Unassociated Document
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
PROXY
STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF
THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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 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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ISORAY,
INC.
(Name
of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
N/A
(Name
of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
x
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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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(1)
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Title
of each class of securities to which transaction
applies:
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(2)
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Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3)
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Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
calculated and state how it was determined):
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(4)
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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
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
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(1)
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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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Party:
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October
26, 2009
Dear
Shareholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders of IsoRay, Inc. (the "Company") to be held at the
Westin La Paloma Resort, 3800 East Sunrise Drive, Tucson, Arizona 85718 at 10:00
a.m. local time on Friday, December 11, 2009.
The enclosed Notice of Annual Meeting
and Proxy Statement describe the formal business to be transacted at the Annual
Meeting. During the Annual Meeting, we will also report on the operations of the
Company and its primary operating subsidiary, IsoRay Medical, Inc. Directors and
officers of the Company and representatives of the Company's auditor are
expected to be present to respond to appropriate questions from
shareholders.
Detailed information concerning our
activities and operating performance during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009
is contained in our Annual Report to Shareholders.
This year, in accordance with U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission rules, we are using the Internet as our
primary means of furnishing proxy materials to
shareholders. Consequently, most shareholders will not receive paper
copies of our proxy materials. We will instead send these
shareholders a notice with instructions for accessing the proxy materials and
voting via the Internet. The notice also provides information on how
shareholders may obtain paper copies of our proxy materials if they so
choose. We believe this new procedure will make the proxy
distribution process more efficient, less costly and help in conserving natural
resources.
Whether or not you expect to attend in
person, we urge you to vote your shares as soon as possible. As an
alternative to voting in person at the meeting, you may vote via the Internet,
by telephone or, if you receive a paper proxy card in the mail, by mailing the
completed proxy card. Voting by any of these methods will ensure your
representation at the meeting and will help ensure the presence of a quorum at
the meeting.
Your vote is important. Whether or not
you are able to attend in person, it is important that your shares be
represented at the Annual Meeting. Accordingly, we ask that you please vote over the Internet or by
telephone at your earliest convenience, or, if you receive a paper proxy
card and voting instructions by mail, that you complete, sign and date the proxy
card and return it in the enclosed envelope (to which no postage need be affixed
if mailed in the United States) as soon as possible. If you do attend the Annual
Meeting, you may withdraw your proxy and vote personally on each matter brought
before the meeting.
We look forward to seeing you at the
Annual Meeting.
If
You Plan to Attend
Please note that space limitations make
it necessary to limit attendance to shareholders. Admission to the meeting will
be first-come, first-served basis. Shareholders holding stock in brokerage
accounts ("street name" holders) will need to bring a copy of a brokerage
statement reflecting stock ownership as of the record date to enter the meeting.
Cameras, recording devices and other electronic equipment will not be permitted
in the meeting.
Sincerely,
Dwight
Babcock
CEO and
Chairman of the Board
350
Hills Street, Suite 106
Richland,
WA 99354
www.isoray.com
ISORAY,
INC.
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING
OF
SHAREHOLDERS
TIME
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10:00
a.m., MST, on Friday, December 11, 2009
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PLACE
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Westin
La Paloma Resort, 3800 East Sunrise Drive, Tucson, Arizona
85718
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ITEMS
OF BUSINESS
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1.
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To
elect four directors to hold office until the Fiscal 2011 Annual Meeting
of Shareholders;
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2.
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To
ratify the appointment of DeCoria, Maichel & Teague, P.S. as the
independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 2010;
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3.
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To
approve, for purposes of the NYSE Amex Company Guide Sec. 713, the
issuance to investors of not to exceed 10 million to be registered shares
of our common stock, $0.001 par value (the "Common Stock") which may
include shares received upon exercise of warrants, to be sold at a
discount that will not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the greater of the
book value or market value at the time of issuance;
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4.
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To
approve, for purposes of the NYSE Amex Company Guide Sec. 713, the
issuance of rights to purchase not to exceed 10 million shares of Common
Stock and the underlying Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
shareholder rights which may be granted to shareholders by the Board of
Directors in the future pursuant to a to be registered offering, at an
exercise price per share that will include a discount of not to exceed
fifteen percent (15%) of the greater of book value or market value at the
time of issuance; and
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5.
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To
take action on any other business that may properly be considered at the
Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
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RECORD
DATE
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You
may vote at the Annual Meeting if you were a shareholder of record at the
close of business on October 12, 2009.
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VOTING
BY PROXY
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If
you cannot attend the Annual Meeting, you may vote your shares by voting
over the Internet, by telephone, or, if you receive a paper proxy card in
the mail, by completing and returning a proxy card in the envelope
provided.
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ANNUAL
REPORT
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IsoRay,
Inc.'s June 30, 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is not part of the
proxy soliciting material except to the extent portions of it are
expressly incorporated by reference into this Proxy Statement, is
available over the Internet or by written request for a paper
copy. A copy of the annual report is enclosed if you have
elected to receive this Proxy Statement in the
mail.
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By
Order of the Board of Directors,
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Fred
Swindler
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Secretary
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This
Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and accompanying proxy
card
are being
distributed on or about October 27, 2009.
INTERNET
AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS
This year, in accordance with U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission rules, we are using the Internet as our
primary means of furnishing proxy materials to
shareholders. Consequently, most shareholders will not receive paper
copies of our proxy materials. We will instead send these
shareholders a Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials with
instructions for accessing the proxy materials, including our proxy statement
and annual report, and voting via the Internet. The Notice Regarding
the Availability of Proxy Materials also provides information on how
shareholders may obtain paper copies of our proxy materials if they so
choose. We believe this new procedure will make the proxy
distribution process more efficient, less costly and help in conserving natural
resources.
ISORAY,
INC.
350
Hills Street, Suite 106
Richland,
Washington 99354
PROXY
STATEMENT
Annual
Meeting of Shareholders
December
11, 2009
We are
providing these proxy materials in connection with the solicitation by the Board
of Directors (the "Board") of IsoRay, Inc. of
proxies to be voted at the Company's Fiscal 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
to be held on December 11, 2009 (the "Annual Meeting"), and at any
adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting. These proxy
materials were first sent on or about October 27, 2009 to shareholders entitled
to vote at the Annual Meeting.
GENERAL
INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING
Who
may vote at the Annual Meeting?
The Board
has set October 12, 2009 as the record date for the Annual
Meeting. If you were the owner of Company common or preferred stock
at the close of business on October 12, 2009 (the "record date"), you may vote
at the Annual Meeting. You are entitled to one vote for each share of
common or preferred stock you held on the record date.
What
proposals will be voted on at the Annual Meeting?
Four
proposals are scheduled to be voted on at the Annual Meeting. The first is the
election of four directors to hold office until the Fiscal 2011 Annual Meeting
of Shareholders. The second is the ratification of the appointment by
the Audit Committee of DeCoria, Maichel & Teague, P.S. as the Company's
independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June
30, 2010. The third is the approval of the issuance of not to exceed
ten million shares of Common Stock (including shares of Common Stock issuable on
exercise of warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock) to be sold at a
discount that will not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the greater of the book
value or market value at the time of issuance and to be issued pursuant to a
registered direct offering. The fourth is the approval of the issuance of rights
to purchase not to exceed ten million shares of Common Stock and the underlying
Common Stock to be issued to shareholders of the Company upon exercise of
shareholder rights which may be issued by the Company in the future at a price
per share that will include a discount of not to exceed fifteen percent (15%) of
the greater of book value or market value at the time of
issuance. Proposals 3 and 4 are included to comply with NYSE Amex
Company Guide Section 713, which requires shareholder approval prior to applying
for the listing of any new issuance of shares in an amount equal to or greater
than 20% of the Company's outstanding stock for consideration less than the
greater of book or market value of the stock.
How
many votes are required to approve the proposals?
The
presence, in person or by proxy, of a majority of the outstanding shares of our
common stock and preferred stock voting together as one class is necessary to
constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. In counting the votes to determine
whether a quorum exists at the Annual Meeting, we will use the proposal
receiving the greatest number of all votes "for" or "against" and abstentions
(including instructions to withhold authority to vote). As of October 12, 2009,
there were 22,942,088 shares of common stock and 59,065 shares of preferred
stock outstanding.
In voting
with regard to the proposal to elect directors ("Proposal 1"), you may vote
in favor of all nominees, withhold your vote as to all nominees or vote in favor
of or withhold your vote as to specific nominees. The vote required to approve
Proposal 1 is governed by Minnesota law and is a plurality of the votes cast by
the holders of shares represented and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting,
provided a quorum is present. As a result, in accordance with Minnesota law,
votes that are withheld will be counted in determining whether a quorum is
present but will have no other effect on the election of directors.
In voting
with regard to the proposal to ratify the Audit Committee's appointment of the
independent registered public accounting firm ("Proposal 2"), with regard to
the proposal to authorize the issuance of not to exceed ten million shares of
Common Stock and/or warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock to investors in
a registered public offering ("Proposal 3"), and with
regard to the proposal to authorize the issuance of rights to purchase not to
exceed ten million shares of Common Stock and the underlying Common Stock
issuable to shareholders who exercise their shareholder rights, if any ("Proposal 4"), you may vote
in favor of the proposals, vote against the proposals or abstain from voting.
The vote required to approve Proposals 2, 3 and 4 is governed by Minnesota law
and is the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares
represented and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, provided a quorum is
present. As a result, abstentions will be considered in determining whether a
quorum is present and the number of votes required obtaining the necessary
majority vote and therefore will have the same legal effect as voting against
Proposals 2, 3 and 4.
You may
either vote "FOR" or "AGAINST" Proposals 2, 3 and 4, and "FOR" or "WITHHOLD"
authority to vote for each nominee for the Board. If you withhold authority to
vote for the election of directors, your shares will not be voted with respect
to the director or directors identified. If you sign and submit your proxy card
without voting instructions, your shares will be voted "FOR" each proposal and
all director nominees.
Under the
rules of the New York and American Stock Exchanges (the "Exchanges") that govern most
domestic stock brokerage firms, member firms that hold shares in street name for
beneficial owners may, to the extent that such beneficial owners do not furnish
voting instructions with respect to any or all proposals submitted for
shareholder action, vote in their discretion upon proposals which are considered
"discretionary" proposals under the rules of the Exchanges. These votes by
brokerage firms are considered as votes cast in determining the outcome of any
discretionary proposal. Member brokerage firms that have received no
instructions from their clients as to "non-discretionary" proposals do not have
discretion to vote on these proposals. If the brokerage firm returns a proxy
card without voting on a non-discretionary proposal because it received no
instructions, this is referred to as a "broker non-vote" on the proposal.
"Broker non-votes" are considered in determining whether a quorum exists at the
Annual Meeting, but are not considered as votes cast in determining the outcome
of any proposal. We believe that Proposals 1 and 2 are
discretionary.
As of
October 12, 2009, our directors and executive officers held or controlled
approximately 441,182 shares of our common stock, constituting approximately
1.9% of the outstanding common stock. As of October 12, 2009, our directors and
executive officers did not hold or control any shares of our preferred stock. We
believe that these holders will vote all of their shares of common stock in
favor of each of the proposals.
How
does the Board recommend that I vote?
The Board
recommends that you vote your shares "FOR" each of the proposals and all of the
director nominees. With respect to Proposals 3 and 4, the Board
believes that it is very important that the Company be granted the flexibility
to raise more capital. During the past year, it has been difficult
for most companies to raise capital. Although management believes
that the Company has sufficient capital for the next 12 months, to be able to
implement management's plans to expand into other markets and to provide
additional working capital for fiscal 2011, the Board believes it is important
that Proposals 3 and 4 be approved. If neither Proposal 3 nor
Proposal 4 are approved, the Company will most likely only be permitted to raise
between $2.5 and $5 million, depending on the market price of the Company's
Common Stock at the time the capital is raised, or substantially less than the
approximately $15 million in capital management believes is required to
implement its plans for the Company.
Can
my shares be voted on matters other than those described in this Proxy
Statement?
Only
under limited circumstances. We have not received proper notice of, and are not
aware of, any business to be transacted at the meeting other than as indicated
in this Proxy Statement. If any other item or proposal properly comes before the
meeting, the proxies received will be voted on those matters in accordance with
the discretion of the proxy holders.
How
do I vote my shares without attending the Annual Meeting?
Shareholders
of record can vote as follows:
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Via the Internet:
Shareholders may vote through the Internet by following
the instructions included with your Notice Regarding the Availability of
Proxy Materials.
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By Telephone:
Shareholders may vote by telephone by following the
instructions included with your Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy
Materials.
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By Mail:
Those shareholders who receive a paper proxy card in
the mail may sign, date and return their proxy cards in the pre-addressed,
postage-paid envelope that is provided with the mailed proxy
materials. If you have misplaced your return envelope or need
to return a proxy card from outside the United States, you may mail your
proxy card to the address listed on the proxy
card.
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At the Meeting:
If you attend the Annual Meeting, you may vote in
person by ballot, even if you have previously returned a proxy card or
otherwise voted.
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If your
shares are held in "street name" through a broker, bank or other nominee, that
institution will send you separate instructions describing the procedure for
voting your shares. Please follow the directions you are given
carefully so your vote is counted. "Street name" shareholders who
wish to vote in person at the meeting will need to obtain a proxy form from the
institution that holds their shares and present it to the inspector of elections
with your ballot.
How
do I vote my shares in person at the Annual Meeting?
If you
are a shareholder of record and prefer to vote your shares at the Annual
Meeting, you should bring the enclosed proxy card or proof of identification to
the Annual Meeting. You may vote shares held in street name at the
Annual Meeting only if you obtain a signed proxy from the record holder (broker
or other nominee) giving you the right to vote the shares.
Even
if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we encourage you to vote in advance by
Internet, telephone or proxy card so your vote will be counted even if you later
decide not to attend the Annual Meeting.
May
shareholders ask questions at the Annual Meeting?
Yes.
Representatives of the Company will answer a limited number of shareholders'
questions of general interest at the end of the Annual Meeting. In order to give
a greater number of shareholders an opportunity to ask questions, individuals or
groups will be allowed to ask only one question and no repetitive or follow-up
questions will be permitted.
What
does it mean if I receive more than one proxy card?
It
generally means you hold shares registered in more than one
account. To ensure that all your shares are voted, sign and return
each proxy card.
May
I change my vote?
Yes. If
you vote by mail, Internet or telephone, you may later change your vote and
revoke your proxy card by:
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Sending
a written statement to that effect to the Secretary of the Company before
the commencement of the Annual Meeting on December 11,
2009;
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Voting
again via the Internet or
telephone;
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Submitting
a properly signed proxy card with a later
date;
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Voting
in person at the Annual Meeting; or
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If
you hold shares through a bank or brokerage firm, by contacting your
financial institution and following its procedure to revoke your prior
voting instructions.
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PROPOSAL
1 – ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Nominees
Our Board
currently consists of four members. The Board, on the
recommendation of the Nominations and Corporate Governance Committee, has
nominated the following four existing members of the Board for re-election to
the Board at the Fiscal 2010 Annual Meeting: Dwight Babcock, Robert Kauffman,
Thomas LaVoy and Albert Smith. If elected as a director at the Annual Meeting,
each of the nominees would serve a one-year term expiring at the Fiscal
2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until his successor has been
duly elected and qualified. There are no family relationships among our
directors, nominees for director or our executive officers.
Each of
the nominees has consented to serve as a director if elected. If any of the
nominees should be unavailable to serve for any reason (which is not
anticipated), the Board, upon the recommendation of the Nominations and
Corporate Governance Committee, may designate a substitute nominee or nominees
(in which event the persons named on the enclosed proxy card will vote the
shares represented by all valid proxy cards for the election of such substitute
nominee or nominees), allow the vacancies to remain open until a suitable
candidate or candidates are located, or by resolution provide for a lesser
number of directors or fill the position.
The
Board unanimously recommends that the shareholders vote "FOR" Proposal 1 to
elect Dwight Babcock, Robert Kauffman, Thomas LaVoy and Albert Smith as
directors for a one year term expiring at the Fiscal 2011 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders and until their successors have been duly elected and
qualified.
Directors
Set forth
below is certain information as of October 12, 2009 regarding our current
directors and nominees for director, including biographical
information.
Mr. LaVoy
and Mr. Kauffman took office in July 2005, and Mr. Babcock and Mr. Smith took
office in March 2006.
Name
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Age
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Position Held
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Term
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Dwight
Babcock
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62
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Director,
Chairman, Nominee for Director
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Annual
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Robert
Kauffman
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69
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Director,
Vice-Chairman, Nominee for Director
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Annual
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Thomas
LaVoy
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49
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Director,
Nominee for Director
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Annual
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Albert
Smith
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65
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Director,
Nominee for Director
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Annual
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Dwight
Babcock – Mr. Babcock was appointed CEO of the Company on February 18,
2009. He was previously appointed Chairman and Interim CEO of the
Company on February 26, 2008 and has served as a Director of the Company since
2006. Mr. Babcock has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
of Apex Data Systems, Inc., an information technology company, since
1975. Apex Data Systems automates the administration and claims
adjudication needs of insurance companies both nationally and
internationally. Mr. Babcock was formerly President and CEO of
Babcock Insurance Corporation (BIC) from 1974 until 1985. BIC was a
nationally recognized third party administrator operating within 35
states. Mr. Babcock has knowledge and experience in the equity arena
and has participated in various activities within the venture capital, private
and institutional capital markets. Mr. Babcock studied marketing and
economics at the University of Arizona where he currently serves on the
University of Arizona Astronomy Board.
Robert
Kauffman – Mr. Kauffman has been a Director of the Company since 2005 and was
appointed Vice-Chairman of the Company on February 26,
2008. Mr. Kauffman has served as Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman of the Board of Alanco Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALAN), an
Arizona-based information technology company, since July 1,
1998. Mr. Kauffman was formerly President and Chief Executive
Officer of NASDAQ-listed Photocomm, Inc., from 1988 until 1997 (since renamed
Kyocera Solar, Inc.). Photocomm was the nation's largest publicly
owned manufacturer and marketer of wireless solar electric power systems with
annual revenues in excess of $35 million. Prior to Photocomm,
Mr. Kauffman was a senior executive of the Atlantic Richfield Company
(ARCO) whose varied responsibilities included Senior Vice President of ARCO
Solar, Inc., President of ARCO Plastics Company and Vice President of ARCO
Chemical Company. Mr. Kauffman earned an M.B.A. in Finance at
the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and holds a B.S. in
Chemical Engineering from Lafayette College, Easton,
Pennsylvania.
Thomas
LaVoy – Mr. LaVoy has been a Director of the Company since 2005. Mr.
LaVoy has served as Chief Financial Officer of SuperShuttle International, Inc.,
since July 1997 and as Secretary since March 1998. SuperShuttle is
one of the largest providers of shuttle services in major cities throughout the
United States. He has also served as a director of Alanco
Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALAN) since 1998. From September 1987 to
February 1997, Mr. LaVoy served as Chief Financial Officer of NASDAQ-listed
Photocomm, Inc. Mr. LaVoy was a Certified Public Accountant with the
firm of KPMG Peat Marwick from 1980 to 1983. Mr. LaVoy has a Bachelor
of Science degree in Accounting from St. Cloud University, Minnesota, and is a
Certified Public Accountant.
Albert
Smith – Mr. Smith has been a Director of the Company since 2006. Mr.
Smith was the co-founder of and served as Vice Chairman of CSI Leasing, Inc., a
private computer leasing company from 1972 until March 2005. He
founded Extreme Video Solutions, LLC, a private video conferencing company with
headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona in December 2005. In January
2008, he formed Face to Face Live, Inc. (successor to Extreme Video Solutions)
where he presently serves as CEO. Mr. Smith presently serves on the
Board of Doulos Ministries, Inc. Mr. Smith has extensive experience
in marketing and sales having managed a national sales force of over fifty
people while at CSI Leasing, Inc. Mr. Smith holds a BS in Business
Administration from Ferris State College.
Board
Committees and Meetings
During
the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, the Board held four regular
meetings. The Board has an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee
and a Nominations and Corporate Governance Committee.
Audit
Committee. The Audit Committee is responsible to the Board for
the areas of audit and compliance and oversees the Company's financial reporting
process, including monitoring the integrity of the financial statements and the
independence and performance of the auditors and supervises the Company's
compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The Committee operates under
a charter approved by the Board. The Audit Committee Charter is
attached as Appendix A to this Proxy Statement. The current members of the Audit
Committee are Mr. LaVoy (Chairman), Mr. Kauffman and Mr. Smith. The
Board has determined that Mr. LaVoy and Mr. Kauffman are "audit
committee financial experts" as defined under SEC rules. The Board
has affirmatively determined that none of the members of the Audit Commitee have
a material relationship with the Company that would interfere with the exercise
of independent judgment and each of the members of the Audit Committee are
"independent" as independence is defined in Section 121(A) of the listing
standards of the NYSE Amex and Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended.
Compensation Committee. The
Compensation Committee is responsible for establishing and reviewing the
compensation and employee benefit policies of the Company. The members of the
Compensation Committee are Mr. Smith (Chairman) and Mr. Kauffman, each of whom
are "independent" directors within the meaning of SEC rules and NYSE Amex
listing standards. The Committee operates under a charter approved by
the Board. The Committee's charter as approved by the Board was attached as
Appendix 2 to the Proxy Statement relating to the Annual Meeting held in
February 2008. The Compensation Committee reviews and recommends to
the Board for approval the compensation for the Company's Chief Executive
Officer and all of its other executive officers, including salaries, bonuses and
grants of awards under, and administration of, the Company's equity incentive
plans. The Compensation Committee, among other things, reviews and recommends to
the Board employees to whom awards will be made under the Company's equity
incentive plans, determines the number of options to be awarded, and the time,
manner of exercise and other terms of the awards. Although the Committee's
charter authorizes the committee to retain an independent consultant, no third
party compensation consultant was engaged for fiscal year 2009. The
Chief Executive Officer provides input to the Compensation Committee with
respect to the individual performance and compensation recommendations for the
other executive officers.
Nominations Committee. The
Nominations and Corporate Governance Committee consists of three directors who
have all been determined to be "independent" as defined by applicable SEC rules
and NYSE Amex listing standards. All directors except Mr. Babcock currently
serve on the Nominations and Corporate Governance Committee and Mr. Kauffman
serves as its Chairman. The Committee identifies and solicits recommendations
from management of qualified individuals as prospective Board members. The
Committee also recommends the director nominees to the Board for election at the
annual meeting of shareholders. The Committee oversees the annual review and
evaluation of the performance of the Board and its committees, and develops and
recommends corporate governance guidelines to the Board. In addition, the
Committee examines, evaluates, and monitors the independence of directors for
general Board positions as well as for specific committee duties, and evaluates
specific qualifications for members serving as audit committee financial
experts. The Committee's charter as approved by the Board is attached
as Appendix B to this Proxy
Statement.
The Board
and its committees may retain outside advisors as they determine necessary to
fulfill their responsibilities. All committees report their
activities to the full Board. Each committee charter is posted on the
IsoRay website – www.isoray.com.
Each
Board member attended at least 75% of the aggregate meetings of the Board and of
the Committees on which he served that were held during the period for which he
was a Board or Committee member in the Company's fiscal year ended June 30,
2009.
The
following table summarizes the membership of the Board and each of its
committees, as well as the number of times each committee met during the fiscal
year ended June 30, 2009.
|
|
Board
|
|
Audit
|
|
Compensation
|
|
Nominations
|
Dwight
Babcock
|
|
Chair
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
Kauffman
|
|
Member
|
|
Member
|
|
Member
|
|
Chair
|
Thomas
LaVoy
|
|
Member
|
|
Chair
|
|
|
|
Member
|
Albert
Smith
|
|
Member
|
|
Member
|
|
Chair
|
|
Member
|
Number
of Meetings Held in Fiscal 2009
|
|
4
|
|
3
|
|
3
|
|
2
|
Report
of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors
The
Audit Committee consists of three outside directors, each of whom has been
determined to be financially literate and meets the independence standards for
members of public company audit committees set forth in SEC rules adopted under
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and applicable NYSE Amex listing standards. The
Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board. Committee
members include independent directors Thomas LaVoy (Chair), Robert Kauffman and
Al Smith. Both Mr. LaVoy and Mr. Kauffman have each been determined to be
qualified as an Audit Committee financial expert as defined in Item 407 of
Regulation S-K.
The
Committee provides assistance to the Board in fulfilling its oversight
responsibilities relating to corporate accounting and reporting practices of the
Company toward assurance of the quality and integrity of its consolidated
financial statements. The purpose of the Committee is to serve as an independent
and objective party to monitor the Company's financial reporting process and
internal control system; oversee, review and appraise the audit activities of
the Company's independent auditors and internal auditing function; and maintain
complete, objective and open communication between the Board, the independent
accountants, financial management, and the internal audit function. The Audit
Committee met three times during the 2009 fiscal year.
The
Company's independent auditor reports directly to the Committee. The Audit
Committee is solely responsible to appoint or replace the Company's independent
auditor, and to assure the auditor's independence and to provide oversight and
supervision thereof. The Committee determines compensation of the independent
auditor and has established a policy for approval of non-audit related
engagements awarded to the independent auditor. Such engagements must not impair
the independence of the auditor with respect to the Company, as prescribed by
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; thus payment amounts are limited and non-audit
related engagements must be approved in advance by the Committee. The Committee
determines the extent of funding that the Company must provide to the Committee
to carry out its duties, and has determined that such amounts were sufficient in
fiscal 2009.
With
respect to the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, in addition to its other work,
the Committee:
|
·
|
Reviewed
and discussed with management the audited consolidated financial
statements of the Company as of June 30, 2009 and the year then
ended;
|
|
·
|
Discussed
with DeCoria, Maichel & Teague, P.S. the matters required to be
discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, "Communication with
Audit Committees," as amended, with respect to its review of the findings
of the independent auditor during its examination of the Company's
financial statements; and
|
|
·
|
Received
from DeCoria, Maichel & Teague, P.S. the written disclosure and the
letter required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board regarding its communications with the Audit
Committee concerning independence. In addition, discussed with
the auditors the firm's independence and determined that independence had
been maintained.
|
The
Committee recommended, based on the review and discussion summarized above, that
the Board include the audited consolidated financial statements in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2009 for filing with the
SEC.
Dated: October
12, 2009
|
AUDIT
COMMITTEE
|
|
Thomas
LaVoy, Chair
|
|
Robert
Kauffman
|
|
Al
Smith
|
The
foregoing report of the Audit Committee does not constitute soliciting material
and should not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any other
Company filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act") or the Exchange Act, except to the extent the Company specifically
incorporates this report by reference therein.
Nomination
Process
The
Nominations and Corporate Governance Committee is the nominating committee of
the Board. The Committee is governed by the Company's Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws with respect to the nominations process. The
Committee is responsible for recommending nominees for nomination by the Board
for election to the Board. The Committee will consider nominations from
shareholders, provided that such nominations are received by the Company's
Secretary in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws, and the
date set in the prior year's proxy statement.
The
Committee will perform the following duties with respect to director
nominations: (a) consider the criteria for identifying and recommending
individuals who may be nominated for election to the Board; (b) providing a
recommendation to the Board of the slate of nominees for election to the Board;
(c) as the need arises, make recommendations to fill vacancies and actively seek
individuals qualified to become Board members; and (d) consider shareholder
nominations for the Board when properly submitted in accordance with the
Company's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.
The
Committee will consider candidates for the Board who are recommended by its
members, other Board members, shareholders and management, as well as those
identified by a third party search firm the Company may retain to assist in
identifying and evaluating possible candidates. The Committee evaluates
candidates recommended by shareholders in the same manner that it evaluates
other candidates. The Committee's evaluations will be based upon several
criteria, including the candidate's broad-based business and professional skills
and experiences; commitment to representing the long-term interests of
shareholders; an inquisitive and objective perspective; the willingness to take
appropriate risks; leadership ability; personal and professional ethics;
personal integrity and judgment; and practical wisdom and sound judgment.
Candidates should have reputations, both personal and professional, consistent
with the Company's image and reputation.
At a
minimum, the majority of directors on the Board should be "independent," not
only as that term may be legally defined, but also without the appearance of any
conflict in serving as a director. In addition, directors must have
time available to devote to Board activities and to enhance their knowledge of
the medical isotope industry. Accordingly, the Committee seeks to attract and
retain highly qualified directors who have sufficient time to attend to their
substantial duties and responsibilities to the Company.
The
Committee will utilize the following process for identifying and evaluating
nominees to the Board. In the case of incumbent directors whose terms of office
are set to expire, the Committee will review such directors' overall service to
the Company during their term, including the number of meetings attended, level
of participation and quality of performance. In the case of new
director candidates, the members of the Committee will be polled for suggestions
as to potential candidates that may meet the criteria above, discuss candidates
suggested by Company shareholders and may also engage, if the Board deems
appropriate, a professional search firm. To date, the Board and the Committee
have not engaged professional search firms to identify or evaluate potential
nominees but may do so in the future, if necessary. The Committee will then meet
to discuss and consider these candidates' qualifications and then choose a
candidate to recommend by majority vote.
Non-Employee
Director Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-qualified
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fees
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-equity
|
|
|
deferred
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
earned or
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
Option
|
|
|
incentive plan
|
|
|
compensation
|
|
|
All other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
paid in cash
|
|
|
awards
|
|
|
awards
|
|
|
compensation
|
|
|
earnings
|
|
|
compensation
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Name
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
Dwight
Babcock
|
|
|
50,500 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
50,500 |
|
Robert
Kauffman
|
|
|
64,500 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
64,500 |
|
Thomas
LaVoy
|
|
|
52,500 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
52,500 |
|
Albert
Smith
|
|
|
38,500 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
38,500 |
|
Beginning
in fiscal year 2008, each non-employee director received cash compensation of
$3,000 per month. In addition, each non-employee director received
$1,000 per Board meeting attended in person or $500 per Board meeting attended
via telephone and $500 per committee meeting attended. Beginning in
March 2008, Mr. Babcock (until his appointment as CEO on February 18, 2009)
began receiving an additional $3,000 per month for serving as Chairman, Mr.
Kauffman began receiving an additional $2,000 per month for serving as
Vice-Chairman, and Mr. LaVoy began receiving an additional $1,000 per month for
serving as Audit Committee Chairman.
Each
director had stock options to purchase 150,000 shares of the Company's common
stock outstanding as of June 30, 2009, except for Mr. Babcock who was granted
options to purchase an additional 100,000 shares of the Company's common stock
on May 13, 2008 for serving as Interim CEO and an additional 200,000 shares of
the Company's common stock on June 1, 2009 for serving as CEO. These
grants of 100,000 and 200,000 shares are noted in the executives' Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End table below.
Code
of Ethics
We have
adopted a Code of Conduct and Ethics that applies to all of our officers,
directors and employees and a separate Code of Ethics for Chief Executive
Officer and Senior Financial Officers that supplements our Code of Conduct and
Ethics. The Code of Conduct and Ethics was previously filed as
Exhibit 14.1 to our Form 10-KSB for the period ended June 30, 2006, and the Code
of Ethics for Chief Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officers was
previously filed as Exhibit 14.2 to this same report. The Code of
Ethics for Chief Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officers is also
available to the public on our website at
http://www.isoray.com/ethicsForCeo.htm. Each of these policies
comprises written standards that are reasonably designed to deter wrongdoing and
to promote the behavior described in Item 406 of Regulation S-K promulgated by
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The
following tables set forth certain information regarding the beneficial
ownership of the Company's common stock and preferred stock as of October 12,
2009 for (a) each person known by the Company to be a beneficial owner of five
percent or more of the outstanding common or preferred stock of the Company, (b)
each executive officer, director and nominee for director of the Company, and
(c) directors and executive officers of the Company as a group. As of
October 12, 2009, the Company had 22,942,088 shares of common stock and 59,065
shares of preferred stock outstanding. Except as otherwise indicated
below, the address for each listed beneficial owner is c/o IsoRay, Inc., 350
Hills Street, Suite 106, Richland, WA 99354.
Common
Stock Share Ownership
Name of Beneficial Owner
|
|
Common
Shares Owned
|
|
|
Common
Stock Options
Exercisable
Within 60 Days
|
|
|
Common
Stock
Warrants
Exercisable
Within 60
Days
|
|
|
Percent
of Class
(1)
|
|
Dwight
Babcock (2)
|
|
|
130,856 |
|
|
|
450,000 |
|
|
|
12,500 |
|
|
|
2.54 |
% |
Lori
Woods
|
|
|
8,000 |
|
|
|
126,665 |
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
– |
% |
Brien
Ragle
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
4,667 |
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
– |
% |
Robert
Kauffman
|
|
|
63,802 |
|
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
– |
% |
Thomas
LaVoy
|
|
|
40,423 |
|
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
– |
% |
Albert
Smith
|
|
|
198,101 |
|
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
1.51 |
% |
Directors
and Executive Officers as a group
|
|
|
441,182 |
|
|
|
1,031,332 |
|
|
|
12,500 |
|
|
|
6.19 |
% |
|
(1)
|
Percentage
ownership is based on 22,942,088 shares of Common Stock outstanding on
October 12, 2009. Shares of Common Stock subject to stock
options or warrants which are currently exercisable or will become
exercisable within 60 days after October 12, 2009 are deemed outstanding
for computing the percentage ownership of the person or group holding such
options or warrants, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the
percentage ownership of any other person or
group.
|
|
(2)
|
Mr. Babcock's common shares owned
include 2,695 shares owned by his
spouse.
|
Preferred
Stock Share Ownership
Name of Beneficial Owner
|
|
Preferred
Shares
Owned
|
|
|
Percent of
Class (1)
|
|
Aissata
Sidibe (2)
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
33.86 |
% |
William
and Karen Thompson Trust (3)
|
|
|
14,218 |
|
|
|
24.07 |
% |
Jamie
Granger (4)
|
|
|
10,529 |
|
|
|
17.83 |
% |
Hostetler
Living Trust (5)
|
|
|
9,479 |
|
|
|
16.05 |
% |
Leslie
Fernandez (6)
|
|
|
3,688 |
|
|
|
6.24 |
% |
|
(1)
|
Percentage
ownership is based on 59,065 shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on
October 12, 2009.
|
|
(2)
|
The
address of Ms. Sidibe is 229 Lasiandra Ct, Richland, WA
99352.
|
|
(3)
|
The
address of the William and Karen Thompson Trust is 285 Dondero Way, San
Jose, CA 95119.
|
|
(4)
|
The
address of Jamie Granger is 53709 South Nine Canyon Road, Kennewick, WA
99337.
|
|
(5)
|
The
address of the Hostetler Living Trust is 9257 NE 175th Street, Bothell, WA
98011.
|
|
(6)
|
The
address of Leslie Fernandez is 2615 Scottsdale Place, Richland, WA
99352.
|
No
officers or directors beneficially own shares of preferred
stock.
COMPLIANCE
WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) requires the
Company's directors and executive officers, and persons who beneficially own
more than ten percent of a registered class of our equity securities, to file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) initial reports of
beneficial ownership and reports of changes in beneficial ownership of our
Common Stock. The rules promulgated by the Commission under Section
16(a) of the Exchange Act require those persons to furnish us with copies of all
reports filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 16(a). The
information in this section is based solely upon a review of Forms 3, Forms 4,
and Forms 5 received by us.
We
believe that IsoRay's executive officers, directors and 10% shareholders timely
complied with their filing requirements during the year ended June 30, 2009
except as follows: Dwight Babcock (two Form 4s), Jonathan Hunt (one Form 4), Al
Smith (one Form 4), and Lori Woods (one Form 4). We believe all of
these forms have been filed as of the date of this Proxy Statement.
Executive
Officers
Set forth
below is certain information as of October 12, 2009 regarding our current
executive officers, including biographical information.
Mr.
Babcock took office on February 26, 2008, Ms. Woods took office on July 5, 2006,
and Mr. Ragle became our principal accounting officer and principal financial
officer on October 2, 2009. Our Board appoints our officers, and their terms of
office are at the discretion of the Board, except to the extent governed by an
employment contract.
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position Held
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dwight
Babcock
|
|
62
|
|
CEO
|
Lori
Woods
|
|
47
|
|
Chief
Operating Officer
|
Brien
Ragle
|
|
40
|
|
Controller
|
Dwight
Babcock – Mr. Babcock was appointed CEO of the Company on February 18,
2009. He was previously appointed Chairman and Interim CEO of the
Company on February 26, 2008 and has served as a Director of the Company since
2006. Mr. Babcock has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
of Apex Data Systems, Inc., an information technology company, since
1975. Apex Data Systems automates the administration and claims
adjudication needs of insurance companies both nationally and
internationally. Mr. Babcock was formerly President and CEO of
Babcock Insurance Corporation (BIC) from 1974 until 1985. BIC was a
nationally recognized third party administrator operating within 35
states. Mr. Babcock has knowledge and experience in the equity arena
and has participated in various activities within the venture capital, private
and institutional capital markets. Mr. Babcock studied marketing and
economics at the University of Arizona where he currently serves on the
University of Arizona Astronomy Board.
Lori
Woods – Ms. Woods joined the Company in July 2006, was appointed Acting Chief
Operating Officer on February 26, 2008, and was appointed Chief Operating
Officer on February 18, 2009. Ms. Woods has over 20 years experience
in medical device technology and healthcare services. Ms. Woods
served as the CEO of Pro-Qura, a medical services company focusing on
brachytherapy quality assurance and education, from 2002 until joining the
Company. During her tenure at Pro-Qura, Ms. Woods developed its
business strategy, expanded its business portfolio in quality assurance beyond
prostate brachytherapy into other areas of cancer, and increased funding by
50%. Prior to this, she served as the Vice President of Sales at ATI
Medical in 2002, Vice President of Sales – West and Vice President of Marketing
and Business Development for Imagyn Medical Technologies from 2000 to 2002,
Director of Business Development for Seattle Prostate Institute from 1998 to
2000, and Regional Vice President and Regional Manager of Interdent from 1994 to
1998. Ms. Woods holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business
Administration – Marketing from Loma Linda University.
Brien
Ragle – Mr. Ragle has served as the Company's Controller since October 2, 2009
and served as the Company's Cost Accounting manager from January 15, 2007 to
October 1, 2009. Prior to this, Mr. Ragle served as a Project Accounting Manager
at BNG America, LLC (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energy Solutions, LLC (ES))
from April 2005 to November 2006. From September 2000 to November 2004, Mr.
Ragle was a Business Unit Controller at SCM Consultants, Inc. (a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Tetra Tech, Inc. (TTEK)). Mr. Ragle holds a Bachelor of
Arts degree in Business Administration from Washington State University and is a
Certified Public Accountant.
Significant
Employees
Certain
significant employees of our subsidiary, IsoRay Medical, Inc., and their
respective ages as of October 12, 2009 are set forth in the table below. Also
provided is a brief description of the experience of each significant employee
during the past five years.
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position
Held
|
Lane
Bray
|
|
81
|
|
Chemist
|
Anthony
Pasqualone
|
|
54
|
|
VP,
Business Development
|
Fredric
Swindler
|
|
62
|
|
VP,
Regulatory Affairs and Quality
Assurance
|
Lane Bray
– Mr. Bray is known nationally and internationally as a technical expert in
separations, recovery, and purification of isotopes and is a noted authority in
the use of cesium and strontium ion exchange for Department of Energy's West
Valley and Hanford nuclear waste cleanup efforts. In 2000,
Mr. Bray received the 'Radiation Science and Technology' award from the
American Nuclear Society. Mr. Bray has authored or co-authored
over 110 research publications, 12 articles for nine technical books, and holds
24 U.S. and foreign patents. Mr. Bray patented the USDOE/PNNL
process for purifying medical grade Yttrium-90 that was successfully
commercialized in 1999. Mr. Bray also invented and patented the
proprietary isotope separation and purification process that is assigned to
IsoRay. Mr. Bray was elected 'Tri-Citian of the Year' in 1988,
nominated for 'Engineer of the Year' by the American Nuclear Society in 1995,
and was elected 'Chemist of the Year for 1997' by the American Chemical Society,
Eastern Washington Section. Mr. Bray retired from the Pacific
Northwest National Laboratory in 1998. Since retiring in 1998,
Mr. Bray worked part time for PNNL on special projects until devoting all
of his efforts to IsoRay in 2004. Mr. Bray has been a Washington
State Legislator, a Richland City Councilman, and a Mayor of
Richland. Mr. Bray has a B.A. in Chemistry from Lake Forest
College.
Anthony
Pasqualone – Mr. Pasqualone joined the Company in November 2008 and has been
involved in marketing brachytherapy extensively since 1989 when brachytherapy
started to gain attention as a viable treatment option for prostate
cancer. Prior to joining IsoRay, Mr. Pasqualone served as the
National Oncology Development Manager at Calypso Medical from April 2007 to
November 2008. Prior to that Mr. Pasqualone was a consultant with
BrachySciences from December 2005 to April 2007. He also served as a
VP of Strategic Markets from May 2003 to December 2005 in the Urology Division
of CR Bard. From April 1997 to May 2003 he was a principal and Vice
President of Sales at SourceTech Medical, which developed and introduced
SeedLink to the brachytherapy market in 2003. He started his career
managing brachytherapy sales as the National Sales Manager at Theragenics
Corporation, where he helped develop market acceptance of Pd-103. In
1995 he brought the first stranded product to market while working with the team
at Oncura (Amersham Corporation). Mr. Pasqualone is an alumnus of
Fordham University with a BS in Science.
Fredric
Swindler – Mr. Swindler joined IsoRay Medical in October 2006 and has over 40
years of experience in manufacturing and regulatory compliance. Mr.
Swindler also serves as Secretary for IsoRay, Inc., a position he has held since
June 11, 2008. Mr. Swindler served as VP, Quality Assurance and
Regulatory Affairs for Medisystems Corporation, a manufacturer and distributor
of medical devices, from 1994 until joining the Company. During his
tenure at Medisystems Corporation, Mr. Swindler developed a quality system to
accommodate vertically integrated manufacturing, developed regulatory
strategies, policies and procedures, and submitted nine pre-market notifications
(510(k)) to the FDA. Prior to this, Mr. Swindler held various
positions with Marquest Medical Products from 1989 to 1994, Sherwood Medical
Products from 1978 to 1989, Oak Park Pharmaceuticals in 1978, and Mead Johnson
& Company from 1969 to 1978. Mr. Swindler holds a Bachelor of
Science degree in Biomedical Engineering from Rose Hulman Institute of
Technology and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of
Evansville.
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
The
following summary compensation table sets forth information concerning
compensation for services rendered in all capacities during our past two fiscal
years awarded to, earned by or paid to each of the following
individuals. Salary and other compensation for these officers,
employees and former officers are or were set by the Compensation Committee of
the Board of Directors, except for employee compensation which is set by
officers of the Company.
Summary
Compensation Table
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nonqualified
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nonequity
|
|
|
deferred
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
Option
|
|
|
incentive plan
|
|
|
compensation
|
|
|
All
other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salary
|
|
|
Bonus
|
|
|
awards
|
|
|
awards
|
|
|
compensation
|
|
|
earnings
|
|
|
compensation
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Name
and principal position
|
|
Year
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
(1)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
Dwight
Babcock, Chairman and CEO (2)
|
|
2009
|
|
|
140,308 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
190,308 |
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
22,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
70,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
92,000 |
|
Jonathan
Hunt, Chief Financial Officer
|
|
2009
|
|
|
144,119 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
21,900 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
166,019 |
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
139,616 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
139,616 |
|
Lori
Woods, Chief Operating Officer
|
|
2009
|
|
|
185,296 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
21,900 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
207,196 |
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
179,615 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
179,615 |
|
Robert
Bilella, Territory Sales Manager
|
|
2009
|
|
|
86,722 |
|
|
|
106,550 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
2,448 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
195,720 |
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
117,283 |
|
|
|
121,150 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
238,433 |
|
(1)
|
Amounts
represent the FAS 123R valuation for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2009
and 2008, respectively. All such options were awarded under one
of the Company's stock option plans. All options awarded (with
the exception of Mr. Babcock's fiscal year 2009 and 2008 stock option
grant that was immediately vested on the grant date) vest in three equal
annual installments beginning with the first anniversary from the date of
grant and expire ten years after the date of grant. All options
were granted at the fair market value of the Company's stock on the date
of grant and the Company used a Black-Scholes methodology as discussed in
the footnotes to the financial statements (included in the Annual Report)
to value the options.
|
(2)
|
Mr.
Babcock became the Chairman and Interim CEO on February 26, 2008 and was
appointed CEO on February 18, 2009. He was serving as Interim
CEO on a contract basis. Mr. Babcock also received compensation
as a Director of the Company until his appointment as CEO on February 18,
2009 which is disclosed in the Non-Employee Director Compensation
table.
|
Ms. Woods
has an employment contract with the Company dated February 14,
2007. The agreement's current term is through February 14, 2010 but
will be automatically extended for an additional year on each anniversary date
unless terminated in accordance with the provisions of the
agreement. The agreement entitles Ms. Woods to a salary of at least
$160,000 with increases as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board
and annual bonus payments under a bonus plan as established by the Compensation
Committee. In the event that Ms. Woods is terminated without cause,
becomes disabled, or terminates her employment for good reason, she will be
entitled to her salary and benefits for the remaining term of the agreement or
18 months, whichever is shorter. Good reason is defined in the
agreement to mean a reduction of salary or benefits, a change in Ms. Woods'
title, position, authority, or responsibilities, causing Ms. Woods to relocate,
or any breach by the Company of this agreement. If Ms. Woods is
terminated within one year of a change of control then she shall be entitled to
her salary and benefits for the remaining term of the agreement or 18 months,
whichever is longer, in addition to a one-time payment equal to her most
recently received bonus. In the event of Ms. Woods' termination
without cause or termination within one year of a change of control, all of her
unvested stock options shall immediately vest in full and shall be exercisable
as provided in the applicable stock option plan. The agreement also
includes certain restrictive covenants that prohibit Ms. Woods from providing
services to a competing business for the period of this agreement plus one
year.
Mr. Hunt
had an employment contract with the Company dated May 19, 2009. The
agreement was for an initial term of one year and extended automatically for
additional one-year terms on each anniversary of the effective date of the
agreement unless terminated by either party with 90 days prior
notice. The agreement included certain restrictive covenants that
prohibit Mr. Hunt from providing services to a competing business for the period
of this agreement plus one year. Mr. Hunt resigned effective October
1, 2009 and other than Mr. Hunt's obligations to not compete for one year
following resignation, there are no other obligations which are due by either
party following his termination.
Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
|
|
Option
awards
|
Name
|
|
Number
of
securities
underlying
unexercised
options
(#)
exercisable
|
|
|
Number
of
securities
underlying
unexercised
options
(#)
unexercisable
|
|
|
Equity
incentive plan
awards:
Number
of
securities
underlying
unexercised
unearned
options
(#)
|
|
|
Option
exercise
price
($)
|
|
Option
expiration
date
|
Dwight
Babcock, Chairman and CEO
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
6.30 |
|
3/31/2016
|
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
3.80 |
|
6/23/2016
|
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
3.11 |
|
8/15/2016
|
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.75 |
|
5/13/2018
|
|
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.26 |
|
6/1/2019
|
Jonathan
Hunt, Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
5.50 |
|
5/1/2016
|
|
|
|
33,333 |
|
|
|
16,667 |
(2)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
3.10 |
|
10/17/2016
|
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
5,000 |
(3)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
4.40 |
|
3/2/2017
|
|
|
|
13,333 |
|
|
|
6,667 |
(4)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
4.14 |
|
6/1/2017
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
10,000 |
(5)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.65 |
|
7/1/2018
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
100,000 |
(6)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.26 |
|
6/1/2019
|
Lori
Woods, Chief Operating Officer
|
|
|
33,333 |
|
|
|
16,667 |
(1)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
3.50 |
|
7/5/2016
|
|
|
|
33,333 |
|
|
|
16,667 |
(2)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
3.10 |
|
10/17/2016
|
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
5,000 |
(3)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
4.40 |
|
3/2/2017
|
|
|
|
13,333 |
|
|
|
6,667 |
(4)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
4.14 |
|
6/1/2017
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
10,000 |
(5)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.65 |
|
7/1/2018
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
100,000 |
(6)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.26 |
|
6/1/2019
|
Robert
Bilella, Territory Sales Manager
|
|
|
84,236 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
4.15 |
|
6/23/2015
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
18,000 |
(6)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.26 |
|
6/1/2019
|
(1)
|
Represents
a July 5, 2006 grant, all of which became fully exercisable as of July 1,
2009.
|
(2)
|
Represents
the October 17, 2006 grant, one-third of which became exercisable on
October 17, 2007, one-third of which became exercisable on October 17,
2008, and the final third will become exercisable on October 17,
2009.
|
(3)
|
Represents
the March 2, 2007 grant, one-third of which became exercisable on March 2,
2008, one-third of which became exercisable on March 2, 2009, and the
final third will become exercisable on March 2,
2010.
|
(4)
|
Represents
the June 1, 2007 grant, one-third of which became exercisable on June 1,
2008, one-third of which became exercisable on June 1, 2009, and the final
third will become exercisable on June 1,
2010.
|
(5)
|
Represents
a July 1, 2008 grant, one-third of which became exercisable on July 1,
2009, one-third of which will become exercisable on July 1, 2010, and the
final third will become exercisable on July 1,
2011.
|
(6)
|
Represents
a June 1, 2009 grant, one-third of which will become exercisable on June
1, 2010, one-third of which will become exercisable on June 1, 2011, and
the final third will become exercisable on June 1,
2012.
|
The
Company has a 401(k) plan that covers all eligible full-time employees of the
Company. Contributions to the 401(k) plan are made by participants to
their individual accounts through payroll withholding. Additionally,
the 401(k) plan provides for the Company to make contributions to the 401(k)
plan in amounts at the discretion of management. The Company has not
made any contributions to the 401(k) plan and does not maintain any other
retirement plans for its executives or employees.
TRANSACTIONS
WITH MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS
IsoRay
Medical, Inc.'s patent rights to its Cs-131 process were acquired from Lane
Bray, a shareholder and employee of the Company, and are subject to a 1% royalty
on gross profits and certain contractual restrictions. Pursuant to
the royalty agreement, the Company must also pay a royalty of 2% of Gross Sales,
as defined, for any sub-assignments of the aforesaid patented process to any
third parties. The royalty agreement will remain in force until the
expiration of the patents on the assigned technology, unless earlier terminated
in accordance with the terms of the underlying agreement. During
fiscal year 2007, the Company achieved its first gross margin and began making
quarterly payments to Mr. Bray as outlined in the royalty
agreement. The Company recorded royalty expense of $20,063 and
$22,129 for the years ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, related to
these payments.
Roger
Girard, the Company's former Chairman and CEO, had personally guaranteed $20,000
of the BFEDD loan, which was funded in December 2004. In exchange for
his personal guaranty, Mr. Girard received 5,728 shares of common
stock. As a condition of his resignation in February 2008, the
Company prepaid $20,000 on the BFEDD loan and obtained Mr. Girard's release and
Mr. Girard in turn surrendered the 5,728 shares to the Company. As
part of his settlement, Mr. Girard also surrendered 30,072 shares of common
stock he had received in 2004 for personally guaranteeing a portion of a line of
credit for the Company.
Mr.
Girard and David Swanberg, the Company's former Executive VP – Operations,
personally guaranteed a portion of the HAEIFC loan. As part of their
resignations, the Company obtained their releases from these personal guarantees
by prepaying $60,000 and $40,000, respectively.
Patent and Know-How Royalty
License Agreement
Effective
August 1, 1998, Pacific Management Associates Corporation (PMAC) transferred its
entire right, title and interest in an exclusive license agreement with Donald
Lawrence to IsoRay, LLC (a predecessor company) in exchange for a membership
interest. The terms of the license agreement require the payment of a
royalty based on the Net Factory Sales Price, as defined in the agreement, of
licensed product sales. Because the licensor's patent application was
ultimately abandoned, only a 1% "know-how" royalty based on Net Factory Sales
Price, as defined, remains applicable. To date, management believes
that there have been no product sales incorporating the "know-how" and that
therefore no royalty is due pursuant to the terms of the
agreement. Management believes that ultimately no royalties should be
paid under this agreement as there is no intent to use this "know-how" in the
future.
The
licensor of the Lawrence "know-how" has disputed management's contention that it
is not using this "know-how". On September 25, 2007 and again on
October 31, 2007, the Company participated in nonbinding mediation regarding
this matter; however, no settlement was reached with the Lawrence Family
Trust. After additional settlement discussions which ended in April
2008, the parties still failed to reach a settlement. The parties may
demand binding arbitration at any time.
Review and Approval of
Related Party Transactions
The Board
reviews all transactions between the Company and any of its officers and
directors. The Company's Code of Ethics emphasizes the importance of
avoiding situations or transactions in which personal interests may interfere
with the best interests of the Company or its shareholders. In
addition, the Company's general corporate governance practice includes
Board-level discussion and assessment of procedures for discussing and assessing
relationships, including business, financial, familial and nonprofit, among the
Company and its officers and directors, to the extent that they may
arise. The Board and the Nominations and Corporate Governance
Committee review any transaction with an officer or director to determine, on a
case-by-case basis, whether a conflict of interest exists. The Board
ensures that all directors voting on such a matter have no interest in the
matter and discusses the transaction with counsel as the Board deems
necessary. The Board will generally delegate the task of discussing,
reviewing and approving transactions between the Company and any related persons
to the Nominations and Corporate Governance Committee.
Since the
beginning of fiscal year 2009, we did not enter into any transactions with
related persons that were subject to our related person transaction
policy.
Director
Independence
Using the
standards of the NYSE Amex, the Company's Board has determined
that Mr. Kauffman, Mr. LaVoy, and Mr. Smith each qualify under
such standards as an independent director. Mr. Kauffman, Mr.
LaVoy and Mr. Smith each meet the NYSE Amex listing standards for independence
both as a director and as a member of the Audit Committee, and Mr. Kauffman and
Mr. Smith each meet the NYSE Amex listing standards for independence both as a
director and as a member of the Compensation Committee. Mr. Babcock,
the Company's CEO and Chairman, is not independent under these
standards. The Company did not consider any relationship or
transaction between itself and these independent directors not already
disclosed in this Proxy Statement in making this determination.
Director and Officer
Indemnification
Our Articles of Incorporation provide
to directors and officers indemnification to the full extent provided by law,
and provide that, to the extent permitted by Minnesota law, a director will not
be personally liable for monetary damages to us or our shareholders for breach
of his or her fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability for certain
actions that may not be limited under Minnesota law. In addition, the
Company has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors
and executive officers, pursuant to which the Company has agreed to indemnify
such individuals for any claims made against such individuals based on any act,
omission or breach of duty committed while acting as director or officer, except
under certain circumstances such as cases involving dishonesty or improper
personal benefit. The Company also maintains an insurance policy under which its
directors and officers are insured against certain liabilities which might arise
out of their relationship with the Company as directors and
officers.
Vote
Required for Election
The
four persons receiving the highest number of affirmative votes will be elected
as directors of the Company. Votes against a nominee or withheld from voting
(whether by abstention, broker non-votes or otherwise) will have no legal effect
on the vote.
PROPOSAL
2 – RATIFICATION OF RE-APPOINTMENT OF THE INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit
Committee has re-appointed the firm of DeCoria, Maichel & Teague, P.S. to
serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 2010, and has directed that such re-appointment be submitted to
our shareholders for ratification at the Annual Meeting. If our shareholders do
not ratify the re-appointment of DeCoria, Maichel & Teague, P.S., the Audit
Committee will reconsider the appointment.
Representatives
of DeCoria, Maichel & Teague, P.S. are expected to be present at the Annual
Meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do
so. They also will be available to respond to appropriate questions from
shareholders.
Audit
and Non-Audit Fees
The
Company paid or accrued the following fees in each of the prior two fiscal years
to its principal accountant, DeCoria, Maichel & Teague, P.S.:
|
|
Year
ended
|
|
|
Year
ended
|
|
|
|
June
30,
|
|
|
June
30,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.
Audit fees
|
|
$ |
32,047 |
|
|
$ |
42,107 |
|
2.
Audit-related fees
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
– |
|
3.
Tax fees
|
|
|
7,900 |
|
|
|
7,750 |
|
4.
All other fees
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Totals
|
|
$ |
39,947 |
|
|
$ |
49,857 |
|
Audit
fees include fees for the audit of our annual financial statements, reviews of
our quarterly financial statements, and related consents for documents filed
with the SEC. Tax fees include fees for the preparation of our
federal and state income tax returns.
As part
of its responsibility for oversight of the independent registered public
accountants, the Audit Committee has established a pre-approval policy for
engaging audit and permitted non-audit services provided by our independent
registered public accountants, DeCoria, Maichel & Teague, P.S. In
accordance with this policy, each type of audit, audit-related, tax and other
permitted service to be provided by the independent auditors is specifically
described and each such service, together with a fee level or budgeted amount
for such service, is pre-approved by the Audit Committee. The Audit
Committee has delegated authority to its Chairman to pre-approve additional
non-audit services (provided such services are not prohibited by applicable law)
up to a pre-established aggregate dollar limit. All services
pre-approved by the Chairman of the Audit Committee must be presented at the
next Audit Committee meeting for review and ratification. All of the
services provided by DeCoria, Maichel & Teague, P.S. described above were
approved by our Audit Committee.
The
Company's principal accountant, DeCoria, Maichel & Teague P.S., did not
engage any other persons or firms other than the principal accountant's
full-time, permanent employees.
The
Board unanimously recommends that the shareholders vote "FOR" Proposal 2 to
ratify the re-appointment of DeCoria, Maichel & Teague, P.S. as the
independent registered public accounting firm of the Company.
PROPOSALS
3 & 4 – APPROVAL OF ADDITIONAL SHARE ISSUANCES AS
REQUIRED
UNDER NYSE AMEX RULES
BACKGROUND
AND ANALYSIS OF PROPOSALS 3 AND 4
RULE 135
DISCLAIMER:
Neither
Proposal 3 nor Proposal 4 is an offer to sell any securities of the Company and
the Company is not soliciting an offer to buy any securities under the law of
the United States, any state in the United States, or any foreign
jurisdiction.
Need
for Additional Financing
With
respect to Proposals 3 and 4, the Board believes that it is very important that
the Company be granted the flexibility to raise more capital. During
the past year, it has been difficult for most companies to raise
capital. Although management believes that the Company has sufficient
capital for the next 12 months, to be able to implement management's plans to
expand into other markets and to provide additional working capital for fiscal
2011, the Board believes it is important that Proposals 3 and 4 be
approved. If neither Proposal 3 nor Proposal 4 are approved, the
Company will most likely only be permitted to raise between $2.5 and $5 million,
depending on the market price of the Company's Common Stock at the time the
capital is raised, or substantially less than the approximately $15 million in
capital management believes is required to implement its plans for the
Company. Unless a significant number of the outstanding warrants sold
in prior private placements and public offerings have been exercised, there are
no other alternatives for raising equity capital at this time.
As there can be no assurance as to if
or when any of our previously issued warrants will be exercised, as
substantially all of them have exercise prices well above the current market
price of the underlying common stock, management believes that obtaining
shareholders' authorization for a prospective issuance of additional securities
in an amount in excess of 20% of our existing outstanding shares and to be
issued at a price per share below the greater of book value or market value at
the time of the issuance (consisting of either Common Stock, warrants to
purchase shares of Common Stock, rights to purchase shares of Common Stock, or
any combination of the foregoing securities) is necessary.
Need
for Shareholder Approval
Our Board
of Directors has determined to consider two independent offerings to raise
capital. The first offering ("Proposal 3"), if conducted,
will be a direct offering of either common stock or of units consisting of
warrants and common stock to be registered on a to-be-filed Form S-3
Registration Statement as a "shelf offering." This offering will be
made to third party investors, likely pursuant to a best efforts underwriting
agreement with a broker dealer. The securities offered will be sold at a
discount that will not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the greater of the Common
Stock's book value or market value at the time of issuance.
The
second offering contemplated ("Proposal 4") will, if
conducted, be pursuant to a shareholder rights plan permitting existing
shareholders of the Company to purchase rights which may be exercised to
purchase Common Stock of the Company at a discount that will not exceed fifteen
percent (15%) of the greater of the book value or market value of the Common
Stock at the time of issuance. If granted, these rights will be
registered pursuant to a to-be-filed Form S-1 Registration
Statement.
If
either Proposal 3 or Proposal 4 is approved and the Board of Directors
determines to conduct either a direct registered offering or a shareholder
rights plan, each of the offerings will terminate within ninety (90) days of
shareholder approval.
Our Board
of Directors is contemplating the issuance of up to 10,000,000 additional shares
of Common Stock, at a potential issuance price per share at a discount of not to
exceed fifteen percent (15%) below the greater of a share of Common Stock's
then-current book value or market value at the time of issuance, via either
Proposal 3, Proposal 4, or a combination of Proposals 3 and 4. For
this purpose, market value will be equal to the average closing prices of our
Common Stock as reported on the NYSE Amex LLC (formerly known as AMEX), or such
other market on which our shares may be trading for at least the five
consecutive trading days immediately preceding the dates of sale.
The
Common Stock that may be issued if Proposals 3 and/or 4 are approved by
shareholders will have the same rights as our existing Common Stock, which does
not have any preemptive rights associated with it.
Shareholder
Approval Requirements
Under Rule 713 of the Company Guide of
the NYSE Amex, on which our Common Stock is presently listed, we are required to
obtain shareholder approval in connection with any transaction that involves the
issuance of Common Stock, warrants or rights to purchase shares of Common Stock
or other securities convertible into shares of Common Stock, that equals an
aggregate of 20% of more of our then-outstanding Common Stock if we issue the
stock at a price below the greater of its book value or market value at the time
of issuance. Under such Rule, each of the potential issuances
referenced in Proposals 3 and 4 may be regarded as a "stand-alone"
issuance. As of October 12, 2009, the Company had approximately
22,942,000 shares outstanding.
Regardless
of whether the shareholders approve Proposals 3 and 4, the Board of
Directors may authorize the issuance of 4.5 million shares of Common
Stock (which is equal to less than 20% of the Company's currently outstanding
Common Stock and under NYSE Amex rules, the Board may issue such amount of
Common Stock without shareholder approval), either directly, upon the exercise
of warrants issued in conjunction with the Common Stock, or pursuant to the
shareholder rights plan described in Proposal 4 below. However, in no event
shall the Board of Directors approve the issuance of in excess of a total of $15
million of gross proceeds to be raised through the sale of securities whether
under a registered direct offering, shareholders rights plan or combination
thereof for the period ended 90 days after the shareholder meeting scheduled in
December 2009.
The NYSE
Amex has required, as a condition to listing, that the 20% limitation on
issuance of new shares be imposed on the Company. It may only be removed upon
receipt of shareholder approval of either Proposal 3 or 4. Notwithstanding
shareholder approval of Proposals 3 or 4, the listing on the NYSE Amex of
any of the 10,000,000 additional shares that we may issue following such
shareholder approvals will require NYSE Amex approval of an application for the
listing of these additional shares. Furthermore, shareholder approval does not
obviate the need for compliance with the requirements of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 (the "Exchange
Act"), as amended, or other NYSE Amex requirements.
Potential
Negative Effect on our Stock Price
If
Proposals 3 or 4 receive the necessary approvals, in respect of the
potential issuance of up to an aggregate of 10,000,000 additional shares of our
Common Stock in connection with a potential offering or upon the exercise of the
warrants and rights described below (in Proposals 3 and 4), these shares could
also become eligible for resale in the public markets upon the effectiveness of
registration statements filed with the Securities Exchange Commission (the
"SEC") covering their
resale. Any such sales, or the anticipation of the possibility of such sales,
would represent an overhang on the market and could depress the market price of
our Common Stock.
Financial
Information
The
Company's audited consolidated financial statements, management's discussion and
analysis of financial condition and results of operations, and other required
financial information are incorporated by reference from the Company's annual
report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, which was filed
with the SEC on September 23, 2009 (see "Incorporation of Certain Documents by
Reference" below). Representatives of DeCoria, Maichel & Teague,
P.S., the Company's principal accountant for the current fiscal year and the
2009 fiscal year, are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting.
PROPOSAL
3 – APPROVE, FOR PURPOSES OF THE
NYSE AMEX COMPANY GUIDE
SEC. 713, THE ISSUANCE TO INVESTORS OF NOT TO EXCEED
10 MILLION TO-
BE-REGISTERED SHARES OF OUR COMMON STOCK, WHICH MAY
INCLUDE
SHARES RECEIVED UPON EXERCISE OF WARRANTS
We plan to engage one or more broker
dealers to conduct a best efforts offering of our Common Stock or a combination
of our Common Stock and warrants to purchase shares of our Common Stock. The
Board of Directors would like to raise up to a total of not to exceed $15
million either through this proposed direct offering or through a combination of
this proposed offering and through the exercise of stockholder rights as further
discussed under Proposal 4 below. This proposed direct offering will likely be
priced at a discount which will not exceed fifteen percent (15%) to
the Company's market price of its shares of publicly traded common stock for a
five consecutive trading day period immediately prior to
issue. Shares will be registered pursuant to a to-be-filed Form S-3
Registration Statement and periodically sold as determined by the Company's
financial advisors. This offering shall terminate within 90 days of shareholder
approval.
In no event will the Board of Directors
issue in excess of 10 million additional shares in the aggregate regardless of
whether Proposals 3 or 4 are both approved. Therefore, if shareholders
approve both
Proposal 3 and Proposal 4 the Board will decide how many shares it will issue
under either Proposal but the aggregate number of shares under both proposals
will not exceed 10 million additional shares. However,
the 10 million additional shares do not include the 4.5 million shares that the
Board may issue without receiving shareholder approval.
Notwithstanding
whether shareholder approval is obtained, the Board may authorize the issuance
of 4.5 million shares. Regardless of how you decide to vote, the
Company may offer not to exceed approximately 4.5 million shares (or a
combination of shares and warrants) through one or more to-be-filed Registration
Statements, which may represent shares to be issued upon exercise of rights (see
Proposal 4 below) or shares to be issued pursuant to a registered direct
offering. The Board of Directors is not requesting any approval of
the sale of these initial shares or warrants. In no event will the Board
authorize the issuance of securities with a value greater than a total of $15
million and if the Board is able to raise $15 million by issuing less than a
total of 14.5 million shares, it will do so.
However, NYSE Amex Rule 713 prevents
the listing of any new share issuance totaling more than 20% of the Company's
total outstanding shares unless the Company obtains shareholder approval. As the
Board would like to raise approximately $15 million, it is unlikely that it can
raise this amount without obtaining stockholder approval as the market price of
the common stock would have to significantly increase beyond the price range it
has maintained during the past year. The Board is asking for approval to issue
an additional 10 million shares as at present market values this amount of
shares should give the Company an opportunity to raise a total amount it
believes is necessary to implement its plans to market its expansion into other
cancer applications for its products outside the prostate market.
Shareholder approval will not obviate
the need for NYSE Amex approval of an application for listing additional shares
or for compliance with the Exchange Act or other NYSE Amex
requirements.
If this Proposal 3 is approved,
shareholders will experience substantial dilution as the total shares
outstanding could increase from approximately 27.5 million (assuming an
approximate additional 4.5 million shares are sold without shareholder approval
in addition to the 10 million additional shares being approved under Proposals 3
and 4) to approximately 37.5 million shares. This dilution could increase
depending on how many broker warrants will be issued as part of the financings.
You should consider the potential dilution in determining whether to approve the
proposal. Also, the substantial amount of shares being registered in the
Registration Statement(s) could depress the market price of our common stock as
long as shares remain unsold.
The approval of our Proposal 3 requires
the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of voting stock present or
registered at the meeting and entitled to vote.
The Board unanimously recommends that
the shareholders vote "FOR" Proposal 3 to approve, for purposes of the NYSE Amex
Company Guide Section 713, the issuance of 10 million shares of common
stock (including shares of common stock issuable on exercise of warrants to
purchase shares of common stock) to be sold at a discount that will not exceed
fifteen percent (15%) of the greater of book value or market value at the time
of issuance.
PROPOSAL
4 – APPROVE FOR PURPOSES OF THE
NYSE AMEX COMPANY GUIDE
SEC. 713, THE ISSUANCE OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE NOT TO
EXCEED 10
MILLION SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AND THE UNDERLYING COMMON
STOCK
ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS
Shareholders have not been granted
shareholder rights and this Proposal 4 is contingent on the Board of Directors
granting shareholders rights to purchase the Company's Common Stock in the
future. The Board of Directors is not obligated to grant shareholder
rights and may determine not to do so, particularly if Proposal 3 is also
approved.
The Board
of Directors would like to raise up to a total of $15 million either through the
proposed direct offering discussed above in Proposal 3 or through a combination
of Proposal 3 and the exercise of stockholder rights as further discussed herein
in this Proposal 4.
In no
event will the Board of Directors issue in excess of 10 million additional
shares regardless of whether Proposals 3 or 4 are both
approved. Therefore, if shareholders approve both Proposal 3 and
Proposal 4, the Board will decide how many shares it will issue under either
Proposal but the aggregate number of shares under both proposals will not exceed
10 million additional shares. Furthermore, in no event will the Board authorize
the issuance of securities with a value greater than a total of $15 million and
if the Board is able to raise $15 million by issuing less than a total of 14.5
million shares, it will do so.
Shares of common stock underlying the
rights will be registered pursuant to a to-be-filed Registration Statement and
periodically sold as shareholders exercise their shareholder rights.
Shareholders will be able to exercise their rights, if any are issued, at a
discount of not to exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the market price of the
security.
However, the 10 million additional
shares do not include the 4.5 million shares that the Board may issue without
receiving shareholder approval. Notwithstanding whether shareholder
approval is obtained, the Board may authorize the issuance of 4.5 million
shares. Regardless of how you decide to vote, the Company may
offer not to exceed approximately 4.5 million shares (or a combination of shares
and warrants) through one or more to-be-filed Registration Statements, which may
represent shares to be issued upon exercise of rights or shares to be issued
pursuant to a registered direct offering (see Proposal 3 above). The
Board of Directors is not requesting any approval of the sale of these initial
shares or warrants.
However,
NYSE Amex Rule 713 prevents the listing of any new share issuance totaling more
than 20% of the Company's total outstanding shares unless the Company obtains
shareholder approval. As the Board would like to raise not to exceed $15
million, it is unlikely that it can raise this amount without obtaining
stockholder approval as the market price of the common stock would have to
significantly increase beyond the price range it has maintained during the past
year. The Board is asking for approval to issue an additional 10 million shares
as at present market values this amount of shares should give the Company an
opportunity to raise a total amount it believes is necessary to implement its
plans to market its expansion into other cancer applications for its products
outside the prostate market. This offering will terminate within 90 days of
shareholder approval.
Shareholder approval will not obviate
the need for NYSE Amex approval of an application for listing additional shares
or for compliance with the Exchange Act or other NYSE Amex
requirements.
If this Proposal 4 is approved,
shareholders will experience substantial dilution as the total shares
outstanding could increase from approximately 27.5 million (assuming an
approximate additional 4.5 million shares are sold without shareholder approval
in addition to the 10 million additional shares being approved under Proposals 3
and 4) to approximately 37.5 million shares. You should consider the potential
dilution in determining whether to approve this Proposal 4. Also, this
substantial amount of shares could depress the market price of our common stock
as long as shares remain unexercised.
The approval of Proposal 4 requires the
affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of voting stock present or
registered at the meeting and entitled to vote.
The Board unanimously recommends that
the shareholders vote "FOR" Proposal 4 to approve, for purposes of the NYSE Amex
Company Guide Section 713, the issuance of rights to purchase and common
stock issuable upon the exercise of said rights in an amount not to exceed 10
million shares of our common stock, at an exercise price per share that will
include a discount of not to exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the greater of book
value or market value at the time of issuance.
OTHER
INFORMATION
Shareholder
Communications with the Board
To
contact members of the Board, individually or collectively, on any subject,
please address that communication to:
Fred
Swindler, Corporate Secretary
IsoRay,
Inc.
350 Hills
St., Suite 106
Richland,
WA 99354
The
mailing envelope for your communication should contain a clear notation that the
enclosed letter is a "shareholder-board communication" or "shareholder-director
communication." You must include your name and address in the written
communication and indicate whether you are a shareholder of the
Company. The Corporate Secretary will acknowledge the receipt of the
communication; inform the shareholder concerning the distribution of that
communication; and when any action (if requested) would be reviewed by the Board
and/or the relevant functional committee. The Corporate Secretary will notify
the shareholder of any action taken by the Board in reference to the
shareholder's request.
Board
Attendance at Annual Meeting
While the
Company does not have a formal policy regarding attendance by members of the
Board at the Company's annual meetings of shareholders, it has encouraged its
directors to attend this Annual Meeting and expects to continue this informal
policy. Shareholders are encouraged to interact with the directors at
that time. All the directors attended the last annual meeting of the Company's
shareholders.
Expenses
of Solicitation
The
Company will bear the entire cost of this solicitation of proxies, including the
preparation, assembly, printing and mailing of the Notice Regarding the
Availability of Proxy Materials, this Proxy Statement, the proxy and any
additional solicitation material that the Company may provide to shareholders.
Proxies will be solicited by mail and may also be solicited by directors,
officers and other employees of the Company, without additional remuneration, in
person or by telephone or facsimile transmission. The Company will also request
brokerage firms, banks, nominees, custodians and fiduciaries to forward
solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of shares of common and
preferred stock as of the Record Date and will reimburse such persons for the
cost of forwarding the solicitation materials in accordance with customary
practice. Your cooperation in promptly voting your shares and submitting your
proxy by telephone, the Internet or by completing and returning the proxy card
if you receive one by mail will help to avoid additional expense. Proxies and
ballots will be received and tabulated by Broadridge and the Company's Corporate
Secretary, Fred Swindler, will serve as the inspector of elections for the
Annual Meeting.
Adjournment
of the Annual Meeting
In the
event there is an insufficient number of shares of our common stock present in
person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting to constitute a quorum, the Board will
request approval to adjourn the Annual Meeting to a later date. The
place and date to which the Annual Meeting would be adjourned would be announced
at the Annual Meeting.
Shareholder
Proposals and Director Nominations
In order
to be eligible for inclusion in the Company's proxy materials for the Fiscal
2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, any shareholder proposal to take action at
such annual meeting must generally be received at the Company's executive
offices at 350 Hills St., Suite 106, Richland, Washington 99354 no later than
September 11, 2010 in order to be considered timely under SEC rules and the
advance notice provisions of the Company's Bylaws. Any such proposal
shall be subject to the requirements of the proxy rules adopted under the
Exchange Act.
The
notice with respect to business proposals to be brought before the annual
meeting must state the shareholder's name, address and the number of shares of
common stock held, and briefly discuss the business to be brought before the
annual meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting
and any interest of the shareholder in the proposal.
Shareholders
wishing to submit recommendations for director candidates must provide the
following information in writing to the attention of the Secretary of the
Company by certified or registered mail:
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The
name, address, and biography of the candidate, including such person's
written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to
serving as a director, if elected, and certain information regarding the
shareholder giving such notice;
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The
name, address, and phone number of the shareholder or group of
shareholders making the recommendation;
and
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With
respect to common stock beneficially owned by the shareholder or group of
shareholders making the recommendation, and to the extent any shareholder
is not a registered holder, proof of the number of shares
held.
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To be
considered by the Board for the Fiscal 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, a
director candidate nomination must be received by the Secretary by September 11,
2010 in order to be considered timely under SEC rules and the advance notice
provisions of the Company's Bylaws.
However,
if the date of the Fiscal 2011 Annual Meeting is a date that is not within
30 days before or after the anniversary date of the Fiscal 2010 Annual
Meeting, notice by the shareholder of a proposal must be received no later than
ninety days before the date of the Fiscal 2011 Annual Meeting, or, if later, by
the close of business on the 10th calendar day after the first public
announcement of the date of such annual meeting. A public announcement includes
disclosure in (1) a document filed by the Company with the SEC, (2) a
mailed notice of the Fiscal 2011 Annual Meeting, and (3) a press release
reported by a national news service. Unless otherwise provided in the Company's
bylaws, a shareholder who wishes to put forth a proposal at the Fiscal 2011
Annual Meeting of shareholders without including the proposal in the Company's
proxy statement must notify the Company of such proposal by October 11,
2010. If a shareholder fails to give notice by this date, the proxy
solicited by the Company for use in connection with the Fiscal 2011 Annual
Meeting will confer discretionary authority on the persons named as proxies to
vote in their discretion on such proposal without any discussion in the proxy
statement of either the proposal or how the proxies intend to exercise their
voting discretion.
HOUSEHOLDING
Unless
contrary instructions are received, we may send a single copy of the Annual
Report, Proxy Statement and Notice of Annual Meeting to any household at which
two or more shareholders reside if we believe the shareholders are members of
the same family. Each shareholder in the household will continue to receive a
separate proxy card. This process is known as "householding" and helps reduce
the volume of duplicate information received at a single household, which
reduces costs and expenses borne by us.
If you
would like to receive a separate set of our annual disclosure documents this
year or in future years, follow the instructions described below and we will
deliver promptly a separate set. Similarly, if you share an address with another
shareholder and the two of you would like to receive only a single set of our
annual disclosure documents, follow the instructions below:
1. If
your shares are registered in your own name, please contact our transfer agent
by writing to them at Computershare Trust Company, 350 Indiana Street, 8th Floor,
Golden, Colorado 80401 (Attn: IsoRay, Inc. Representative) or calling (303)
262-0710.
2. If a
bank, broker or other nominee holds your shares, please contact your bank,
broker or other nominee directly.
INCORPORATION
OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The
Company has elected to incorporate by reference certain information into this
Proxy Statement. By incorporating by reference, the Company can
disclose important information to you by referring you to another document it
has filed separately with the SEC and delivered to you with this Proxy
Statement. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be
a part of this Proxy Statement. However, any statement contained in a
document incorporated by reference into this Proxy Statement will be deemed to
be modified or superseded for purposes of this Proxy Statement to the extent a
statement contained in this Proxy Statement modifies or supersedes the
statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be
deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Proxy
Statement.
This
Proxy Statement incorporates by reference the information set forth under the
following captions in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended June 30, 2009 – (i) Item 6 – Selected Financial Data, (ii) Item 7 –
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations, (iii) Item 7A – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About
Market Risk, (iv) Item 8 – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, and (v)
Item 9 – Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and
Financial Disclosure.
The
Company's June 30, 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K is enclosed with this Proxy
Statement, and is also available over the Internet or by written request as
described below.
The Company will furnish to
shareholders without charge a copy of its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
June 30, 2009, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon
receipt of a written request addressed to IsoRay, Inc., 350 Hills St., Suite
106, Richland, WA 99354, Attn: Corporate Secretary. Reports,
proxy statements and other information filed by the Company are also available
on the internet at the SEC's World Wide Web site at
http://www.sec.gov.
MISCELLANEOUS
The Board
knows of no other matters to be presented at the Annual Meeting. If any other
business properly comes before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof,
the proxies will vote on that business in accordance with their best
judgment.
By
Order of the Board of Directors,
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Fred
Swindler
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Secretary
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Audit
Committee Charter
Purpose
The
purpose of the Audit Committee (the "Committee") shall be as
follows:
1. To
oversee the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Company and
audits of the financial statements of the Company.
2. To
provide assistance to the Board of Directors with respect to its oversight of
the following:
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The
integrity of the Company's financial
statements.
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The
Company's compliance with legal and regulatory
requirements.
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The
independent auditor's qualifications and
independence.
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The
performance of the Company's internal audit function, if any, and
independent auditor.
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3. To
prepare the report that SEC rules require be included in the Company's annual
proxy statement.
Composition
The
Committee shall consist of two members of the Board of Directors, at least one
of whom is determined by the Board of Directors to be "independent" pursuant to
Rule 10A-3(b)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 adopted pursuant to
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and shall satisfy any other regulatory
requirements.
No
independent member of the Committee shall receive directly or indirectly any
consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fees from the Company other than (1)
director's fees for service as a director of the Company, including reasonable
compensation for serving on Board committees and regular benefits that other
directors receive; and (2) a pension or similar compensation for past
performance, provided that such compensation is not conditioned on continued or
future service to the Company. In addition, no member of the Committee may be an
affiliate of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company whether by being an
officer or owning more than 10 percent of the Company's voting
securities.
Qualifications
All
members of the Committee shall be able to read and understand fundamental
financial statements (including a company's balance sheet, income statement, and
cash flow statement) and at least one member must either have past employment
experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in
accounting, or any other comparable experience or background, which results in
the individual's financial sophistication, including being or having been a
chief executive officer, chief financial officer, or other senior officer with
financial oversight responsibilities or be an "audit committee financial expert"
as defined by the SEC. Committee members may enhance their familiarity with
finance and accounting by participating in educational programs conducted by the
Company or by an outside organization.
Appointment and
Removal
The
members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Directors. A member
shall serve until such member's successor is duly elected and qualified or until
such member's earlier resignation or removal. The members of the Committee may
be removed, with or without cause, by a majority vote of the Board of
Directors.
Chairman
Unless a
Chairman is elected by the full Board of Directors, the members of the Committee
shall designate a Chairman by the majority vote of the full Committee
membership. The Chairman will chair all regular sessions of the Committee and
set the agendas for Committee meetings.
Delegation to
Subcommittees
In
fulfilling its responsibilities, the Committee shall be entitled to delegate any
or all of its responsibilities to a subcommittee of the Committee.
Meetings
The
Committee shall meet as frequently as circumstances dictate, but at least on a
quarterly basis. The Chairman of the Committee or a majority of the members of
the Committee may call meetings of the Committee. Any one or more of the members
of the Committee may participate in a meeting of the Committee by means of
conference call or similar communication device by means of which all persons
participating in the meeting can hear each other.
All
non-management directors who are not members of the Committee may attend
meetings of the Committee, but may not vote. In addition, the Committee may
invite to its meetings any director, member of management of the Company, and
such other persons as it deems appropriate in order to carry out its
responsibilities. The Committee may also exclude from its meetings any persons
it deems appropriate.
As part
of its goal to foster open communication, the Committee shall periodically meet
separately with each of management, the director of the internal auditing
department, if any, and the independent auditor to discuss any matters that the
Committee or any of these groups believe would be appropriate to discuss
privately. In addition, the Committee should meet with the independent auditor
and management periodically to review the Company's financial statements in a
manner consistent with that outlined in this Charter.
Duties and
Responsibilities
The
Committee shall carry out the duties and responsibilities set forth below. These
functions should serve as a guide with the understanding that the Committee may
determine to carry out additional functions and adopt additional policies and
procedures as may be appropriate in light of changing business, legislative,
regulatory, legal, or other conditions. The Committee shall also carry out any
other duties and responsibilities delegated to it by the Board of Directors from
time to time related to the purposes of the Committee outlined in this Charter.
The Committee may perform any functions it deems appropriate under applicable
law, rules, or regulations, the Company's by-laws, and the resolutions or other
directives of the Board, including review of any certification required to be
reviewed in accordance with applicable law or regulations of the
SEC.
In
discharging its oversight role, the Committee is empowered to study or
investigate any matter of interest or concern that the Committee deems
appropriate. In this regard and as it otherwise deems appropriate, the Committee
shall have the authority, without seeking Board approval, to engage and obtain
advice and assistance from outside legal and other advisors as it deems
necessary to carry out its duties. The Committee also shall have the authority
to receive appropriate funding, as determined by the Committee, in its capacity
as a committee of the Board of Directors, from the Company for the payment of
compensation to any accounting firm engaged for the purpose of preparing or
issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review, or attest services
for the Company; to compensate any outside legal or other advisors engaged by
the Committee; and to pay the ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee
that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.
The
Committee shall be given full access to the Company's internal audit group, if
any, Board of Directors, corporate executives, and independent auditor as
necessary to carry out these responsibilities. While acting within the scope of
its stated purpose, the Committee shall have all the authority of the Board of
Directors, except as otherwise limited by applicable law.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Committee is not responsible for certifying the Company's
financial statements or guaranteeing the independent auditor's report. The
fundamental responsibility for the Company's financial statements and
disclosures rests with management and the independent auditor. It also is the
job of the Chief Executive Officer and senior management, rather than that of
the Committee, to assess and manage the Company's exposure to risk.
Documents/Reports
Review
1. Discuss
with management and the independent auditor, prior to public dissemination, the
Company's annual audited financial statements and quarterly financial
statements, including the Company's disclosures under "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and discuss with
the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by Statement of
Auditing Standards No. 61.
2. Discuss
with management and the independent auditor, prior to the Company's filing of
any quarterly or annual report, (a) whether any significant deficiencies in the
design or operation of internal control over financial reporting exist that
could adversely affect the Company's ability to record, process, summarize, and
report financial data; (b) the existence of any material weaknesses in the
Company's internal control over financial reporting; and (c) the existence of
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees
who have a significant role in the Company's internal control over financial
reporting.
3. Discuss
with management and the independent auditor the Company's earnings press
releases (paying particular attention to the use of any "pro forma" or
"adjusted" non-GAAP information), as well as financial information and earnings
guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies.
4. Discuss
with management and the independent auditor the Company's major financial risk
exposures, the guidelines and policies by which risk assessment and management
is undertaken, and the steps management has taken to monitor and control risk
exposure.
Independent
Auditors
5. Appoint,
retain, compensate, evaluate, and terminate any accounting firm engaged by the
Company for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing
other audit, review, or attest services for the Company and, in its sole
authority, approve all audit engagement fees and terms as well as all non-audit
engagements with the accounting firm.
6. Oversee
the work of any accounting firm engaged by the Company for the purpose of
preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review, or
attest services for the Company, including the resolution of any disagreements
between management and the independent auditor regarding financial
reporting.
7. Pre-approve,
or adopt procedures to pre-approve, all audit, audit related, tax, and other
services permitted by law or applicable SEC regulations (including fee and cost
ranges) to be performed by the independent auditor. Any pre-approved services
that will involve fees or costs exceeding pre-approved levels will also require
specific pre-approval by the Committee. Unless otherwise specified by the
Committee in pre-approving a service, the pre-approval will be effective for the
12-month period following pre-approval. The Committee will not approve any
non-audit services prohibited by applicable SEC regulations or any services in
connection with a transaction initially recommended by the independent auditor,
the purpose of which may be tax avoidance and the tax treatment of which may not
be supported by the Internal Revenue Code and related regulations.
8. To
the extent it deems it appropriate, delegate pre-approval authority to the
Chairman of the Committee or any one or more other members of the Committee
provided that any member of the Committee who has exercised such delegation must
report any such pre-approval decisions to the Committee at its next scheduled
meeting. The Committee will not delegate the pre-approval of services to be
performed by the independent auditor to management.
9. Require
that the independent auditor, in conjunction with the Chief Financial Officer,
be responsible for seeking pre-approval for providing services to the Company
and that any request for pre-approval must inform the Committee about each
service to be provided and must provide detail as to the particular service to
be provided.
10. Inform
each accounting firm engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit
report or to perform audit, review, or attest services for the Company that such
firm shall report directly to the Committee.
11. Review,
at least annually, the qualifications, performance, and independence of the
independent auditor. In conducting its review and evaluation, the Committee
should do the following:
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At
least annually obtain and review a report by the Company's independent
auditor describing (i) the auditing firm's internal quality-control
procedures; (ii) any material issues raised by the most recent internal
quality-control review, or peer review, of the auditing firm, or by any
inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities,
within the preceding five years, respecting one or more independent audits
carried out by the auditing firm, and any steps taken to deal with any
such issues; and (iii) all relationships between the independent auditor
and the Company.
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Ensure
the receipt from the independent auditor of a formal written statement
delineating all relationships between the auditor and the Company,
consistent with Independence Standards Board Standard No.
1.
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Actively
engage in a dialogue with the independent auditor with respect to any
disclosed relationships or services that may impact the objectivity and
independence of the auditor.
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Take,
or recommend that the full Board of Directors take, appropriate action to
oversee the independence of the independent
auditor.
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Ensure
the rotation of the lead audit (or coordinating) partner at least every
five years, and consider whether there should be regular rotation of the
audit firm itself.
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Confirm
with the independent auditor that the lead (or coordinating) audit
partner, the concurring (or reviewing) partner, and each other active
audit engagement team partner satisfies the rotation requirements of Rule
2-01(c)(6) of Regulation S-X.
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Take
into account the opinions of management and the Company's internal auditor
(or other personnel responsible for the internal audit function), if
any.
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Financial
Reporting Process
12. In
consultation with the independent auditor, management, and the internal auditor,
if any, review the integrity of the Company's financial reporting processes,
both internal and external. In that connection, the Committee should obtain and
discuss with management and the independent auditor reports from management and
the independent auditor regarding (a) all critical accounting policies and
practices to be used by the Company and the related disclosure of those critical
accounting policies under "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations"; (b) analyses prepared by management and/or
the independent auditor setting forth significant financial reporting issues and
judgments made in connection with the preparation of the financial statements,
including all alternative treatments of financial information within generally
accepted accounting principles that have been discussed with the Company's
management, the ramifications of the use of the alternative disclosures and
treatments, and the treatment preferred by the independent auditor; (c) all
alternative treatments of financial statements within generally accepted
accounting principals that have been discussed with the Company's management,
the ramifications of the use of alternative disclosures and treatments, and the
treatment preferred by the independent auditor; (d) major issues regarding
accounting principles and financial statement presentations, including any
significant changes in the Company's selection or application of accounting
principles; (e) major issues as to the adequacy of the Company's internal
controls and any specific audit steps adopted in light of material control
deficiencies; (f) issues with respect to the design and effectiveness of the
Company's disclosure controls and procedures, management's evaluation of those
controls and procedures, and any issues relating to such controls and procedures
during the most recent reporting period; (g) the effect of regulatory and
accounting initiatives, as well as off-balance sheet structures on the financial
statements of the Company; (h) any significant matters arising from any audit,
including audit problems and difficulties, whether raised by management, the
internal auditor, if any, and the independent auditor, relating to the Company's
financial statements; and (i) any other material written communications between
the independent auditor and the Company's management.
13. Review
periodically the effect of regulatory and accounting initiatives, as well as
off-balance sheet structures, on the financial statements of the
Company.
14. Review
with the independent auditor any audit problems or difficulties encountered and
management's response thereto. In this regard, the Committee will regularly
review with the independent auditor (a) any audit problems or other difficulties
encountered by the auditor in the course of the audit work, including any
restrictions on the scope of the independent auditor's activities or on access
to requested information, and any significant disagreements with management and
(b) management's responses to such matters. Without excluding other
possibilities, the Committee may review with the independent auditor (i) any
accounting adjustments that were noted or proposed by the auditor but were
"passed" (as immaterial or otherwise), (ii) any communications between the audit
team and the audit firm's national office respecting auditing or accounting
issues presented by the engagement, and (iii) any "management" or "internal
control" letter issued, or proposed to be issued, by the independent auditor to
the Company.
15. Obtain
from the independent auditor assurance that the audit of the Company's financial
statements was conducted in a manner consistent with Section 10A of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which sets forth procedures to be followed in
any audit of financial statements required under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.
16. Discuss
the scope of the annual audit and review the form of the opinion the independent
auditor proposes to issue.
17. Review
and discuss with management and the independent auditor the responsibilities,
budget, and staffing of the Company's internal audit function, if
any.
Legal
Compliance/General
18. Review
periodically, with the Company's counsel, any legal matter that could have a
significant impact on the Company's financial statements.
19. Discuss
with management and the independent auditor the Company's guidelines and
policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management. The Committee will
discuss the Company's major financial risk exposures and the steps management
has taken to monitor and control such exposures.
20. Set
clear hiring policies for employees or former employees of the independent
auditor. At a minimum, these policies should provide that any accounting firm
may not provide audit services to the Company if the Chief Executive Officer,
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Controller, or any person
serving in an equivalent position for the Company was employed by the accounting
firm and participated in any capacity in the audit of the Company within one
year of the initiation of the current audit.
21. Establish
procedures for (i) the receipt, retention, and treatment of complaints received
by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing
matters; and (ii) the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the
Company of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing
matters.
22. Unless
assigned to a comparable committee or group of independent directors, review and
approve all related party transactions as specified in Item 404 of Regulation
S-K or SB.
23. Review
and reassess the adequacy of this Charter on an annual basis.
24. Conduct
an annual performance evaluation of itself.
25. Perform
any other activities consistent with this Charter, the Company's By-laws and
governing law as the Committee or the Board deems necessary or
advisable.
26. Review
and approve (i) any change or waiver in the Company's code of business conduct
and ethics for directors and executive officers, and (ii) any disclosure made on
Form 8-K regarding such change or waiver.
Reports
27. Prepare
all reports required to be included in the Company's proxy statement pursuant to
and in accordance with applicable rules and regulations of the SEC.
28. Report
regularly to the full Board of Directors. In this regard, the Committee should
review with the full Board any issues that arise with respect to the quality or
integrity of the Company's financial statements, the Company's compliance with
legal or regulatory requirements, the performance and independence of the
Company's independent auditor, and the performance of the internal audit
function, if any.
29. The
Committee shall provide such recommendations as the Committee may deem
appropriate. The report to the Board of Directors may take the form of an oral
report by the Chairman or any other member of the Committee designated by the
Committee to make such report.
30. Maintain
minutes or other records of meetings and activities of the
Committee.
Limitation of Audit
Committee's Role
With
respect to the foregoing responsibilities and processes, the Committee
recognizes that the Company's financial management, including the internal audit
staff, if any, as well as the independent auditor have more time, knowledge, and
detailed information regarding the Company than do Committee members.
Consequently, in discharging its oversight responsibilities, the Committee will
not provide or be deemed to provide any expertise or special assurance as to the
Company's financial statements or any professional certification as to the
independent auditors' work.
While the
Committee has the responsibilities and powers set forth in this Charter, it is
not the duty of the Committee to plan or conduct audits or to determine that the
Company's financial statements and disclosures are complete and accurate and are
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and applicable rules
and regulations. These are the responsibilities of management and the
independent auditor. It also is not the duty of the Committee to conduct
investigations or to assure compliance with laws and regulations and the
Company's internal policies and procedures.
Nominations
and Corporate Governance Committee Charter
Purpose
The
purpose of the Nominations and Corporate Governance Committee (the "Committee")
shall be as follows:
1. To
select, or recommend for the Board of Directors' selection, the individuals to
stand for election as directors at the annual meeting of stockholders or, if
applicable, a special meeting of stockholders.
2. To
oversee the selection and composition of committees of the Board of Directors
and, as applicable, oversee management continuity planning
processes.
Board of
Directors shall determine whether the Committee shall make determinations as a
committee or shall make recommendations to the Board of Directors.
Composition
The
Committee shall consist of two or more members of the Board of Directors, each
of whom is determined by the Board of Directors to be "independent" in
accordance with the rules of the SEC and any other applicable regulatory
authorities.
Appointment and
Removal
The
members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Directors. Each
member shall serve until such member's successor is duly elected and qualified
or until such member's earlier resignation or removal. The members of the
Committee may be removed, with or without cause, by a majority vote of the Board
of Directors.
Chairman
Unless a
Chairman is elected by the full Board of Directors, the members of the Committee
shall designate a Chairman by majority vote of the full Committee membership.
The Chairman will chair all regular sessions of the Committee and set the
agendas for Committee meetings.
Delegation to
Subcommittees
In
fulfilling its responsibilities, the Committee shall be entitled to delegate
responsibilities to a subcommittee of the Committee.
Meetings
The
Committee shall meet as frequently as circumstances dictate. The Chairman of the
Committee or a majority of the members of the Committee may call meetings of the
Committee. Any one or more of the members of the Committee may participate in a
meeting of the Committee by means of conference call or similar communication
device by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each
other.
All
non-management directors who are not members of the Committee may attend
meetings of the Committee, but may not vote. In addition, the Committee may
invite to its meetings any director, member of management of the Company, and
such other persons as it deems appropriate in order to carry out its
responsibilities. The Committee may also exclude from its meetings any persons
it deems appropriate.
Duties and
Responsibilities
The
Committee shall carry out the duties and responsibilities set forth below. These
functions should serve as a guide with the understanding that the Committee may
determine to carry out additional functions and adopt additional policies and
procedures as may be appropriate in light of changing business, legislative,
regulatory, legal, or other conditions. The Committee shall also carry out any
other responsibilities and duties delegated to it by the Board of Directors from
time to time related to the purposes of the Committee outlined in this
Charter.
In
discharging its oversight role, the Committee is empowered to study or
investigate any matter of interest or concern that the Committee deems
appropriate and shall have the sole authority, without seeking Board approval,
to retain outside counsel or other advisors for this purpose, including the sole
authority to approve the fees payable to such counsel or advisors and any other
terms of retention.
Board
Selection, Composition, and Evaluation
1. Establish
criteria for the selection of new directors to serve on the Board of
Directors.
2. Identify
individuals believed to be qualified as candidates to serve on the Board of
Directors and select, or recommend that the Board of Directors select, the
candidates for all directorships to be filled by the Board of Directors or by
the shareholders at an annual or special meeting. In identifying candidates for
membership on the Board of Directors, the Committee shall take into account all
factors it considers appropriate, which may include strength of character,
mature judgment, career specialization, relevant technical skills, diversity,
and the extent to which the candidate would fill a present need on the Board of
Directors.
3. The
Company is of the view that the continuing service of qualified incumbents
promotes stability and continuity in the board room, giving the Company the
benefit of the familiarity and insight into the Company's affairs that its
directors have accumulated during their tenure, while contributing to the
Board's ability to work as a collective body. Accordingly, the process of the
Committee for identifying nominees shall reflect the Company's practice of
re-nominating incumbent directors who continue to satisfy the Committee's
criteria for membership on the Board, whom the Committee believes will continue
to make important contributions to the Board and who consent to continue their
service on the Board.
4. Review
and make recommendations to the full Board of Directors, or determine, whether
members of the Board should stand for re-election. Consider matters relating to
the retirement of Board members, including term limits or age caps.
5. In
the case of a director nominated to fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors due
to an increase in the size of the Board, recommend to the Board of Directors the
class of directors in which the director-nominee should serve.
6. Conduct
all necessary and appropriate inquiries into the backgrounds and qualifications
of possible candidates. In that connection, the Committee shall have sole
authority to retain and to terminate any search firm to be used to assist in
identifying candidates to serve as directors of the Company, including sole
authority to approve the fees payable to such search firm and any other terms of
retention.
7. Consider
questions of independence and possible conflicts of interest of members of the
Board of Directors and executive officers.
8. Review
and make recommendations, as the Committee deems appropriate, regarding the
composition and size of the Board of Directors in order to ensure the Board has
the requisite expertise and its membership consists of persons with sufficiently
diverse and independent backgrounds.
9. Oversee
the evaluation, at least annually, and as circumstances otherwise dictate, of
the Board of Directors and management.
Committee
Selection and Composition
10. Recommend
members of the Board of Directors to serve on the committees of the Board,
giving consideration to the criteria for service on each committee as set forth
in the charter for such committee, as well as to any other factors the Committee
deems relevant, and when appropriate, make recommendations regarding the removal
of any member of any committee.
11. Recommend
members of the Board of Directors to serve as the Chair of the committees of the
Board of Directors.
12. Establish,
monitor, and recommend the purpose, structure, and operations of the various
committees of the Board of Directors, the qualifications and criteria for
membership on each committee of the Board, and as circumstances dictate, make
any recommendations regarding periodic rotation of directors among the
committees and impose any term limitations of service on any Board
committee.
13. Periodically
review the charter and composition of each committee of the Board of Directors
and make recommendations to the Board for the creation of additional committees
or the elimination of Board committees.
Continuity
/ Succession Planning Process
14. Oversee
and approve the management continuity planning process. Review and evaluate the
succession plans relating to the Chief Executive Officer and other executive
officer positions and make recommendations to the Board of Directors with
respect to the selection of individuals to occupy these positions.
Reports
15. Report
regularly to the Board of Directors following meetings of the Committee, (a)
with respect to such matters as are relevant to the Committee's discharge of its
responsibilities, and (b) with respect to such recommendations as the Committee
may deem appropriate. The report to the Board of Directors may take the form of
an oral report by the Chairman or any other member of the Committee designated
by the Committee to make such report.
16. Maintain
minutes or other records of meetings and activities of the
Committee.
Corporate Governance. To the
extent deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors and the Committee, the
Committee will do as follows:
17. Consider
the adequacy of the certificate of incorporation and by-laws of the Company and
recommend to the Board of Directors, as conditions dictate, that it propose
amendments to the certificate of incorporation and by-laws for consideration by
the stockholders.
18. Develop
and recommend to the Board of Directors a set of corporate governance principles
applicable to the Company and keep abreast of developments with regard to
corporate governance to enable the Committee to make recommendations to the
Board of Directors in light of such developments as may be
appropriate.
19. Consider
policies relating to meetings of the Board of Directors. This may include
meeting schedules and locations, meeting agendas, and procedures for delivery of
materials in advance of meetings.
Policy
and Procedures Regarding Nominating Recommendations of Security
Holders
20. The
Committee shall formulate and recommend for adoption to the full Board a policy
regarding consideration of nominees for election to the Board of Directors who
are recommended by security holders of the Company.
21. The
policy shall state at a minimum that the Committee will consider candidates
nominated by shareholders of the Company.
22. The
policy shall contain any other elements that the Committee deems appropriate.
These elements may include requirements relating to share ownership of
recommending security holders; qualifications of recommended candidates; and
compliance with procedures for submission of recommendations.
24. The
Committee shall adopt procedures for the submission of shareholder nominating
recommendations to the Committee, consistent with the policy adopted by the
Board. These procedures shall at a minimum include requirements and
specifications relating to-
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the
timing for submission of
recommendations;
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the
manner of submission of
recommendations;
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information
required to be provided concerning the recommending
shareholder;
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information
required to be provided concerning the proposed
nominee;
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the
consent of the proposed nominee to be contacted and interviewed by the
Committee; and
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the
consent of the proposed nominee to serve if nominated and
elected.
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Procedures
for Security Holder Communications with the Board
25. It
is the policy of the Company to facilitate security holder communications to the
Board.
26. The
Committee shall formulate procedures for security holders to send communications
to the Board. These procedures shall at a minimum include requirements and
specifications relating to-
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the
manner in which communications may be sent to the
directors;
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any
information required to be provided concerning the communicating security
holder or other party;
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the
process for collecting and organizing
communications;
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the
process for determining which communications will be relayed to the
directors; and
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the
manner and timing of delivery of communications to the
directors.
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Policy
on Director Attendance at Annual Meetings
27. The
Committee shall formulate and recommend to the Board for adoption a policy
regarding attendance of directors at annual meetings of the Company's
shareholders.
28. The
policy may provide for attendance of directors by appropriate means of
electronic conferencing.