | | 40,000 | 5,470 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Chairman of
the Board |
2003 | 232,787 | 30,000 | | 150,000 | 6,397 | |||||||||||||||||||||
2002 | 259,018 | 105,367 | | 175,000 | 5,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Stephen
Kelly |
2004 | 351,791 | 79,702 | | 75,000 | 29,825 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Chief
Executive Officer |
2003 | 275,624 | 215,199 | | 200,000 | 26,236 | |||||||||||||||||||||
2002 | 318,567 | 424,277 | 1,377,775 | (3) | 325,000 | (4) | 22,284 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Donald J.
Morrison |
2004 | 252,708 | 46,850 | | 200,000 | 810 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||
President** |
2003 | 221,420 | 55,750 | | 100,000 | 806 | |||||||||||||||||||||
2002 | 224,584 | 73,365 | 163,388 | (6) | 127,141 | (7) | 5,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Allen
Swann |
2004 | 354,207 | 86,441 | | | 30,093 | (8) | ||||||||||||||||||||
President,
International |
2003 | 288,053 | 112,079 | | 100,000 | 28,277 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Field
Operations*** |
2002 | 249,927 | 18,657 | 431,810 | (9) | 88,750 | (10) | 51,280 |
* | On December 29, 2004, we changed our fiscal year end from December 31 to September 30. This chart reports compensation for the years 2002 and 2003 based on the December 31 year end (as if the fiscal year had not been changed) and in addition reports compensation for the twelve months ended September 30, 2004. Due to the change in fiscal year end, there is a three-month overlap in the compensation reported. Specifically, the three months beginning October 1, 2003 and ending December 31, 2003 are reflected both in the fiscal year 2003 and in the fiscal year 2004 compensation figures. |
** | Mr. Morrison resigned from Chordiant effective May 2, 2005. |
*** | Mr. Swann retired from Chordiant effective September 30, 2004. |
(1) | Includes $3,564 paid by us for group-term life insurance premium and $1,906 in 401(k) matching contributions paid by us. |
(2) | Consists of pension plan matching contributions paid by us to Mr. Kellys individual pension plan. |
(3) | Total number of shares awarded was 1,020,574. As of August 15, 2005, these shares are fully vested. As of September 30, 2004, Mr. Kelly held 481,851 of these shares, valued at $1,402,186 based on the closing price of our unrestricted common stock as of September 30, 2004. As of September 30, 2004, of these 481,851 shares, 332,822 were vested and 149,029 remained subject to vesting. We do not intend to pay dividends on the restricted stock component reported above. |
(4) | Options covering all of these shares were issued and then cancelled and reissued on a 1-for-0.8 basis as restricted stock as part of our option exchange program in August 2002 (the 2002 Program). |
(5) | Consists of $810 paid by us for group-term life insurance premium. |
(6) | Total number of shares awarded was 201,713. As of September 30, 2004, Mr. Morrison held 146,157 of these shares, valued at $425,317 based on the closing price of our unrestricted common stock as of September 30, 2004. As of September 30, 2004, of these 146,157 shares, 103,437 were vested and 42,720 remained subject to vesting. We do not intend to pay dividends on the restricted stock component reported above. |
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(7) | Options covering all of these shares were issued and then cancelled and reissued on a 1-for-0.8 basis as restricted stock as part of the 2002 Program. |
(8) | Includes $30,093 in pension plan matching contributions paid by us to Mr. Swanns individual pension plan. |
(9) | Total number of shares awarded was 319,859. These shares vest quarterly beginning on February 15, 2003 and ending on February 15, 2005. As of September 30, 2004, Mr. Swann held 162,192 of these shares, valued at $471,979 based on the closing price of our unrestricted common stock as of September 30, 2004. As of September 30, 2004, of these 162,192 shares, 152,192 were vested and 10,000 remained subject to vesting. We do not intend to pay dividends on the restricted stock component reported above. |
(10) | Options covering all of these shares were issued and then cancelled and reissued on a 1-for-0.8 basis as restricted stock as part of the 2002 Program. |
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Stock Option Grants and Exercises
The following tables show for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004, certain information regarding options granted to, exercised by, and held at year-end by, the Named Executive Officers:
Option Grants in the Twelve Months Ended September 30, 2004
Potential Realizable Value at Assumed Annual Rates of Stock Price Appreciation for Option Term (1) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Individual Grants |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name |
Number of Securities Underlying Options Granted (2)(#) |
% of Total Options Granted to Employees in Twelve Months Ended September 30, 2004 (3)(%) |
Exercise Price (4)($Sh) |
Expiration Date |
5%($) |
10%($) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Samuel T.
Spadafora |
40,000 | 1.6 | % | $ | 4.17 | June 14,
2014 |
$ | 104,900 | $ | 265,836 | |||||||||||||||||
Stephen
Kelly |
75,000 | 3.0 | % | $ | 4.17 | June 14,
2014 |
$ | 196,687 | $ | 498,443 | |||||||||||||||||
Donald J.
Morrison* |
50,000 | 2.0 | % | $ | 4.17 | June 14,
2014 |
$ | 131,125 | $ | 332,295 | |||||||||||||||||
150,000 | 6.0 | % | $ | 5.02 | March
14, 2014 |
$ | 468,671 | $ | 1,192,307 | ||||||||||||||||||
Allen
Swann** |
0 | | | | | |
* | Mr. Morrison resigned from Chordiant effective May 2, 2005 |
** | Mr. Swann resigned from Chordiant effective September 30, 2004. |
(1) | The potential realizable value information is calculated based on the ten-year term of the option at the time of grant. Stock price appreciation of 5% and 10% is assumed as prescribed by the rules promulgated by the SEC and does not represent our prediction of our future stock price performance. |
(2) | The stock options listed for Messrs. Spadafora, Kelly, and Morrison vest in a series of equal monthly installments over the three years following their date of grant. Our 1999 Plan and 2000 Plan allow for the early exercise of options granted to employees. All options exercised early are subject to repurchase by us at the original exercise price upon the option holders cessation of service to us before the vesting of such holders shares. Each of the options has a ten-year term, subject to earlier termination if the option holders service with us ceases. |
(3) | Percentages shown are based on an aggregate of 2,511,750 options granted to our employees under our stock option plans during the period from October 1, 2003 through September 30, 2004. |
(4) | The exercise price of each option is equal to the fair market value of our common stock as valued by the Board on the date of grant. The exercise price may be paid in cash, in shares of our common stock valued at fair market value on the date of exercise, or through a cashless exercise procedure involving a same-day sale of the purchased shares. |
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Aggregated Option Exercises in the Twelve Months Ended September 30, 2004
and September 30, 2004 Option Values
Name |
Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) |
Value Realized (1) ($) |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options at Fiscal Year-End (#) |
Value of Unexercised In-the-Money Options at September 30, 2004 (2) ($) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vested |
Unvested |
Vested |
Unvested |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Samuel T.
Spadafora |
155,481 | 770,693 | 915,085 | 165,834 | $ | 1,744,086 | $ | 200,042 | |||||||||||||||||||
Stephen
Kelly |
| | 165,627 | 185,418 | $ | 113,333 | $ | 141,167 | |||||||||||||||||||
Donald J.
Morrison* |
120,000 | 510,475 | 361,294 | 221,877 | $ | 459,440 | $ | 72,408 | |||||||||||||||||||
Allen
Swann** |
| | 158,499 | 37,501 | $ | 202,183 | $ | 57,377 |
* | Mr. Morrison resigned from Chordiant effective May 2, 2005. |
** | Mr. Swann retired from Chordiant effective September 30, 2004. |
(1) | Based on the fair market value of our common stock on the exercise date, minus the exercise price, multiplied by the number of shares exercised. |
(2) | Based on the fair market value of our common stock as of September 30, 2004, minus the exercise price, multiplied by the number of shares underlying the unexercised options. |
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EMPLOYMENT AND CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENTS
Employment Agreements
On April 24, 1998, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Spadafora, which was amended in June 2005. Pursuant to the amended agreement, Mr. Spadafora is entitled to a base salary of $250,000 and is not eligible to participate in Chordiants 2005 Executive Bonus Plan. The amended agreement also provides that either Mr. Spadafora or we may terminate Mr. Spadaforas employment at any time. If Mr. Spadaforas employment is terminated without cause (as defined in Mr. Spadaforas employment agreement) Mr. Spadafora is entitled to receive 12 months of base salary, subject to certain conditions; provided, however, Mr. Spadafora will not receive this benefit if he is entitled to benefits under his Change of Control agreement discussed below. If Mr. Spadaforas employment with the Company is terminated without cause or he resigns for any reason prior to a change of control (as defined in Mr. Spadaforas Change Of Control agreement), Chordiant will provide him with a consulting agreement that will remain in place until he reaches the age of 65 (the Consulting Period). During the Consulting Period: (1) Chordiant will have the right to reasonably request that Mr. Spadafora perform consulting services for Chordiant up to a maximum of 40 hours per month; (2) Mr. Spadafora will receive $5,000 to $10,000 per month (depending on his duties); (3) Chordiant will pay the health insurance premiums for Mr. Spadafora and his wife; (4) Chordiant will pay the premium for a $1.0 million term life insurance policy for Mr. Spadaforas benefit; and (5) Mr. Spadafora will continue to vest in his equity compensation awards, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plan documents. In June 2005, the Board also awarded Mr. Spadafora a cash bonus of $25,000 in recognition of his extraordinary efforts in bringing Chordiant into compliance with its reporting obligations.
Effective as of January 1, 2002, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Kelly. Mr. Kellys employment agreement provides that in the event his employment relationship is terminated without cause, as defined in Mr. Kellys employment agreement, then Chordiant will pay Mr. Kelly severance payments equal to Mr. Kellys base salary for twelve months following his termination date, and the vesting of fifty percent (50%) of all restricted stock and/or options held by Mr. Kelly that are unvested on the date of his termination will become vested; provided, however, Mr. Kelly will not receive these benefits if he is entitled to benefits under his Change of Control agreement discussed below. Under the terms of Mr. Kellys employment agreement, if he resigns or his employment is terminated for cause, then all compensation and benefits from Chordiant will cease immediately. Effective January 1, 2005, the Board increased Mr. Kellys base salary to $400,000 and set a targeted bonus range of 80% of base salary (60% based on quarterly attainments and 20% based on annual attainments). On June 2, 2005, the Board awarded a cash bonus of $20,000 to Mr. Kelly in recognition of his extraordinary efforts in bringing Chordiant into compliance with its reporting obligations. Also on June 2, 2005, the Board approved a restricted stock grant to Mr. Kelly covering 125,000 shares of Chordiants common stock, which will vest on April 1, 2006, provided that Chordiant is current in filing its periodic reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Mr. Kelly is employed at Chordiant on that date.
Effective as of January 23, 2001, we entered into an employment agreement with Allen Swann. Mr. Swann assumed the role of president of our international operations on March 27, 2001. Mr. Swann was previously an employee of Prime Response, Inc., a company we acquired on January 8, 2001. Under the terms of his employment agreement, Mr. Swann was entitled to receive and annual base salary of $275,000, additional incentive compensation of up to $725,000, and a one-time retention bonus of $300,000. Mr. Swann was granted two compensatory stock options on March 27, 2001, for 76,649 shares vesting over 12 months, and 120,000 shares vesting over 24 months, respectively. In 2003, Mr. Swann earned a bonus of $112,709. For 2004, Mr. Swanns salary was £200,000 ($362,820 based on the currency conversion rate as of March 29, 2004). Mr. Swann retired from Chordiant effective September 30, 2004.
Prior to Mr. Morrisons resignation from Chordiant effective May 2, 2005, his annual base salary was $260,000 pursuant to the terms of his employment, and he was eligible for an annual bonus of up to sixty percent (60%) of his base salary based upon Chordiants performance goals. On June 2, 2005, the Board awarded a cash bonus of $15,000 to Mr. Morrison in recognition of his extraordinary efforts in bringing Chordiant into compliance with its reporting obligations.
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Change of Control Agreements
We have entered into Change of Control Agreements with Stephen Kelly, Sam Spadafora and Don Morrison (each an Executive). Mr. Morrisons change of control agreement terminated upon his resignation from Chordiant. We may in the future enter into these agreements with other executives of ours. These agreements provide generally that if an executive is terminated either without cause, as defined in the agreements, or voluntarily leaves employment for good reason, as defined in the agreements, within 90 days prior to a change of control, as defined in the agreements, or 12 months following a change of control, then the Executive will receive, among other benefits, the following: (1) payment of the Executives salary for a period of 12 months, (2) payment of the Executives annual bonus, (3) continuation of our health and life insurance policies for one year, (4) so long as not prohibited by law, automatic extension of 60 months to repay any promissory note, loan or other indebtedness to us, and (5) with respect to options and restricted stock, accelerated vesting of a number of shares equal to the greater of (a) 50% of the then-unvested shares, or (b) 12 months worth of vesting.
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Executive Compensation
Period Covered by This Compensation Committee Report. As required by SEC rules, the information contained above in the Summary Compensation Table relates to our new fiscal year ended September 30, 2004. However, the Compensation Committee based its compensation decisions on Chordiants former fiscal, which was the calendar year ended December 31, 2004, and Chordiants 2004 Bonus Plan, which preceded the change in our fiscal year and also related to calendar 2004. This report, therefore, covers the year ended December 31, 2004. In this regard, the Named Executive Officers earned bonuses for the year ended December 31, 2004 as follows:
Name and Principal Position |
Performance Bonus for Quarter Ended March 31, 2004 |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Samuel T.
Spadafora Chairman of the Board |
$ | 0 | ||||
Stephen Kelly Chief Executive Officer |
23,752 | |||||
Donald J.
Morrison President** |
15,600 | |||||
Allen Swann President, International Field Operations*** |
21,408 |
** | Mr. Morrison resigned from Chordiant effective May 2, 2005. |
*** | Mr. Swann retired from Chordiant effective September 30, 2004. |
Purpose of the Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee determines compensation levels for Chordiants executive officers, including the Chief Executive Officer, for each fiscal year based upon a formula that ties a target bonus objective to the achievement of certain pre-defined financial benchmarks discussed below. The Compensation Committee reviews and recommends for approval to the Board of Directors all executive based and bonus compensation and the plan by which bonuses in excess of the targets established by the Board of Directors may be paid.
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Composition of Compensation Committee
As of August 1, 2005, the Compensation Committee is comprised of three independent directors: Steven Springsteel, William Raduchel, and David Springett. Mr. Springett has been on the Committee since April 18, 2002, Mr. Raduchel has been on the Committee since April 17, 2003, and Mr. Springsteel has been on the Committee since January 28, 2004. Prior to January 28, 2004, the Committee was comprised of three non-employee directors: Mr. Raduchel, Mr. Springett and a former director, who was replaced by Mr. Springsteel on January 28, 2004.
Objectives of the Compensation Program
The objectives of the compensation program established by the Compensation Committee are: (1) to attract and retain high-quality executives, (2) to tie executive compensation directly to Chordiants business and performance objectives and (3) to reward outstanding individual performance that contributes to Chordiants long-term success.
Elements of Compensation
Each executive officers compensation package is comprised of three elements: (1) base compensation, (2) bonus compensation payable based on the achievement of our financial performance goals and individual performance, and (3) long-term stock-based incentive compensation, which ties executive compensation directly to our growth and increased stockholder value.
Base Compensation. In establishing the base compensation for each executive officer, the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors consider the following factors: (1) salary levels for comparable positions in software and related companies similar in size and business that compete with Chordiant in the recruitment and retention of senior management personnel, (2) each executive officers past performance relative to corporate and individual objectives, (3) each executive officers responsibility level and objectives for the subsequent year, and (4) compensation to other Chordiant executive officers.
The Compensation Committee and Board of Directors obtained information regarding competitive salary ranges for calendar 2004 from the Radford High Technology Survey that relates to companies with $50.0 million to $199.9 million in revenues (the Radford Survey) to evaluate the compensation it pays its executive officers in relation to similarly situated companies.
The Compensation Committee believes that the total cash compensation paid to our executive officers in fiscal 2004 was competitive with the total cash compensation for executive officers at comparable companies. The target compensation level was between the 50th and 75th percentile of the relevant data in Radford Survey. The Compensation Committee believes that this level of compensation is required to retain the persons with the skills necessary to run Chordiants business.
Bonus Compensation. The Board and Compensation Committee met during the first quarter of calendar 2004 to approve the calendar 2004 Bonus Plan for executive officers. Each executive officer had a target bonus level equal to a certain percentage of his or her base salary. A portion of this percentage was payable quarterly depending upon whether Chordiant met certain net income/net loss levels and the remainder of the percentage was payable after the end of the year depending on whether certain goals with respect to revenue, net income and stock market capitalization (collectively, the Performance Criteria) were achieved during calendar 2004. With respect to quarterly bonuses, the 2004 Bonus Plan also provided that, if Chordiant missed the target net income levels by a specified minimum amount in a particular quarter, executives would receive a portion of their target bonus for that quarter. Likewise, if Chordiant exceeded the specified target levels of net income in a particular quarter by certain specified amounts, executive officers would be eligible for bonuses that exceeded their target bonus levels. Because the focus of Mr. Spadaforas role as chief strategy officer is on long-term objectives of Chordiant, Mr. Spadafora was not eligible to receive quarterly bonuses for calendar 2004.
As Chordiant met a specified level of net loss during the first quarter of calendar 2004, each of our executive officers, other than Mr. Spadafora, earned a performance bonus in the first quarter of calendar 2004. The performance bonuses earned by the Named Executive Officers during the first quarter of 2004 are reflected in
37
the table above. Chordiant did not, however, meet the net income goals during
the remaining quarters of calendar 2004, nor did Chordiant meet the annual Performance Criteria goals. Accordingly, the Board did not pay bonuses under
the 2004 Bonus Plan other than with respect to the first quarter of calendar 2004.
Long-Term Incentive Compensation. We provide long-term compensation to our executives in the form of stock options. The Compensation Committee believes that equity-based compensation closely aligns the interests of executive officers with those of stockholders by providing an incentive to manage Chordiant with a focus on long-term strategic objectives set by the Board of Directors relating to growth and stockholder value. Stock option grants are determined by taking into account each executive officers performance and responsibility level, a comparison with comparable awards to individuals in similar positions in the industry, each executive officers current level of equity participation and our operating performance. However, the Compensation Committee does not strictly adhere to these factors in all cases and may vary grants made to each executive officer as the particular circumstances warrant. Exercise prices for options are set at the fair market value of Chordiant common stock on the date of grant.
The vesting schedule for grants made to executive employees during the last fiscal year consisted of monthly vesting of two to four years provided that the executive officer continues his or her employment with Chordiant. Accordingly, the option will provide a return to the executive officer only if he or she remains in Chordiants employ, and then only if the market price of Chordiants common stock appreciates over the option term.
Based on the factors noted above, Compensation Committee awarded the Named Executive Officers the option grants set forth in the Option Grants Table above. The only other executive officer to receive an option grant in calendar 2004 was our new Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, who received a negotiated compensation package for joining Chordiant. The Compensation Committee reexamines long-term compensation levels annually.
2004 Chief Executive Officer Compensation
Recommended compensation for our Chief Executive Officer is determined through a process similar to that discussed above for other of our executive officers.
Mr. Kellys base salary for calendar 2004 as Chief Executive Officer was $350,000, which was unchanged from the prior year due to the fact that Chordiant did not meet its performance objectives for the prior year. This amount put Mr. Kelly in approximately the 50th percentile of the relevant Radford Survey data.
Mr. Kelly was granted options covering 75,000 shares in calendar 2004 based on the factors noted above with under the heading Long-Term Incentive Compensation.
Mr. Kelly received $23,752 in bonuses for calendar 2004 as described above under the heading Bonus Compensation.
Limitations on Deduction of Compensation Paid to Certain Executive Officers
Section 162(m) of the Code limits us to a deduction for federal income tax purposes of no more than $1 million of compensation paid to certain Named Executive Officers in a taxable year. Compensation above $1 million may be deducted if it is performance-based compensation within the meaning of the Code.
The Compensation Committee has not yet established a policy for determining which forms of incentive compensation awarded to our Named Executive Officers shall be designed to qualify as performance-based compensation.
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The material in this report is not soliciting material, is not deemed filed with the SEC, and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of Chordiant under the 1933 Act or 1934 Act, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
None of our executive officers serve as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving as a member of our Board or compensation committee.
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PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT COMPARISON (1)
The following graph shows the total stockholder return of an investment of $100 in cash on February 14, 2000, the date our initial public offering commenced, through September 30, 2004 for:
(i) | Our common stock; |
(ii) | The Nasdaq Stock Market (U.S.) Index; |
(iii) | The Standard & Poors Application Software Index. |
Historic stock price performance is not necessarily indicative of future stock
price performance. All values assume reinvestment of the full amount of all dividends and are calculated as of September 30 of each year.
(1) | This Section is not soliciting material, is not deemed filed with the SEC and is not to be incorporated by reference in any of our filings under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any such filing. |
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
In January 2005, Charles E. Hoffman became a director of Chordiant. Mr. Hoffman is the president and chief executive officer of Covad Communications Group, Inc. (Covad), a customer of ours. Pursuant to a software license and services agreement dated March 15, 2004, Covad made payments to us of $2.8 million during the last fiscal year.
In January 2005, David A. Weymouth became a director of Chordiant. Mr. Weymouth was the corporate responsibility director of Barclays Group, a customer of ours, until June 2005. Pursuant to a software license agreement, software maintenance agreement, and professional services agreement, each dated December 19, 2002, as amended, Barclays Group made payments to us of $10.1 million during the twelve month period ended September 30, 2004. During the nine month period ended June 30, 2005, Barclays Group made payments to us of $8.2 million.
We have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and officers for the indemnification of and advancement of expenses to these persons to the full extent permitted by law. We also intend to execute these agreements with our future directors and officers.
All transactions between us and our officers, directors and principal stockholders must be approved by a committee of independent and disinterested directors.
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We do not have any formal policy concerning the direct or indirect pecuniary interest of any of our officers, directors, security holders or affiliates in any investment to be acquired or disposed of by us or in any transaction to which we are a party or have an interest. We will not enter into any such transactions unless approved by a majority of the entire Board, not including any interested director.
DELIVERY OF THIS PROXY STATEMENT
The SEC has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries (e.g., brokers) to satisfy the delivery requirements for proxy statements and annual reports with respect to two or more stockholders sharing the same address by delivering a single proxy statement addressed to those stockholders. This process, which is commonly referred to as householding, potentially means extra convenience for stockholders and cost savings for companies.
This year, a number of brokers with account holders who are our stockholders will be householding our proxy materials. A single proxy statement will be delivered to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions have been received from the affected stockholders. Once you have received notice from your broker that they will be householding communications to your address, householding will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent. If, at any time, you no longer wish to participate in householding and would prefer to receive a separate proxy statement and annual report, please notify your broker, direct your written request to Director of Investor Relations, Chordiant Software, Inc., 20400 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Suite 400, Cupertino, CA 95014, or contact Steve Polcyn, Director of Investor Relations at 408-517-6100. Stockholders who currently receive multiple copies of the proxy statement at their address and would like to request householding of their communications should contact their broker.
OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors knows of no other matters that will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting. If any other matters are properly brought before the meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy to vote on such matters in accordance with their best judgment.
August 24, 2005
A copy of our Transition Report to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K/T for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 (excluding the information included in this proxy statement) accompanies this Proxy Statement. Further copies are also available without charge upon written request to: Director of Investor Relations, Chordiant Software, Inc., 20400 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 400, Cupertino, CA 95014. Copies may also be obtained without charge through the SECs Website at http://www.sec.gov.
41
(a) Successor and Continuation of Prior Plan. The Plan is intended as the successor to and continuation of the Chordiant Software, Inc. 1999 Equity Incentive Plan (the Prior Plan). Following the Effective Date of this Plan, no additional stock awards shall be granted under the Prior Plan. Any shares remaining available for issuance pursuant to the exercise of options or settlement of stock awards under the Prior Plan shall be added to the share reserve of this Plan and available for issuance pursuant to Stock Awards granted hereunder. All outstanding stock awards granted under the Prior Plan shall remain subject to the terms of the Prior Plan, except that the Board may elect to extend one or more of the features of the Plan to stock awards granted under the Prior Plan. Any shares subject to outstanding stock awards granted under the Prior Plan that expire or terminate for any reason prior to exercise or settlement shall be added to the share reserve of this Plan and become available for issuance pursuant to Stock Awards granted hereunder. All Stock Awards granted subsequent to the Effective Date of this Plan shall be subject to the terms of this Plan.
(b) Eligible Stock Award Recipients. The persons eligible to receive Awards are Employees, Directors and Consultants.
(c) Available Stock Awards. The Plan provides for the grant of the following Stock Awards: (i) Incentive Stock Options, (ii) Nonstatutory Stock Options, (iii) Stock Purchase Awards, (iv) Restricted Stock Awards, (v) Stock Appreciation Rights, (vi) Restricted Stock Unit Awards, and (vii) Other Stock Awards.
(d) General Purpose. The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to secure and retain the services of the group of persons eligible to receive Awards as set forth in Section 1(a), to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company and any Affiliate and to provide a means by which such eligible recipients may be given an opportunity to benefit from increases in value of the Common Stock through the granting of Stock Awards.
As used in the Plan, the following definitions shall apply to the capitalized terms indicated below:
A-1
(a) Affiliate means, at the time of determination, any parent or subsidiary as such terms are defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. The Board shall have the authority to determine the time or times at which parent or subsidiary status is determined within the foregoing definition.
(b) Award means a Stock Award or a Performance Cash Award.
(c) Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(d) Capitalization Adjustment has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 11(a).
(e) Cause means with respect to a Participant, the occurrence of any of the following: (i) such Participants commission of any felony or any crime involving fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude under the laws of the United States or any state thereof; (ii) such Participants attempted commission of, or participation in, a fraud or act of dishonesty against the Company; (iii) such Participants intentional, material violation of any contract or agreement between the Participant and the Company or of any statutory duty owed to the Company; (iv) such Participants unauthorized use or disclosure of the Companys confidential information or trade secrets; or (v) such Participants gross misconduct. The determination that a termination of the Participants Continuous Service is either for Cause or without Cause shall be made by the Company in its sole discretion. Any determination by the Company that the Continuous Service of a Participant was terminated by reason of dismissal without Cause for the purposes of outstanding Awards held by such Participant shall have no effect upon any determination of the rights or obligations of the Company or such Participant for any other purpose.
(f) Change in Control means the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the following events:
(i) any Exchange Act Person becomes the Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities other than by virtue of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur (A) on account of the acquisition of securities of the Company by an investor, any affiliate thereof or any other Exchange Act Person from the Company in a transaction or series of related transactions the primary purpose of which is to obtain financing for the Company through the issuance of equity securities or (B) solely because the level of Ownership held by any Exchange Act Person (the Subject Person) exceeds the designated percentage threshold of the outstanding voting securities as a result of a repurchase or other acquisition of voting securities by the Company reducing the number of shares outstanding, provided that if a Change in Control would occur (but for the operation of this sentence) as a result of the acquisition of voting securities by the Company, and after such share acquisition, the Subject Person becomes the Owner of any additional voting securities that, assuming the repurchase or other acquisition had not occurred, increases the percentage of the then outstanding voting securities Owned by the Subject Person over the designated percentage threshold, then a Change in Control shall be deemed to occur;
A-2
(ii) there is consummated a merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving (directly or indirectly) the Company and, immediately after the consummation of such merger, consolidation or similar transaction, the stockholders of the Company immediately prior thereto do not Own, directly or indirectly, either (A) outstanding voting securities representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined outstanding voting power of the surviving Entity in such merger, consolidation or similar transaction or (B) more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined outstanding voting power of the parent of the surviving Entity in such merger, consolidation or similar transaction, in each case in substantially the same proportions as their Ownership of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such transaction;
(iii) the stockholders of the Company approve or the Board approves a plan of complete dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or a complete dissolution or liquidation of the Company shall otherwise occur;
(iv) there is consummated a sale, lease, exclusive license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, other than a sale, lease, license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries to an Entity, more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are Owned by stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their Ownership of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such sale, lease, license or other disposition; or
(v) individuals who, on the date this Plan is adopted by the Board, are members of the Board (the Incumbent Board) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board; provided, however, that if the appointment or election (or nomination for election) of any new Board member was approved or recommended by a majority vote of the members of the Incumbent Board then still in office, such new member shall, for purposes of this Plan, be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board.
The term Change in Control shall not include a sale of assets, merger or other transaction effected exclusively for the purpose of changing the domicile of the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Plan, the definition of Change in Control (or any analogous term) in an individual written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant shall supersede the foregoing definition with respect to Awards subject to such agreement; provided, however, that if no definition of Change in Control or any analogous term is set forth in such an individual written agreement, the foregoing definition shall apply.
(g) Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(h) Committee means a committee of one (1) or more Directors to whom authority has been delegated by the Board in accordance with Section 3(c).
(i) Common Stock means the common stock of the Company.
(j) Company means Chordiant Software, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
A-3
(k) Consultant means any person, including an advisor, who is (i) engaged by the Company or an Affiliate to render consulting or advisory services and is compensated for such services, or (ii) serving as a member of the board of directors of an Affiliate and is compensated for such services. However, service solely as a Director, or payment of a fee for such service, shall not cause a Director to be considered a Consultant for purposes of the Plan.
(l) Continuous Service means that the Participants service with the Company or an Affiliate, whether as an Employee, Director or Consultant, is not interrupted or terminated. A change in the capacity in which the Participant renders service to the Company or an Affiliate as an Employee, Consultant or Director or a change in the entity for which the Participant renders such service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participants service with the Company or an Affiliate, shall not terminate a Participants Continuous Service. For example, a change in status from an employee of the Company to a consultant to an Affiliate or to a Director shall not constitute an interruption of Continuous Service. To the extent permitted by law, the Board or the chief executive officer of the Company, in that partys sole discretion, may determine whether Continuous Service shall be considered interrupted in the case of any leave of absence approved by that party, including sick leave, military leave or any other personal leave. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a leave of absence shall be treated as Continuous Service for purposes of vesting in a Stock Award only to such extent as may be provided in the Companys leave of absence policy, in the written terms of any leave of absence agreement or policy applicable to the Participant, or as otherwise required by law.
(m) Corporate Transaction means the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the following events:
(i) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries;
(ii) a sale or other disposition of at least ninety percent (90%) of the outstanding securities of the Company;
(iii) the consummation of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which the Company is not the surviving corporation; or
(iv) the consummation of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which the Company is the surviving corporation but the shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately preceding the merger, consolidation or similar transaction are converted or exchanged by virtue of the merger, consolidation or similar transaction into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise.
(n) Covered Employee shall have the meaning provided in Section 162(m)(3) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
(o) Director means a member of the Board.
(p) Disability means the permanent and total disability of a person within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
A-4
(q) Effective Date means the effective date of this Plan document, which is the date that this Plan is first approved by the Companys stockholders.
(r) Employee means any person employed by the Company or an Affiliate. However, service solely as a Director, or payment of a fee for such services, shall not cause a Director to be considered an Employee for purposes of the Plan.
(s) Entity means a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity.
(t) Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(u) Exchange Act Person means any natural person, Entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act), except that Exchange Act Person shall not include (i) the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, (iv) an Entity Owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their Ownership of stock of the Company; or (v) any natural person, Entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act) that, as of the Effective Date of the Plan as set forth in Section 13, is the Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities.
(v) Fair
Market Value means, as of any date, the value of the Common
Stock determined as follows:
(i) If
the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or traded on the Nasdaq
National Market or the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, the Fair Market Value of a share of
Common Stock shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no
sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or market (or the exchange or market
with the greatest volume of trading in the Common Stock) on the date of determination,
as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Board deems reliable.
Unless otherwise provided by the Board, if there is no closing sales price (or closing
bid if no sales were reported) for the Common Stock on the date of determination, then
the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price (or closing bid if no sales
were reported) on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists. (ii) In the absence
of such markets for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value shall be determined
by the Board in good faith. (w)
Incentive Stock Option means an Option intended
to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of
Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder. (x) Non-Employee Director
means a Director who either (i) is not a current
employee or officer of the Company or an Affiliate, does not receive compensation,
either A-5 directly or indirectly, from the
Company or an Affiliate for services rendered as a consultant or in any capacity other
than as a Director (except for an amount as to which disclosure would not be required
under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act (Regulation
S-K)), does not possess an interest in any other transaction for which disclosure
would be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, and is not engaged in a business
relationship for which disclosure would be required pursuant to Item 404(b) of
Regulation S-K; or (ii) is otherwise considered a non-employee director for
purposes of Rule 16b-3. (y)
Nonstatutory Stock Option means any Option
other than an Incentive Stock Option. (z)
Officer means a person who is an officer of the
Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder. (aa)
Option means an Incentive Stock Option or a
Nonstatutory Stock Option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to
the Plan. (bb)
Option Agreement means a written agreement
between the Company and an Optionholder evidencing the terms and conditions of
an Option grant. Each Option Agreement shall be subject to the terms and
conditions of the Plan. (cc)
Optionholder means a person to whom an Option
is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if permitted under the terms of this Plan,
such other person who holds an outstanding Option. (dd)
Other Stock Award means an award based in whole
or in part by reference to the Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the
terms and conditions of Section 7(e). (ee)
Other Stock Award Agreement means a written
agreement between the Company and a holder of an Other Stock Award evidencing
the terms and conditions of an Other Stock Award grant. Each Other Stock Award
Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. (ff)
Outside Director means a Director who either
(i) is not a current employee of the Company or an affiliated
corporation (within the meaning of Treasury Regulations promulgated under
Section 162(m) of the Code), is not a former employee of the Company or an
affiliated corporation who receives compensation for prior services
(other than benefits under a tax-qualified retirement plan) during the taxable
year, has not been an officer of the Company or an affiliated
corporation, and does not receive remuneration from the Company or an
affiliated corporation, either directly or indirectly, in any
capacity other than as a Director, or (ii) is otherwise considered an
outside director for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code. (gg)
Own, Owned, Owner,
Ownership A person or Entity shall be deemed to
Own, to have Owned, to be the Owner of, or
to have acquired Ownership of securities if such person or Entity,
directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding,
relationship or otherwise, has or shares voting power, which includes the power
to vote or to direct the voting, with respect to such securities. A-6 (hh)
Participant means a person to whom an Award is
granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an
outstanding Stock Award. (ii)
Performance Cash Award means an award of cash
granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 7(e)(ii). (jj)
Performance Criteria means the one or more
criteria that the Board shall select for purposes of establishing the
Performance Goals for a Performance Period. The Performance Criteria that shall
be used to establish such Performance Goals may be based on any one of, or
combination of, the following: (i) earnings per share; (ii) earnings before
interest, taxes and depreciation; (iii) earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation and amortization; (iv) total stockholder return; (v) return on
equity; (vi) return on assets, investment, or capital employed; (vii) operating
margin; (viii) gross margin; (ix) operating income; (x) net income (before or
after taxes); (xi) net operating income; (xii) net operating income after tax;
(xiii) pre-tax profit; (xiv) operating cash flow; (xv) sales or revenue
targets; (xvi) increases in revenue or product revenue; (xvii) expenses and cost
reduction goals; (xviii) improvement in or attainment of working capital levels;
(xix) economic value added (or an equivalent metric); (xx) market share; (xxi)
cash flow; (xxii) cash flow per share; (xxiii) share price performance; (xxiv)
debt reduction; (xxv) implementation or completion of projects or processes;
(xxvi) customer satisfaction; (xxvii); stockholders equity; and (xxviii)
other measures of performance selected by the Board. Partial achievement of the
specified criteria may result in the payment or vesting corresponding to the
degree of achievement as specified in the Stock Award Agreement or the written
terms of a Performance Cash Award. The Board shall, in its sole discretion,
define the manner of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for
such Performance Period. (kk)
Performance Goals means, for a Performance
Period, the one or more goals established by the Board for the Performance
Period based upon the Performance Criteria. Performance Goals may be based on a
Company-wide basis, with respect to one or more business units, divisions,
Affiliates, or business segments, and in either absolute terms or relative to
the performance of one or more comparable companies or a relevant index. At the
time of the grant of any Award, the Board is authorized to determine whether,
when calculating the attainment of Performance Goals for a Performance Period:
(i) to exclude restructuring and/or other nonrecurring charges; (ii) to exclude
exchange rate effects, as applicable, for non-U.S. dollar denominated net sales
and operating earnings; (iii) to exclude the effects of changes to generally
accepted accounting standards required by the Financial Accounting Standards
Board; (iv) to exclude the effects of any statutory adjustments to corporate tax
rates; and (v) to exclude the effects of any extraordinary items as
determined under generally accepted accounting principles. In addition, the
Board retains the discretion to reduce or eliminate the compensation or economic
benefit due upon attainment of Performance Goals. (ll)
Performance Period means the period of time selected
by the Board over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be
measured for the purpose of determining a Participants right to and the
payment of a Stock Award or a Performance Cash Award. Performance Periods may be
of varying and overlapping duration, at the sole discretion of the Board. A-7 (mm)
Performance Stock Award means a Stock Award
granted under the terms and conditions of Section 7(e)(i). (nn)Plan means this Chordiant Software, Inc. 2005 Equity Incentive Plan. (oo)
Restricted Stock Award means an award of shares
of Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section
7(b). (pp)
Restricted Stock Award Agreement means a
written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Restricted Stock Award
evidencing the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Award grant. Each
Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of
the Plan. (qq)
Restricted Stock Unit Award means a right to
receive shares of Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms and
conditions of Section 7(c). (rr)
Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement means a
written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Restricted Stock Unit
Award evidencing the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Unit Award
grant. Each Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms
and conditions of the Plan. (ss)
Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the
Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect from time to time. (tt)Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. (uu)
Stock Appreciation Right means a right to
receive the appreciation on Common Stock that is granted pursuant to the terms
and conditions of Section 7(d). (vv)
Stock Appreciation Right Agreement means a
written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Stock Appreciation Right
evidencing the terms and conditions of a Stock Appreciation Right grant. Each
Stock Appreciation Right Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions
of the Plan. (ww)
Stock Award means any right granted under the
Plan, including an Incentive Stock Option, a Nonstatutory Stock Option, a Stock
Purchase Award, a Restricted Stock Award, a Stock Appreciation Right, a
Restricted Stock Unit Award, a Performance Stock Award or any Other Stock Award. (xx)
Stock Award Agreement means a written agreement
between the Company and a Participant evidencing the terms and conditions of a
Stock Award grant. Each Stock Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and
conditions of the Plan. (yy)
Stock Purchase Award means an award of shares of
Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section
7(a). (zz)
Stock Purchase Award Agreement means a written
agreement between the Company and a holder of a Stock Purchase Award evidencing the
terms and conditions of a A-8 Stock Purchase Award grant. Each Stock Purchase Award
Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. (aaa)
Subsidiary means, with respect to the Company, (i)
any corporation of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding
capital stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of
directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether, at the time, stock of
any other class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting
power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time, directly or
indirectly, Owned by the Company, and (ii) any partnership in which the Company
has a direct or indirect interest (whether in the form of voting or
participation in profits or capital contribution) of more than fifty percent
(50%). (bbb)
Ten Percent Stockholder means a person who Owns (or
is deemed to Own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more
than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock of the Company or any Affiliate. (a)
Administration by Board. The Board shall administer the Plan unless and
until the Board delegates administration of the Plan to a Committee or
Committees, as provided in Section 3(c). (b) Powers of
Board. The Board shall have the power, subject to, and within the
limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan: (i) To determine
from time to time (A) which of the persons eligible under the Plan shall be
granted Awards; (B) when and how each Award shall be granted; (C) what type or
combination of types of Award shall be granted; (D) the provisions of each Award
granted (which need not be identical), including the time or times when a person
shall be permitted to receive cash or Common Stock pursuant to a Stock Award;
and (E) the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which a Stock Award
shall be granted to each such person. (ii) To construe and
interpret the Plan and Awards granted under it, and to establish, amend and
revoke rules and regulations for its administration. The Board, in the exercise
of this power, may correct any defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan or
in any Stock Award Agreement or in the written terms of a Performance Cash
Award, in a manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or expedient to
make the Plan or Award fully effective. (iii) To settle all
controversies regarding the Plan and Awards granted under it. (iv) To accelerate
the time at which a Stock Award may first be exercised or the time during which
an Award or any part thereof will vest in accordance with the Plan,
notwithstanding the provisions in the Award stating the time at which it may
first be exercised or the time during which it will vest. (v) To suspend or
terminate the Plan at any time. Suspension or termination of the Plan shall not
impair rights and obligations under any Stock Award granted while the Plan is in
effect except with the written consent of the affected Participant. A-9 (vi) To amend the
Plan, subject to the limitations, if any, of applicable law. However, except as
provided in Section 11(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, no amendment
shall be effective unless approved by the stockholders of the Company to the
extent stockholder approval is necessary to satisfy applicable law or applicable
exchange listing requirements. Rights under any Award granted before amendment
of the Plan shall not be impaired by any amendment of the Plan unless (i) the
Company requests the consent of the affected Participant, and (ii) such
Participant consents in writing. (vii) To submit any
amendment to the Plan for stockholder approval, including, but not limited to,
amendments to the Plan intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of
the Code and the regulations thereunder regarding the exclusion of
performance-based compensation from the limit on corporate deductibility of
compensation paid to Covered Employees. (viii) To amend the
Plan in any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable to provide eligible
Employees with the maximum benefits provided or to be provided under the
provisions of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder relating to
Incentive Stock Options or to bring the Plan or Incentive Stock Options granted
under it into compliance therewith. (ix) To amend the
terms of any one or more Awards or stock awards granted under the Prior Plan,
including, but not limited to, amendments to provide terms more favorable than
previously provided in the Award Agreement, subject to any specified limits in
the Plan that are not subject to Board discretion; provided, however,
that the rights under any Award shall not be impaired by any such amendment
unless (i) the Company requests the consent of the affected Participant, and
(ii) such Participant consents in writing. (x)
Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such acts as the Board deems
necessary or expedient to promote the best interests of the Company and that are not in
conflict with the provisions of the Plan or Awards. (xi) To adopt such
procedures and sub-plans as are necessary or appropriate to permit participation
in the Plan by Employees, Directors or Consultants who are foreign nationals or
employed outside the United States. (c) Delegation to
Committee. (i) General.
The Board may delegate some or all of the administration of the Plan to a
Committee or Committees. If administration of the Plan is delegated to a
Committee, the Committee shall have, in connection with the administration of
the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board that have been delegated
to the Committee, including the power to delegate to a subcommittee of the
Committee any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to
exercise (and references in this Plan to the Board shall thereafter be to the
Committee or subcommittee), subject, however, to such resolutions, not
inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to
time by the Board. The Board may retain the authority to concurrently administer
the Plan with the Committee and may, at any time, revest in the Board some or
all of the powers previously delegated. A-10 (ii) Section
162(m) and Rule 16b-3 Compliance. In the sole discretion of the Board, the
Committee may consist solely of two or more Outside Directors, in accordance
with Section 162(m) of the Code, or solely of two or more Non-Employee
Directors, in accordance with Rule 16b-3. In addition, the Board or the
Committee, in its sole discretion, may (A) delegate to a Committee of Directors
who need not be Outside Directors the authority to grant Awards to eligible
persons who are either (I) not then Covered Employees and are not expected to be
Covered Employees at the time of recognition of income resulting from such Stock
Award, or (II) not persons with respect to whom the Company wishes to comply
with Section 162(m) of the Code, or (B) delegate to a Committee of Directors who
need not be Non-Employee Directors the authority to grant Stock Awards to
eligible persons who are not then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. (d) Delegation to
an Officer. The Board may delegate to one or more Officers the authority to
do one or both of the following (i) designate Employees who are not Officers to
be recipients of Awards and the terms thereof, and (ii) determine the number of
shares of Common Stock to be subject to such Stock Awards granted to such
Employees; provided, however, that the Board resolutions regarding such
delegation shall specify the total number of shares of Common Stock that may be
subject to the Stock Awards granted by such Officer and that such Officer may
not grant a Stock Award to himself or herself. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Section 3(d), the Board may not delegate to an Officer
authority to determine the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock pursuant to
Section 2(v)(ii) above. (e) Effect of
Boards Decision. All determinations, interpretations and constructions
made by the Board in good faith shall not be subject to review by any person and
shall be final, binding and conclusive on all persons. (f) Cancellation
and Re-Grant of Stock Awards. Neither the Board nor any Committee shall have
the authority to: (i) reprice any outstanding Stock Awards under the Plan, or
(ii) cancel and re-grant any outstanding Stock Awards under the Plan, unless the
stockholders of the Company have approved such an action within twelve (12)
months prior to such an event. (a) Share
Reserve. Subject to the provisions of Section 11(a) relating to
Capitalization Adjustments, the number of shares of Common Stock that may be
issued pursuant to Stock Awards shall not exceed, in the aggregate,
____________________ (_________) shares of Common Stock. Such number of shares
reserved for issuance consists of (i) the number of shares remaining available
for issuance under the Prior Plan, including shares subject to outstanding stock
awards under the Prior Plan, and (ii) an additional five million five hundred
thousand (5,500,000) shares to be approved by the stockholders at the 2005
Annual Meeting as part of the approval of this Plan. Shares may be issued in
connection with a merger or acquisition as permitted by NASD Rule
4350(i)(1)(A)(iii) or, if applicable, NYSE Listed Company Manual Section 303A.08
and such issuance shall not reduce the number of shares available for issuance
under the Plan. (b) Reversion of
Shares to the Share Reserve. If any (i) Stock Award shall for any reason
expire or otherwise terminate, in whole or in part, without having been
exercised in full, A-11 (ii) shares of Common Stock issued
to a Participant pursuant to a Stock Award (including the Stock Awards transferred from
the Prior Plan on the Effective Date of this Plan) are forfeited to or repurchased by
the Company, including any repurchase or forfeiture caused by the failure to meet a
contingency or condition required for the vesting of such shares, or (iii) Stock Award
is settled in cash, then the shares of Common Stock not issued under such Stock Award,
or forfeited to or repurchased by the Company, shall revert to and again become
available for issuance under the Plan. If any shares subject to a Stock Award are not
delivered to a Participant because the Stock Award is exercised through a reduction of
shares subject to the Stock Award (i.e., net exercised) or an appreciation
distribution in respect of a Stock Appreciation Right is paid in shares of Common Stock,
the number of subject to the Stock Award that are not delivered to the Participant shall
remain available for subsequent issuance under the Plan. If any shares subject to a
Stock Award are not delivered to a Participant because such shares are withheld in
satisfaction of the withholding of taxes incurred in connection with the exercise of an
Option, Stock Appreciation Right, or the issuance of shares under a Stock Purchase
Award, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit Award, or Other Stock Award, the
number of shares that are not delivered to the Participant shall remain available for
subsequent issuance under the Plan. If the exercise price of any Stock Award is
satisfied by tendering shares of Common Stock held by the Participant (either by actual
delivery or attestation), then the number of shares so tendered shall remain available
for subsequent issuance under the Plan. (c) Incentive
Stock Option Limit. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section
4(b), subject to the provisions of Section 11(a) relating to Capitalization
Adjustments the aggregate maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be
issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options shall be thirteen
million nine hundred eighty nine thousand five hundred fourteen (13,989,514)
shares of Common Stock. (d) Source of
Shares. The stock issuable under the Plan shall be shares of authorized but
unissued or reacquired Common Stock, including shares repurchased by the
Company. (a) Eligibility
for Specific Stock Awards. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to
Employees. Stock Awards other than Incentive Stock Options may be granted to
Employees, Directors and Consultants. (b) Ten Percent
Stockholders. A Ten Percent Stockholder shall not be granted an Incentive
Stock Option unless the exercise price of such Option is at least one hundred
ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of
grant and the Option is not exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years
from the date of grant. (c) Section
162(m) Limitation on Annual Grants. Subject to the provisions of Section
11(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, at such time as the Company may be
subject to the applicable provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code, no Employee
shall be eligible to be granted during any calendar year Stock Awards whose
value is determined by reference to an increase over an exercise or strike price
of at least one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common
Stock on the date the Stock Award is granted covering more than five million
(5,000,000) shares of Common Stock. A-12 (d)
Consultants. A Consultant shall not be eligible for the grant of a Stock
Award if, at the time of grant, a Form S-8 Registration Statement under the
Securities Act (Form S-8) is not available to
register either the offer or the sale of the Companys securities to such
Consultant because of the nature of the services that the Consultant is
providing to the Company, because the Consultant is not a natural person, or
because of any other rule governing the use of Form S-8. Each
Option shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the
Board shall deem appropriate. All Options shall be separately designated
Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options at the time of grant, and,
if certificates are issued, a separate certificate or certificates shall be
issued for shares of Common Stock purchased on exercise of each type of Option.
If an Option is not specifically designated as an Incentive Stock Option, then
the Option shall be a Nonstatutory Stock Option. The provisions of separate
Options need not be identical; provided, however, that each Option
Agreement shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference
in the Option Agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following
provisions: (a) Term.
Subject to the provisions of Section 5(b), no Option shall be exercisable after
the expiration of ten (10) years from the date of its grant or such shorter
period specified in the Option Agreement. (b) Exercise
Price of an Incentive Stock Option. Subject to the provisions of Section
5(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, the exercise price of each Incentive
Stock Option shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair
Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option on the date the Option is
granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Incentive Stock Option may be granted
with an exercise price lower than that set forth in the preceding sentence if
such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another
option in a manner consistent with the provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code. (c) Exercise
Price of a Nonstatutory Stock Option. The exercise price of each
Nonstatutory Stock Option shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of
the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option on the date the
Option is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Nonstatutory Stock Option
may be granted with an exercise price lower than one hundred percent (100%) of
the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock if such Option is granted pursuant to
an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner consistent with the
provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code. (d)
Consideration. The purchase price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to
the exercise of an Option shall be paid, to the extent permitted by applicable
law and as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, by any combination of
the methods of payment set forth below. The Board shall have the authority to
grant Options that do not permit all of the following methods of payment (or
otherwise restrict the ability to use certain methods) and to grant Options that
require the consent of the Company to utilize a particular method of payment.
The methods of payment permitted by this Section 6(d) are: A-13
(i) by cash or
check;
(ii) bank draft or
money order payable to the Company;
(iii) pursuant to a
program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board
that, prior to the issuance of Common Stock, results in either the receipt of
cash (or check) by the Company or the receipt of irrevocable instructions to pay
the aggregate exercise price to the Company from the sales proceeds;
(iv) by delivery to
the Company (either by actual delivery or attestation) of shares of Common
Stock;
(v) by a net
exercise arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number
of shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise by the largest whole number of
shares with a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise
price; provided, however, that the Company shall accept a cash or other
payment from the Participant to the extent of any remaining balance of the
aggregate exercise price not satisfied by such reduction in the number of whole
shares to be issued; provided, further, that shares of Common Stock will
no longer be outstanding under an Option and will not be exercisable thereafter
to the extent that (A) shares are used to pay the exercise price pursuant to the
net exercise, (B) shares are delivered to the Participant as a
result of such exercise, and (C) shares are withheld to satisfy tax withholding
obligations; or
(vi) in any other
form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board. (e)
Transferability of Options. The Board may, in its sole discretion, impose
such limitations on the transferability of Options as the Board shall determine.
In the absence of such a determination by the Board to the contrary, the
following restrictions on the transferability of Options shall apply: (i) Restrictions
on Transfer. An Option shall not be transferable except by will or by the
laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of
the Optionholder only by the Optionholder; provided, however, that the Board
may, in its sole discretion, permit transfer of the Option in a manner
consistent with applicable tax and securities laws upon the Optionholders
request. (ii) Domestic
Relations Orders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option may be
transferred pursuant to a domestic relations order. (iii) Beneficiary
Designation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionholder may, by
delivering written notice to the Company, in a form provided by or otherwise
satisfactory to the Company, designate a third party who, in the event of the
death of the Optionholder, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option. (f) Vesting
Generally. The total number of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option
may vest and therefore become exercisable in periodic installments that may or
may not be equal. The Option may be subject to such other terms and conditions
on the time or times A-14 when it may or may not be exercised
(which may be based on the satisfaction of Performance Goals or other criteria) as the
Board may deem appropriate. The vesting provisions of individual Options may vary. The
provisions of this Section 6(f) are subject to any Option provisions governing the
minimum number of shares of Common Stock as to which an Option may be exercised. (g) Termination
of Continuous Service. In the event that an Optionholders Continuous
Service terminates (other than for Cause or upon the Optionholders death
or Disability), the Optionholder may exercise his or her Option (to the extent
that the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of
termination of Continuous Service) but only within such period of time ending on
the earlier of (i) the date three (3) months following the termination of the
Optionholders Continuous Service (or such longer or shorter period
specified in the Option Agreement), or (ii) the expiration of the term of the
Option as set forth in the Option Agreement. If, after termination of Continuous
Service, the Optionholder does not exercise his or her Option within the time
specified herein or in the Option Agreement (as applicable), the Option shall
terminate. (h) Extension of
Termination Date. An Optionholders Option Agreement may provide that
if the exercise of the Option following the termination of the
Optionholders Continuous Service (other than for Cause or upon the
Optionholders death or Disability) would be prohibited at any time solely
because the issuance of shares of Common Stock would violate the registration
requirements under the Securities Act, then the Option shall terminate on the
earlier of (i) the expiration of a period of three (3) months after the
termination of the Optionholders Continuous Service during which the
exercise of the Option would not be in violation of such registration
requirements, or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in
the Option Agreement. (i) Disability of
Optionholder. In the event that an Optionholders Continuous Service
terminates as a result of the Optionholders Disability, the Optionholder
may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the Optionholder was entitled
to exercise such Option as of the date of termination of Continuous Service),
but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date twelve
(12) months following such termination of Continuous Service (or such longer or
shorter period specified in the Option Agreement), or (ii) the expiration of the
term of the Option as set forth in the Option Agreement. If, after termination
of Continuous Service, the Optionholder does not exercise his or her Option
within the time specified herein or in the Option Agreement (as applicable), the
Option shall terminate. (j) Death of
Optionholder. In the event that (i) an Optionholders Continuous
Service terminates as a result of the Optionholders death, or (ii) the
Optionholder dies within the period (if any) specified in the Option Agreement
after the termination of the Optionholders Continuous Service for a reason
other than death, then the Option may be exercised (to the extent the
Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of death) by
the Optionholders estate, by a person who acquired the right to exercise
the Option by bequest or inheritance or by a person designated to exercise the
option upon the Optionholders death, but only within the period ending on
the earlier of (i) the date eighteen (18) months following the date of death (or
such longer or shorter period specified in the Option Agreement), or (ii) the
expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement. If,
after the A-15 Optionholders death, the
Option is not exercised within the time specified herein or in the Option Agreement (as
applicable), the Option shall terminate. (k) Termination
for Cause. Except as explicitly provided otherwise in an Optionholders
Option Agreement, in the event that an Optionholders Continuous Service is
terminated for Cause, the Option shall terminate upon the termination date of
such Optionholders Continuous Service, and the Optionholder shall be
prohibited from exercising his or her Option from and after the time of such
termination of Continuous Service. (a) Stock
Purchase Awards. Each Stock Purchase Award Agreement shall be in such form
and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate.
To the extent consistent with the Companys Bylaws, at the Boards
election, shares of Common Stock may be (x) held in book entry form subject to
the Companys instructions until any restrictions relating to the Stock
Purchase Award lapse; or (y) evidenced by a certificate, which certificate
shall be held in such form and manner as determined by the Board. The terms and
conditions of Stock Purchase Award Agreements may change from time to time, and
the terms and conditions of separate Stock Purchase Award Agreements need not be
identical, provided, however, that each Stock Purchase Award Agreement
shall include (through incorporation of the provisions hereof by reference in
the Agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions: (i) Purchase
Price. At the time of the grant of a Stock Purchase Award, the Board will
determine the price to be paid by the Participant for each share subject to the
Stock Purchase Award. To the extent required by applicable law, the price to be
paid by the Participant for each share of the Stock Purchase Award will not be
less than the par value of a share of Common Stock. (ii)
Consideration. At the time of the grant of a Stock Purchase Award, the
Board will determine the consideration permissible for the payment of the
purchase price of the Stock Purchase Award. The purchase price of Common Stock
acquired pursuant to the Stock Purchase Award shall be paid either: (A) in cash
or by check at the time of purchase, (B) by past or future services actually
rendered to the Company or an Affiliate, or (C) in any other form of legal
consideration that may be acceptable to the Board in its sole discretion and
permissible under applicable law. (iii)
Vesting. Shares of Common Stock acquired under a Stock Purchase Award may
be subject to a share repurchase right or option in favor of the Company in
accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the Board. (iv) Termination
of Participants Continuous Service. In the event that a
Participants Continuous Service terminates, the Company shall have the
right, but not the obligation, to repurchase or otherwise reacquire, any or all
of the shares of Common Stock held by the Participant that have not vested as of
the date of termination under the terms of the Stock Purchase Award Agreement.
At the Boards election, the price paid for all shares of Common Stock so
repurchased or reacquired by the Company may be at the lesser of: (A) the Fair
Market A-16 Value on the relevant date, or (B)
the Participants original cost for such shares. The Company shall not be required
to exercise its repurchase or reacquisition option until at least six (6) months (or
such longer or shorter period of time necessary to avoid a charge to earnings for
financial accounting purposes) have elapsed following the Participants purchase of
the shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the Stock Purchase Award unless
otherwise determined by the Board or provided in the Stock Purchase Award Agreement. (v)
Transferability. Rights to purchase or receive shares of Common Stock
granted under a Stock Purchase Award shall be transferable by the Participant
only upon such terms and conditions as are set forth in the Stock Purchase Award
Agreement, as the Board shall determine in its sole discretion, and so long as
Common Stock awarded under the Stock Purchase Award remains subject to the terms
of the Stock Purchase Award Agreement. (b) Restricted
Stock Awards. Each Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall be in such form
and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate.
To the extent consistent with the Companys Bylaws, at the Boards
election, shares of Common Stock may be (x) held in book entry form subject to
the Companys instructions until any restrictions relating to the
Restricted Stock Award lapse; or (y) evidenced by a certificate, which
certificate shall be held in such form and manner as determined by the Board.
The terms and conditions of Restricted Stock Award Agreements may change from
time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate Restricted Stock Award
Agreements need not be identical, provided, however, that each Restricted
Stock Award Agreement shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof
by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the
following provisions: (i)
Consideration. A Restricted Stock Award may be awarded in consideration
for (A) past or future services actually rendered to the Company or an
Affiliate, or (B) any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable
to the Board in its sole discretion and permissible under applicable law. (ii) Vesting.
Shares of Common Stock awarded under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement may be
subject to forfeiture to the Company in accordance with a vesting schedule to be
determined by the Board. (iii) Termination
of Participants Continuous Service. In the event a Participants
Continuous Service terminates, the Company may receive via a forfeiture
condition, any or all of the shares of Common Stock held by the Participant
which have not vested as of the date of termination of Continuous Service under
the terms of the Restricted Stock Award Agreement. (iv)
Transferability. Rights to acquire shares of Common Stock under the
Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall be transferable by the Participant only
upon such terms and conditions as are set forth in the Restricted Stock Award
Agreement, as the Board shall determine in its sole discretion, so long as
Common Stock awarded under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement remains subject
to the terms of the Restricted Stock Award Agreement. A-17 (c) Restricted
Stock Unit Awards. Each Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement shall be in
such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem
appropriate. The terms and conditions of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreements
may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate
Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreements need not be identical, provided,
however, that each Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement shall include
(through incorporation of the provisions hereof by reference in the Agreement or
otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions: (i)
Consideration. At the time of grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the
Board will determine the consideration, if any, to be paid by the Participant
upon delivery of each share of Common Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Unit
Award. The consideration to be paid (if any) by the Participant for each share
of Common Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Unit Award may be paid in any form
of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board in its sole
discretion and permissible under applicable law. (ii) Vesting.
At the time of the grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Board may
impose such restrictions or conditions to the vesting of the Restricted Stock
Unit Award as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate. (iii)
Payment. A Restricted Stock Unit Award may be settled by the delivery of
shares of Common Stock, their cash equivalent, any combination thereof or in any
other form of consideration, as determined by the Board and contained in the
Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement. (iv) Additional
Restrictions. At the time of the grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the
Board, as it deems appropriate, may impose such restrictions or conditions that
delay the delivery of the shares of Common Stock (or their cash equivalent)
subject to a Restricted Stock Unit Award to a time after the vesting of such
Restricted Stock Unit Award. (v) Dividend
Equivalents. Dividend equivalents may be credited in respect of shares of
Common Stock covered by a Restricted Stock Unit Award, as determined by the
Board and contained in the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement. At the sole
discretion of the Board, such dividend equivalents may be converted into
additional shares of Common Stock covered by the Restricted Stock Unit Award in
such manner as determined by the Board. Any additional shares covered by the
Restricted Stock Unit Award credited by reason of such dividend equivalents will
be subject to all the terms and conditions of the underlying Restricted Stock
Unit Award Agreement to which they relate. (vi) Termination
of Participants Continuous Service. Except as otherwise provided in
the applicable Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, such portion of the
Restricted Stock Unit Award that has not vested will be forfeited upon the
Participants termination of Continuous Service. (vii) Compliance
with Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set
forth herein, any Restricted Stock Unit Award granted under the Plan that is not
exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code shall contain such
provisions so that such Restricted Stock Unit Award will comply with the
requirements of Section 409A of the A-18 Code. Such restrictions, if any,
shall be determined by the Board and contained in the Restricted Stock Unit Award
Agreement evidencing such Restricted Stock Unit Award. For example, such restrictions
may include, without limitation, a requirement that any Common Stock that is to be
issued in a year following the year in which the Restricted Stock Unit Award vests must
be issued in accordance with a fixed pre-determined schedule. (d) Stock
Appreciation Rights. Each Stock Appreciation Right Agreement shall be in
such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem
appropriate. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted as stand-alone Stock
Awards or in tandem with other Stock Awards. The terms and conditions of Stock
Appreciation Right Agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and
conditions of separate Stock Appreciation Right Agreements need not be
identical; provided, however, that each Stock Appreciation Right
Agreement shall include (through incorporation of the provisions hereof by
reference in the Agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following
provisions: (i) Term. No
Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10)
years from the date of its grant or such shorter period specified in the Stock
Appreciation Right Agreement. (ii) Strike
Price. Each Stock Appreciation Right will be denominated in shares of Common
Stock equivalents. The strike price of each Stock Appreciation Right granted as
a stand-alone or tandem Stock Award shall not be less than one hundred percent
(100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock equivalents subject to the
Stock Appreciation Right on the date of grant. (iii) Calculation
of Appreciation. The appreciation distribution payable on the exercise of a
Stock Appreciation Right will be not greater than an amount equal to the excess
of (A) the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the date of the exercise of the Stock
Appreciation Right) of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of
share of Common Stock equivalents in which the Participant is vested under such
Stock Appreciation Right, and with respect to which the Participant is
exercising the Stock Appreciation Right on such date, over (B) the strike price
that will be determined by the Board at the time of grant of the Stock
Appreciation Right. (iv) Vesting.
At the time of the grant of a Stock Appreciation Right, the Board may impose
such restrictions or conditions to the vesting of such Stock Appreciation Right
as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate. (v) Exercise.
To exercise any outstanding Stock Appreciation Right, the Participant must
provide written notice of exercise to the Company in compliance with the
provisions of the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement evidencing such Stock
Appreciation Right. (vi) Payment.
The appreciation distribution in respect to a Stock Appreciation Right may be
paid in Common Stock, in cash, in any combination of the two or in any other
form of consideration, as determined by the Board and contained in the Stock
Appreciation Right Agreement evidencing such Stock Appreciation Right. A-19 (vii) Termination
of Continuous Service. In the event that a Participants Continuous
Service terminates (other than for Cause), the Participant may exercise his or
her Stock Appreciation Right (to the extent that the Participant was entitled to
exercise such Stock Appreciation Right as of the date of termination) but only
within such period of time ending on the earlier of (A) the date three (3)
months following the termination of the Participants Continuous Service
(or such longer or shorter period specified in the Stock Appreciation Right
Agreement), or (B) the expiration of the term of the Stock Appreciation Right as
set forth in the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement. If, after termination, the
Participant does not exercise his or her Stock Appreciation Right within the
time specified herein or in the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement (as
applicable), the Stock Appreciation Right shall terminate. (viii)
Termination for Cause. Except as explicitly provided otherwise in an
Participants Stock Appreciation Right Agreement, in the event that a
Participants Continuous Service is terminated for Cause, the Stock
Appreciation Right shall terminate upon the termination date of such
Participants Continuous Service, and the Participant shall be prohibited
from exercising his or her Stock Appreciation Right from and after the time of
such termination of Continuous Service. (ix) Compliance
with Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set
forth herein, any Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan that are not
exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code shall contain such
provisions so that such Stock Appreciation Rights will comply with the
requirements of Section 409A of the Code. Such restrictions, if any, shall be
determined by the Board and contained in the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement
evidencing such Stock Appreciation Right. For example, such restrictions may
include, without limitation, a requirement that a Stock Appreciation Right that
is to be paid wholly or partly in cash must be exercised and paid in accordance
with a fixed pre-determined schedule. (e) Performance
Awards. (i) Performance Stock
Awards. A Performance Stock Award is a Stock Award that may be granted, may
vest, or may be exercised based upon the attainment during a Performance Period
of certain Performance Goals. A Performance Stock Award may, but need not,
require the completion of a specified period of Continuous Service. The length
of any Performance Period, the Performance Goals to be achieved during the
Performance Period, and the measure of whether and to what degree such
Performance Goals have been attained shall be conclusively determined by the
Committee in its sole discretion. The maximum benefit to be received by any
Participant in any calendar year attributable to Stock Awards described in this
Section 7(e) shall not exceed the value of three million (3,000,000) shares of
Common Stock. (ii) Performance
Cash Awards. A Performance Cash Award is a cash award that may be granted
upon the attainment during a Performance Period of certain Performance Goals. A
Performance Cash Award may also require the completion of a specified period of
Continuous Service. The length of any Performance Period, the Performance Goals
to be achieved during the Performance Period, and the measure of whether and to
what degree such Performance Goals have been attained shall be conclusively
determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. The maximum benefit to be
received by any Participant in any calendar year A-20 attributable to cash awards
described in this Section 7(e) shall not exceed three million dollars ($3,000,000). (f) Other Stock
Awards. Other forms of Stock Awards valued in whole or in part by reference
to, or otherwise based on, Common Stock may be granted either alone or in
addition to Stock Awards provided for under Section 6 and the preceding
provisions of this Section 7. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board
shall have sole and complete authority to determine the persons to whom and the
time or times at which such Other Stock Awards will be granted, the number of
shares of Common Stock (or the cash equivalent thereof) to be granted pursuant
to such Other Stock Awards and all other terms and conditions of such Other
Stock Awards. (a) Availability
of Shares. During the terms of the Stock Awards, the Company shall keep
available at all times the number of shares of Common Stock required to satisfy
such Stock Awards. (b) Securities
Law Compliance. The Company shall seek to obtain from each regulatory
commission or agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such authority as may be
required to grant Stock Awards and to issue and sell shares of Common Stock upon
exercise of the Stock Awards; provided, however, that this undertaking
shall not require the Company to register under the Securities Act the Plan, any
Stock Award or any Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to any such Stock
Award. If, after reasonable efforts, the Company is unable to obtain from any
such regulatory commission or agency the authority that counsel for the Company
deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of Common Stock under the Plan,
the Company shall be relieved from any liability for failure to issue and sell
Common Stock upon exercise of such Stock Awards unless and until such authority
is obtained. Proceeds
from the sale of shares of Common Stock pursuant to Stock Awards shall
constitute general funds of the Company. (a) Corporate
Action Constituting Grant of Stock Awards. Corporate action constituting an
offer by the Company of Common Stock to any Participant under the terms of a
Stock Award shall be deemed completed as of the date of such corporate action,
unless otherwise determined by the Board, regardless of when the instrument,
certificate, or letter evidencing the Stock Award is actually received or
accepted by the Participant. (b) Stockholder
Rights. No Participant shall be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any
of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares of Common Stock subject to
such Stock Award unless and until such Participant has satisfied all
requirements for exercise of the Stock Award pursuant to its terms. A-21 (c) No Employment
or Other Service Rights. Nothing in the Plan, any Stock Award Agreement or
other instrument executed thereunder or in connection with any Award granted
pursuant to the Plan shall confer upon any Participant any right to continue to
serve the Company or an Affiliate in the capacity in effect at the time the
Stock Award was granted or shall affect the right of the Company or an Affiliate
to terminate (i) the employment of an Employee with or without notice and with
or without cause, (ii) the service of a Consultant pursuant to the terms of such
Consultants agreement with the Company or an Affiliate, or (iii) the
service of a Director pursuant to the Bylaws of the Company or an Affiliate, and
any applicable provisions of the corporate law of the state in which the Company
or the Affiliate is incorporated, as the case may be. (d) Incentive
Stock Option $100,000 Limitation. To the extent that the aggregate Fair
Market Value (determined at the time of grant) of Common Stock with respect to
which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any
Optionholder during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and any
Affiliates) exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), the Options or
portions thereof that exceed such limit (according to the order in which they
were granted) shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options, notwithstanding
any contrary provision of the applicable Option Agreement(s). (e) Investment
Assurances. The Company may require a Participant, as a condition of
exercising or acquiring Common Stock under any Stock Award, (i) to give written
assurances satisfactory to the Company as to the Participants knowledge
and experience in financial and business matters and/or to employ a purchaser
representative reasonably satisfactory to the Company who is knowledgeable and
experienced in financial and business matters and that he or she is capable of
evaluating, alone or together with the purchaser representative, the merits and
risks of exercising the Stock Award; and (ii) to give written assurances
satisfactory to the Company stating that the Participant is acquiring Common
Stock subject to the Stock Award for the Participants own account and not
with any present intention of selling or otherwise distributing the Common
Stock. The foregoing requirements, and any assurances given pursuant to such
requirements, shall be inoperative if (x) the issuance of the shares upon the
exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under the Stock Award has been
registered under a then currently effective registration statement under the
Securities Act, or (y) as to any particular requirement, a determination is made
by counsel for the Company that such requirement need not be met in the
circumstances under the then applicable securities laws. The Company may, upon
advice of counsel to the Company, place legends on stock certificates issued
under the Plan as such counsel deems necessary or appropriate in order to comply
with applicable securities laws, including, but not limited to, legends
restricting the transfer of the Common Stock. (f) Withholding
Obligations. To the extent provided by the terms of a Stock Award Agreement,
the Company may, in its sole discretion, satisfy any federal, state or local tax
withholding obligation relating to a Stock Award by any of the following means
(in addition to the Companys right to withhold from any compensation paid
to the Participant by the Company) or by a combination of such means: (i)
causing the Participant to tender a cash payment; (ii) withholding
shares of Common Stock from the shares of Common Stock issued or otherwise
issuable to the Participant in connection with the Stock Award; or (iii) by such
other method as may be set forth in the Stock Award Agreement. A-22 (g) Electronic
Delivery. Any reference herein to a written agreement or
document shall include any agreement or document delivered electronically or
posted on the Companys intranet. (a)
Capitalization Adjustments. If any change is made in, or other events
occur with respect to, the Common Stock subject to the Plan or subject to any
Stock Award after the Effective Date without the receipt of consideration by the
Company (through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization,
reincorporation, stock dividend, dividend in property other than cash, stock
split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change
in corporate structure or other transaction not involving the receipt of
consideration by the Company (each a Capitalization
Adjustment)), the Board shall appropriately adjust: (i) the
class(es) and maximum number of securities subject to the Plan pursuant to
Section 4(a), (ii) the class(es) and maximum number of securities that may be
issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options pursuant to Section
4(c), (iii) the class(es) and maximum number of securities that may be
awarded to any person pursuant to Section 5(c) and 7(e)(i) , and (iv) the
class(es) and number of securities and price per share of stock subject to
outstanding Stock Awards. The Board shall make such adjustments, and its
determination shall be final, binding and conclusive. (Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not
be treated as a transaction without receipt of consideration by the
Company.) (b) Dissolution
or Liquidation. In the event of a dissolution or liquidation of the Company,
all outstanding Stock Awards (other than Stock Awards consisting of vested and
outstanding shares of Common Stock not subject to the Companys right of
repurchase) shall terminate immediately prior to the completion of such
dissolution or liquidation, and the shares of Common Stock subject to the
Companys repurchase option may be repurchased by the Company
notwithstanding the fact that the holder of such Stock Award is providing
Continuous Service, provided, however, that the Board may, in its sole
discretion, cause some or all Stock Awards to become fully vested, exercisable
and/or no longer subject to repurchase or forfeiture (to the extent such Stock
Awards have not previously expired or terminated) before the dissolution or
liquidation is completed but contingent on its completion. (c) Corporate
Transaction. The following provisions shall apply to Stock Awards in the
event of a Corporate Transaction unless otherwise provided in the instrument
evidencing the Stock Award or any other written agreement between the Company or
any Affiliate and the holder of the Stock Award or unless otherwise expressly
provided by the Board at the time of grant of a Stock Award. (i) Stock Awards
May Be Assumed. In the event of a Corporate Transaction, any surviving
corporation or acquiring corporation (or the surviving or acquiring
corporations parent company) may assume or continue any or all Stock
Awards outstanding under the Plan or may substitute similar stock awards for
Stock Awards outstanding under the Plan (including but not limited to, awards to
acquire the same consideration paid to the stockholders of the Company pursuant
to the Corporate Transaction), and any reacquisition or repurchase rights held
by the Company in respect of Common Stock issued pursuant to Stock A-23 Awards may be assigned by the
Company to the successor of the Company (or the successors parent company, if
any), in connection with such Corporate Transaction. A surviving corporation or
acquiring corporation (or its parent) may choose to assume or continue only a portion of
a Stock Award or substitute a similar stock award for only a portion of a Stock Award.
The terms of any assumption, continuation or substitution shall be set by the Board in
accordance with the provisions of Section 3. (ii) Stock Awards
Held by Current Participants. In the event of a Corporate Transaction in
which the surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or its parent company)
does not assume or continue such outstanding Stock Awards or substitute similar
stock awards for such outstanding Stock Awards, then with respect to Stock
Awards that have not been assumed, continued or substituted and that are held by
Participants whose Continuous Service has not terminated prior to the effective
time of the Corporate Transaction (referred to as the Current
Participants), the vesting of such Stock Awards (and, if
applicable, the time at which such Stock Awards may be exercised) shall
(contingent upon the effectiveness of the Corporate Transaction) be accelerated
in full to a date prior to the effective time of such Corporate Transaction as
the Board shall determine (or, if the Board shall not determine such a date, to
the date that is five (5) days prior to the effective time of the Corporate
Transaction), and such Stock Awards shall terminate if not exercised (if
applicable) at or prior to the effective time of the Corporate Transaction, and
any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company with respect to such
Stock Awards shall lapse (contingent upon the effectiveness of the Corporate
Transaction). (iii) Stock
Awards Held by Persons other than Current Participants. In the event of a
Corporate Transaction in which the surviving corporation or acquiring
corporation (or its parent company) does not assume or continue such outstanding
Stock Awards or substitute similar stock awards for such outstanding Stock
Awards, then with respect to Stock Awards that have not been assumed, continued
or substituted and that are held by persons other than Current Participants, the
vesting of such Stock Awards (and, if applicable, the time at which such Stock
Award may be exercised) shall not be accelerated and such Stock Awards (other
than a Stock Award consisting of vested and outstanding shares of Common Stock
not subject to the Companys right of repurchase) shall terminate if not
exercised (if applicable) prior to the effective time of the Corporate
Transaction; provided, however, that any reacquisition or repurchase
rights held by the Company with respect to such Stock Awards shall not terminate
and may continue to be exercised notwithstanding the Corporate Transaction. (iv) Payment for
Stock Awards in Lieu of Exercise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the
event a Stock Award will terminate if not exercised prior to the effective time
of a Corporate Transaction, the Board may provide, in its sole discretion, that
the holder of such Stock Award may not exercise such Stock Award but will
receive a payment, in such form as may be determined by the Board, equal in
value to the excess, if any, of (A) the value of the property the holder of the
Stock Award would have received upon the exercise of the Stock Award, over (B)
any exercise price payable by such holder in connection with such exercise. (d) Change in
Control. Unless otherwise specified in an applicable Stock Award Agreement,
in the event of a Change in Control each outstanding Stock Award (other than a
Stock Award that vests solely upon the satisfaction of Performance Goals) that
is held by a A-24 person whose Continuous Service has
not terminated prior to the Change in Control shall become immediately vested in that
number of shares that would have been vested as of the date that is twelve months
following the date of the Change in Control. This Section 11(d) shall not apply to any
Stock Award the vesting of which is based solely on the satisfaction of Performance
Goals. Following the acceleration provided in this Section 11(d), any unvested shares
of Common Stock remaining subject to a Stock Award shall vest in equal installments over
a vesting period that is twelve months shorter than the vesting period immediately prior
to the Change in Control. For purposes of illustration, assume at the time immediately
prior to a Change in Control (i) the number of unvested shares of Common Stock subject
to an option is seventy-two (72) shares and (ii) such shares are vesting monthly such
that two (2) shares are vesting each month (over a thirty-six (36) month period). In
such event, upon a Change in Control (A) twenty-four (24) of such shares will
immediately vest, and (B) the remaining forty-eight (48) unvested shares of Common Stock
subject to the Stock Award shall continue to vest in equal monthly installments of two
(2) shares per month over the remaining twenty-four (24) months. In the event that the
vesting of a Stock Award is accelerated pursuant to the terms of Section 11(c), above,
the acceleration provisions of this Section 11(d) shall not be applicable to such Stock
Award. (e) Parachute
Payments.
(i) Except as
otherwise provided in a written agreement between the Company and a Participant,
if the acceleration of the vesting and exercisability of Awards provided for in
Sections 11(c) and 11(d), together with payments and other benefits of a
Participant (collectively, the Payment) (i)
constitute a parachute payment within the meaning of Section 280G of
the Code, or any comparable successor provisions, and (ii) but for this Section
11(e) would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, or
any comparable successor provisions (the Excise
Tax), then such Payment shall be either (1) provided to
such Participant in full, or (2) provided to such Participant as to such lesser
extent that would result in no portion of such Payment being subject to the
Excise Tax, whichever of the foregoing amounts, when taking into account
applicable federal, state, local and foreign income and employment taxes, the
Excise Tax, and any other applicable taxes, results in the receipt by such
Participant, on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of the Payment,
notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Payment may be subject to the
Excise Tax.
(ii) The Company
shall appoint a nationally recognized independent accounting firm (the
Accountant) to make the determinations required
hereunder, which accounting firm shall not then be serving as accountant or
auditor for the individual, entity or group that effected the Change in Control.
The Company shall bear all costs and expenses with respect to the determinations
the Accountant may reasonably incur in connection with any calculations
contemplated by this Section 11(e).
(iii) Unless the
Company and such Participant otherwise agree in writing, any determination
required under this Section 11(e) shall be made in writing in good faith by the
Accountant. If a reduction in the Payment is to be made as provided above,
reductions shall occur in the following order unless the Participant elects in
writing a different order (provided, however, that such election shall be
subject to Company approval if made on or after the date that triggers the
Payment or a portion thereof):(A) reduction of cash payments; (B) cancellation A-25 of accelerated vesting of Options
and other Awards; and (C) reduction of other benefits paid to the Participant. If
acceleration of vesting of Awards is to be reduced, such acceleration of vesting shall
be cancelled in the reverse order of date of grant of the Awards (i.e., the earliest
granted Award cancelled last) unless the Participant elects in writing a different order
for cancellation.
(iv) For purposes of
making the calculations required by this Section 11(e), the Accountant may make
reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may
rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of the
Code and other applicable legal authority. The Company and the Participant shall
furnish to the Accountant such information and documents as the Accountant may
reasonably request in order to make such a determination. The Company shall bear
all costs that the Accountant may reasonably incur in connection with any
calculations contemplated by this Section 11(e).
(v) If,
notwithstanding any reduction described above, the Internal Revenue Service (the
IRS) determines that the Participant is liable
for the Excise Tax as a result of the Payment, then the Participant shall be
obligated to pay back to the Company, within thirty (30) days after a final IRS
determination or, in the event that the Participant challenges the final IRS
determination, a final judicial determination, a portion of the Payment (the
Repayment Amount). The Repayment Amount with
respect to the Payment shall be the smallest such amount, if any, as shall be
required to be paid to the Company so that the Participants net after-tax
proceeds with respect to the Payment (after taking into account the payment of
the Excise Tax and all other applicable taxes imposed on the Payment) shall be
maximized. The Repayment Amount with respect to the Payment shall be zero if a
Repayment Amount of more than zero would not result in the Participants
net after-tax proceeds with respect to the Payment being maximized. If the
Excise Tax is not eliminated pursuant to this paragraph, the Optionholder shall
pay the Excise Tax.
(vi) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Section 11(e), if (A) there is a reduction in the
Payment as described above, (B) the IRS later determines that the Participant is
liable for the Excise Tax, the payment of which would result in the maximization
of the Participants net after-tax proceeds of the Payment (calculated as
if the Payment had not previously been reduced), and (C) the Participant the
Excise Tax, then the Company shall pay or otherwise provide to the Participant
that portion of the Payment that was reduced pursuant to this Section 11(e)
contemporaneously or as soon as administratively possible after the Optionholder
pays the Excise Tax so that the Participants net after-tax proceeds with
respect to the Payment are maximized.
(vii) If the
Participant either (A) brings any action to enforce rights pursuant to this
Section 11(e), or (B) defends any legal challenge to his or her rights under
this Section 11(e), the Participant shall be entitled to recover attorneys
fees and costs incurred in connection with such action, regardless of the
outcome of such action; provided, however, that if such action is
commenced by the Participant, the court finds that the action was brought in
good faith. A-26 (a) Plan
Term. Unless sooner terminated by the Board pursuant to Section 3, the Plan
shall automatically terminate on the day before the tenth (10th) anniversary of
the date the Plan is adopted by the Board or approved by the stockholders of the
Company, whichever is earlier. No Awards may be granted under the Plan while the
Plan is suspended or after it is terminated. (b) No Impairment
of Rights. Termination of the Plan shall not impair rights and obligations
under any Award granted while the Plan is in effect except with the written
consent of the affected Participant. This
Plan shall become effective on the Effective Date. The
law of the State of California shall govern all questions concerning the
construction, validity and interpretation of this Plan, without regard to such
states conflict of laws rules. A-27 VOTE BY
INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for
electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time
the day before the meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand
when you access the web site and follow the instructions to
obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction
form.
ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE SHAREHOLDER
COMMUNICATIONS
If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by Chordiant
Software, Inc. in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to
receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual
reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for
electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote
using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree
to receive or access shareholder communications electronically
in future years.
VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903 Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions
up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the meeting date.
Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the
instructions. VOTE BY MAIL Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postagepaid
envelope we have provided or return it to Chordiant
Software, Inc., c/o ADP, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.
TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW
IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: CHRDN1 KEEP
THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS DETACH
AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. CHORDIANT SOFTWARE, INC. Vote on Directors For Withhold For All To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, mark For All Except and write the
nominees name on the line below. All All Except 1. To elect two (2) directors to hold office until the 2008 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders. Nominees: (01) Stephen Kelly and (02) Steven R. Springsteel o o o Vote on Proposals For Against Abstain 2. To ratify the selection of BDO Seidman, LLP as Chordiants independent registered public accounting firm for its fiscal year ending
September 30, 2005. o o o 3. To approve Chordiants 2005 Equity Incentive Plan. o o o For address changes and/or comments, please check
this box and write them on the back where indicated o Yes No Please
indicate if you plan to attend this meeting o o HOUSEHOLDING ELECTION - Please indicate if you
consent to receive certain future investor communications in a single package per household o o Signature [PLEASE SIGN
WITHIN BOX] Date Signature (Joint Owners) Date CHORDIANT SOFTWARE, INC. The undersigned hereby appoints Stephen Kelly, George de Urioste and Cary Morgan and each of them, as attorneys and proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to vote all of the shares of stock of Chordiant Software, Inc., a Delaware corporation, that the undersigned may be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Chordiant Software, Inc. to be held at the principal offices of Chordiant, 20400 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 400, Cupertino, CA 95014 on September 27, 2005 at 9:00 a.m., local time, and at any and all postponements, continuations and adjournments thereof, with all powers that the undersigned would possess if personally present, upon and in respect of the matters listed on the reverse side and in accordance with the instructions designated on the reverse side, with discretionary authority as to any and all other matters that may properly come before the meeting.
Unless a contrary direction is indicated, this Proxy will be voted FOR all nominees listed in Proposal 1 and FOR Proposals 2 and 3, as more specifically described in the Proxy Statement. If specific instructions
are indicated, this Proxy will be voted in accordance therewith. Address
Changes/Comments: (If
you noted any Address Changes/Comments above, please mark corresponding box
on the reverse side.) SEE OTHER CONTINUED, AND TO BE DATED AND SIGNED ON
OTHER SIDE SEE OTHER
3. ADMINISTRATION.
4. SHARES
SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.
5. ELIGIBILITY.
6. OPTION
PROVISIONS.
7. PROVISIONS
OF STOCK AWARDS OTHER THAN OPTIONS.
8. COVENANTS
OF THE COMPANY.
9. USE OF
PROCEEDS FROM SALES OF COMMON STOCK.
10. MISCELLANEOUS.
11. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN COMMON STOCK; OTHER CORPORATE EVENTS.
12. TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF THE PLAN.
13. EFFECTIVE
DATE OF PLAN.
14. CHOICE OF
LAW.
CHORDIANT SOFTWARE, INC.
20400 STEVENS CREEK BLVD.
CUPERTINO, CA 95014
PROXY SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2005
The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Chordiant Software, Inc.
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