UNITED STATES |
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION |
Washington, D.C. 20549 |
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SCHEDULE 14A |
(Rule 14a-101) |
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT |
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SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION |
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Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) |
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
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Filed by the Registrant x |
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ¨ |
Check the appropriate box: |
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for the use of the Commission only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
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eLEC COMMUNICATIONS CORP. |
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) |
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(Name(s) of Person Filing Proxy Statement, if Other than Registrant) |
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Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): |
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No fee required |
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
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Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0- |
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11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): |
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
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(5) |
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Total fee paid: |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials: |
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-1l(a)(2) and identify the filing |
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for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement |
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number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
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Amount Previously Paid: |
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(2) |
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
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(3) |
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Filing Party: |
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(4) |
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Date Filed: |
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eLEC COMMUNICATIONS CORP. |
75 South Broadway, Suite 302 |
White Plains, New York 10601 |
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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS |
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TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2007 |
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May 7, 2007 |
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To the shareholders of eLEC Communications Corp.: |
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Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting of shareholders of eLEC Communications Corp., a New |
York corporation, will be held at our executive offices located at 75 South Broadway, White Plains, New York |
10601 on Thursday, June 7, 2007 at 10:00 A.M., local time, for the following purposes: |
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1. |
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To elect five directors to our board of directors for the fiscal year ending November 30, 2007; |
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2. |
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To consider and vote upon a proposal to approve and adopt our 2007 Equity Incentive Plan; |
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3. |
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To consider and vote upon a proposal to amend our Certificate of Incorporation to change the |
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name of our company from eLEC Communications Corp. to Pervasip Corp.; |
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4. |
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To consider and vote upon a proposal to amend our Certificate of Incorporation to increase the |
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total number of shares of capital stock that we are authorized to issue to one hundred fifty-one |
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million (151,000,000) shares, of which one hundred fifty million (150,000,000) shares shall be |
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common stock, par value $.10 per share, and one million (1,000,000) shares shall be preferred |
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stock, par value $.10 per share; |
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5. |
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To consider and vote upon a proposal to amend our Certificate of Incorporation to change the par |
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value of our shares of capital stock from $.10 per share to $.001 per share and reclassify the |
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outstanding shares of capital stock into such lower par value shares; |
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6. |
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To consider and vote upon a proposal to ratify the appointment of Nussbaum Yates & Wolpow, |
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P.C., as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending |
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November 30, 2007; and |
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7. |
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To consider and act upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting. |
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The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the proxy statement accompanying this notice. |
Our board of directors has fixed the close of business on Monday, April 30, 2007 as the record date for the |
determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting and at any adjournment or |
postponement thereof. |
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Whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting, you should complete, sign, date and promptly return |
the enclosed proxy card, to ensure that your shares will be represented at the meeting. If you attend the annual |
meeting and wish to vote in person, you may withdraw your proxy and vote in person. You should not send any |
certificates representing stock with your proxy card. |
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Sincerely, |
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PAUL H. RISS |
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Chairman of the Board |
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eLEC COMMUNICATIONS CORP. |
75 South Broadway, Suite 302 |
White Plains, New York 10601 |
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PROXY STATEMENT |
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Date, Time and Place of the Annual Meeting |
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This proxy statement is furnished to the shareholders of eLEC Communications Corp. in connection with |
the solicitation, by order of our board of directors, of proxies to be voted at the annual meeting of shareholders to be |
held on Thursday, June 7, 2007 at 10:00 A.M., local time, at our executive offices located at 75 South Broadway, |
Suite 302, White Plains, New York 10601, and at any adjournment or adjournments thereof. The accompanying |
proxy is being solicited on behalf of our board of directors. We intend to release this proxy statement and the |
enclosed proxy card to our shareholders on or about Monday, May 7, 2007. |
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Purpose of the Annual Meeting |
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At the annual meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote upon the following matters: |
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1. |
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To elect five directors to our board of directors for the fiscal year ending November 30, 2007; |
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To consider and vote upon a proposal to approve and adopt our 2007 Equity Incentive Plan; |
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To consider and vote upon a proposal to amend our Certificate of Incorporation to change the |
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name of our company from eLEC Communications Corp. to Pervasip Corp.; |
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4. |
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To consider and vote upon a proposal to amend our Certificate of Incorporation to increase the |
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total number of shares of capital stock that we are authorized to issue to one hundred fifty-one |
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million (151,000,000) shares, of which one hundred fifty million (150,000,000) shares shall be |
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common stock, par value $.10 per share, and one million (1,000,000) shares shall be preferred |
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stock, par value $.10 per share; |
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5. |
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To consider and vote upon a proposal to amend our Certificate of Incorporation to change the par |
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value of our shares of capital stock from $.10 per share to $.001 per share and reclassify the |
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outstanding shares of capital stock into such lower par value shares; |
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6. |
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To consider and vote upon a proposal to ratify the appointment of Nussbaum Yates & Wolpow, |
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P.C., as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending |
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November 30, 2007; and |
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7. |
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To consider and act upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting. |
Voting and Revocation of Proxies; Adjournment |
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All of our voting securities represented by valid proxies, unless the shareholder otherwise specifies therein |
or unless revoked, will be voted FOR each of the director nominees set forth herein, FOR the approval of the |
adoption of our 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, FOR the amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to change our |
name, FOR the amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to increase the total number of shares of capital stock |
that we are authorized to issue, FOR the amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to reduce the par value of our |
shares of capital stock, FOR the ratification of Nussbaum Yates & Wolpow, P.C. as our independent auditors and at |
the discretion of the proxy holders on any other matters that may properly come before the annual meeting. Our |
board of directors does not know of any matters to be considered at the annual meeting other than as set forth herein. |
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If a shareholder has appropriately specified how a proxy is to be voted, it will be voted accordingly. Any |
shareholder has the power to revoke such shareholders proxy at any time before it is voted. A shareholder may |
revoke a proxy by delivering a written statement to our corporate secretary stating that the proxy is revoked, by |
submitting a subsequent proxy signed by the same person who signed the prior proxy, or by voting in person at the |
annual meeting. |
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As of March 31, 2007, we had a total of 22,459,282 shares of common stock outstanding. A plurality of the |
votes cast at the annual meeting by the shareholders entitled to vote in the election is required to elect the director |
nominees and a majority of the votes cast by the shareholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting is required to |
approve the proposed adoption of our 2007 Equity Incentive Plan and to take any other action, including the |
amendments to our Certificate of Incorporation and the approval of our independent auditors. For purposes of |
determining whether a proposal has received the required vote, abstentions will be included in the vote totals, with |
the result being that an abstention will have the same effect as a negative vote. In instances where brokers are |
prohibited from exercising discretionary authority for beneficial holders who have not returned a proxy (so-called |
"broker non-votes"), those shares will not be included in the vote totals and, therefore, will also have the same effect |
as a negative vote. Shares that abstain or for which the authority to vote is withheld on certain matters will, however, |
be treated as present for quorum purposes on all matters. |
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In the event that sufficient votes in favor of any of the matters to come before the meeting are not received |
by the date of the annual meeting, the persons named as proxies may propose one or more adjournments of the |
annual meeting to permit further solicitation of proxies. Any such adjournment will require the affirmative vote of |
the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock present in person or by proxy at the annual meeting. The |
persons named as proxies will vote in favor of any such proposed adjournment or adjournments. Under New York |
law, shareholders will not have appraisal or similar rights in connection with any proposal set forth in this proxy |
statement. |
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Solicitation |
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The solicitation of proxies pursuant to this proxy statement will be primarily by mail. In addition, certain of |
our directors, officers or other employees may solicit proxies by telephone, telegraph, mail or personal interviews, |
and arrangements may be made with banks, brokerage firms and others to forward solicitation material to the |
beneficial owners of shares held by them of record. No additional compensation will be paid to our directors, |
officers or other employees for such services. We will bear the cost of the solicitation of proxies related to the |
annual meeting. |
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Quorum and Voting Rights |
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Our board of directors has fixed Monday, April 30, 2007, as the record date for the determination of |
shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting. Holders of record of shares of our common |
stock at the close of business on the record date will be entitled to one vote for each share held. The presence, in |
person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities entitled to vote at the annual |
meeting is necessary to constitute a quorum at the annual meeting. |
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2 |
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF |
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The following table sets forth, as of April 2, 2007, the names, addresses and number of shares of our |
common stock beneficially owned by all persons known to us to be beneficial owners of more than 5% of the |
outstanding shares of common stock, and the names and number of shares beneficially owned by all of our directors |
and all of our executive officers and directors as a group (except as indicated, each beneficial owner listed exercises |
sole voting power and sole dispositive power over the shares beneficially owned). As of April 2, 2007, we had a |
total of 22,459,282 shares of common stock outstanding. |
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Number of Shares |
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Percent of Shares |
Name and Address |
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Beneficially Owned |
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Beneficially Owned |
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Paul H. Riss |
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2,302,000(1) |
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10.1% |
eLEC Communications Corp. |
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75 South Broadway, Suite 302 |
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White Plains, New York 10601 |
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Michael H. Khalilian |
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478 E. Altamonte Drive, Suite 108-480 |
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800,000(2) |
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3.5% |
Altamonte Springs, Florida 32701 |
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Mark Richards |
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660,000(3) |
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2.9% |
610 Sycamore Street, Suite 120 |
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Celebration, Florida 34747 |
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S. Miller Williams |
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500,000 |
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2.2% |
PO Box 15055 |
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Asheville, NC 28813 |
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Greg M. Cooper |
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125,000(4) |
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* |
Cooper, Niemann & Co., CPAs, LLP |
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PO Box 190 |
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Mongaup Valley, New York 12762 |
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53,300(5) |
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* |
Gayle Greer |
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75 South Broadway, Suite 302 |
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White Plains, New York 10601 |
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All directors and executive officers |
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4,440,300 |
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18.4% |
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as a group (six individuals) |
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* Less than 1%. |
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(1) |
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Includes 350,000 shares of common stock subject to options that are presently exercisable or exercisable within |
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60 days after April 2, 2007. |
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(2) |
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Includes 675,000 shares of common stock subject to options that are presently exercisable or exercisable within |
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60 days after April 2, 2007. |
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(3) |
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Includes 550,000 shares of common stock subject to options that are presently exercisable or exercisable within |
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60 days after April 2, 2007. |
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3 |
(4) |
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Includes 85,000 shares of common stock subject to options that are presently exercisable or exercisable within |
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60 days after April 2, 2007. |
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(5) |
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Includes 50,000 shares of common stock subject to options that are presently exercisable or exercisable within |
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60 days after April 2, 2007. |
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ELECTION OF DIRECTORS |
(Proxy Item 1) |
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Our amended and restated by-laws provide that the number of our directors shall be at least three, except |
that when all the shares are owned beneficially and of record by fewer than three shareholders, the number of |
directors may be less than three but not less than the number of shareholders. Subject to the foregoing limitation, |
such number may be fixed from time to time by action of our board of directors or of the shareholders, or, if the |
number of directors is not so fixed, the number shall be five. In May 2007, our board of directors fixed the number |
of directors at six. The board currently consists of five members, and all of those members are standing for re- |
election. The term of office of the directors is one year, expiring on the date of the next annual meeting, or when |
their respective successors shall have been elected and shall qualify, or upon their prior death, resignation or |
removal. |
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Except where the authority to do so has been withheld, it is intended that the persons named in the enclosed |
proxy will vote for the election of the nominees to our board of directors listed below to serve until the date of the |
next annual meeting and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Although our directors have no reason |
to believe that the nominees will be unable or decline to serve, in the event that such a contingency should arise, the |
accompanying proxy will be voted for a substitute (or substitutes) designated by our board of directors. |
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Directors and Officers |
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The following table sets forth certain information regarding our director nominees, as furnished by the |
nominees as of March 31, 2007. All of the following individuals currently serve as directors of our company. |
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Age |
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Principal Occupation for Past Five Years and |
Name |
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Current Public Directorships or Trusteeships |
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Paul H. Riss |
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51 |
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Director since 1995; Chairman of our board of directors since March 2005; our |
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Chief Executive Officer since August 1999 and our Chief Financial Officer and |
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Treasurer since November 1996. |
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Greg M. Cooper |
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47 |
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Director since April 2004; partner for more than five years of Cooper, Niemann |
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& Co., CPAs, LLP, certified public accountants; member of the board of |
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directors of Mid Hudson Cooperative Insurance Company in Montgomery, New |
York, a privately-held insurance company. |
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Gayle Greer |
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65 |
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Director since January 2005; Ms. Greer retired in 1998 from Time Warner |
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Entertainment after serving over 20 years in a number of executive positions, |
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including most recently Senior Vice President of Time Warner Cable; co- |
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founder of GS2.Net, a business service provider, and served as its Chairwoman |
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from 1999 to April 2001; co-founder of the National Association of Minorities |
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in Cable and Telecommunications and served as its Chairwoman from 1981 to |
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1985; director of ING North America Financial Services Company, an insurance |
and financial services company, since 1997. |
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Michael H. Khalilian |
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43 |
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Director and our Chief Technology Officer since October 2004; Chief |
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Technology Officer of VoX Communications Corp., our wholly-owned |
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subsidiary, since October 2004; Chairman of the Board of Directors and |
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4 |
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President of IMS Forum, an industry association dedicated to applications |
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delivery for IP Multimedia Subsystem architecture, of which Mr. Khalilian was |
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a founding member, since July 2001; Chief Technology Officer and director of |
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Volo Communications Inc., a wholesale VoIP service provider, from January |
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2003 to July 2004; Chief Technologist and advisor for the Telecom Business |
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Groups at NTT from January 2002 to June 2003; Senior Engineer and Senior |
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Director for the Cable, Communications and Telecom business groups at Time |
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Warner Communications from March 1996 to May 2002. |
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S. Miller Williams |
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54 |
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Director since April 17, 2007. He was Executive Vice President of Strategic |
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Development of Vartec Telecom, Inc., an international consumer |
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telecommunications services company, from August 2002 until May 2004, and |
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was appointed interim Chief Financial Officer of Vartec in November 2003. |
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From 2000 to August 2003, Mr. Williams served as Executive Chairman of the |
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Board of PowerTel, Inc., a public company which provided telecommunications |
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services in Australia. From 1991 to 2002, he served in various executive |
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positions with Williams Communications Group, a subsidiary of The Williams |
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Companies, that provided global network and broadband media services, most |
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recently as Senior Vice President Corporate Development and General Manager |
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International. He was President and owner of MediaTech, Incorporated, a |
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manufacturer and dealer of computer tape and supplies, from 1987 until the |
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company was sold in 1992. Mr. Williams has served on the Board of Directors |
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of Willbros Group, Inc. since May 2004. |
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Vote Required |
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Assuming a quorum is present, a plurality of the votes cast at the annual meeting of shareholders by the |
shareholders entitled to vote in the election, either in person or by proxy, is required to elect the director nominees. |
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Our board of directors recommends a vote FOR election of each of the nominees listed above. |
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DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS |
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Biographical information concerning our directors and officers is set forth above under the caption |
Election of Directors Directors and Officers. |
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Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance |
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Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), requires our |
directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of our equity |
securities (10% Shareholders), to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) initial |
reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our common stock and other equity securities. Officers, |
directors and 10% Shareholders are required by Commission regulation to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) |
forms they file. |
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Based solely on our review of the copies of such reports received by us, we believe that for the fiscal year |
ended November 30, 2006, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to our officers, directors and 10% |
shareholders were complied with. |
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Board Meetings and Committees; Management Matters |
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Our board of directors held six meetings during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2006. Each director |
(with the exception of Mr. Williams, who was elected to the board of directors in April 2007 to fill a vacancy, |
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5 |
consistent with our amended and restated by-laws) attended at least 75% of the board of directors and committee |
meetings of which he was a member during such time as he served as a director. We do not have a formal policy |
regarding attendance by members of our board of directors at the annual meeting of shareholders, but we strongly |
encourage all members of our board of directors to attend the annual meeting of shareholders, and expect such |
attendance except in the event of exigent circumstances. However, to minimize travel costs, we have asked our out- |
of-state directors to attend the June 7, 2007 meeting telephonically rather than in person. |
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We did not hold an annual meeting of shareholders in 2006. All of the members of our board of directors at |
the time of the 2005 annual meeting of shareholders were in attendance at the 2005 annual meeting of shareholders |
held on June 15, 2005. From time to time, the members of our board of directors act by unanimous written consent |
pursuant to the laws of the State of New York. No fees are paid to directors for attendance at meetings of the board |
of directors. |
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Our board of directors has a stock option committee, which did not meet separately from the full board of |
directors during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2006. The stock option committee, which currently consists of |
Greg M. Cooper and Gayle Greer, has authority to grant options to our executive officers under our 2007 Equity |
Incentive Plan. In October 1997, our board of directors established an audit committee, which met four times during |
the fiscal year ended November 30, 2006. Our board of directors does not have a standing nominating committee or |
any committee performing similar functions. Our entire board of directors is responsible for these functions. |
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Compensation Committee |
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We have a compensation committee currently composed of Greg M. Cooper and Gayle Greer. The |
compensation committee establishes remuneration levels for our executive officers. The compensation committee |
met once during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2006. |
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Nominating Committee |
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Our board of directors does not have a nominating committee. Our entire board of directors is responsible |
for this function. Due to the relatively small size of our company and the resulting efficiency of a board of directors |
that is also limited in size, our board of directors has determined that it is not necessary or appropriate at this time to |
establish a separate nominating committee. Our board of directors intends to review periodically whether such a |
nominating committee should be established. |
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Our board of directors uses a variety of methods for identifying and evaluating nominees for director. It |
regularly assesses the appropriate size of the board of directors, and whether any vacancies exist or are expected due |
to retirement or otherwise. If vacancies exist, are anticipated or otherwise arise, our board of directors considers |
various potential candidates for director. Candidates may come to their attention through current members of our |
board of directors, shareholders or other persons. These candidates are evaluated at regular or special meetings of |
our board of directors, and may be considered at any point during the year. Our board of directors will consider |
candidates for director that are nominated by shareholders in accordance with the procedures regarding the inclusion |
of shareholder proposals in proxy materials set forth in the section entitled Shareholder Proposals in this proxy |
statement. In evaluating such recommendations, our board of directors uses the qualifications and standards |
discussed below and seeks to achieve a balance of knowledge, experience and capability on our board of directors. |
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Qualifications for consideration as a director nominee may vary according to the particular areas of expertise |
that may be desired in order to complement the qualifications that already exist among our board of directors. |
Among the factors that our directors consider when evaluating proposed nominees are their independence, financial |
literacy, business experience, character, judgment and strategic vision. Other considerations would be their |
knowledge of issues affecting our business, their leadership experience and their time available for meetings and |
consultation on company matters. Our directors seek a diverse group of candidates who possess the background |
skills and expertise to make a significant contribution to our board of directors, our company and our shareholders. |
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6 |
Audit Committee |
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We have an audit committee that, during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2006, was composed of Greg |
M. Cooper and Gayle Greer. On April 2, 2007 S. Miller Williams was elected to serve on the audit committee effective as of |
April 17, 2007. Each audit committee member is an independent director as defined by the rules of the National Association |
of Securities Dealers. The audit committee is governed by a written charter approved by our board of directors and attached to |
this proxy statement as Annex A. |
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Our board of directors has determined that Greg M. Cooper qualifies as an audit committee financial |
expert, as defined under the rules of the Commission adopted pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Our |
board of directors has determined that Ms. Greer and Mr. Williams are financially literate and experienced in |
business matters and fully qualified to monitor the performance of management, the public disclosures by our |
company of our financial condition and performance, our internal accounting operations, and our independent |
auditors. |
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Report of the Audit Committee |
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The audit committee reviews our financial reporting process on behalf of our board of directors. |
Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process, including the |
system of internal controls. The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an |
independent audit of the consolidated financial statements to ensure that those statements were prepared in |
accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversite Board (PCAOB) and report thereon to |
our board of directors. The audit committee reviews and monitors these processes. |
|
Within this framework, the audit committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements |
with management and the independent registered public accounting firm. Management has affirmed to the audit |
committee that our consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. |
The audit committee has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm those matters required to |
be discussed by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 61 (Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, AU § 380). |
|
In addition, the audit committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent |
registered public accounting firm required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independent Standards |
Board Standard No. 1, Independence Discussions with Audit Committees), and has also discussed with the |
independent registered public accounting firm, their independence from management and our company. In |
connection with the new standards for independence of our independent registered public accounting firm |
promulgated by the Commission, the audit committee has undertaken to consider whether the provision of any non- |
audit services (such as internal audit assistance and tax-related services) by our independent registered public |
accounting firm is compatible with maintaining their independence when the independent registered public |
accounting firm is also engaged to provide non-audit services. |
|
The audit committee also discussed with our independent registered public accounting firm the overall |
scope and plans for its audit, its evaluation of our internal controls and the overall quality of our financial reporting. |
|
In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the audit committee has recommended to the |
board of directors that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K |
for the year ended November 30, 2006, which was filed with the Commission on March 8, 2007. |
|
Audit Committee |
|
Greg M. Cooper, Member |
Gayle Greer, Member |
|
Shareholder Communications |
|
7 |
Our board of directors has implemented a process for our shareholders to send communications to our |
board of directors. Any shareholder desiring to communicate with our board of directors, or with specific individual |
directors, may do so by writing to Mr. Eric M. Hellige, Corporate Secretary, at eLEC Communications Corp., 75 |
South Broadway, Suite 302, White Plains, New York 10601. The Corporate Secretary has the authority to disregard |
any inappropriate communications or take other appropriate actions with respect to any such inappropriate |
communications. If deemed an appropriate communication, the Corporate Secretary will submit a shareholders |
correspondence to the Chairman of the Board of Directors or to any specific director to whom the correspondence is |
directed. |
|
Code of Ethics |
|
We have adopted a code of business conduct and ethics for our directors, officers and employees, including |
our chief executive officer and chief financial officer. In addition, we have adopted a supplemental code of ethics |
for our financial executives and all employees in our accounting department. The text of our codes are posted on our |
Internet website at www.elec.net. |
|
|
|
|
8 |
Stock Option Exercises |
|
|
|
The following table contains information relating to the exercise of our stock options by the Named |
Executives in fiscal 2006, as well as the number and value of their unexercised options as of November 30, 2006. |
|
|
Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year |
and Fiscal Year-End Option Values |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities Underlying |
|
Value of Unexercised In-the- |
|
|
|
|
Shares |
|
|
|
Unexercised Options at Fiscal |
|
Money Options at Fiscal Year- |
|
|
|
|
Acquired on |
|
Value |
|
Year-End(#)(1) |
|
|
|
End ($)(2) |
|
|
Name |
|
|
|
Exercise (#) |
|
Realized($) |
|
Exercisable |
|
Unexercisable |
|
Exercisable |
|
Unexercisable |
|
Paul H. Riss |
|
-- |
|
-- |
|
350,000 |
|
-- |
|
$37,500 |
|
-- |
|
Michael Khalilian |
|
-- |
|
-- |
|
675,000 |
|
225,000 |
|
-- |
|
-- |
|
|
|
Mark Richards |
|
-- |
|
-- |
|
550,000 |
|
450,000 |
|
-- |
|
-- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
The sum of the numbers under the Exercisable and Unexercisable column of this heading represents the Named |
|
|
Executives total outstanding options to purchase shares of common stock. |
|
|
|
|
|
(2) |
|
The dollar amounts shown under the Exercisable and Unexercisable columns of the heading represent the |
|
|
number of exercisable and unexercisable options, respectively, that were In-the-Money on November 30, |
|
|
2006, multiplied by the difference between the closing price of our common stock on November 30, 2006, |
|
|
which was $0.23 per share, and the exercise price of the options. For purposes of these calculations, In-the- |
|
|
Money options are those with an exercise price below $0.23 per share. |
|
|
|
|
|
Board of Directors Compensation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We do not currently compensate directors for service on our board of directors. We maintain a Non- |
Employee Director Stock Option Plan (the Director Option Plan). Under the Director Option Plan, each non- |
employee director is granted a non-statutory option to purchase 10,000 shares of our common stock on the date on |
which he or she is elected, re-elected or appointed to our board of directors. Options granted pursuant to the |
Director Option Plan will vest in full on the one-year anniversary of the grant date, provided the non-employee |
director is still our director at that time. The exercise price granted under the Director Option Plan is 100% of the |
fair market value per share of the common stock on the date of the grant as reported on The OTC Bulletin Board. |
|
|
|
The following table provides information as of April 16, 2007 with respect to shares of our common stock |
that are issuable under equity compensation plans. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
remaining available to |
|
|
|
|
Number of securities |
|
Weighted-average |
|
future issuance under |
|
|
|
|
to be issued upon |
|
exercise price of |
|
equity compensation |
|
|
|
|
exercise of |
|
outstanding |
|
plans (excluding |
|
|
|
|
outstanding options, |
|
options, warrants |
|
securities reflected in |
|
|
|
|
warrants and rights |
|
and rights |
|
column (a)) |
|
|
Plan Category |
|
(a) |
|
(b) |
|
(c) |
|
Equity compensation plans approved |
|
|
|
|
|
|
by security holders: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1995 Stock Option Plan(1) |
|
800,500 |
|
$0.28 |
|
- |
1996 Restricted Stock Plan(2) |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
400,000 |
|
|
|
Subtotal |
|
|
|
800,500 |
|
|
|
400,000 |
|
Equity compensation plans not |
|
|
|
|
|
|
approved by security holders: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employee stock options |
|
1,900,000 |
|
0.24 |
|
- |
2004 Equity Incentive Plan(3) |
|
788,000 |
|
0.38 |
|
212,000 |
Laurus Master Fund, Ltd.(4) |
|
7,037,434 |
|
0.21 |
|
- |
Source Capital Group, Inc.(4) |
|
1,347,234 |
|
0.36 |
|
- |
Institutional Marketing Services, |
|
100,000 |
|
0.63 |
|
- |
|
|
Inc. (5) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gilford Securities(6) |
|
100,000 |
|
0.40 |
|
|
Capital TT, LLC(6) |
|
|
|
150,000 |
|
0.63 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
Subtotal |
|
|
|
11,422,668 |
|
|
|
|
|
212,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
|
12,223,168 |
|
|
|
|
|
612,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Options are no longer issuable under our 1995 Stock Option Plan. |
|
|
|
(2) |
|
Our 1996 Restricted Stock Plan provides for the issuance of restricted share grants to officers and non-officer |
|
|
employees. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3) |
|
Our 2004 Equity Incentive Plan allows for the granting of share options to members of our board of directors, |
|
|
officers, non-officer employees and consultants. |
|
|
|
|
|
(4) |
|
Warrants were issued in conjunction with financings provided by Laurus Master Fund, Ltd |
|
(5) |
|
Warrants were granted for investor relation services. |
|
|
|
|
|
(6) |
|
Warrants were issued for consulting services. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 |
ADOPTION OF THE eLEC COMMUNICATIONS CORP. 2007 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN |
(Proxy Item 2) |
|
General |
|
In connection with the July 2005 expiration of our 1995 Stock Option Plan, adopted in 1995 (the 1995 |
Plan) and because our board of directors wishes to allow for the possibility of providing incentives to employees |
and consultants of our company in excess of the 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock that may be granted pursuant to |
our 2004 Equity Incentive Plan (the 2004 Plan), our board of directors adopted at its meeting on March 30, 2007, |
the eLEC Communications Corp. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan (the 2007 Incentive Plan), a copy of which is |
attached to this proxy statement as Annex B. The 2007 Incentive Plan gives us the ability to grant stock options, |
SARs and restricted stock (collectively, Awards) to employees or consultants of our company or of any subsidiary |
of our company and to non-employee members of our advisory board or our board of directors or the board of |
directors of any of our subsidiaries. Our board of directors believes that adoption of the 2007 Incentive Plan is in the |
best interests of our company and our shareholders because the ability to grant stock options and make other stock- |
based awards under the 2007 Incentive Plan is an important factor in attracting, stimulating and retaining qualified |
and distinguished personnel with proven ability and vision to serve as employees, officers, consultants or members of |
the board of directors or advisory board of our company and our subsidiaries, and to chart our course towards continued |
growth and financial success. Therefore, our board of directors views the 2007 Incentive Plan as a key component of |
our compensation program. |
|
As of March 31, 2007, under the 1995 Plan, no shares of our common stock remained available for future |
grants and 810,500 shares of our common stock were allocated to outstanding options. As of March 31, 2007, under |
the 2004 Plan, 212,000 shares of our common stock remained available for future grants and 788,000 shares of our |
common stock were allocated to outstanding options. The weighted average exercise price of all options, warrants |
and rights outstanding as of March 31, 2007 was $0.28 per share. |
|
Summary of the Provisions of the 2007 Incentive Plan |
|
The following summary briefly describes the material features of the 2007 Incentive Plan and is qualified, |
in its entirety, by the specific language of the 2007 Incentive Plan, a copy of which is attached to this proxy |
statement as Annex B. |
|
Shares Available |
|
Our board of directors has authorized, subject to shareholder approval, 2,000,000 shares of our common |
stock for issuance under the 2007 Incentive Plan. In the event of any stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, |
share combination, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, split-up, reorganization, rights offering, |
liquidation, or any similar change event of or by our company, appropriate adjustments will be made to the shares |
subject to the 2007 Incentive Plan and to any outstanding Awards. Shares available for Awards under the 2007 |
Incentive Plan may be either newly-issued shares or treasury shares. |
|
In certain circumstances, shares subject to an outstanding Award may again become available for issuance |
pursuant to other Awards available under the 2007 Incentive Plan. For example, shares subject to forfeited, |
terminated, canceled or expired Awards will again become available for future grants under the 2007 Incentive Plan. |
In addition, shares subject to an Award that are withheld by us to satisfy tax withholding obligations shall also be |
made available for future grants under the 2007 Incentive Plan. |
|
Administration |
|
The 2007 Incentive Plan is administered by the stock option committee of our board of directors or such |
other committee as may be appointed by our board of directors to administer the 2007 Incentive Plan or if such a |
committee is not appointed or unable to act, then our entire board of directors (the Committee). The Committee |
will consist of at least two members who are non-employee directors within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the |
|
|
|
12 |
Exchange Act. With respect to the participation of individuals who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, |
the 2007 Incentive Plan is administered in compliance with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. |
Subject to the provisions of the 2007 Incentive Plan, the Committee determines the persons to whom grants of |
options, SARs and shares of restricted stock are to be made, the number of shares of common stock to be covered by |
each grant and all other terms and conditions of the grant. If an option is granted, the Committee determines whether |
the option is an incentive stock option or a nonstatutory stock option, the options term, vesting and exercisability, |
the amount and type of consideration to be paid to our company upon the options exercise and the other terms and |
conditions of the grant. The terms and conditions of restricted stock and SAR Awards are also determined by the |
Committee. The Committee has the responsibility to interpret the 2007 Incentive Plan and to make determinations |
with respect to all Awards granted under the 2007 Incentive Plan. All determinations of the Committee are final and |
binding on all persons having an interest in the 2007 Incentive Plan or in any Award made under the 2007 Incentive |
Plan. The costs and expenses of administering the 2007 Incentive Plan are borne by our company. |
|
Eligibility |
|
Eligible individuals include our and our subsidiaries employees (including our and our subsidiaries |
officers and directors who are also employees) or consultants whose efforts, in the judgment of the Committee, are |
deemed worthy of encouragement to promote our growth and success. Non-employee directors of our board of |
directors are also eligible to participate in the 2007 Incentive Plan. All eligible individuals may receive one or more |
Awards under the Plan, upon the terms and conditions set forth in the 2007 Incentive Plan. Currently, approximately |
40 individuals are eligible to receive Awards under the 2007 Incentive Plan. Of this total, approximately 35 |
individuals are employees and three individuals are non-employee directors. At this time, there are three individuals |
who are consultants that are eligible to receive Awards under the 2007 Incentive Plan. There is no assurance that an |
otherwise eligible individual will be selected by the Committee to receive an Award under the 2007 Incentive Plan. |
|
Because future Awards under the 2007 Incentive Plan will be granted in the discretion of the Committee, |
the type, number, recipients and other terms of such Awards cannot be determined at this time. Information |
regarding our recent practices with respect to annual, long-term and stock-based compensation under other plans and |
stock options under such plans is presented above in this proxy statement. See Executive Compensation herein |
and note 15 to our financial statements for the year ended November 30, 2006 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K |
that accompanies this proxy statement. |
|
Stock Options and SARs |
|
Under the 2007 Incentive Plan, the Committee is authorized to grant both stock options and SARs. Stock |
options may be either designated as non-qualified stock options or incentive stock options. Incentive stock options, |
which are intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code such that a participant can |
receive potentially favorable tax treatment, may only be granted to employees. Therefore, any stock option granted |
to consultants and non-employee directors are non-qualified stock options. The tax treatment of incentive and non- |
qualified stock options is generally described later in this summary. SARs may be granted either alone or in tandem |
with a stock option. A SAR entitles the participant to receive the excess, if any, of the fair market value of a share on |
the exercise date over the strike price of the SAR. This amount is payable in cash, except that the Committee may |
provide in an Award agreement that benefits may be paid in shares of our common stock. In general, if a SAR is |
granted in tandem with an option, the exercise of the option will cancel the SAR, and the exercise of the SAR will |
cancel the option. Any shares that are canceled will be made available for future Awards. The Committee, in its |
sole discretion, determines the terms and conditions of each stock option and SAR granted under the 2007 Incentive |
Plan, including the grant date, option or strike price (which, in no event, will be less than the par value of a share), |
whether a SAR is paid in cash or shares, the term of each option or SAR, exercise conditions and restrictions, |
conditions of forfeitures, and any other terms, conditions and restrictions consistent with the terms of the 2007 |
Incentive Plan, all of which will be evidenced in an individual Award agreement between us and the participant. |
|
Certain limitations apply to incentive stock options and SARs granted in tandem with incentive stock |
options. The per share exercise price of an incentive stock option may not be less than 100% of the fair market value |
of a share of our common stock on the date of the options grant and the term of any such option shall expire not |
|
|
|
13 |
later than the tenth anniversary of the date of the options grant. In addition, the per share exercise price of any |
option granted to a person who, at the time of the grant, owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined |
voting power or value of all classes of our stock must be at least 110% of the fair market value of a share of our |
common stock on the date of grant and such option shall expire not later than the fifth anniversary of the date of the |
options grant. |
|
Options and SARs granted under the 2007 Incentive Plan become exercisable at such times as may be |
specified by the Committee. In general, options and SARs granted to participants become exercisable in three equal |
annual installments, subject to the optionees continued employment or service with us. However, the aggregate |
value (determined as of the grant date) of the shares subject to incentive stock options that may become exercisable |
by a participant in any year may not exceed $100,000. If a SAR is granted in tandem with an option, the SAR will |
become exercisable at the same time or times as the option becomes exercisable. |
|
The maximum term of options and SARs granted under the 2007 Incentive Plan is ten years. If any |
participant terminates employment due to death or disability or retirement, the portion of his or her option or SAR |
Awards that were exercisable at the time of such termination may be exercised for one year from the date of |
termination. In the case of any other termination, the portion of his or her option or SAR Awards that were |
exercisable at the time of such termination may be exercised for three months from the date of termination. |
However, if the remainder of the option or SAR term is shorter than the applicable post-termination exercise period, |
the participants rights to exercise the option or SAR will expire at the end of the term. In addition, if a participants |
service terminates due to cause, all rights under an option or SAR will immediately expire, including rights to the |
exercisable portion of the option or SAR. Shares attributable to an option or SAR that expire without being |
exercised will be forfeited by the participant and will again be available for Award under the 2007 Incentive Plan. |
|
Unless limited by the Committee in an Award agreement, payment for shares purchased pursuant to an |
option exercise may be made (i) in cash, check or wire transfer, (ii) subject to the Committees approval, in shares |
already owned by the participant (including restricted shares held by the participant at least six months prior to the |
exercise of the option) valued at their fair market value on the date of exercise, or (iii) through broker-assisted |
cashless exercise procedures. |
|
Restricted Stock |
|
Under the 2007 Incentive Plan, the Committee is also authorized to make Awards of restricted stock. A |
restricted stock Award entitles the participant to all of the rights of a shareholder of our company, including the right |
to vote the shares and the right to receive any dividends. However, the Committee may require the payment of cash |
dividends to be deferred and if the Committee so determines, re-invested in additional shares of restricted stock. |
Before the end of a restricted period and/or lapse of other restrictions established by the Committee, shares received |
as restricted stock shall contain a legend restricting their transfer, and may be forfeited (i) in the event of termination |
of employment, (ii) if our company or the participant does not achieve specified performance goals after the grant |
date and before the participants termination of employment or (iii) upon the failure to achieve other conditions set |
forth in the Award agreement. |
|
An Award of restricted stock will be evidenced by a written agreement between us and the participant. The |
Award agreement will specify the number of shares of our common stock subject to the Award, the nature and/or |
length of the restrictions, the conditions that will result in the automatic and complete forfeiture of the shares and the |
time and manner in which the restrictions will lapse, subject to the Award holders continued employment by us, and |
any other terms and conditions the Committee shall impose consistent with the provisions of the 2007 Incentive Plan. |
The Committee also determines the amount, if any, that the participant shall pay for the shares of restricted stock. |
However, the participant must be required to pay at least the par value for each share of restricted stock. Upon the |
lapse of the restrictions, any legends on the shares of our common stock subject to the Award will be re-issued to the |
participant without such legend. |
|
|
|
|
14 |
Unless the Committee determines otherwise in the Award or other agreement, if a participant terminates |
employment for any reason, all rights to restricted stock that are then forfeitable will be forfeited. Restricted stock |
that is forfeited by the participant will again be available for Award under the 2007 Incentive Plan. |
|
Fair Market Value |
|
Under the 2007 Incentive Plan, fair market value means the fair market value of the shares based upon the |
closing selling price of a share of our common stock as quoted on any national securities exchange or the OTC |
Bulletin Board on the relevant date. If there is no closing selling price on the relevant date, then the fair market |
value shall mean the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists. If shares are not |
readily tradable on a national securities exchange or other market system, fair market value means an amount |
determined in good faith by the Committee to be the fair market value of the shares. |
|
Transferability Restrictions |
|
Generally and unless otherwise provided in an Award agreement, shares or rights subject to an Award |
cannot be assigned or transferred other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and Awards may be |
exercised during the participants lifetime only by the participant or his or her guardian or legal representative. |
However, a participant may, if permitted by the Committee, in its sole discretion, transfer an Award, or any portion |
thereof, to one or more of the participants spouse, children or grandchildren, or may designate in writing a |
beneficiary to exercise an Award after his or her death. |
|
Termination or Amendment of the 2007 Incentive Plan |
|
Unless sooner terminated, no Awards may be granted under the 2007 Incentive Plan after April 2, 2017. |
Our board of directors may amend or terminate the 2007 Incentive Plan at any time, but our board of directors may |
not, without shareholder approval, amend the 2007 Incentive Plan to increase the total number of shares of our |
common stock reserved for issuance of Awards. In addition, any amendment or modification of the 2007 Incentive |
Plan shall be subject to shareholder approval as required by any securities exchange on which our common stock is |
listed. No amendment or termination may deprive any participant of any rights under Awards previously made under |
the 2007 Incentive Plan. |
|
Summary of Federal Income Tax Consequences of the 2007 Incentive Plan |
|
The following summary is intended only as a general guide as to the federal income tax consequences under |
current law with respect to participation in the 2007 Incentive Plan and does not attempt to describe all possible |
federal or other tax consequences of such participation. Furthermore, the tax consequences of awards made under |
the 2007 Incentive Plan are complex and subject to change, and a taxpayers particular situation may be such that |
some variation of the described rules is applicable. |
|
Options and SARs |
|
There are three points in time when a participant and our company could potentially incur federal income |
tax consequences: date of grant, upon exercise and upon disposition. First, when an option or a SAR is granted to a |
participant, the participant does not recognize any income for federal income tax purposes on the date of grant. We |
similarly do not have any federal income tax consequences at the date of grant. Second, depending upon the type of |
option, the exercise of an option may or may not result in the recognition of income for federal income tax purposes. |
With respect to an incentive stock option, a participant will not recognize any ordinary income upon the options |
exercise (except that the alternative minimum tax may apply). However, a participant will generally recognize |
ordinary income upon the exercise of a non-qualified stock option. In this case, the participant will recognize |
income equal to the difference between the option price and the fair market value of shares purchased pursuant to the |
option on the date of exercise. With respect to the exercise of a SAR, the participant must generally recognize |
ordinary income equal to the cash received (or, if applicable, value of the shares received). |
|
|
|
|
15 |
Incentive stock options are subject to certain holding requirements before a participant can dispose of the |
shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of the option and receive capital gains treatment on any income realized |
from the exercise of the option. Satisfaction of the holding periods determines the tax treatment of any income |
realized upon exercise. If a participant disposes of shares acquired upon exercise of an incentive stock option before |
the end of the applicable holding periods (called a disqualifying disposition), the participant must generally |
recognize ordinary income equal to the lesser of (i) the fair market value of the shares at the date of exercise of the |
incentive stock option minus the exercise price or (ii) the amount realized upon the disposition of the shares minus |
the exercise price. Any excess of the fair market value on the date of such disposition over the fair market value on |
the date of exercise must be recognized as capital gains by the participant. If a participant disposes of shares |
acquired upon the exercise of an incentive stock option after the applicable holding periods have expired, such |
disposition generally will result in long-term capital gain or loss measured by the difference between the sale price |
and the participants tax basis in such shares (generally, in such case, the tax basis is the exercise price). |
|
Generally, we will be entitled to a tax deduction in an amount equal to the amount recognized as ordinary |
income by the participant in connection with the exercise of options and SARs. However, we are generally not |
entitled to a tax deduction relating to amounts that represent capital gains to a participant. Accordingly, if the |
participant satisfies the requisite holding period with respect to an incentive stock option before disposition to |
receive the favorable tax treatment accorded incentive stock options, we will not be entitled to any tax deduction |
with respect to an incentive stock option. In the event the participant has a disqualifying disposition with respect to |
an incentive stock option, we will be entitled to a tax deduction in an amount equal to the amount that the participant |
recognized as ordinary income. |
|
Restricted Stock Awards |
|
A participant will not be required to recognize any income for federal income tax purposes upon the grant |
of shares of restricted stock. With respect to Awards involving shares or other property, such as restricted stock |
Awards, that contain restrictions as to their transferability and are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, the |
participant must generally recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the shares or other property |
received at the time the shares or other property become transferable or are no longer subject to a substantial risk of |
forfeiture, whichever occurs first. We generally will be entitled to a deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary |
income recognized by the participant. A participant may elect to be taxed at the time he or she receives shares (e.g., |
restricted stock) or other property rather than upon the lapse of transferability restrictions or the substantial risk of |
forfeiture. However, if the participant subsequently forfeits such shares he or she would not be entitled to any tax |
deduction or, to recognize a loss, for the value of the shares or property on which he or she previously paid tax. |
Alternatively, if an Award that results in a transfer to the participant of cash, shares or other property does not |
contain any restrictions as to their transferability and is not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, the participant |
must generally recognize ordinary income equal to the cash or the fair market value of shares or other property |
actually received. We generally will be entitled to a deduction for the same amount. |
|
Vote Required |
|
Assuming a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the annual meeting of |
shareholders, either in person or by proxy, is required for approval of this proposal. |
|
Our board of directors recommends a vote FOR approval of the proposed adoption of our 2007 Equity |
Incentive Plan. |
|
PROPOSAL TO AMEND OUR CERTIFICATE OF |
INCORPORATION TO CHANGE OUR CORPORATE NAME |
(Proxy Item 3) |
|
On September 26, 2006, our board of directors adopted, subject to shareholder approval, a resolution to |
amend Article FIRST of our Certificate of Incorporation to change our corporate name from eLEC Communications |
Corp. to Pervasip Corp. In the judgment of our board of directors, the change of our corporate name is desirable |
|
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16 |
because the focus of our business has evolved to telephony services and other applications over IP networks rather |
than local exchange carrier services. We believe we have a significant technological advantage in our IP platform, |
and the ubiquitous nature of the Internet allows our services to be available everywhere there is broadband. |
|
We have selected the name Pervasip to signify pervasive IP services. Unlike other words in the IP sector |
that are generic in nature and used by several carriers, we believe we can obtain trademark protection for the name |
Pervasip, which we created. Furthermore, in the telephone industry, the letters LEC in our name are known to |
stand for local exchange carrier. While the name eLEC would signify a local exchange carrier that utilizes the |
Internet to provide services, there is still a close tie to traditional wireline services in any company that is considered |
a LEC. Given that we plan to sell our local exchange carrier subsidiaries, we believe that retaining the letters LEC |
in our name would not be appropriate. |
|
Text of Proposed Amendment |
|
Article FIRST of our Certificate of Incorporation is proposed to be amended to read as follows: |
|
FIRST: That the name of the corporation is Pervasip Corp. (the Corporation). |
|
If the proposed amendment is adopted, shareholders will not be required to exchange outstanding stock |
certificates for new stock certificates. |
|
Vote Required for Approval |
|
The proposed amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to change the corporate name of our company |
will become effective only upon approval by a majority of the votes cast by the shareholders entitled to vote at the |
annual meeting and the filing of a Certificate of Amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of |
the State of New York, which filing is expected to take place shortly after the annual meeting. If this proposed |
amendment is not approved by the shareholders, then the Certificate of Amendment will not be filed. |
|
Our board of directors recommends that the shareholders vote FOR adoption of the proposed amendment to |
our Certificate of Incorporation. |
|
PROPOSAL TO AMEND OUR CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION |
TO INCREASE AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK |
(Proxy Item 4) |
|
Our board of directors has proposed an amendment to Article FOURTH of our Certificate of Incorporation. |
This amendment would increase the total number of shares of capital stock that we are authorized to issue to one |
hundred fifty-one million (151,000,000), of which one hundred-fifty million (150,000,000) shall be common stock, |
par value $.10 per share, and one million (1,000,000) shall be preferred stock, par value $.10 per share. The par |
value of the common stock, currently $.10 per share, will be reduced to $.001 per share if the proposed amendment |
to our Certificate of Incorporation to effectuate such a reduction in par value (Proxy Item 5) is approved at the |
annual meeting. No increase in the authorized number of shares of preferred stock is requested. |
|
We have no specific plans for the issuance of additional shares of common stock. However, the board of |
directors believes that the proposed increase is desirable so that, as the need may arise, we will have more financial |
flexibility and be able to issue additional shares of common stock without the expense and delay associated with a |
special shareholders meeting, except where shareholder approval is required by applicable law or stock exchange |
regulations. The additional shares of common stock might be used, for example, in connection with an expansion of |
our business through investments or acquisitions, sold in a financing transaction or issued under an employee stock |
option, savings or other benefit plan or in a stock split or dividend to shareholders. The board of directors does not |
intend to issue any shares except on terms that it considers to be in the best interests of the company and its |
shareholders. |
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17 |
The additional shares of common stock for which authorization is sought would be a part of the existing |
class of common stock. If and when issued, these shares would have the same rights and privileges as the shares of |
common stock presently outstanding. No holder of common stock has any preemptive rights to acquire additional |
shares of the common stock. |
|
The issuance of additional shares could reduce existing shareholders percentage ownership and voting |
power in our company and, depending on the transaction in which they are issued, could affect the per share book |
value or other per share financial measures. |
|
Although the proposed amendment is not intended to be an anti-takeover measure, shareholders should note |
that, under certain circumstances, the additional shares of common stock could be used to make any attempt to gain |
control of our company or the board of directors more difficult or time-consuming. Any of the additional shares of |
common stock could be privately placed with purchasers who might side with the board of directors in opposing a |
hostile takeover bid. It is possible that such shares could be sold with or without an option, on our part, to |
repurchase such shares, or on the part of the purchaser, to put such shares to us. |
|
The amendment to increase the authorized shares of common stock might be considered to have the effect |
of discouraging an attempt by another person or entity, through the acquisition of a substantial number of shares of |
our capital stock, to acquire control of us, since the issuance of the additional shares of common stock could be used |
to dilute the stock ownership of a person or entity seeking to obtain control and to increase the cost to a person or |
entity seeking to acquire a majority of the voting power of our company. If so used, the effect of the additional |
authorized shares of common stock might be (i) to deprive shareholders of an opportunity to sell their stock at a |
temporarily higher price as a result of a tender offer or the purchase of shares by a person or entity seeking to obtain |
control of us or (ii) to assist incumbent management in retaining its present position. |
|
Text of Proposed Amendment |
|
The first paragraph of Article FOURTH of our Certificate of Incorporation is proposed to be amended to |
read as follows: |
|
FOURTH: A. Authorized Shares. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock which the Company |
shall have the authority to issue is one hundred fifty-one million (151,000,000), of which one hundred-fifty million |
(150,000,000) shall be common stock, par value $.10 per share and one million (1,000,000) shall be preferred stock, |
par value $.10 per share. |
|
If the proposal to reduce the par value of our shares of capital stock (Proxy Item 5) is approved by our |
shareholders at the annual meeting, the references to the par value of our common stock and our preferred stock in |
the foregoing Article FOURTH of our Certificate of Incorporation shall be $.001 per share rather than $.10 per |
share. |
|
A copy of the foregoing proposed amendment, including the proposed amendment to reduce the par value |
of our common stock and our preferred stock from $.10 per share to $.001 per share, is attached to this proxy |
statement as Annex C and is marked to show changes from our current Certificate of Incorporation. |
|
Vote Required for Approval |
|
The proposed amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation to increase the total number of shares of |
capital stock that we are authorized to issue will become effective only upon approval by a majority of the votes cast |
by the shareholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting and the filing of a Certificate of Amendment to the |
Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of the State of New York, which filing is expected to take place |
shortly after the annual meeting. If this proposed amendment is not approved by the shareholders, then the language |
pertaining to this Proxy Item 4 will not be included in the Certificate of Amendment filed with the Secretary of the |
State of New York. |
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18 |
Our board of directors recommends that the shareholders vote FOR adoption of the proposed amendment to |
our Certificate of Incorporation. |
|
PROPOSAL TO AMEND OUR CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO CHANGE THE PAR VALUE |
OF OUR SHARES OF CAPITAL STOCK FROM $.10 PER SHARE TO $.001 PER SHARE; |
(Proxy Item 5) |
|
Our board of directors has proposed an amendment to Article FOURTH of our Certificate of Incorporation. |
This amendment would reduce the par value of our common stock and our preferred stock from $.10 per share to |
$.001 per share and reclassify the outstanding shares of capital stock into such lower par value shares. |
|
Our Certificate of Incorporation currently authorizes the issuance of shares of common stock with a par |
value of $.10 per share. The board of directors believes it is in the best interests of our company to amend our |
Certificate of Incorporation to reduce the par value of our capital stock to $.001 per share. The proposed reduction |
in par value is intended to bring us into line with the practice of other public companies with respect to par value. |
|
Historically, the concept of par value served to protect creditors and senior security holders by ensuring that |
a company received at least the par value as consideration for issuance of stock. Over time, the concept of par value |
has lost much of its significance. Today many companies incorporate using a nominal par value or have no par value |
at all. |
|
The reduction in the par value would not change the number of authorized shares of our common stock or |
preferred stock. The reduction in the par value would reduce the amount required to be carried by us as capital, |
thereby potentially increasing our surplus capital available for dividends and other distributions and for other |
corporate purposes. The board of directors has not proposed the reduction in the par value with the intention of |
declaring dividends on our common stock. The reduction in the par value should have no effect on the rights of the |
holders of our capital stock except for the minimum amount per share we may receive upon the issuance of |
authorized but unissued shares and added dividend flexibility. |
|
If this proposal is approved, certificates representing shares of our capital stock, $.10 par value per share, |
issued and outstanding prior to the effective date of filing of the amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation, will |
be changed to represent the same number of shares of common stock, $.001 par value per share, as they did prior to |
such effective date. Existing certificates will not be exchanged for new certificates. Please do not return any |
certificates to us. |
|
A copy of the proposed amendment, including the proposed amendment pursuant to Proxy Item 4 to |
increase the total number of shares of capital stock that we are authorized to issue, is attached to this proxy statement |
as Annex C and is marked to show changes from our current Certificate of Incorporation. |
|
Vote Required for Approval |
|
The proposed amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to reduce the par value of our capital stock |
from $.10 per share to $.001 per share and reclassify the outstanding shares of capital stock into such lower par value |
shares will become effective only upon approval by a majority of the votes cast by the shareholders entitled to vote at |
the annual meeting and the filing of a Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary |
of the State of New York, which filing is expected to take place shortly after the annual meeting. If this proposed |
amendment is not approved by the shareholders, then the language pertaining to this Proxy Item 5 will not be |
included in the Certificate of Amendment filed with the Secretary of the State of New York. |
|
Our board of directors recommends that the shareholders vote FOR adoption of the proposed amendment to |
our Certificate of Incorporation. |
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19 |
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS |
(Proxy Item 6) |
|
Nussbaum Yates & Wolpow, P.C. (Nussbaum), is serving as our independent registered public |
accounting firm for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2006 and has been appointed by our board of directors to |
continue as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending November 30, 2007. In the |
event that ratification of this appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm is not approved by the |
affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast on the matter, the appointment of independent registered public |
accounting firm will be reconsidered by our board of directors. Unless marked to the contrary, proxies received will |
be voted for ratification of the appointment of Nussbaum as our independent registered public accounting firm for |
the fiscal year ending November 30, 2007. |
|
A representative of Nussbaum is expected to attend the annual meeting, and such representative will have |
the opportunity to make a statement if he so desires and will be available to respond to appropriate questions from |
shareholders. |
|
Your ratification of the appointment of Nussbaum as our independent registered public accounting firm for |
the fiscal year ending November 30, 2007 does not preclude our board of directors from terminating its engagement |
of Nussbaum and retaining a new independent registered public accounting firm, if it determines that such an action |
would be in our best interests. |
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Audit Fees |
|
Audit Fees |
|
The aggregate fees billed by Nussbaum for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual |
financial statements for the last two fiscal years and for the reviews of the financial statements included in our |
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q during the last two fiscal years was $146,993 and $142,226, respectively. |
|
Audit-Related Fees |
|
We did not engage our principal accountants to provide assurance or related services during the last two |
fiscal years. |
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Tax Fees |
|
The aggregate fees billed by our principal accountants for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning |
services rendered to us during the last two fiscal years was $20,000 and $20,000 respectively. |
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All Other Fees |
|
We did not engage our principal accountants to render services to us during the last two fiscal years, other |
than as reported above. |
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Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures |
|
Our board of directors has the sole authority to appoint or replace our independent registered public |
accounting firm. Our board is directly responsible for the compensation and oversight of the work of our independent |
registered public accounting firm (including resolution of disagreements between management and the independent |
registered public accounting firm regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit |
report or related work. Our independent registered public accounting firm is engaged by, and reports directly to, our |
Board. |
|
Our board of directors pre-approves all auditing services and permitted non-audit services (including the |
fees and terms thereof) to be performed for us by our independent auditor, subject to the de minimis exceptions for |
non-audit services described in Section 10A(i)(1)(B) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, all of which are |
approved by our board prior to the completion of the audit. In the event pre-approval for such auditing services and |
permitted non-audit services cannot be obtained as a result of inherent time constraints in the matter for which such |
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20 |
services are required, our Chairman of the Board may pre-approve such services, and will report for ratification such |
pre-approval to our board of directors at its next scheduled meeting. Our board has complied with the procedures set |
forth above and all services reported above were approved in accordance with such procedures. |
|
Vote Required and Board of Directors' Recommendation |
|
Assuming a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the annual meeting of |
shareholders, by the shareholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting of shareholders, either in person or by proxy, |
is required for approval of this proposal. |
|
Our board of directors recommends a vote FOR ratification of the appointment of Nussbaum as our |
independent auditors for the fiscal year ending November 30, 2007. |
|
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS |
|
Proposals of shareholders intended for presentation at our 2008 annual meeting of shareholders and |
intended to be included in our proxy statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting must be received at our |
executive offices by January 8, 2008 and comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8(e) promulgated under the |
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
|
OTHER BUSINESS |
|
Other than as described above, our board of directors knows of no matters to be presented at the annual |
meeting, but it is intended that the persons named in the proxy will vote your shares according to their best judgment |
if any matters not included in this proxy statement do properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
|
ANNUAL REPORT |
|
Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2006, including financial statements, is |
being mailed with this proxy statement. If, for any reason, you do not receive your copy of the Annual Report, |
please contact Mr. Paul H. Riss, Chief Executive Officer, eLEC Communications Corp., 75 South Broadway, Suite |
302, White Plains, New York 10601, and another will be sent to you. |
|
By Order of the Board of Directors, |
|
PAUL H. RISS |
Chairman of the Board |
Dated: May 7, 2007 |
White Plains, New York |
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21 |
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ANNEX A |
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eLEC COMMUNICATIONS CORP. |
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER |
|
PURPOSE |
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There shall be an Audit Committee (the Committee) of the Board of Directors (the Board) of eLEC |
Communications Corp., a New York corporation (the Company). The primary function of the Committee is to |
assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, primarily through: 1) overseeing |
managements conduct of the Companys financial reporting process and systems of internal accounting and |
financial controls; and 2) monitoring the independence and performance of the Companys outside auditors. |
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COMPOSITION AND MEETINGS |
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The Committee shall have at least three (3) members at all times, each of whom must be independent of |
management and the Company; provided, however, the Committee may include one non-independent director until |
such time as three qualified independent directors serve as members of the Board of Directors. Members of the |
Committee shall be considered independent if: 1) in the sole discretion of the Board, it is determined that they have |
no relationship that may interfere with the exercise of their independent judgment; and 2) they meet the NASDAQ |
rules regarding independence of audit committee members. Members of the Committee shall be appointed by the |
Board and shall serve until the earlier to occur of the date on which he or she shall: 1) be replaced by the Board; 2) |
resign from the Committee; or 3) resign from the Board. All members of the Committee shall have a basic |
understanding of finance and accounting and be able to read and understand fundamental financial statements or be |
able to do so within a reasonable period of time after appointment to the Committee, and at least one member of the |
Committee shall have accounting or related financial management expertise. |
|
The Committee shall meet as frequently as circumstances dictate, but no less than four times annually. The |
Board shall name a chairperson of the Committee. A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a |
quorum. |
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LIMITATION ON COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITIES |
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The Companys management is responsible for preparing the Companys financial statements and the |
outside auditors are responsible for auditing and/or reviewing those financial statements. In carrying out its purpose, |
the Committee is not providing any expert or special assurance as to the Companys financial statements or any |
professional certification as to the outside auditors work. The Committees specific responsibilities are as follows: |
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GENERAL |
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1. |
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The Committee shall have the power to conduct or authorize investigations into any matters consistent |
with its purpose. The Committee shall be empowered to retain independent counsel, accountants, or others to assist |
it in the conduct of any investigation. The Committee shall have unrestricted access to members of management and |
all information relevant to its responsibilities. |
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2. |
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The Committee shall report through its chairperson to the Board following the meetings of the |
Committee. |
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3. |
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The Committee shall review this charter and the powers and responsibilities of the Committee at least |
annually and report and make recommendations to the Board with respect to these powers and responsibilities. |
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4. |
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The Committee shall maintain minutes or other records of meetings and activities of the Committee. |
5. |
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The Committee shall prepare annual Committee reports for inclusion in the proxy statements for the |
Companys annual meetings, as required by rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the |
SEC). |
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6. |
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The Committee shall, in addition to the performance of the duties described herein, undertake such |
additional duties as may from time to time be delegated to it by the Board. |
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INTERNAL CONTROLS AND RISK ASSESSMENT |
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1. |
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The Committee shall consider and review with management and the outside auditors the effectiveness of |
or weaknesses in the Companys internal controls, including computerized information system controls and security, |
the overall control environment and accounting and financial controls. |
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2. |
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The Committee shall obtain from the outside auditors their recommendations regarding internal controls |
and other matters relating to the accounting procedures and the books and records of the Company and its |
subsidiaries and reviewing the correction of controls deemed to be deficient. |
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OUTSIDE AUDITOR |
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1. |
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The outside auditors are ultimately accountable to the Board and the Committee, as the representatives |
of the stockholders. The Board and the Committee shall have the ultimate authority and responsibility to select, |
evaluate and, where appropriate, replace the outside auditor (or to nominate the outside auditor to be proposed for |
shareholder approval in any proxy statement). In this regard, the Committee shall recommend to the Board the |
outside auditor to be nominated. |
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2. |
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The Committee shall confer with the outside auditors concerning the scope of their examinations of the |
books and records of the Company and its subsidiaries; review and approve the Companys annual audit plans; direct |
the special attention of the outside auditors to specific matters or areas deemed by the Committee or the outside |
auditors to be of special significance; and authorize the outside auditors to perform such supplemental reviews or |
audits as the Committee may deem desirable. |
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3. |
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The Committee shall receive from the outside auditor on a periodic basis a formal written statement |
delineating all relationships between the outside auditor and the Company, consistent with applicable standards. The |
statement shall include a description of all services provided by the auditor and the related fees. The Committee |
shall review costs of all audit and other services performed by the outside auditors. |
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4. |
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The Committee shall take, or recommend that the Board take, appropriate action to monitor the |
independent status of the outside auditors. |
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FINANCIAL REPORTING |
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1. |
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The Committee shall review and discuss with the outside auditors and management the Companys |
audited annual financial statements that are to be included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-KSB and |
the outside auditors opinion with respect to such financial statements, including reviewing the nature and extent of |
any significant changes in accounting principles or the application thereof; and determine whether to recommend to |
the Board that the financial statements be included in the Companys Form 10-KSB for filing with the SEC. |
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2. |
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The Committee shall review and discuss with the outside auditors and management, and require the |
outside auditors to review, the Companys interim financial statements to be included in the Companys Quarterly |
Reports on Form 10-Q prior to the filing thereof with the SEC. |
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3. |
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The Committee shall review the existence of significant estimates and judgments underlying the financial |
statements, including the rationale behind those estimates as well as the details on material accruals and reserves and |
the Companys accounting principles. |
ANNEX B |
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eLEC COMMUNICATIONS CORP. |
2007 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN |
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This eLEC Communications Corp. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan (the Plan) is established by eLEC |
Communications Corp., a New York corporation (the Company), effective as of April 2, 2007 (the Effective |
Date). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in Section 25. |
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1. |
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Purpose. The Plan is intended to provide qualifying Employees (including officers and Directors), |
Independent Directors and Consultants with equity ownership in the Company, thereby strengthening their |
commitment to the success of the Company, promoting the identity of interests between the Companys shareholders |
and such Employees, Independent Directors and Consultants and stimulating their efforts on behalf of the Company, |
and to assist the Company in attracting and retaining talented personnel. |
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2. |
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Scope of the Plan. Subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 20, the total number of |
Shares for which grants under the Plan shall be available is 2,000,000. If any Shares subject to any Award granted |
hereunder are forfeited or such Award otherwise terminates without the issuance of such Shares or for other |
consideration in lieu of such Shares, the Shares subject to such Award, to the extent of any such forfeiture or |
termination, shall again be available for grant under the Plan. Shares awarded under the Plan may be treasury shares |
or newly-issued shares. |
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3. |
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Administration. |
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(a) |
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The Plan shall be administered by a Committee which shall consist of at least two or more |
members of the Board, all of whom, so long as the Company remains a Public Company, shall qualify as non- |
employee directors under Section (b)(3)(i) of Rule 16b-3. The number of members of the Committee may from |
time to time be increased or decreased, and so long as the Company remains a Public Company, shall be subject to |
such conditions, as the Board deems appropriate to permit transactions in Shares pursuant to the Plan to satisfy such |
conditions of Rule 16b-3 as then in effect. |
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(b) |
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Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Committee has full and final authority |
and discretion as follows: |
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(i) |
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to determine when and to whom Awards should be granted and the terms, |
conditions and restrictions applicable to each Award, including, without limitation, (A) the exercise price of |
the Award, (B) the method of payment for Shares purchased upon the exercise of the Award, (C) the |
method of satisfaction of any tax withholding obligation arising in connection with the Award, (D) the |
timing, terms and conditions of the exercisability of the Award or the vesting of any Shares acquired upon |
the exercise thereof, (E) the time of the expiration of the vesting of any Shares acquired upon the exercise |
thereof, (F) the effect of the Grantees termination of employment or service with the Company on any of |
the foregoing, (G) all other terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to the Award or such Shares not |
inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, (H) the benefit payable under any SAR or Performance Share, and |
(I) whether or not specific Awards shall be identified with other specific Awards, and if so whether they |
shall be exercisable cumulatively with, or alternatively to, such other specific Awards; |
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(ii) |
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to determine the amount, if any, that a Grantee shall pay for Restricted Shares, |
whether to permit or require the payment of cash dividends thereon to be deferred and the terms related |
thereto, when Restricted Shares (including Restricted Shares acquired upon the exercise of any Award) shall |
be forfeited and whether such Shares shall be held in escrow; |
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(iii) |
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to interpret the Plan and to make all determinations necessary or advisable for |
the administration of the Plan; |
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(iv) |
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to make, amend and rescind rules, guidelines and policies relating to the Plan, or |
to adopt supplements to, or alternative versions of, the Plan, including, without limitation, rules with respect |
to the exercisability and forfeitability of Awards upon the termination of employment or service of a |
Grantee; |
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(v) |
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to determine the terms, conditions and restrictions of all Award Agreements |
(which need not be identical) and, with the consent of the Grantee, to amend any such Award Agreement at |
any time, among other things, to permit transfers of such Awards to the extent permitted by the Plan, except |
that the consent of the Grantee shall not be required for any amendment which (A) does not adversely affect |
the rights of the Grantee or (B) is necessary or advisable (as determined by the Committee) to carry out the |
purpose of the Award as a result of any change in applicable law; |
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(vi) |
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to cancel, with the consent of the Grantee, outstanding Awards and to grant new |
Awards in substitution therefor; |
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(vii) |
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to accelerate the exercisability of, and to accelerate or waive any or all of the |
terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to, any Award or any group of Awards for any reason and at |
any time, including in connection with a termination of employment (other than for Cause); |
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(viii) |
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subject to Section 6(c), to extend the time during which any Award or group of |
Awards may be exercised; |
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(ix) |
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to make such adjustments or modifications to Awards to Grantees working |
outside the United States as are advisable to fulfill the purposes of the Plan; |
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(x) |
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to impose such additional terms, conditions and restrictions upon the grant, |
exercise or retention of Awards as the Committee may, before or concurrent with the grant thereof, deem |
appropriate; and |
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(xi) |
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to take any other action with respect to any matters relating to the Plan for which |
it is responsible. |
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The determination of the Committee on all matters relating to the Plan or any Award |
Agreement shall be final. |
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4. |
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Indemnification and Reimbursement. Service as a member of the Committee or any other duly |
appointed subcommittee shall constitute service as a Board member, and such members shall accordingly be entitled |
to full indemnification and reimbursement as Board members for their service as members of the Committee or any |
other duly appointed subcommittee. No Committee or other duly appointed subcommittee member shall be liable for |
any act or omission made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan. |
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5. |
|
Eligibility. The Committee may, in its discretion, grant Awards to any Eligible Person, whether or |
not he or she has previously received an Award, except in the case of an ISO, which can only be granted to an |
Employee of the Company or any Subsidiary. |
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6. |
|
Conditions to Grants. |
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(a) |
|
General Conditions. Awards shall be evidenced by written Award Agreements specifying |
the number of Shares covered thereby, in such form as the Committee shall from time to time establish. Award |
Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to |
the following terms and conditions: |
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(i) |
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The Grant Date of an Award shall be the date on which the Committee grants the |
Award or such later date as specified in advance by the Committee; |
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(ii) |
|
In the case of an Award of options, the Option Term shall under no |
circumstances extend more than ten (10) years after the Grant Date and shall be subject to earlier |
termination as herein provided; and |
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(iii) |
|
Any terms and conditions of an Award not set forth in the Plan shall be set forth |
in the Award Agreement related to that Award. |
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(b) |
|
Grant of Options. No later than the Grant Date of any option, the Committee shall |
determine the Option Price of such option. Subject to Section 6(c), the Option Price of an option may be the Fair |
Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date or may be less than or more than that Fair Market Value. An option shall |
be exercisable for unrestricted Shares, unless the Award Agreement provides that it is exercisable for Restricted |
Shares. |
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(c) |
|
Grant of ISOs. At the time of the grant of any option, the Committee may, in its |
discretion, designate that such option shall be made subject to additional restrictions to permit the option to qualify |
as an incentive stock option under the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. Any option designated as an ISO: |
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|
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(i) |
|
shall have an Option Price that is not less than the Fair Market Value of a Share |
on the Grant Date and, if granted to a Ten Percent Owner, have an Option Price that is not less than 110% |
of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date; |
|
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(ii) |
|
shall be for a period of not more than ten (10) years and, if granted to a Ten |
Percent Owner, not more than five (5) years, from the Grant Date and shall be subject to earlier termination |
as provided herein or in the applicable Award Agreement; |
|
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(iii) |
|
shall meet the limitations of this subparagraph 6(c)(iii). If the aggregate Fair |
Market Value of Shares with respect to which ISOs first become exercisable by a Grantee in any calendar |
year exceeds the limit determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code (the |
Limit) taking into account Shares subject to all ISOs granted by the Company that are held by the |
Grantee, the excess will be treated as nonqualified options. To determine whether the Limit is exceeded, |
the Fair Market Value of Shares subject to options shall be determined as of the Grant Dates of the options. |
In reducing the number of options treated as ISOs to meet the Limit, the most recently granted options will |
be reduced first. If a reduction of simultaneously granted options is necessary to meet the Limit, the |
Committee may designate which Shares are to be treated as Shares acquired pursuant to an ISO; |
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(iv) |
|
shall be granted within ten (10) years from the Effective Date; |
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(v) |
|
shall require the Grantee to notify the Committee of any disposition of any |
Shares issued upon the exercise of the ISO under the circumstances described in Section 421(b) of the Code |
(relating to certain disqualifying dispositions, a Disqualifying Disposition), within ten (10) business days |
after such Disqualifying Disposition; and |
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(vi) |
|
unless otherwise permitted by the Code, shall by its terms not be assignable or |
transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution and may be exercised, during the |
Grantees lifetime, only by the Grantee, except that the Grantee may, in accordance with Section 7, |
designate in writing a beneficiary to exercise his or her ISOs after the Grantees death. |
|
(d) |
|
Grant of SARs. |
|
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(i) |
|
When granted, SARs may, but need not, be identified with a specific option, |
specific Restricted Shares, or specific Performance Shares of the Grantee (including any option, Restricted |
Shares, or Performance Shares granted on or before the Grant Date of the SARs) in a number equal to or |
different from the number of SARs so granted. If SARs are identified with Shares subject to an option, with |
Restricted Shares, or with Performance Shares, then, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award |
Agreement, the Grantees associated SARs shall terminate upon (A) the expiration, termination, forfeiture, |
or cancellation of such option, Restricted Shares or Performance Shares, (B) the exercise of such option or |
Performance Shares, or (C) the date such Restricted Shares become nonforfeitable. |
|
|
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(ii) |
|
The strike price (the Strike Price) of any SAR shall equal, for any SAR that is |
identified with an option, the Option Price of such option, or for any other SAR, one hundred percent |
(100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date of such SAR, except that the Committee may |
(A) specify a higher Strike Price in the Award Agreement or (B) provide that the benefit payable upon |
exercise of any SAR shall not exceed such percentage of the Fair Market Value of a Share on such Grant |
Date as the Committee shall specify. |
|
(e) |
|
Grant of Performance Shares. |
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(i) |
|
Before the grant of Performance Shares, the Committee shall: |
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(A) |
|
determine objective performance goals, which may consist of any one |
or more of the following goals deemed appropriate by the Committee: earnings (either in the |
aggregate or on a per share basis), operating income, cash flow, EBITDA (earnings before interest, |
taxes, depreciation and amortization), return on equity, indices related to EVA (economic value |
added), per share rate of return on the Common Stock (including dividends), general indices |
relative to levels of general customer service satisfaction, as measured through various randomly- |
generated customer service surveys, market share (in one or more markets), customer retention |
rates, market penetration rates, revenues, reductions in expense levels, the attainment by the |
Common Stock of a specified market value for a specified period of time, and any other object |
performance goal deemed appropriate by the Committee, in each case where applicable to be |
determined either on a company-wide basis, individual basis or in respect of any one or more |
business units, and the amount of compensation under the goals applicable to such grant; |
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(B) |
|
designate a period for the measurement of the extent to which |
performance goals are attained, which may begin simultaneously with, prior to or following the |
Grant Date (the Performance Period); and |
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(C) |
|
assign a performance percentage to each level of attainment of |
performance goals during the Performance Period, with the percentage applicable to minimum |
attainment being zero percent and the percentage applicable to maximum attainment to be |
determined by the Committee from time to time (the Performance Percentage). |
|
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(ii) |
|
If a Grantee is promoted, demoted, or transferred to a different business unit of |
the Company during a Performance Period, then, to the extent the Committee determines any one or more |
of the performance goals, Performance Period or Performance Percentage are no longer appropriate, the |
Committee may make any changes thereto as it deems appropriate in order to make them appropriate. |
|
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|
(iii) |
|
When granted, Performance Shares may, but need not, be identified with Shares |
subject to a specific option, specific Restricted Shares or specific SARs of the Grantee granted under the |
Plan in a number equal to or different from the number of the Performance Shares so granted. If |
Performance Shares are so identified, then, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, |
the Grantees associated Performance Shares shall terminate upon (A) the expiration, termination, forfeiture |
or cancellation of the option, Restricted Shares or SARs with which the Performance Shares are identified, |
(B) the exercise of such option or SARs, or (C) the date Restricted Shares become nonforfeitable. |
|
(f) |
|
Grant of Restricted Shares. |
|
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|
(i) |
|
The Committee shall determine the amount, if any, that a Grantee shall pay for |
Restricted Shares, subject to the following sentence. The Committee shall require the Grantee to pay at |
least the Minimum Consideration for each Restricted Share. Such payment shall be made in full by the |
Grantee before the delivery of the shares and in any event no later than ten (10) business days after the |
Grant Date. In the discretion of the Committee and to the extent permitted by law, payment may also be |
made in accordance with Section 9. |
|
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|
(ii) |
|
The Committee may, but need not, provide that all or any portion of a Grantees |
Restricted Shares, or Restricted Shares acquired upon exercise of an option, shall be forfeited: |
|
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(A) |
|
except as otherwise specified in the Plan or the Award Agreement, upon |
|
|
the Grantees termination of employment within a specified time period after the Grant Date; or |
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(B) |
|
if the Company or the Grantee does not achieve specified performance |
|
|
goals (if any) within a specified time period after the Grant Date and before the Grantees |
|
|
termination of employment; or |
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(C) |
|
upon failure to satisfy such other conditions as the Committee may |
|
|
specify in the Award Agreement. |
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|
(iii) |
|
If Restricted Shares are forfeited and the Grantee was required to pay for such |
shares or acquired such Restricted Shares upon the exercise of an option, the Grantee shall be deemed to |
have resold such Restricted Shares to the Company at a price equal to the lesser of (A) the amount paid by |
the Grantee for such Restricted Shares or (B) the Fair Market Value of the Restricted Shares on the date of |
forfeiture, which shall be paid to the Grantee in cash as soon as administratively practicable. Such |
Restricted Shares shall cease to be outstanding and shall no longer confer on the Grantee thereof any rights |
as a shareholder of the Company, from and after the date of the event causing the forfeiture, whether or not |
the Grantee accepts the Companys tender of payment for such Restricted Shares. |
|
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|
(iv) |
|
The Committee may provide that the certificates for any Restricted Shares (A) |
shall be held (together with a stock power executed in blank by the Grantee) in escrow by the Secretary of |
the Company until such Restricted Shares become nonforfeitable or are forfeited or (B) shall bear an |
appropriate legend restricting the transfer of such Restricted Shares. If any Restricted Shares become |
nonforfeitable, the Company shall cause certificates for such shares to be issued without such legend. |
|
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|
(v) |
|
At the time of a grant of Restricted Shares, the Committee may require the |
payment of cash dividends thereon to be deferred and, if the Committee so determines, reinvested in |
additional Restricted Shares. Stock dividends or deferred cash dividends issued with respect to Restricted |
Shares shall be subject to the same restrictions and other terms as apply to the Restricted Shares with |
respect to which such dividends are issued. The Committee may in its discretion provide for payment of |
interest on deferred cash dividends. |
|
|
|
(g) |
|
Grant of Compensatory Shares. The Committee may grant Compensatory Shares to any |
Eligible Person. |
|
7. |
|
Non-Transferability. An Award granted hereunder shall not be assignable or transferable other |
than by will or the laws of descent and distribution and may be exercised during the Grantees lifetime only by the |
Grantee or his or her guardian or legal representative, except that, subject to Section 6(c) in respect of ISOs, a |
Grantee may, if permitted by the Committee, in its discretion, (a) designate in writing a beneficiary to exercise an |
Award after his or her death (if that designation has been received by the Company prior to the Grantees death) and |
(b) transfer the Award to one or more members of the Grantees Immediate Family or any other individuals or |
entities. |
8. |
|
Exercise. |
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(a) |
|
Exercise of Options. |
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|
(i) |
|
Subject to Section 6, each option shall become exercisable at such time or times |
as may be specified by the Committee from time to time in the applicable Award Agreement. |
|
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(ii) |
|
An option shall be exercised by the delivery to the Company during the Option |
Term of (A) a written notice of intent to purchase a specific number of Shares subject to the option in |
accordance with the terms of the option by the person entitled to exercise the option and (B) payment in full |
of the Option Price of such specific number of Shares in accordance with Section 8(a)(iii). |
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(iii) |
|
Payment of the Option Price may be made by any one or more of the following |
means: |
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(A) |
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cash, check, or wire transfer; |
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(B) |
|
with the approval of the Committee, Mature Shares, valued at their Fair |
|
|
Market Value on the date of exercise; |
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(C) |
|
with the approval of the Committee, Restricted Shares held by the |
|
|
Grantee for at least six (6) months prior to the exercise of the option, each such share valued at the |
|
|
Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise; |
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(D) |
|
so long as the Company remains a Public Company, in accordance with |
|
|
procedures previously approved by the Company, through the sale of the Shares acquired on |
|
|
exercise of the option through a bank or broker-dealer to whom the Grantee has submitted an |
|
|
irrevocable notice of exercise and irrevocable instructions to deliver promptly to the Company the |
|
|
amount of sale or loan proceeds sufficient to pay for such Shares, together with, if requested by the |
|
|
Company, the amount of federal, state, local or foreign withholding taxes payable by Grantee by |
|
|
reason of such exercise; or |
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(E) |
|
in the discretion of the Committee, payment may also be made in |
|
|
accordance with Section 9. |
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(F) |
|
with the approval of the Committee, in any combination of the |
|
|
foregoing or such other manner determined by the Committee. |
|
The Committee may in its discretion specify that, if any Restricted Shares are used to pay the Option Price |
(Tendered Restricted Shares), (A) all the Shares acquired on exercise of the option shall be subject to the same |
restrictions as the Tendered Restricted Shares, determined as of the date of exercise of the option or (B) a number of |
Shares acquired on exercise of the option equal to the number of Tendered Restricted Shares shall be subject to the |
same restrictions as the Tendered Restricted Shares, determined as of the date of exercise of the option. |
|
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|
(b) |
|
Exercise of SARs. |
|
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|
|
|
(i) |
|
Subject to Section 6(d), (A) each SAR not identified with any other Award shall |
become exercisable at such time or times as may be specified by the Committee from time to time in the |
applicable Award Agreement and (B) except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, |
each SAR which is identified with any other Award shall become exercisable as and to the extent that the |
option or Restricted Shares with which such SAR is identified may be exercised or becomes nonforfeitable, |
as the case may be. |
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(ii) |
|
SARs shall be exercised by delivery to the Company of written notice of intent |
to exercise a specific number of SARs. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the |
exercise of SARs that are identified with Shares subject to an option or Restricted Shares shall result in the |
cancellation or forfeiture of such option or Restricted Shares, as the case may be, to the extent of such |
exercise. |
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|
(iii) |
|
The benefit for each SAR exercised shall be equal to (A) the Fair Market Value |
of a Share on the date of such exercise, minus (B) the Strike Price specified in such SAR. Such benefit shall |
be payable in cash, except that the Committee may provide in the Award Agreement that benefits may be |
paid wholly or partly in Shares. |
|
|
|
(c) |
|
Payment of Performance Shares. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement |
with respect to an Award of Performance Shares, if the minimum performance goals applicable to such Performance |
Shares have been achieved during the applicable Performance Period, then the Company shall pay to the Grantee of |
such Award that number of Shares equal to the product of: |
|
|
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|
(i) |
|
the sum of (A) number of Performance Shares specified in the applicable Award |
Agreement and (B) the number of additional Shares that would have been issuable if such Performance |
Shares had been Shares outstanding throughout the Performance Period and the stock dividends, cash |
dividends (except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement), and other property paid in respect of |
such Shares had been reinvested in additional Shares as of each dividend payment date, multiplied by |
|
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|
(ii) |
|
the Performance Percentage achieved during such Performance Period. |
|
The Committee may, in its discretion, determine that cash be paid in lieu of some or all of such Shares. The amount |
of cash payable in lieu of a Share shall be determined by valuing such Share at its Fair Market Value on the business |
day immediately preceding the date such cash is to be paid. Payments pursuant to this Section 8 shall be made as |
soon as administratively practical after the end of the applicable Performance Period. Any Performance Shares with |
respect to which the performance goals shall not have been achieved by the end of the applicable Performance |
Period shall expire. |
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|
9. |
|
Loans. The Committee may in its discretion allow a Grantee to defer payment to the Company of |
all or any portion of (a) the Option Price of an option, (b) the purchase price of Restricted Shares, or (c) any taxes |
associated with the exercise, nonforfeitability of, or payment of benefits in connection with, an Award. Any such |
payment deferral by the Company shall be on such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine, except |
that a Grantee shall not be entitled to defer the payment of such Option Price, purchase price, or any related taxes |
unless the Grantee (a) enters into a binding obligation to pay the deferred amount and (b) other than with respect to |
treasury shares, pays upon exercise of an option or grant of Restricted Shares, as applicable, an amount at least equal |
to the Minimum Consideration therefor. If the Committee has permitted a payment deferral in accordance with this |
Section 9, then the Committee may require the immediate payment of such deferred amount upon the Grantees |
termination of employment or if the Grantee sells or otherwise transfers his or her Shares purchased pursuant to such |
deferral. The Committee may at any time in its discretion forgive the repayment of any or all of the principal of, or |
interest on, any such deferred payment obligation. |
|
10. |
|
Notification under Section 83(b). If the Grantee, in connection with the exercise of any option or |
the grant of Restricted Shares, makes the election permitted under Section 83(b) of the Code to include in such |
Grantees gross income in the year of transfer the amounts specified in Section 83(b) of the Code, then such Grantee |
shall notify the Company, in writing, of such election within ten (10) days after filing the notice of the election with |
the Internal Revenue Service, in addition to any filing and notification required pursuant to regulations issued under |
Section 83(b) of the Code. The Committee may, in connection with the grant of an Award or at any time thereafter, |
prohibit a Grantee from making the election described in this Section 10. |
11. |
|
Mandatory Tax Withholding. |
|
|
|
(a) |
|
Whenever under the Plan, Shares are to be delivered upon exercise or payment of an |
Award or upon Restricted Shares becoming nonforfeitable, or any other event with respect to rights and benefits |
hereunder, the Company shall be entitled to require (i) that the Grantee remit an amount in cash, or in the Companys |
discretion, Mature Shares or any other form of consideration, sufficient to satisfy all federal, state and local tax |
withholding requirements related thereto (Required Withholding), (ii) the withholding of such Required |
Withholding from compensation otherwise due to the Grantee or from any Shares due to the Grantee under the Plan, |
or (iii) any combination of the foregoing. |
|
|
|
(b) |
|
Any Grantee who makes a Disqualifying Disposition or an election under Section 83(b) of |
the Code shall remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy all resulting Required Withholding, except that |
in lieu of or in addition to the foregoing, the Company shall have the right to withhold such Required Withholding |
from compensation otherwise due to the Grantee or from any Shares or other payment due to the Grantee under the |
Plan. |
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|
(c) |
|
Any surrender by a Section 16 Grantee of previously owned shares of Common Stock to |
satisfy tax withholding arising upon exercise of the Award must comply with the applicable provisions of Rule 16b- |
3(e) under the 1934 Act. |
|
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|
12. |
|
Elective Share Withholding. At the Companys discretion, a Grantee may, with the prior consent |
of the Committee, elect the withholding by the Company of a portion of the Shares otherwise deliverable to such |
Grantee upon the exercise of an Award or upon Restricted Shares becoming nonforfeitable (each, a Taxable Event) |
having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum amount necessary to satisfy the Required Withholding liability |
attributable to the Taxable Event. |
|
13. |
|
Termination of Employment. |
|
|
|
(a) |
|
For Cause. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee in an Award Agreement, if a |
Grantees employment is terminated for Cause, (i) the Grantees Restricted Shares (and any SARs identified |
therewith) that are then forfeitable shall on the date of the Grantees termination of employment be forfeited on such |
date, subject to the provisions of Section 6(f)(iii) regarding repayment of certain amounts to the Grantee; and (ii) any |
unexercised option, SAR or Performance Share shall terminate effective immediately upon such termination of |
employment. |
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(b) |
|
On Account of Death. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee in the Award |
Agreement, if a Grantees employment terminates on account of death, then: |
|
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|
(i) |
|
the Grantees Restricted Shares (and any SARs identified therewith) that are then |
forfeitable shall on the date of the Grantees termination of employment be forfeited on such date; |
|
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|
(ii) |
|
any unexercised option or SAR, to the extent exercisable on the date of such |
termination of employment, may be exercised, in whole or in part, within the first twelve (12) months after |
such termination of employment (but only during the Option Term) after the death of the Grantee by (A) his |
or her personal representative or by the person to whom the option or SAR, as applicable, is transferred by |
will or the applicable laws of descent and distribution, (B) the Grantees designated beneficiary, or (C) a |
Permitted Transferee; and |
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|
|
(iii) any unexercised Performance Shares may be exercised in whole or in part, at any |
time within six (6) months after such termination of employment on account of the death of the Grantee, by |
(A) his or her personal representative or by the person to whom the Performance Shares are transferred by |
will or the applicable laws of descent and distribution, (B) the Grantees designated beneficiary, or (C) a |
Permitted Transferee, except that the benefit payable with respect to any Performance Shares for which the |
Performance Period has not ended as of the date of such termination of employment on account of death |
shall be equal to the product of Fair Market Value of such Performance Shares multiplied successively by |
each of the following: |
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|
|
(A) |
|
a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months (including |
as a whole month any partial month) that has elapsed since the beginning of such Performance |
Period until the date of such termination of employment and the denominator of which is the |
number of months (including as a whole month any partial month) in the Performance Period; and |
|
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|
(B) |
|
a percentage determined in the discretion of the Committee that would |
be earned under the terms of the applicable Award Agreement assuming that the rate at which the |
performance goals have been achieved as of the date of such termination of employment would |
continue until the end of the Performance Period, or, if the Committee elects to compute the |
benefit after the end of the Performance Period, the Performance Percentage, as determined by the |
Committee, attained during the Performance Period for such Performance Shares. |
|
(c) |
|
On Account of Disability. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee in the Award |
Agreement, if a Grantees employment terminates on account of Disability, then: |
|
|
|
(i) |
|
the Grantees Restricted Shares (and any SARs identified therewith) that are then |
forfeitable shall on the date of the Grantees termination of employment be forfeited on such date; |
|
|
|
(ii) |
|
any unexercised option or SAR, to the extent exercisable on the date of such |
termination of employment, may be exercised in whole or in part, within the first twelve (12) months after |
such termination of employment (but only during the Option Term) by the Grantee, or by (A) his or her |
personal representative or by the person to whom the option or SAR, as applicable, is transferred by will or |
the applicable laws of descent and distribution, (B) the Grantees designated beneficiary, or (C) a Permitted |
Transferee; and |
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|
(iii) |
|
any unexercised Performance Shares may be exercised in whole or in part, at any |
time within six (6) months after such termination of employment on account of Disability by the Grantee, or |
by (A) his personal representative or by the person to whom the Performance Shares are transferred by will |
or the applicable laws of descent and distribution, (B) the Grantees designated beneficiary, or (C) a |
Permitted Transferee, except that the benefit payable with respect to any Performance Shares for which the |
Performance Period has not ended as of the date of such termination of employment on account of |
Disability shall be equal to the product of the Fair Market Value of the Performance Shares multiplied |
successively by each of the following: |
|
|
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|
|
|
|
(A) |
|
a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months |
(including as a whole month any partial month) that have elapsed since the beginning of such |
Performance Period until the date of such termination of employment and the denominator of |
which is the number of months (including as a whole month any partial month) in the Performance |
Period; and |
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(B) |
|
a percentage determined in the discretion of the Committee |
that would be earned under the terms of the applicable Award Agreement assuming that the rate at |
which the performance goals have been achieved as of the date of such termination of employment |
would continue until the end of the Performance Period, or, if the Committee elects to compute the |
benefit after the end of the Performance Period, the Performance Percentage, as determined by the |
Committee, attained during the Performance Period for such Performance Shares. |
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(d) |
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Any Reason Other Than For Cause Or On Account of Death or Disability. Except as |
otherwise provided by the Committee in the Award Agreement, if a Grantees employment terminates for any reason |
other than for Cause, or on account of death or Disability, then: |
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(i) |
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the Grantees Restricted Shares (and any SARs identified therewith), that are |
then forfeitable shall on the date of the Grantees termination of employment be forfeited on such date; |
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(ii) |
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any unexercised option or SAR (other than a SAR identified with a Restricted |
Share or Performance Share), to the extent exercisable immediately before the Grantees termination of |
employment, may be exercised in whole or in part, not later than three (3) months after such termination of |
employment (but only during the Option Term); and |
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(iii) |
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the Grantees Performance Shares (and any SARs identified therewith) shall |
terminate effective immediately upon such termination of employment. |
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14. |
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Substituted Awards. If the Committee cancels any Award (whether granted under the Plan or any |
plan of any entity acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary), the Committee may, in its discretion, substitute a new |
Award therefor upon such terms and conditions consistent with the Plan as the Committee may determine, except |
that (a) the Option Price of any new option, and the Strike Price of any new SAR, shall not be less than one hundred |
percent (100%) (one hundred ten percent (110%) in the case of an incentive stock option granted to a Ten Percent |
Owner) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of the grant of the new Award; and (b) the Grant Date of the |
new Award shall be the date on which such new Award is granted. |
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15 |
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Securities Law Matters. |
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(a) |
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If the Committee deems necessary to comply with any applicable securities law, the |
Committee may require a written investment intent representation by the Grantee and may require that a restrictive |
legend be affixed to certificates for Shares. If, based upon the advice of counsel to the Company, the Committee |
determines that the exercise or nonforfeitability of, or delivery of benefits pursuant to, any Award would violate any |
applicable provision of (i) federal or state securities laws or (ii) the listing requirements of any national exchange or |
national market system on which are listed any of the Companys equity securities, then the Committee may |
postpone any such exercise, nonforfeitability or delivery, as applicable, but the Company shall use all reasonable |
efforts to cause such exercise, nonforfeitability or delivery to comply with all such provisions at the earliest |
practicable date. |
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(b) |
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Grants of options to Section 16 Grantees shall comply with Rule 16b-3 and shall contain |
such additional conditions or restrictions as may be required thereunder for such grants to qualify for exemption |
from liability under Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act. |
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16. |
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No Employment Rights. Neither the establishment of the Plan nor the grant of any Award shall (a) |
give any Grantee the right to remain employed by the Company or any Subsidiary or to any benefits not specifically |
provided by the Plan or (b) modify the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to modify, amend, or terminate the |
Plan or any other employee benefit plan or employment agreement. |
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17. |
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No Rights as a Shareholder. A Grantee shall not have any rights as a shareholder of the Company |
with respect to the Shares (other than Restricted Shares) which may be deliverable upon exercise or payment of an |
Award until such Shares have been delivered to him or her. Restricted Shares, whether held by a Grantee or in |
escrow by the Company, shall confer on the Grantee all rights of a shareholder of the Company, except as otherwise |
provided in the Plan or applicable Award Agreement. |
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18. |
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Nature of Payments. Awards shall be special incentive payments to the Grantee and shall not be |
taken into account in computing the amount of salary or compensation of the Grantee for purposes of determining |
any pension, retirement, death or other benefit under (a) any pension, retirement, profit-sharing, bonus, insurance or |
other employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary or (b) any agreement between (i) the Company or any |
Subsidiary and (ii) the Grantee, except as such plan or agreement shall otherwise expressly provide. |
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19. |
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Non-uniform Determinations. The Committees determinations under the Plan need not be |
uniform and may be made by the Committee selectively among persons who receive, or are eligible to receive, |
Awards, whether or not such persons are similarly situated. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the |
Committee shall be entitled to enter into non-uniform and selective Award Agreements as to (a) the identity of the |
Grantees, (b) the terms and provisions of Awards, including, without limitation, vesting and manner of payment of |
purchase price upon exercise, and (c) the treatment of terminations of employment. |
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20. |
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Adjustments. The Committee shall make equitable adjustment of: |
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(a) |
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the aggregate number of Shares available under the Plan for Awards and the aggregate |
number of Shares for which Awards may be granted to any individual Grantee in any calendar year pursuant to the |
second sentence of Section 2; |
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(b) |
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the number of Shares, SARs or Performance Shares covered by an Award; and |
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(c) |
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the Option Price of all outstanding options and the Strike Price of all outstanding SARs; |
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to reflect a stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, share combination, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, |
spin-off, split-off, reorganization, rights offering, liquidation or similar event of or by the Company. |
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21. |
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Amendment of the Plan. The Committee may from time to time, in its discretion, amend the Plan |
without the approval of the Companys shareholders, except (a) as such shareholder approval may be required under |
the listing requirements of any securities exchange or national market system on which are listed the Companys |
equity securities and (b) that the Committee may not without the approval of the Companys shareholders amend the |
Plan to increase the total number of shares reserved for the purposes of the Plan (other than in accordance with |
Section 20). |
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22. |
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Termination of the Plan. The Plan shall continue in effect until the earlier of its termination by the |
Committee or the date on which all of the shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan have been |
issued and all restrictions on such shares under the terms of the Plan and the agreements evidencing Awards granted |
under the Plan have lapsed. However, all Awards shall be granted, if at all, within ten (10) years from the earlier of |
the date the Plan is adopted by the Committee or the date the Plan is duly approved by the shareholders of the |
Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to |
the Plan has been increased at any time, all Awards shall be granted, if at all, no later than the last day preceding the |
ten (10) year anniversary of the earlier of (a) the date on which the latest such increase in the maximum number of |
shares of Common Stock issuable under the Plan was approved by the shareholders of the Company or (b) the date |
such amendment was adopted by the Committee. No termination shall affect any Award then outstanding under the |
Plan. |
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23. |
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No Illegal Transactions. The Plan and all Awards granted pursuant to it are subject to all |
applicable laws and regulations. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or any Award, Grantees shall not be |
entitled to exercise, or receive benefits under any Award, and the Company shall not be obligated to deliver any |
Shares or deliver benefits to a Grantee, if such exercise or delivery would constitute a violation by the Grantee or the |
Company of any applicable law or regulation. |
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24. |
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Constructive Sales. The Grantee shall not directly or indirectly, through related parties or |
otherwise, short or short against the box (as those terms are generally understood in the securities markets), or |
otherwise directly or indirectly (through derivative instruments or otherwise) dispose of or hedge, any securities of |
the Company issuable upon exercise of such Grantees Award(s). |
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25. |
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Definitions. The terms set forth below have the indicated meanings which are applicable to both |
the singular and plural forms thereof: |
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Award shall mean options, including ISOs, Restricted Shares, Compensatory Shares, SARs or |
Performance Shares granted under the Plan. |
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Award Agreement shall mean the written agreement by which an Award shall be evidenced. |
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Board shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company. |
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Cause, with respect to any employee or consultant of the Company shall have the meaning set |
forth in such persons employment or consulting agreement or, in the absence of such an agreement or if such term is |
not defined in such agreement, shall mean any one or more of the following, as determined by the Committee (in the |
case of a Section 16 Grantee) or the Chief Executive Officer or President of the Company (in the case of any other |
Grantee): |
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(i) |
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a Grantees commission of a crime that is likely to result in injury to the |
Company or a Subsidiary; |
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(ii) |
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the material violation by the Grantee of written policies of the Company or a |
Subsidiary; |
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(iii) |
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the habitual neglect by the Grantee in the performance of his or her duties to the |
Company or a Subsidiary; or |
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(iv) |
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a Grantees willful misconduct or inaction in connection with his or her duties to the Company or a |
Subsidiary resulting in a material injury to the Company or a Subsidiary. |
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Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended or superseded, and the |
regulations and rulings thereunder. Reference to a particular section of the Code shall include references to |
successor provisions. |
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Committee shall mean the committee of the Board appointed pursuant to Section 3(a), or if not |
so appointed or unable to act or with reference to Awards to Independent Directors, shall mean the entire Board. |
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Common Stock shall mean the common stock, $0.10 par value per share, of the Company. |
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Compensatory Shares shall mean Shares that are awarded to a Grantee without cost and without |
restrictions either as a bonus, in lieu of cash compensation for services rendered to the Company or for any other |
compensatory purpose. |
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Consultant shall mean any person, including a Director, who is engaged by the Company or any |
Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof to render services to or for the benefit of the Company and is compensated for |
such services, including any member of the Advisory Board of the Company. |
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Director shall mean a member of the Board. |
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Disability shall mean a permanent and total disability, within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of |
the Code. |
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Effective Date shall mean the date set forth in the first paragraph hereof. |
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Eligible Person shall mean any Employee, Consultant or Director of the Company or any |
Subsidiary, including any prospective Employee or Employee on an approved leave of absence or layoff, if such |
leave or layoff does not qualify as a Disability. |
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Employee shall mean any person treated as an employee (including officers and directors) in the |
records of the Company (or Subsidiary) and who is subject to the control and direction of the Company (or |
Subsidiary) with regard to both the work to be performed and the manner and method of performance. The payment |
of a directors fee by the Company (or Subsidiary) to a Director shall not be sufficient to constitute employment of |
the Director by the Company (or Subsidiary). |
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Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on any relevant date shall mean such value as |
determined in accordance with the following provisions: |
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(i) |
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If the Common Stock is at that time listed on a national securities exchange, then |
the Fair Market Value shall mean the closing selling price per share of Common Stock on the exchange on which |
such Common Stock is principally traded on the relevant date or, if there were no sales on that date, the closing |
selling price of such Common Stock on the last preceding date on which there were sales. |
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(ii) |
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If the Common Stock is at that time traded on the Nasdaq Market® , Nasdaq |
Small Cap MarketSM or OTC Bulletin Board® , as the case may be, then the Fair Market Value shall mean the closing |
selling price per share of Common Stock on the relevant date, as the price is reported by the National Association of |
Securities Dealers on the Nasdaq Market® , Nasdaq Small Cap MarketSM or OTC Bulletin Board® , as the case may |
be, or any successor system. If there is no closing selling price for the Common Stock on the relevant date, then the |
Fair Market Value shall mean the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists. |
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(iii) |
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If the Common Stock is neither listed on any national securities exchange nor |
traded on the Nasdaq Market® , Nasdaq Small Cap MarketSM or OTC Bulletin Board® , then the Fair Market Value |
shall mean that value determined by the Committee after taking into account such factors as the Committee shall in |
good faith deem appropriate. |
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Grant Date shall have the meaning specified in Section 6(a). |
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Grantee shall mean a person who has been granted an Award or any Permitted Transferee. |
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ISO shall mean an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code. |
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Immediate Family shall mean, with respect to a particular Grantee, the Grantees spouse, |
children and grandchildren. |
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Independent Director shall mean a member of the Board who in not an Employee of the |
Company. |
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Mature Shares shall mean Shares for which the holder thereof has good title, free and clear of all |
liens and encumbrances, and which such holder has held for at least six (6) months. |
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Minimum Consideration shall mean par value per Share or such other amount that is from time |
to time considered to be minimum consideration under applicable law. |
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1934 Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. References to a |
particular section of the 1934 Act or rule thereunder, include references to successor provisions. |
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Option Price shall mean the per share exercise price of an option. |
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Option Term shall mean the period beginning on the Grant Date of an option and ending on the |
expiration date of such option, as specified in the Award Agreement for such option and as may, in the discretion of |
the Committee and consistent with the provisions of the Plan, be extended from time to time. |
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Performance Shares shall mean an Award to a Grantee pursuant to Section 6(e). |
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Permitted Transferee shall mean a person to whom an Award may be transferred or assigned in |
accordance with Section 7. |
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Public Company shall mean any entity issuing any class of equity securities that has been, or is |
required to be, registered under Section 12 of the 1934 Act. |
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Restricted Shares shall mean Shares that are subject to forfeiture if the Grantee does not satisfy |
the conditions specified in the Award Agreement applicable to those Shares. |
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Rule 16b-3 shall mean Rule 16b-3 of the SEC under the 1934 Act, as amended from time to |
time, together with any successor rule. |
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SAR shall mean a stock appreciation right. |
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SEC shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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Section 16 Grantee shall mean a person who is subject to potential liability under Section 16(b) |
of the 1934 Act with respect to transactions involving equity securities of the Company. |
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Share shall mean a share of Common Stock. |
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Strike Price shall have the meaning specified in Section 6(d)(ii). |
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Subsidiary shall mean a subsidiary corporation, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code (with |
the Company being treated as the employer corporation for purposes of this definition). |
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Ten Percent Owner shall mean a person who owns capital stock (including stock treated as |
owned under Section 424(d) of the Code) possessing more than ten percent of the total combined Voting Power of |
all classes of capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary. |
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Voting Power shall mean the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of the |
Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. |
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26. |
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Controlling Law. The law of the State of New York, except its law with respect to choice of law, |
shall control all matters relating to the Plan. |
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27. |
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Severability. If any part of the Plan is declared by any court or governmental authority to be |
unlawful or invalid, such unlawfulness or invalidity shall not invalidate any other part of the Plan. Any Section or |
part of a Section so declared to be unlawful or invalid shall, if possible, be construed in a manner which will given |
effect to the terms of such Section to the fullest extent possible while remaining lawful and valid. |
ANNEX C |
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|
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO |
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF |
eLEC COMMUNICATIONS CORP. |
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Proposed Amendments to Certificate of Incorporation. The following provision reflects the manner in |
which the applicable section of the Certificate of Incorporation of eLEC Communications Corp. will be amended if |
Proxy Items 4 and 5 are both approved by the shareholders at the annual meeting. If one of the foregoing Proxy |
Items is not approved by the shareholders, then the language pertaining to such Proxy Item will not be included in |
the Certificate of Amendment filed with the Secretary of the State of New York. |
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The first paragraph of Article FOURTH of the companys Certificate of Incorporation is amended in its |
entirety to read as follows: |
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Fourth: A. Authorized Shares. The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the Company |
shall have the authority to issue is FiftyOneOne Hundred Fifty-One Million (51,000,000151,000,000), of |
which FiftyOne Hundred Fifty Million (50,000,000150,000,000) shall be common stock, par value $.10 |
$.001 per share, and One Million (1,000,000) shall be preferred stock, par value $.001 per share. |
REVOCABLE PROXY |
eLEC COMMUNICATIONS CORP. |
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This Proxy is solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors |
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x |
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PLEASE MARK VOTES |
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For |
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With- |
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For all |
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AS IN THIS EXAMPLE |
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hold |
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Except |
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PROPOSAL 1: ¨ |
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¨ |
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¨ |
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The undersigned hereby appoint(s) Paul H. Riss and Greg M. Cooper, or |
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The Election of Directors: |
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either of them, lawful attorneys and proxies of the undersigned with full power |
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of substitution, for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned to |
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attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of eLEC Communications Corp. |
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Paul H. Riss, Greg M. Cooper, Michael H. Khalilian, Gayle Greer |
(the Company) to be held at 75 South Broadway, Suite 302, White Plains, |
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and S. Miller Williams |
New York 10601 on Thursday, June 7, 2007 at 10:00 a.m., local time, and any |
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adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof, with all powers the undersigned |
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INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual |
would possess if personally present and to vote the number of votes the |
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nominee, mark For All Except and write that nominees name in the |
undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present. |
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space provided below. |
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The Board of Directors recommends a vote "FOR" the proposals set forth |
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below. |
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For |
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Against |
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Abstain |
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PROPOSAL 2: ¨ |
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¨ |
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¨ |
In accordance with their discretion, said Attorneys and Proxies are |
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authorized to vote upon such other matters or proposals not known at the |
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2007 Equity Incentive Plan: |
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time of solicitation of this proxy which may properly come before the |
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meeting. |
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Proposal to approve the adoption of the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan of the |
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Company. |
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This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner |
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described herein by the undersigned shareholder. If no direction is made, |
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For |
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Against |
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Abstain |
this proxy will be voted for the Proposals set forth herein. Any prior |
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PROPOSAL 3: ¨ |
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¨ |
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¨ |
proxy authorized by the undersigned is hereby revoked. |
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Change Name of Company: |
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The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of |
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Annual Meeting of Shareholders and the related Proxy Statement dated |
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Proposal to amend the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company to change |
May 7, 2007. |
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the name of the Company to PervasipCorp. |
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For |
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Against |
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Abstain |
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PROPOSAL 4: ¨ |
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¨ |
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¨ |
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Increase Authorized Shares of |
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Capital Stock: |
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Proposal to amend the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company to increase |
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the total number of shares of capital stock the Company is authorized to issue. |
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For |
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Against |
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Abstain |
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PROPOSAL 5: ¨ |
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¨ |
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¨ |
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Change Par Value: |
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Proposal to amend the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company to change |
Please be sure to sign and date |
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the par value of shares of our Capital Stock from $.10 per share to $.001 per |
this Proxy in the box below. |
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Date: |
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share. |
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For |
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Against |
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Abstain |
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PROPOSAL 6: ¨ |
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¨ |
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¨ |
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Independent Auditors: |
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Ratification of the appointment of Nussbaum Yates & Wolpow, P.C. as the |
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independent auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ending November 30, |
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2007 |
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Shareholder sign above Co-holder (if any) sign above |
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eLEC COMMUNICATIONS CORP. |
Please sign exactly as your name appears on this proxy card. When shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or |
corporation, please sign in full corporate name by president or other authorized person. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. |
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PLEASE ACT PROMPTLY |
SIGN, DATE & MAIL YOUR PROXY CARD TODAY |
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