UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
SCHEDULE
14A INFORMATION
PROXY
STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
Filed
by
the Registrant x
Filed
by
a Party other than the Registrant o
Check
the
appropriate box:
o
Preliminary Proxy Statement
o
Confidential,
for Use of the
Commission Only (as permitted by
x
Definitive
Proxy Statement Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
o
Definitive
Additional
Materials
o
Soliciting
Material Pursuant to
ss.240.14a-12
INTERNATIONAL
STAR, INC.
(NAME
OF
REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
(NAME
OF
PERSON(S) FILING PROXY STATEMENT, IF OTHER THAN THE REGISTRANT)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
x No
fee required.
o|
Fee computed on table below per
Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
(1)
Title
of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2)
Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
(3)
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):
(4)
Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5)
Total
fee paid:
o Fee
paid previously with
preliminary materials.
o 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.
(1)
Amount Previously Paid:
(2)
Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
(3)
Filing Party:
(4)
Date
Filed:
INTERNATIONAL
STAR, INC.
2405
Ping
Drive
Henderson,
Nevada 89074
Telephone:
(903) 563-3030
Facsimile:
(903) 575-1259
NOTICE
OF
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To
Be
Held on December 1, 2006
To
Our
Shareholders:
The
Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of International Star,
Inc. (the “Company”) will be held on December 1, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. (local time)
in the Ark-La-Tex Room at the Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino located at 315 Clyde
Fant Parkway, Shreveport, Louisiana 71101.
At
the
Annual Meeting, stockholders will be asked:
1. To
elect
our Board of Directors for the following fiscal year;
2. To
approve the Company’s 2006 Stock Option Plan; and
3. To
approve the appointment of Madsen & Associates CPA’s, Inc. as the Company’s
independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2006.
The
foregoing items of business are more fully described in the proxy statement
accompanying this Notice. Only
stockholders of record of the Company’s common stock at the close of business on
November 6, 2006 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to notice of, and to vote at,
the Annual Meeting and any adjournment thereof.
It
is
important that your shares be represented and voted at the Annual Meeting.
If
you are the registered holder of the Company’s common stock, you can vote your
shares by completing and returning the enclosed proxy card, even if you plan
to
attend the Annual Meeting. Please review the instructions on the proxy card
or
the information forwarded by your broker, bank or other nominee regarding the
voting instructions. You may vote your shares of common stock in person even
if
you previously returned a proxy card. Please note, however, that if your shares
of common stock are held of record by a broker, bank or other nominee and you
wish to vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you must obtain a proxy issued
in
your name from such broker, bank or other nominee.
If
you
are planning to attend the Annual Meeting in person, you will be asked to
register before entering the Annual Meeting. All
attendees will be required to present government-issued photo identification
(e.g.,
driver’s license or passport) to enter the Annual Meeting. If
you are a stockholder of record, your
ownership of the Company’s common stock will be verified against the list of
stockholders of record as of November 6, 2006 prior to being admitted to the
Annual Meeting. If
you are not a stockholder of record and hold your shares of common stock in
“street name” (that is, your shares of common stock are held in a brokerage
account or by a bank or other nominee) you must also provide proof of beneficial
ownership as of November 6, 2006, such as your most recent account statement
prior to December 1, 2006, and a copy of the voting instruction card provided
by
your broker, bank or nominee, or similar evidence of
ownership.
By
Order
of the Board of Directors
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/s/
Denny
Cashatt |
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Denny
Cashatt
President
and Director
November
9, 2006
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INTERNATIONAL
STAR, INC.
2405
Ping
Drive
Henderson,
Nevada 89074
Telephone:
(903) 563-3030
Facsimile:
(903) 575-1259
November
9, 2006
To
Our
Shareholders:
You
are
cordially invited to attend the annual meeting of shareholders of International
Star, Inc. on December 1, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. (local time) in the Ark-La-Tex
Room
at the Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino located at 315 Clyde Fant Parkway,
Shreveport, Louisiana 71101.
Information
about this year’s annual meeting, including matters on which shareholders will
act, may be found in the notice of annual meeting and proxy statement
accompanying this letter. This proxy statement is designed to answer your
questions and provide you with important information regarding our Board of
Directors and senior management. Enclosed with this proxy statement is our
2005
annual report.
Whether
you own a few or many shares of stock, and whether or not you plan to attend,
it
is important that your shares be voted on matters that come before the annual
meeting. Please mark your votes on the enclosed proxy card, signing and dating
it and mailing it in the envelope provided. If you sign and return your proxy
card without specifying your choices, it will be understood that you wish to
have your shares voted in accordance with the directors’ recommendations as
described in the proxy statement.
During
the annual meeting, management will report on operations and other matters
affecting our company and will respond to shareholders’ questions. On behalf of
the Board of Directors, we would like to express our appreciation for your
continued interest in the affairs of our Company.
We
look
forward to greeting in person as many of our shareholders as
possible.
Sincerely,
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/s/
Denny Cashatt
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Denny
Cashatt
President
and Director
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TABLE
OF CONTENTS
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Page
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INFORMATION
ABOUT THE MEETING AND VOTING
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1
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INTEREST
OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
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6
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SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
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6
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PROPOSAL
NUMBER ONE: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS TO OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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8
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NOMINEES
FOR DIRECTOR
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8
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DEPARTURE
OF DIRECTOR
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8
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OFFICERS
AND DIRECTORS
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9
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BIOGRAPHICAL
INFORMATION
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10
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AUDIT
COMMITTEE AND FINANCIAL EXPERT DISCLOSURES
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11
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SECTION
16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
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11
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EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
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12
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COMPENSATION
OF DIRECTORS
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14
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INVOLVEMENT
IN CERTAIN LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
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14
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CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
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14
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PRINCIPAL
ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
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15
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PROPOSAL
NUMBER TWO: APPROVAL OF 2006 STOCK OPTION PLAN
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17
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PROPOSAL
NUMBER THREE: RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANTS
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25
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AVAILABLE
INFORMATION
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26
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FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
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27
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EXHIBIT
A - 2006 STOCK OPTION PLAN
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INFORMATION
ABOUT THE MEETING AND VOTING
WHEN
WERE
PROXY MATERIALS MAILED?
This
Proxy Statement and proxy card were first mailed on or about November 10, 2006,
to the owners of voting shares of International Star, Inc. (“us”, “we” “our”,
“International Star,” or the “Company”) in connection with the solicitation of
proxies by the International Star Board of Directors (the “Board”) for the 2006
Annual Meeting of Shareholders in Shreveport, Louisiana. Proxies are solicited
to give all shareholders of record as of the close of business on November
6,
2006 an opportunity to vote on matters that come before the annual meeting.
This
procedure is necessary because shareholders live in all U.S. states and abroad
and most may not be able to attend.
WHAT
AM I
VOTING ON?
The
Board
is soliciting your vote for:
· |
the
election of five directors to serve for a term of one year or until
their
successors are elected;
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· |
the
approval of our 2006 Incentive Stock Option Plan;
and
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· |
the
ratification of the appointment of Madsen & Associates CPA’s, Inc. as
the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal
year ending December 31, 2006.
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WHO
IS
ENTITLED TO VOTE?
Shareholders
of record at the close of business on November 6, 2006 (the “Record Date"), are
entitled to vote on matters that come before the meeting. Shares can be voted
only if the shareholder is present in person or is represented by a completed
and returned proxy.
HOW
MANY
VOTES DO I HAVE?
Each
share of International Star common stock that you own as of the Record Date
entitles you to one vote. As of the close of business on November 6, 2006,
there
were 264,952,725 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding.
HOW
DO I
VOTE?
All
shareholders may vote by mail. To vote by mail, please sign, date and mail
your
proxy card in the envelope provided.
If
you
own your shares through a bank or broker, you should follow the separate
instructions they provide you. Although most banks and brokers now offer
telephone and Internet voting, availability and specific processes will depend
on their individual voting arrangements. If you do not instruct your broker
or
bank how to vote, your broker or bank may still vote your shares if it has
discretionary power to vote on a particular matter.
If
you
attend the annual meeting in person, you may request a ballot when you arrive.
If your shares are held in the name of your bank, broker, or other nominee,
you
need to bring an account statement or letter from the nominee indicating that
you were the beneficial owner of the shares on November 6, 2006, the Record
Date, for voting. If you previously signed and returned a proxy for voting
(or
one was mailed for you by a bank or broker), and then chose to attend the
shareholder meeting and vote in person, your proxy will automatically be
nullified, and only your votes made in person at the meeting will be
counted.
WHAT
IF I
RETURN MY PROXY BUT DO NOT MARK IT TO SHOW HOW I AM VOTING?
If
your
proxy card is signed and returned without specifying your choices, the shares
will be voted as recommended by the Board.
WHAT
IF
OTHER ITEMS COME UP AT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND I AM NOT THERE TO
VOTE?
When
you
return a signed and dated proxy card, you give the proxy holders (the names
of
whom are listed on your proxy card) the discretionary authority to vote on
your
behalf on any other matter that is properly brought before the annual meeting.
This discretionary authority is limited by SEC rules to certain specified
matters, such as matters incident to the conduct of the meeting and voting
for
alternative candidates if for any unforeseen reason any of our nominees becomes
unavailable to serve as a director.
CAN
I
CHANGE MY VOTE?
You
can
change your vote by revoking your proxy at any time before it is exercised,
in
one of three ways:
· |
notify
our Corporate Secretary in writing before the annual meeting that
you are
revoking your proxy;
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· |
submit
another written proxy with a later date in accordance with the
requirements for submitting proxies as described in this proxy statement;
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· |
attend,
and vote, in person at the annual
meeting.
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Attendance
at the annual meeting will not cause your previously granted proxy to be revoked
unless you specifically request this; however if you vote on any matter in
person at the meeting, your proxy will be automatically nullified and only
your
votes made in person at the meeting will be counted.
WHAT
DOES
IT MEAN IF I GET MORE THAN ONE PROXY CARD?
In
that
case, you likely own shares which are registered differently or are held in
more
than one account. You should vote each of your accounts by mail. Please sign,
date, and return each proxy card to guarantee that all of your shares are voted.
If you wish to combine your shareholder accounts in the future, you should
contact our transfer agent, STALT Inc., by telephone at (650) 321-7111, or
by
email at bsenner@stalt.com. Combining accounts reduces excess printing and
mailing costs, resulting in savings for us which benefits you as a
shareholder.
WHAT
CONSTITUTES A QUORUM?
The
presence of the owners of one percent of the shares entitled to vote at the
annual meeting constitutes a quorum. Presence may be in person or by proxy.
You
will be considered part of the quorum if you return a signed and dated proxy
card, if you vote by telephone or the Internet, or if you vote at the annual
meeting.
Abstentions
and broker "non-votes" are counted as present and entitled to vote for
determining a quorum. A broker "non-vote" occurs when a bank or broker holding
shares for a beneficial shareholder does not vote on a particular proposal
because the bank or broker does not have discretionary voting power with respect
to the item and has not received voting instructions from the beneficial
shareholder.
As
of the
Record Date, persons deemed to be insiders of our company, and who are expected
to vote on each matter as recommended by the Board, hold approximately 37%
of
our issued and outstanding common stock.
WHAT
IS
REQUIRED TO APPROVE EACH PROPOSAL?
If
a
broker indicates on its proxy that it does not have discretionary authority
to
vote on a particular matter, the affected shares will be treated as not present
and not entitled to vote with respect to that matter, even though the same
shares may be considered present for quorum purposes and may be entitled to
vote
on other matters.
PROPOSAL
1.
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS: The five candidates who receive the most votes will be elected.
Any shares not voted (whether by abstention, broker non-vote, or otherwise)
will
have no impact on the vote.
PROPOSAL
2.
APPROVAL
OF 2006 STOCK OPTION PLAN: The affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding
shares of our common stock entitled to vote is required to approve the 2006
Stock Option Plan. If you do not vote, or if you abstain from voting, it has
the
same effect as if you voted against the proposal.
PROPOSAL
3.
RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF OUR INDEPENDENT AUDITORS: To ratify the
appointment of our independent auditors, the affirmative vote of a majority
of
the outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote is required. If
you
do not vote, or if you abstain from voting, it has the same effect as if you
voted against the proposal.
WHAT
ARE
THE BOARD'S RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE PROPOSALS?
The
Board
recommends a vote FOR
each of
Proposals 1 through 3.
ARE
THERE
ANY DISSENTERS' RIGHTS OF APPRAISAL REGARDING THE PROPOSALS?
There
is
no provision in the Nevada Statutes or in our Articles of Incorporation or
Bylaws, providing our shareholders with dissenters' rights of appraisal to
demand payment in cash for their shares of common stock in connection with
the
implementation of any of the Proposals.
HOW
CAN I
ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING?
You
are
invited to attend the annual meeting only if you were an International Star,
Inc. shareholder or joint holder as of the close of business on November 6,
2006, or if you hold a valid proxy for the annual meeting. In addition, if
you
are a registered shareholder (owning shares in your own name), your name will
be
verified against the list of registered shareholders on the Record Date prior
to
your being admitted to the annual meeting. If you are not a registered
shareholder but hold shares through a broker or nominee (in street name), you
should provide proof of beneficial ownership on the Record Date, such as a
recent account statement or a copy of the voting instruction card provided
by
your broker or nominee. The meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. local time.
Check-in will begin at 9:30 a.m. local time, and you should allow ample time
for
check-in procedures.
HOW
WILL
WE SOLICIT PROXIES AND WHO WILL BEAR THE COST?
We
will
distribute the proxy materials and solicit votes. The cost of soliciting proxies
will be borne by us. These costs will include the expense of preparing,
assembling, printing and mailing proxy solicitation materials for the meeting
and reimbursements paid to brokerage firms and others for their reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses for forwarding proxy solicitation materials to
shareholders. We have not retained a proxy solicitor in conjunction with the
annual meeting. We may conduct further solicitation personally, telephonically
or by electronic communication through our own officers, directors and
employees, none of whom will receive additional compensation for assisting
with
the solicitation.
WHERE
CAN
I FIND VOTING RESULTS OF THE ANNUAL MEETING?
We
intend
to announce preliminary voting results at the annual meeting, and publish final
results in our next annual report filed with the SEC.
HOW
MAY I
COMMUNICATE WITH INTERNATIONAL STAR, INC.’S BOARD?
You
may
communicate directly with any member or members of our Board of Directors by
sending the communication to International Star, Inc., at 2405 Ping Drive,
Henderson, Nevada 89074 Telephone: (903) 563-3030 Facsimile: (903) 575-1259,
to
the attention of our Board of Directors, generally, or directed to the specific
Director or Directors with whom you wish to communicate. We relay communications
addressed in this manner as appropriate. Communications addressed simply to
our
Board of Directors are relayed to our Chairman of the Board for
handling.
INTEREST
OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
None
of
the following persons has any substantial or material interest, directly or
indirectly, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, in any
matter to be acted on at the annual meeting except for our current and future
directors and executive officers inasmuch as they may be granted stock options
or stock awards:
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1.
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each
person who has been one of our directors or executive officers at
any time
since the beginning of our last fiscal year;
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2.
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each
nominee for election as one of our directors; or
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3.
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any
associate of any of the foregoing
persons.
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SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF
CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The
following table sets forth information, as of November 6, 2006, regarding the
beneficial ownership of our common stock by:
· |
each
person who is known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our
shares
of common stock; and
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· |
each
named executive officer, each director and all of our directors and
executive officers as a group.
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The
number of shares beneficially owned and the percentage of shares beneficially
owned are based on 264,952,725 shares of common stock outstanding as of November
6, 2006.
For
the
purposes of the information provided below, shares that may be issued upon
the
exercise or conversion of options, warrants and other rights to acquire shares
of our common stock that are exercisable or convertible within 60 days following
November 6, 2006, are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the
holder for the purpose of computing the number of shares and percentage
ownership of that holder, but are not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose
of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.
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As
of November 6, 2006
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Name
and Address of Beneficial Owner
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Shares
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Percent
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Named
Executive Officers and Directors
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Denver
Cashatt
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1,768,752
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0.67
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%
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President,
CEO and Director
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301
Alexander St.
Mt.
Pleasant, TX 75455
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Dottie
Wommack
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2,241,669
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0.85
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%
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Secretary,
Treasurer and CFO
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412
CR 3243
Mt.
Pleasant, TX 75455
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Virginia
Shehee
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63,452,590
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(1)
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23.95
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%
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Director
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1818
Marshall St.
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Shreveport,
LA 71161
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Kamal
Alawas
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27,964,524
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(2)
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10.55
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%
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Director
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P.O.
Box 1191
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Everett,
WA 98074
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Joseph
Therrell, Jr.
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1,704,545
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0.64
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%
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Director
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1818
Marshall St.
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Shreveport,
LA 71161
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Robert
M. Glover
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2,150,000
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0.81
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Director
1485
CR 3225
Mt.
Pleasant, TX 75455
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Directors
and Executive Officers as a Group (Five
Persons)
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99,282,080
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37.47
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%
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(1) |
Includes
shares beneficially owned by Kilpatrick Life Insurance Co., a
privately-owned company controlled by Mrs. Shehee and 2,430,000 shares
issuable upon exercise of warrants at $0.15.
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(2) |
Includes
1,500,000 shares beneficially owned by Alawas Investments, Inc.,
a private
investment company controlled by Mr. Alawas.
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PROPOSAL
NO. 1:
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS TO OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
NOMINEES
FOR DIRECTOR
The
nominees for director are listed below. Information about each nominee is
contained in the section entitled "Directors and Executive Officers."
Name
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Age
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Director
Since
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Denver
Cashatt
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59
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September
2003
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Joseph
Therrell, Jr.
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66
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October
2005
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Virginia
Shehee
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82
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January
2005
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Robert
M. Glover
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53
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November
2006
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John
Tuma
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49
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The
persons named in the enclosed proxy will vote it for the election of Mr. Denver
Cashatt, Mr. Joseph Therrell, Jr., Ms. Virginia Shehee, Mr. Robert M. Glover
and
Mr. John Tuma unless you instruct them otherwise or unless a nominee is
unwilling to serve as a director of our company. The five candidates who receive
the most votes will be elected. Our Board of Directors has no reason to believe
that any candidate will be unwilling to serve, but if a candidate should
determine not to serve, the persons named in the proxy may vote for another
candidate.
It
is the
intention of the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy to vote proxies
for the election of these individuals and they have consented to being named
in
this proxy statement and to serve, if elected. In the event that any or all
of
these individuals should, for some reason, presently unknown, become unavailable
for election, the persons named in the form of proxy intend to vote for
substitute candidates.
The
affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes present in person or by proxy
at
the annual meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors is required
for the election of each candidate as a director. Our Articles of Incorporation
does not provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors.
DEPARTURE
OF DIRECTORS
On
September 25, 2006, we were notified by Mr. Kamal Alawas, a current director
on
our Board of Directors, that he will not to stand for reelection to our Board
of
Directors (the “Board”) at the annual meeting of our shareholders, scheduled for
December 1, 2006. At the time Mr. Alawas notified us of his decision to not
stand for re-election to our Board, he was not serving on any committee of
our
Board.
In
his
written communication advising us of his decision not to stand for reelection
to
our Board, a copy of which is attached to our Current Report filed with the
Securities Exchange Commission on or about November 6, 2006, Mr. Alawas
indicated that the reasons underlying his decision would be forthcoming. As
of
the date of this Proxy Statement, Mr. Alawas has not yet advised us of the
reasons for his decision not to stand for reelection. Accordingly, we are not
aware, nor have we been made aware by Mr. Alawas, of any disagreement regarding
our operations, policies or practices which underlie his decision not to stand
for reelection. We have provided Mr. Alawas a copy of the Current Report
disclosing his decision not to stand for reelection. Should any subsequent
communications with Mr. Alawas regarding his decision not to stand for
reelection reveal any disagreement regarding our operations, policies or
practices, we will amend the Current Report accordingly to disclose any such
disagreement.
OFFICERS
AND DIRECTORS
The
following table sets forth the names, ages, and positions of our current
directors, director nominees and officers.
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position(s)
Held
|
|
Date
Service Began
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Denver
Cashatt
|
|
59
|
|
President,
CEO and Director
|
|
September
2003
|
Dottie
Wommack
|
|
49
|
|
Secretary,
Treasurer and CFO
|
|
January
2004
|
Kamal
Alawas
|
|
55
|
|
Director
|
|
December
1998
|
Joseph
Therrell, Jr.
|
|
66
|
|
Director
|
|
October
2005
|
Virginia
Shehee
|
|
82
|
|
Director,
Chairman of the Board
|
|
January
2005
|
Robert
M. Glover
|
|
53
|
|
Director
|
|
November
2006
|
John
Tuma
|
|
49
|
|
Director
Nominee
|
|
|
The
directors and director nominee named above will serve until the next annual
meeting of our stockholders or until their successors are duly elected and
have
qualified. Directors will be elected for one-year terms at the annual
stockholders meeting. Officers will hold their positions at the pleasure of
the
Board of Directors, absent any employment agreement, of which there currently
exist employment agreements between our Company and our President, Mr. Denver
Cashatt, and between our Company and our Secretary, Treasurer and CFO, Ms.
Dottie Wommack. There is no arrangement or understanding between any of our
directors or officers and any other person pursuant to which any director or
officer was or is to be selected as a director or officer, and there is no
arrangement, plan or understanding as to whether non-management stockholders
will exercise their voting rights to continue to elect the current board of
directors. There are also no arrangements, agreements or understandings between
non-management stockholders that may directly or indirectly participate in
or
influence the management of our affairs.
There
is
no family relationship among any of our directors and executive officers.
There
were six formal meetings of the Board of Directors and no actions by written
consent during the last fiscal year.
BIOGRAPHICAL
INFORMATION
Mr.
Denver Cashatt
currently serves as our President, Chief Executive Officer and Director where
his duties include managing the daily operations and planning for the future
growth of our Company. He has served in various executive officer capacities
with our Company since September 30, 2003. From January 2000 to September 2003,
Mr. Cashatt served as Vice President of Marketing -US Operations for
International Software Company, a French company. Prior to that, he was a
principal partner in an automated thoroughbred handicapping system for three
years. Before that he was Vice President of sales of three mainframe computer
software companies. Mr. Cashatt attended Western Carolina University, and in
1968, received a Masters in Information Science from the North Carolina School
of Automation.
Ms.
Dottie Wommack
currently serves as our Secretary, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer and
has
been employed by our Company since January 2004. Prior to this, from September
2003 to December 2003, she served as an executive administrative assistant
at
Stovall Fabrication, Inc., a metal fabrication company located in Mt. Pleasant,
Texas. From June 2003 to August 2003, Ms. Wommack served as an executive
administrative assistant at Isomet, Ltd., a safety equipment manufacturer
located in Naples, Texas. From August 1996 through April 2003, Ms. Wommack
served as associate faculty and executive administrative assistant at the
Northeast Texas Community College, Computer Science Department. Ms. Wommack
received an Associate’s Degree in Computer Information from Northeast Texas
Community College in 1996, and also attended Texas A&M University where she
majored in Computer Information Systems and minored in accounting.
Mr.
Joseph Therrell, Jr.
currently serves as a Director on our Board of Directors and concurrently serves
as the Vice President and Chief Investment Officer for Kilpatrick Life Insurance
Company, a major shareholder of our Company. Mr. Therrell has served as a
Director of our Company since October of 2005 and has served as the Vice
President and Chief Investment Officer for Kilpatrick Life Insurance Company
since December of 1989. He oversees all investments and commercial loans funded
by Kilpatrick Life Insurance Company. Mr. Therrell attended Vanderbilt
University in Nashville, Tennessee and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in
History. He also attended the Tennessee Bankers Association School at Vanderbilt
University in 1969 and received a Masters Degree in 1982 from the Graduate
School of Banking of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
From
1965 to 1974, Mr. Therrell served as a Branch Manager for First American
National Bank in Nashville, Tennessee and from 1974 to 1989, Mr. Therrell served
as the Vice President of the Louisiana Bank & Trust Company.
Mrs.
Virginia Kilpatrick Shehee currently
serves as the Chairman of our Board of Directors, a position she has held since
January 2005. Mrs. Shehee is also a former State Senator of Louisiana and
currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Kilpatrick
Life
Insurance Company, a major shareholder, and Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral
Homes, Crematorium and Cemeteries, Inc. Mrs. Shehee has served as the President
and Chief Executive Officer of Kilpatrick Life Insurance Company and
Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Homes, Crematorium and Cemeteries, Inc. since
October 1971. She oversees all operations of the insurance company and funeral
homes. Mrs. Shehee served on the Forum 500 Board of Governors and on the
Committee on Committees of the American Council of Life Insurance (ACLI). She
also served on the Board of Directors and on the Taxation Steering Committee
of
the ACLI. In addition, Mrs. Shehee is Chairman Emeritus of the Biomedical
Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana, for whom she also served as the
President and Chairman of its board of directors. Mrs. Shehee has served in
various executive capacities for the Life Insurers Conference and is a board
member the Louisiana Insurers’ Conference, is chairman of the Louisiana Life
& Health Insurance Guaranty Association and a member of the National
Organization of Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association.
Mr.
Robert M. Glover
has
served as a Director of our company since November 2006. Mr. Glover has also
assisted our Company as a business consultant since April 2005. For the past
30
years, Mr. Glover has been the President of Glover Enterprises, a business
consulting firm and the President of Glover Security Services, a company
specializing in personal protection services.
Mr.
John Tuma,
our
Director Nominee, has been the President and CEO of ARKLA Disposal Services,
Inc., a water treatment and processing company, since February of 2001. From
1998 to January 2001, Mr. Tuma was the founder, President and CEO of Southwest
Vacuum Services, Inc., which provided transportation of non-hazardous and
hazardous waste water generators in Houston, Texas, and Shreveport, Louisiana.
From 1994 to 1998, Mr. Tuma was the President and CEO of Re-Claim Environmental,
Inc., where he operated two waste water facilities.
AUDIT
COMMITTEE AND FINANCIAL EXPERT DISCLOSURES
Section
301 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2003, and SEC regulations implementing that
provision require that public companies disclose a determination by their Board
of Directors as to the existence of a financial expert on their audit committee
and, if none is determined to exist, that the Board of Directors has determined
that no one serving on its Board of Directors meets the qualification of a
financial expert as defined in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and implementing
regulations.
Our
Board
has determined that we have not, and we do not, possess on our Board of
Directors anyone who qualifies as an audit committee financial expert and,
unless and until one is identified and agrees to serve, we will continue to
rely
on outside professional consultants who advise us with respect to audit matters.
In
addition, our Board has not created any standing committees of the Board of
Directors, including an nominating committee, compensation committee, and audit
committee. Our entire Board of Directors serves as our audit committee.
SECTION
16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") requires
our
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). Based solely upon review
of
the copies of such reports furnished to us during, and with respect to, the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 or any written representations we received
from a director, officer, or beneficial owner of more than 10% of our common
stock that no other reports were required during that period, we believe that,
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, all Section 16(a) filing
requirements applicable to our reporting persons were met with the exception
that Forms 4s for Denver Cashatt, Joseph Therrel and Virginia Shehee have not
been filed.
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
SUMMARY
COMPENSATION TABLE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long
Term
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual
Compensation
|
|
Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
|
|
Awards
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual
|
|
Securities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Compen-
|
|
Underlying
|
|
All
Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salary
|
|
Bonus
|
|
sation
|
|
Options
|
|
Compensation
|
|
Name
and Principal Position
|
|
|
Year
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
(#)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
Denver
Cashatt
|
|
|
2005
|
|
$
|
94,525
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
46,450
|
1 |
President
and
|
|
|
2004
|
|
$
|
60,00
|
|
$
|
29,050
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
60,000
|
2 |
Chief
Executive Officers
|
|
|
2003
|
|
$
|
13,000
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dottie
Wommack
|
|
|
2005
|
|
$
|
60,000
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
37,4113
|
|
Secretary,
Treasurer and CFO
|
|
|
2004
|
|
$
|
47,125
|
|
$
|
5,000
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
L. Hawkins
|
|
|
2005
|
|
$
|
63,671
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2004
|
|
$
|
60,000
|
|
$
|
29,050
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
(4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2003
|
|
$
|
60,000
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kamal
Alawas
|
|
|
2005
|
|
$
|
20,000
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2004
|
|
$
|
60,000
|
|
$
|
20,000
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
-
|
(4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2003
|
|
$
|
60,000
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Commission
paid on Private Placements and compensation for voluntary reduction
in
annual salary. $35,000 converted into debt settlement
stock.
|
(2) |
Signing
bonus paid in stock.
|
(3) |
Commission
paid on Private Placements, $22,500 converted into debt settlement
stock.
|
(4) |
In
our Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, we
reported
that we granted Mr. Hawkins 5,500,000 options to purchase restricted
shares of our common stock and Mr. Alawas 3,500,000 options to purchase
restricted shares of our common stock pursuant to a Stock Option
Plan that
was to become effective January 1, 2005 pursuant to a shareholder
vote. As
disclosed in our Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December
1, 2005,
which accompanies this Proxy Statement, the Stock Option Plan has
not been
submitted to a shareholder vote and therefore, has not been adopted
as the
date of the filing of such Annual Report. Accordingly, Mr. Alawas
and Mr.
Hawkins have agreed with us to rescind the grant of these options.
As a
result, no options have been granted to Mr. Alawas, Mr. Hawkins or
any of
our named executive officers during our fiscal years 2005 and
2004.
|
Stock
Option Grants
In
August
2004, our Board unanimously voted to adopt a Stock Option and Restricted Stock
Plan (the “Plan”) to become effective January 1, 2005, and to submit such plan
to a vote of our shareholders. The Plan provided for a share reserve of
18,000,000 common shares for future issuance as direct awards or upon exercise
of options granted under the Plan. However, as of the date of this Proxy
Statement, the Plan has not been adopted, and accordingly, no stock options
were
granted to our named executive officers during the fiscal year ended December
31, 2005, nor have any stock options been granted to our named executive
officers since December 31, 2005, through and including the date of this Proxy
Statement. Although we reported in our Annual Report on Form 10KSB for the
year
ended December 31, 2004 that options were granted to our then named executive
officers and directors, the grant of these options was contingent upon the
adoption of the Plan in our fiscal year 2005. Accordingly, as we did not adopt
the Plan, these options were effectively rescinded upon mutual agreement of
our
Company and the optionholders.
Exercises
of Stock Options and Year-End Option Values
No
stock
options were exercised by our named executive officers during the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2005, nor have any stock options been exercised by our named
executive officers since December 31, 2005, through and including the date
of
this Proxy Statement.
Employment
Agreements
Effective
April 1, 2004, we entered into an employment agreement with Ms. Dottie Wommack
to serve as our Secretary and Treasurer at an annual compensation of $60,000
per
year. The employment agreement provides that Ms. Wommack’s employment shall
continue on an annual basis with the renewal date as of October 28 of each
calendar year, and that Ms. Wommack will be eligible for quarterly merit bonuses
at the discretion of our upper management.
Effective
November 4, 2005, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Denver
Cashatt to serve as our President and Chief Executive Officer. The employment
agreement provides that Mr. Cashatt’s employment shall continue for a period of
3 years at an annual compensation rate of $100,000 per year. In addition, the
employment agreement provides that Mr. Cashatt will be reimbursed for automobile
expenses for the use of personal vehicles used in Company business as well
as
the use of a personal dwelling for business offices at the monthly rate of
$550
per month for office space and $50.00 per month for utilities
COMPENSATION
OF DIRECTORS
Directors
do not receive compensation for their services as directors, but are eligible
to
be reimbursed for expenses incurred in attending board meetings.
INVOLVEMENT
IN CERTAIN LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
During
the past five years, no present or former director, executive officer or person
nominated to become a director or an executive officer of the Company:
1. |
was
a general partner or executive officer of any business against which
any
bankruptcy petition was filed, either at the time of the bankruptcy
or two
years prior to that time;
|
2. |
was
convicted in a criminal proceeding or named subject to a pending
criminal
proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor
offenses);
|
3. |
was
subject to any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed,
suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently
or temporarily enjoining, barring, suspending or otherwise limiting
his
involvement in any type of business, securities or banking activities;
or
|
4. |
was
found by a court of competent jurisdiction (in a civil action), the
Securities and Exchange Commission or the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission to have violated a Federal or state securities or commodities
law, and the judgment has not been reversed, suspended or
vacated.
|
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Commissions
Paid In Connection with Private Placements
During
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, we paid commissions to certain of
our
executive officers in an amount equal to 10% of the amounts raised in our
private placements through the efforts of such executive officers. Specifically,
and as set forth in Item 10 of our Annual Report (a copy of which is provided
herewith), $46,450 and $37,411 were paid to our President Denver Cashatt and
our
Chief Financial Officer Dottie Wommack respectively, of which approximately
$35,000 and $22,500 were converted into restricted common stock shares at $0.04
per share. The terms of the commissions were approved by resolution of our
Board
of Directors, dated April 27, 2004.
Subscription
Agreement and Loan Agreement with Kilpatrick Life Insurance
Company
During
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, Ms. Shehee, who is a Director of our
Company, served as a the Chief Executive Officer of Kilpatrick Life Insurance
Company, a major shareholder of our Company and Mr. Therrell, Jr., who is also
a
Director of our Company, served as the Chief Investment Officer of Kilpatrick
Life Insurance Company. As discussed in our Annual Report for our fiscal year
ended December 31, 2005, on October 28, 2003, we approved the acceptance of
a
Subscription Agreement and Loan Agreement between us and Kilpatrick Life
Insurance Company. Under the terms of these agreements, Kilpatrick Life
Insurance Company loaned to us $250,000 pursuant to a promissory note, carrying
an interest rate of 6% pr annum, with interest payable in quarterly installments
with the first quarterly interest payment due on April 28, 2004. This note
is
due and payable in full on October 28, 2006, and is secured by a mortgage of
a
25% mineral interest in our 1,280 acre Detrital Wash Mining Claims in Mohave
County, Arizona. At December 31, 2005 and November 9, 2006, $250,000 remains
outstanding under this Note. Kilpatrick Life Insurance Company has waived
payment of all interest due until October 28, 2006, at which time the parties
have expressed an interest in converting the outstanding debt due under the
note
into common stock shares of our Company. If the parties fail to reach an
agreement as to the terms of such debt conversion, Kilpatrick Life Insurance
may
seek to force a sale of 25% of our mineral interest which secures our
obligations under the note in order to obtain payment under the Loan Agreement.
On
October 30, 2006, Kilpatric Life Insurance Company agreed to convert the
outstanding loan of $250,000 and interest due in the amount of $28,875.25,
into
our common stock at a rate of $0.015 per share for a total of 18,591,682 shares.
This brings Kilpatrick Life Insurance Company’s total holdings of our common
stock to 52,351,682 shares.
This
Kilpatrick Life Insurance Company also purchased 7,663,500 shares of the
Company’s common stock at a value of $0.03 1/3 for a total purchase price of
$250,000.
PRINCIPAL
ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
We
appointed the accounting firm of Madsen & Associates CPA's, Inc. (“Madsen”)
to serve as our independent auditors for the fiscal years ended December 30,
2005 and 2004. During our fiscal years 2005 and 2004, accrued fees owed to
Madsen are as follows:
Audit
Fees
2005
|
|
2004
|
|
$
|
12,431
|
|
$
|
10,021
|
|
Audit
Related Fees
Audit
Fees and Audit Related Fees consist of fees billed for professional services
rendered for auditing our Financial Statements, reviews of interim Financial
Statements included in quarterly reports, services performed in connection
with
other filings with the Securities & Exchange Commission and related comfort
letters and other services that are normally provided by our independent
auditors in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or
engagements.
Tax
Fees
Tax
Fees
consists of fees billed for professional services for tax compliance, tax advice
and tax planning. These services include assistance regarding federal, state
and
local tax compliance and consultation in connection with various transactions
and acquisitions.
All
Other Fees
PROPOSAL
NO. 2:
APPROVAL
OF 2006 STOCK OPTION PLAN
On
September 13, 2006, the Board of Directors adopted resolutions approving and
authorizing, subject to stockholder approval, the proposed 2006 Stock Option
Plan (the “Plan”). The purpose of the Plan will be to advance the interests of
the Company by encouraging “Eligible Participants” to acquire shares of the
Company, thereby increasing their proprietary interest in the Company,
encouraging them to remain associated with the Company and furnishing them
with
additional incentive to advance the interests of the Company in the conduct
of
their affairs. “Eligible Participants” means employees, directors, officers and
consultants of (a) the Company or (b) any of the following entities (each,
a
“Related Entity”): (i) any “parent corporation” (“Parent”) as defined in section
424(e) of the Internal
Revenue Code
of 1986,
as amended (the “Code”); (ii) any “subsidiary corporation” (“Subsidiary”) as
defined in section 424(f) of the Code (a “Subsidiary”); or (iii) any business,
corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity in which
the
Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary holds a greater than 50% ownership interest,
directly or indirectly.
The
Plan
will provide for the granting to Eligible Participants of such incentive awards
(each, an “Award”) as the administrator of the Plan (the “Administrator”) may
from time to time approve.
The
Administrator may grant Awards under the Plan prior to shareholder approval,
but
until such approval is obtained, no Awards shall be exercisable. In the event
shareholder approval is not obtained within twelve months from the date the
Board of Directors adopted the Plan, all Awards previously granted shall be
cancelled and of no force or effect.
Authorized
Shares
A
total
of 18,000,000 shares of common stock have been reserved for issuance under
all
Awards that may be granted under the Plan.
The
common stock to be issued under Plan consists of authorized but unissued shares.
If any shares covered by an Award are not purchased or are forfeited, or if
an
Award otherwise terminates without delivery of any common stock, then the number
of shares of common stock counted against the aggregate number of shares
available under the Award will, to the extent of any such forfeiture or
termination, again be available for making awards under the Plan. In addition,
if the exercise price of an option, or the withholding obligation of a Grantee
with respect to any Award, is satisfied by tendering shares or withholding
shares, the number of shares tendered or withheld will not reduce the number
of
shares available under the Plan. The market value of securities underlying
Awards is $1.40 per share based on the market price of our stock on July 20,
2006.
We
have
five members on our Board of Directors, two executive officers (of whom only
Mr.
Denver Cashatt serves on our Board of Directors), and approximately one other
employee, all of whom would be eligible to receive Awards under the
Plan.
Summary
of 2006 Stock Option Plan
This
summary of the Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text
of the 2006 Stock Option Plan, which is attached to this Proxy Statement as
Exhibit
A.
Summary.
A
summary
of the features of the Plan follows:
(a)
|
the
Administrator will be a Committee of the Board of Directors of the
Company
appointed to act in such capacity, or otherwise, the Board of Directors
itself;
|
(b)
|
subject
to applicable laws, including the rules of any applicable stock exchange
or national market system, the Administrator will be authorized to
grant
any type of Award to an Eligible Participant (a “Grantee”) that is not
inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, and the specific terms
and
provisions of which are set forth in an Award Agreement (as defined
in the
Plan), and that by its terms involves or may involve the issuance
of a
stock option (an “Option”) entitling the Grantee to purchase shares of
common stock of the Company.
|
(c)
|
unless
permitted under applicable law and regulatory requirements, no Insider
(as
defined in the Plan) is eligible to receive an Award
where:
|
|
(i)
|
the
Insider is not a director or senior officer of our
company;
|
|
(ii)
|
any
Award, together with all of the Company’s other previously established or
proposed Awards under the Plan could result at any time
in:
|
|
A.
|
the
number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to
stock
options granted to Insiders exceeding 10% of the outstanding common
stock;
or
|
|
B.
|
the
issuance to Insiders pursuant to the exercise of stock options, within
a
one year period of a number of shares of common stock exceeding 10%
of the
outstanding common stock;
|
(d)
|
unless
and until the Administrator determines that an Award to a Grantee
is not
designed to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation (as defined
in the
Plan), the maximum number of shares of common stock with respect
to one or
more Options that may be granted during any one calendar year to
any one
Grantee shall be 180,000;
|
(e)
|
each
Award will be subject to a separate Award Agreement to be executed
by the
Company and the Grantee, which shall specify the term of the
Award;
|
(f)
|
the
terms and conditions of any Award, including, but not limited to,
the
exercise price, any restrictions or limitation on the Award, any
schedule
for lapse of forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on the exercisability
of the Award, and acceleration or waivers thereof, will be determined
by
the Administrator in compliance with applicable laws, including the
rules
of an applicable stock exchange or national market
system;
|
(g) |
the
term of an Option will be no more than ten
years;
|
(h)
|
Awards
will be transferable only to the extent provided in the relevant
Award
Agreement. Generally, Awards may not be pledged, encumbered or
hypothecated to or in favor of any party other than to the Company
or a
Related Entity or Affiliate. No Award shall be sold, assigned, transferred
or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of
descent
or distribution, except that the Administrator may permit certain
limited
transfers of other Awards, and in the case of incentive stock options,
pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order;
|
(i)
|
subject
to applicable laws, including the rules of an applicable stock exchange
or
national market system, an Award Agreement may permit a Grantee to
exercise an Award for a specified period following termination of
the
Grantee as an Eligible Participant, in which event the Award will
terminate to the extent it is not exercised on the last day of the
specified period or the last day of the original term of the Award,
whichever occurs first;
|
(j)
|
subject
to applicable laws, the Administrator may at any time offer to buy
out a
previously granted Award for a payment in cash, shares of common
stock of
the Company or other consideration;
|
(k)
|
the
number of shares of common stock issuable under the Plan, including
the
number of shares issuable under any outstanding Awards, is subject
to
adjustment in certain circumstances, including certain changes in
the
Company’s share capital to reflect common stock dividends, stock splits,
reverse stock splits, combination or reclassification of shares or
other
similar events:
|
(l)
|
a
Grantee may exercise an Award Right (as defined in the Plan) by delivering
to the Company a written notice that specifies the number of Award
Rights
that the Grantee is exercising and, at the discretion of the
Administrator, payment for shares may be made: (i) by cash, cashier’s
check or wire transfer; (ii) by tendering shares of the Company’s common
stock (which if acquired from the Company have been held by the Grantee
for at least six months); (iii) by a deemed net-stock exercise, in
which
case the Grantee is deemed to have disposed of the Grantee’s right to
exercise the specified number of Award Rights in the normal manner,
and to
have received as consideration therefore, and in full and final
satisfaction of those disposed Award Rights the right to receive
the
appropriate number of shares of common stock, or (iv) by broker-assisted
cashless exercise in which instructions are provided to a broker
to settle
the purchase and sale of the shares underlying the
Award:
|
(m)
|
the
Administrator can amend the terms of any outstanding Award, provided
that
any amendment that would adversely affect the Grantee’s rights under an
existing award will not be made without the Grantee’s consent, unless a
result of a change in applicable law, and amendments will be submitted
for
stockholder approval to the extent required by the Code, stock exchange
rules, or other applicable laws, rules or regulations;
|
(n)
|
the
Board of Directors of the Company may at any time amend, suspend
or
terminate the Plan, subject to such stockholder approval as may be
required by applicable laws, including the rules of an applicable
stock
exchange or national market system, provided
that:
|
|
(i)
|
no
Award may be granted during any suspension of the Plan or after
termination of the Plan, and
|
|
(ii)
|
any
amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan will not affect
Awards
already granted, and such Awards will remain in full force and effect
as
if the Plan had not been amended, suspended or terminated, unless
mutually
agreed otherwise between the Grantee and the Administrator, which
agreement will have to be in writing and signed by the Grantee and
the
Company.
|
(o)
|
If
a Grantee’s Continuous Service (as defined in the Plan) has been
terminated for Cause (as defined in the Plan), all rights to any
and all
Awards outstanding will be immediately
forfeited;
|
(p)
|
In
the event the Company’s common stock becomes listed on a stock exchange,
and to the extent such provision is required by that stock exchange
or
recommended by the Board or the Administrator, then the following
terms
and conditions shall apply in addition to those contained herein,
as
applicable:
|
|
(i)
|
the
exercise price of an Award granted to an Insider cannot be reduced,
or the
term of the Award cannot be extended to benefit an Insider, unless
the
Company obtains shareholder approval, excluding the votes of securities
held by Insiders benefiting from such
change;
|
|
(ii)
|
the
number of securities issuable to Insiders, at any time, under all
of the
Company’s security based compensation arrangements (whether entered into
prior to or subsequent to such listing), cannot exceed ten percent
(10%)
of the Company’s total issued and outstanding common stock;
and
|
|
(iii)
|
the
number of securities issued to Insiders, within any one year period,
under
all of the Company’s security based compensation arrangements (whether
entered into prior to or subsequent to such listing), cannot exceed
ten
percent (10%) of the issued and outstanding common
stock.
|
Section
162(m).
Section
162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) limits publicly-held companies
to an annual deduction for federal income tax purposes of $1,000,000 for
compensation paid to their chief executive officer and the four highest
compensated executive officers (other than the chief executive officer)
determined at the end of each year (the “Covered Employees”). However,
performance-based compensation is excluded from this limitation. The Plan is
designed to permit the Administrator to grant awards that qualify as
“performance-based compensation” under section 162(m) of the Code to any
employees who are Covered Employees. The exercise or purchase price per share,
if any, of such an Award may not be less than the Fair Market Value (as defined
in the Plan) of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant, and the
grants of such Awards may only be made by a committee (or a subcommittee of
a
committee) which is comprised solely of two or more directors eligible under
the
Code to serve on a committee responsible for making Awards of performance based
compensation.
If
an
Award is made on this basis, the Administrator must establish performance goals
prior to the beginning of the period for which the performance goal relates,
or
by a later date as may be permitted under applicable tax regulations, and the
Administrator may for any reason reduce, but not increase, any award,
notwithstanding the achievement of a specified goal. Any payment of an award
granted with performance goals will be conditioned on the written certification
of the Administrator in each case that the performance goals and any other
material conditions were satisfied. The Administrator is authorized to establish
performance goals that qualify as performance-based Awards to Covered Employees
under Section 162(m) of the Code.
Options.
Under
the Plan, Options may be granted as either incentive stock options under section
422 of the Code and the regulations thereunder (“Incentive Stock Options”) or
non-incentive stock options under section 83 of the Code (“Non-Qualified Stock
Options”). Non-Qualified Stock Options may be granted for a term not exceeding
ten years, and unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, the exercise
price per share may not be less than the Fair Market Value of the Company’s
common stock on the date of the grant.
Incentive
Stock Options.
The
specific provisions under the Plan which apply to Incentive Stock Options
include the following:
(b)
|
an
Incentive Stock Option granted to any other Grantee may be granted
for a
term not exceeding ten years at an exercise price per share which
may not
be less than the Fair Market Value of the Company’s common stock on the
date of the grant;
|
(c)
|
if
the aggregate Fair Market Value of common stock subject to Incentive
Stock
Options which become exercisable for the first time by a Grantee
(under
all plans of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000
during any calendar year, the Incentive Stock Options to which such
excess
value is attributable will be treated as Non-Qualified Stock
Options;
|
(d)
|
any
Incentive Stock Option which is not exercised following the Grantee’s
termination as an Eligible Participant within the time permitted
by law
will automatically convert to a Non-Qualified Stock Option and will
thereafter be exercisable for the period specified under the relevant
award agreement.
|
Acceleration
of Vesting, Change in Control
Except
as
may otherwise be provided in an Award Agreement, the Administrator shall have
the authority, in its absolute discretion, exercisable either in advance or
at
the time of any actual or anticipated Corporate Transaction or Related Entity
Disposition (each as described in the Plan) in which the Company is not the
surviving corporation (a) to cancel each outstanding Award upon payment in
cash
to the Grantee of the amount by which any cash and the Fair Market Value of
any
other property which the Grantee would have received as consideration for the
Shares covered by the Award if the Award had been exercised before such
Corporate Transaction or Related Entity Disposition exceeds the exercise price
of the Award, or (b) to negotiate to have such Award assumed by the surviving
corporation. The determination as to whether the Company is the surviving
corporation is at the sole and absolute discretion of the Administrator. In
addition to the foregoing, in the event of a dissolution or liquidation of
the
Company, or a Corporate Transaction or Related Entity Disposition in which
the
Company is not the surviving corporation, the Administrator, in its absolute
discretion, may accelerate the time within which each outstanding Award may
be
exercised.
The
Administrator shall also have the authority:
(a)
|
to
release the Awards from restrictions on transfer and repurchase or
forfeiture rights of such Awards on such terms and conditions as
the
Administrator may specify, and
|
(b)
|
to
condition any such Award’s vesting and exercisability or release from such
limitations upon the subsequent termination of the Continuous Service
(as
defined in the Plan) of the Grantee within a specified period following
the effective date of the Corporate Transaction or Related Entity
Disposition.
|
Effective
upon the consummation of such Corporate Transaction or Related Entity
Disposition, all outstanding Awards under this Plan not exercised by the Grantee
or assumed by the successor corporation shall terminate.
If
there
is a Change of Control (as defined in the Plan), all outstanding Awards shall
fully vest immediately upon the Company’s public announcement of such a change.
Federal
Income Tax Consequences
The
following discussion is a summary of the federal income tax consequences
relating to the grant and exercise of Awards under the Plan and the subsequent
sale of common stock that will be acquired under the Plan. The tax effect of
exercising Awards may vary depending upon the particular circumstances, and
the
income tax laws and regulations change frequently.
Based
on
the current provisions of the Code, the Company believes the federal income
tax
consequences of the grant, vesting and exercise of awards under the Plan and
the
subsequent disposition of shares of common stock acquired under the Plan will
be
as described below. The following discussion addresses only the general federal
income tax consequences of awards. Participants in the Plan are urged to consult
their own tax advisers regarding the impact of federal, state and local taxes,
the federal alternative minimum tax, and securities laws restrictions, given
their individual situations. It is intended that the underlying benefits that
are required to be treated as deferred compensation to which Section 409A is
applicable, will comply with the statute and the underlying agency guidance
interpreting that section.
Income
Recognition Issues
Incentive
Stock Options. The
grant
of an option will not be a taxable event for the Grantee or for the Company.
A
Grantee will not recognize taxable income upon exercise of an incentive stock
option (except that the alternative minimum tax may apply and any gain realized
upon a disposition of common stock received pursuant to the exercise of an
Incentive Stock Option will be taxed as long-term capital gain if the grantee
holds the shares of common stock for at least two years after the date of grant
and for one year after the date of exercise (the “holding period requirement”).
The Company will not be entitled to any business expense deduction with respect
to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option, except as discussed below.
For
the
exercise of an option to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, the Grantee
generally must be a Company employee or an employee of a Subsidiary or a Parent
from the date the option is granted through a date within three months before
the date of exercise of the option. If all of the foregoing requirements are
met
except the holding period requirement mentioned above, it is considered to
be a
“disqualifying disposition,” and ordinary income tax treatment will generally
apply to the amount of any gain at sale or exercise, whichever is less, and
the
balance of any gain or loss will be treated as capital gain or loss (long-
term
or short-term, depending on whether the shares have been held for more than
one
year).
Non-Qualified
Stock Options. The
grant
of an option will not be a taxable event for the Grantee or for the Company.
Upon exercising a Non-Qualified Stock Option, a grantee will recognize ordinary
income in an amount equal to the difference between the exercise price and
the
fair market value of the common stock on the date of exercise. Upon a subsequent
sale or exchange of shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of a Non-Qualified
Stock Option, the Grantee will have taxable capital gain or loss, measured
by
the difference between the amount realized on the disposition and the tax basis
of the shares of common stock (generally, the amount paid for the shares plus
the amount treated as ordinary income at the time the option was exercised).
Income
and Employment Tax Issues
Incentive
Stock Options. If
the
stock received through the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option is held for
the
required period, and there is no disqualifying disposition, the Federal
Insurance Contributions Act
(FICA)
and Federal
Unemployment Tax Act
(FUTA)
taxes will not apply. In an employer-employee relationship, if the stock
received through the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option is not held for
the
required period (a disqualifying disposition), FICA and FUTA taxes will apply
to
the difference between the option exercise price and the fair market value
of
the Company’s common stock on the exercise date. This will also require
reporting and payment of Old Age Survivors and Disability Insurance (“OASDI”),
assuming the FICA-OASDI Taxable Wage Base has not been exceeded for the year
of
exercise, and Hospital Insurance (“HI”).
Non-Qualified
Stock Options. For
Awards of non-qualified stock options where the recipient is deemed an employee
for income and employment tax purposes, any amount recognized as ordinary income
for income tax purposes will be also recognized as wages for FICA and FUTA
purposes. This will also require reporting and payment of OASDI, assuming the
FICA-OASDI Taxable Wage Base has not been exceeded for the year of exercise,
and
HI. For Directors and Consultants who are not common-law employees for such
purpose, the income from exercise of an Award will be subject to self-employment
tax.
The
Company may not deduct compensation of more that $1,000,000 that is paid in
a
taxable year to certain “covered employees” as defined in Section 162(m) of the
Code. The deduction limit, however, does not apply to certain types of
compensation, including qualified performance-based compensation. The Company
believes that compensation attributable to stock options granted under the
Plan
is qualified performance-based compensation and therefore not subject to the
deduction limit.
Impact
of Recent Tax Law Changes. Recently
adopted, Section 409A of the Code has implications that affect traditional
deferred compensation plans, as well as certain equity-based awards, such as
certain stock options. Section 409A requires compliance with specific rules
regarding the timing of exercise or settlement of equity-based awards and,
unless explicitly set forth in a plan document or award agreement, no
acceleration of payment is permitted. The U.S. Department of Treasury has
provided preliminary guidance and proposed regulations with respect to Section
409A and more definitive guidance is anticipated in the near future. Individuals
who hold equity awards are subject to the following penalties if the terms
of
such awards do not comply with the requirements of Section 409A: (i)
appreciation is includible in the participant’s gross income for tax purposes
once the awards are no longer subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture”
(e.g., upon vesting), (ii) the Eligible Participant is required to pay interest
at the tax underpayment rate plus one percentage point commencing on the date
these awards are no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, and
(iii) the Eligible Participant incurs a 20% penalty tax on the amount required
to be included in income. As set forth above, the Plan and the Awards granted
thereunder are intended to conform with the requirements of Section
409A.
New
Plan Benefits
Currently,
no awards have been made under the Company’s 2006 Stock Option Plan. Since the
granting of awards is discretionary, future awards are not determinable at
this
time.
THE
BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THIS PROPOSAL TO APPROVE THE 2006 STOCK OPTION
PLAN.
PROPOSAL
NO. 3:
RATIFICATION
OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Madsen
& Associates CPA's, Inc., located at 684 East Vine St., #3, Murray, UT
84107, has been appointed effective January 1, 2006 as the independent
registered public accountants of our company for the year ending December 31,
2006. Madsen & Associates CPA's, Inc. audited our financial statements for
the years ending December 31, 2005 and 2004.
Principal
Accountant Fees and Services
Madsen
& Associates CPA's, Inc., performed
the services listed below and was paid the fees listed below for the fiscal
years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004.
|
|
2005
|
|
2004
|
|
Audit
Fees
|
|
$
|
12,431
|
|
$
|
10,021
|
|
Audit
Related Fees
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
Tax
Fees
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
All
Other Fees
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
Audit
fees consists of fees billed for professional services rendered for the audits
of our financial statements, reviews of interim financial statements included
in
quarterly reports, services performed in connection with filings with the SEC
and related comfort letters and other services that are normally provided by
Madsen & Associates CPA's, Inc., in connection with statutory and regulatory
filings or engagements.
We
did
not incur any fees related to tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning for
the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004.
We
also
did not incur any fees related to any other products or services.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THIS PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE
APPOINTMENT OF MADSEN & ASSOCIATES CPA'S, INC., AS THE INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT OF OUR COMPANY FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31,
2006.
AVAILABLE
INFORMATION
The
Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance with the
Exchange Act we file reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). You may inspect and
copy
the reports, proxy statements and other information filed by us with the
Commission at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission
at
Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, as well as the
Commission's Regional Offices. You may also call the Commission at
1-800-SEC-0330 for more information about the public reference room, how to
obtain copies of documents by mail or how to access documents electronically
on
the Commission's Web site at (http://www.sec.gov).
Items
6,
7 and 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31,
2005
are incorporated by reference into this Proxy Statement. A copy of this Annual
Report is included with this Proxy Statement. Your attention is directed to
the
Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis in this Annual
Report which contains important information regarding our Company. Our Annual
Report on Form 10-KSB as well as the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-QSB are also
available on the SEC "EDGAR" site at
www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/companysearch.html; type in Company Name:
INTERNATIONAL STAR, INC. to locate these filings.
The
Board
of Directors of our company knows of no matters, other than those described
in
this Proxy Statement, which have been recently approved or considered by the
holders of our company's Common Stock.
BY
ORDER
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
|
|
|
|
/s/
Denny Cashatt
|
|
|
|
Denny
Cashatt
|
|
|
|
President
Dated
November 9, 2006
|
|
|
|
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This
proxy statement includes statements that are not historical facts. These
statements are “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are based, among other things, on the
Company’s current plans and expectations relating to expectations of anticipated
growth in the future and future success under various circumstances. As such,
these forward-looking statements involve uncertainty and risk.
Other
factors and assumptions not identified above could also cause the actual results
to differ materially from those set forth in any forward-looking statement.
The
Company does not undertake any obligation to update the forward-looking
statements contained in this proxy statement to reflect actual results, changes
in assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting these forward-looking
statements.
ANNUAL
MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
OF
INTERNATIONAL STAR, INC.
December
1, 2006
PROXY
ANNUAL MEETING OF INTERNATIONAL STAR, INC. SHAREHOLDERS, DECEMBER 1,
2006
THIS
PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE CORPORATION'S BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
The
undersigned hereby appoints Denny Cashatt and Dottie Wommack and each of them
jointly and severally, Proxies, with full power of substitution, to vote, as
designated on the reverse side, all common shares of International Star, Inc.
held of record by the undersigned on November 6, 2006, at the Annual Meeting
of
Shareholders to be held on December 1, 2006, or any adjournment thereof.
THE
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES TO SERVE
AS
DIRECTORS AND "FOR" APPROVAL OF PROPOSALS 1, 2, AND 3. THE SHARES REPRESENTED
BY
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS SPECIFIED ON THE REVERSE SIDE. IF NO DIRECTION
IS
GIVEN IN THE SPACE PROVIDED ON THE REVERSE SIDE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED "FOR"
THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES SPECIFIED ON THE REVERSE SIDE AND "FOR" THE
APPROVAL OF PROPOSALS 1, 2, AND 3. HAS YOUR ADDRESS CHANGED?
DO
YOU
HAVE ANY COMMENTS?
SEE
REVERSE (CONTINUED AND TO BE DATED AND SIGNED ON THE REVERSE SIDE)
INTERNATIONAL
STAR, INC.
2405
Ping
Drive
Henderson,
Nevada 89074
Telephone:
(903) 563-3030
Facsimile:
(903) 575-1259
YOUR
VOTE
IS IMPORTANT.
CASTING
YOUR VOTE AS DESCRIBED ON THIS INSTRUCTION CARD VOTES ALL
COMMON
SHARES OF INTERNATIONAL STAR, INC. THAT YOU ARE ENTITLED TO VOTE.
PLEASE
CONSIDER THE ISSUES DISCUSSED IN THE PROXY STATEMENT AND CAST
YOUR
VOTE
BY COMPLETING THE PROXY AND MAILING IT TO THE COMPANY.
Please
mark votes by shading in the boxes to the left of your choices with a black
or
dark blue pen or with a No. 2 pencil.
This
Proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed. If no
direction is made, this Proxy will be voted FOR
Mr.
Denver Cashatt, Mr. Joseph Therrell, Jr., Ms. Virginia Kilpatrick Shehee,
Mr.
Robert M. Glover and Mr. John Tuma to
serve
as Directors on the Board of Directors of International Star, Inc., and FOR
approval of Proposals 2 and 3.
The
Board
of Directors recommends a vote FOR
Mr.
Denver Cashatt, Mr. Joseph Therrell, Jr.,
Ms.
Virginia Kilpatrick Shehee, Mr. Robert M. Glover and Mr. John Tuma to serve
as
Directors
on
the Board of Directors and FOR approval of Proposals 2 and 3.
1. |
Election
of Directors
-
Please choose five candidates from the five candidates listed. The
five
candidates who receive the most votes will be elected for a one-year
term
or until his or her successor is elected. The Board of Directors
recommends a vote FOR
Mr. Denver Cashatt, Mr. Joseph Therrell, Jr., Ms. Virginia Kilpatrick
Shehee, Mr. Robert M. Glover and Mr. John Tuma.
|
Candidates
for election as Directors:
01
-
Denver Cashatt
02
-
Joseph Therrell
03
-
Virginia Kilpatrick Shehee
04
-
Robert M. Glover
05
- John
Tuma
o
FOR ALL NOMINEES
o
WITHHELD FROM ALL
NOMINEES
o
For all nominees, except as written
above.
2. |
To
approve the Company’s 2006 Stock Option
Plan.
|
o
FOR o
AGAINST o
ABSTAIN
3.
|
To
ratify the appointment of Madsen & Associates CPA's, Inc as our
independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2006.
|
o
FOR o
AGAINST o
ABSTAIN
Change
of
Address and/or Comments Mark Here o
The
signer hereby revokes all Proxies previously given by the signer to vote at
the
meeting or any adjournments.
Please
mark, sign, date, and return this Proxy promptly using the enclosed
envelope.
Please
sign exactly as the name appears on this card. When shares are held by joint
tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator,
trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please
sign in full corporate name by President or other authorized officer. If a
partnership, please sign in partnership name by general partner.
EXHIBIT
A
INTERNATIONAL
STAR, INC.
2006
STOCK OPTION PLAN
1. PURPOSE
1.1 The
purpose of this Stock Incentive Plan of International Star, Inc. (the
“Company”)
is to
advance the interests of the Company by encouraging Eligible Participants (as
herein defined) to acquire shares of the Company, thereby increasing their
proprietary interest in the Company, encouraging them to remain associated
with
the Company and furnish them with additional incentives in their efforts on
behalf of the Company in the conduct of their affairs.
1.2 This
Plan
is specifically designed for Eligible Participants of the Company who are
residents of the United States and/or subject to taxation in the United States,
although Awards (as herein defined) under this Plan may be issued to other
Eligible Participants.
2. DEFINITIONS
2.1 As
used
herein, the following definitions shall apply:
(a)
“Administrator”
means
a
Committee of the Board duly appointed by the Board or otherwise the
Board;
(b) “Affiliate”
and
“Associate”
have
the meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange
Act;
(c) “Applicable
Laws”
means
the legal requirements relating to the administration of stock incentive plans,
if any, under applicable provisions of federal securities laws, state corporate
laws, state or provincial securities laws, the Code, the rules of any applicable
stock exchange or national market system, and the rules of any foreign
jurisdiction applicable to Awards granted to residents therein;
(d) “Award”
means
the grant of an Option under this Plan;
(e) “Award
Agreement”
means
the written agreement evidencing the grant of an Award executed by the Company
and the Grantee, including any amendments thereto;
(f) “Award
Right”
means
each right to acquire a Share pursuant to an Award;
(g) “Board”
means
the Board of Directors of the Company;
(h) “Cause”
means,
with respect to the termination by the Company or a Related Entity of the
Grantee’s Continuous Service, that such termination is for ‘Cause’ as such term
is expressly defined in a then-effective written agreement between the Grantee
and the Company or such Related Entity, or in the absence of such then-effective
written agreement and definition, is based on, in the determination of the
Administrator, the Grantee’s:
(i) refusal
or failure to act in accordance with any specific, lawful direction or order
of
the Company or a Related Entity;
(ii) unfitness
or unavailability for service or unsatisfactory performance (other than as
a
result of Disability);
(iii) performance
of any act or failure to perform any act in bad faith and to the detriment
of
the Company or a Related Entity;
(iv) dishonesty,
intentional misconduct or material breach of any agreement with the Company
or a
Related Entity; or
(v) commission
of a crime involving dishonesty, breach of trust, or physical or emotional
harm
to any person;
(i) “Change
in Control”
means,
except as provided below, a change in ownership or control of the Company
effected through any of the following transactions:
(i) the
direct or indirect acquisition by any person or related group of persons (other
than an acquisition from or by the Company or by a Company-sponsored employee
benefit plan or by a person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled
by, or is under common control with, the Company) of beneficial ownership
(within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) of securities possessing
more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the
Company's outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made
directly to the Company's shareholders which a majority of the Continuing
Directors who are not Affiliates or Associates of the offeror do not recommend
such shareholders accept; or
(ii) a
change
in the composition of the Board over a period of thirty-six (36) months or
less
such that a majority of the Board members (rounded up to the next whole number)
ceases, by reason of one or more contested elections for Board membership,
to be
comprised of individuals who are Continuing Directors.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the following transactions shall not constitute a “Change
of Control”:
(i) the
closing of any public offering of the Company’s securities pursuant to an
effective registration statement filed under the Securities
Act of 1933,
as
amended,
(ii) the
closing of a public offering of the Company’s securities through the facilities
of any stock exchange; and
(A) a
“change
in ownership”
of
a
corporation shall be deemed to have occurred if any one person or more than
one
person acting as a group acquires stock of a corporation that constitutes more
than 50% of the total Fair Market Value or total voting power of the stock
of
the corporation. Stock acquired by any person or group of people who already
owns more than 50% of such total Fair Market Value or total voting power of
stock shall not trigger a change in ownership
(B) a
"change
in the effective control"
of a
corporation generally shall be deemed to have occurred if within a 12-month
period either:
(I) any
one
person or more than one person acting as a group acquires ownership of stock
possessing 35% or more of the total voting power of the stock of the
corporation, or
(II) a
majority of the members of the corporation's board of directors is replaced
by
directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the
members of the corporation's board of directors prior to the date of the
appointment or election.
(C) a
"change
in the ownership of a substantial portion of the corporation's
assets"
generally is deemed to occur if within a 12-month period any person, or more
than one person acting as a group, acquires assets from the corporation that
have a total gross fair market value at least equal to 40% of the total gross
fair market value of all the corporation's assets immediately prior to such
acquisition. The gross fair market value of assets is determined without regard
to any liabilities
(j) “Code”
means
the United States Internal
Revenue Code of 1986,
as
amended;
(k) “Committee”
means
the Compensation Committee or any other committee appointed by the Board to
administer this Plan in accordance with the provisions of this
Plan;
(l) “Common
Stock”
means
the common stock of the Company;
(m) “Company”
means
International Star, Inc., a Nevada corporation;
(n) “Consultant”
means
any person (other than an Employee) who is engaged by the Company or any Related
Entity to render consulting or advisory services to the Company or such Related
Entity;
(o) “Continuing
Directors”
means
members of the Board who either (i) have been Board members continuously for
a
period of at least thirty-six (36) months, or (ii) have been Board members
for
less than thirty-six (36) months and were appointed or nominated for election
as
Board members by at least a majority of the Board members described in clause
(i) who were still in office at the time such appointment or nomination was
approved by the Board;
(p) “Continuous
Service”
means
that the provision of services to the Company or a Related Entity in any
capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant that is not interrupted or
terminated. Continuous Service shall not be considered interrupted in the case
of (i) any approved leave of absence, (ii) transfers between locations of the
Company or among the Company, any Related Entity, or any successor, in any
capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant, or (iii) any change in status
as
long as the individual remains in the service of the Company or a Related Entity
in any capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant (except as otherwise
provided in the Award Agreement). An approved leave of absence shall include
sick leave, maternity or paternity leave, military leave, or any other
authorized personal leave. For purposes of incentive stock options, no such
leave may exceed ninety (90) days, unless reemployment upon expiration of such
leave is guaranteed by statute or contract;
(q) “Corporate
Transaction”
means
any of the following transactions:
(i) a
merger
or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving entity, except for
a
transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the jurisdiction in
which the Company is organized;
(ii) the
sale,
transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of
the
Company (including the capital stock of the Company’s subsidiary corporations)
in connection with the complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company;
or
(iii)
any
reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving entity but in which
securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting
power of the Company’s outstanding securities are transferred to a person or
persons different from those who held such securities immediately prior to
such
merger;
(iv) the
sale
or exchange by the Company (in one or a series of transactions) of all or
substantially all of its assets to any other person or entity; or
(v) approval
by the shareholders of the Company of a plan to dissolve and liquidate the
Company.
(r) “Covered
Employee”
means
an Employee who is a “covered
employee”
under
Section 162(m) (3) of the Code;
(s) “Director”
means
a
member of the Board or the board of directors of any Related
Entity;
(t) “Disability”
or
“Disabled”
means
that a Grantee is unable to carry out the responsibilities and functions of
the
position held by the Grantee by reason of any medically determinable physical
or
mental impairment. A Grantee shall not be considered to have incurred a
Disability unless he or she furnishes proof of such impairment sufficient to
satisfy the Administrator in its discretion. Notwithstanding the above, (i)
with
respect to an Incentive Stock Option, “Disability” or “Disabled” shall mean
permanent and total disability as defined in Section 22(e) (3) of the Code
and
(ii) to the extent an Option is subject to Section 409A of the Code, and payment
or settlement of the Option is to be accelerated solely as a result of the
Eligible Participant's Disability. Disability shall have the meaning ascribed
thereto under Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury guidance promulgated
there under.
(u) “Eligible
Participant”
means
any person who is an Officer, a Director, an Employee or a Consultant, including
individuals who are foreign nationals or are employed or reside outside the
United States;
(v) “Employee”
means
any person who is a full-time or part-time employee of the Company or any
Related Entity;
(w) “Exchange
Act”
means
the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934,
as
amended;
(x) “Fair
Market Value”
means,
as of any date, the value of a Share determined in good faith by the
Administrator. By way of illustration, but not limitation, for the purpose
of
this definition, good faith shall be met if the Administrator employs the
following methods:
(i) Listed
Stock.
If the
Common Stock is traded on any established stock exchange or quoted on a national
market system, fair market value shall be (A) the closing sales price for the
Common Stock as quoted on that stock exchange or system for the last trading
day
immediately preceding the Grant Date (the “Value
Date”)
as
reported in The Wall Street Journal or a similar publication, or (B) if the
rules of the applicable stock exchange require, the volume-weighted average
trading price for five (5) days prior to the date the Board approves the grant
of the Award. If no sales are reported as having occurred on the Value Date,
fair market value shall be that closing sales price for the last preceding
trading day on which sales of Common Stock is reported as having occurred.
If no
sales are reported as having occurred during the five (5) trading days before
the Value Date, fair market value shall be the closing bid for Common Stock
on
the Value Date. If the Common Stock is listed on multiple exchanges or systems,
fair market value shall be based on sales or bids on the primary exchange or
system on which Common Stock is traded or quoted. If the rules of any applicable
stock exchange or system require a different method of calculating fair market
value, then such method as is required by those rules.
(ii)
Stock
Quoted by Securities Dealer.
If
Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling
prices are not reported on any established stock exchange or quoted on a
national market system, fair market value shall be the mean between the high
bid
and low asked prices on the Value Date. If no prices are quoted for the Value
Date, fair market value shall be the mean between the high bid and low asked
prices on the last preceding trading day on which any bid and asked prices
were
quoted.
(iii)
No
Established Market.
If
Common Stock is not traded on any established stock exchange or quoted on a
national market system and is not quoted by a recognized securities dealer,
the
Administrator will determine fair market value in good faith. The Administrator
will consider the following factors, and any others it considers significant,
in
determining fair market value: (A) the price at which other securities of the
Company have been issued to purchasers other than Employees, Directors, or
Consultants, (B) the Company’s net worth, prospective earning power,
dividend-paying capacity, and non-operating assets, if any, and (C) any other
relevant factors, including the economic outlook for the Company and the
Company’s industry, the Company’s position in that industry, the Company’s
goodwill and other intellectual property, and the values of securities of other
businesses in the same industry.
(iv)
Additional
Valuation.
For
publicly traded companies, any valuation method permitted under Section 20.2031
-2 of the Estate Tax Regulations.
(v)
Non-Publicly
Traded Stock.
For
non-publicly traded stock, the fair market value of the Common Stock at the
Grant Date based on an average of the fair market values as of such date set
forth in the opinions of completely independent and well-qualified experts
(the
Eligible Participant's status as a majority or minority shareholder may be
taken
into consideration).
Regardless
of whether the Common Stock offered under the Award is publicly traded, a good
faith attempt under this definition shall not be met unless the fair market
value of the Common Stock on the Grant Date is determined with regard to no
lapse restrictions (as defined in Section 1.83 -3(h) of the Treasury
Regulations) and without regard to lapse restrictions (as defined in Section
1.83 -3(i) of the Treasury Regulations);
(y) “Grantee”
means
an Eligible Participant who receives an Award pursuant to an Award
Agreement.
(z) “Grant
Date”
means
the date the Administrator approves that grant of an Award. However, if the
Administrator specifies that an Award’s Grant Date is a future date or the date
on which a condition is satisfied, the Grant Date for such Award is that future
date or the date that the condition is satisfied.
(aa) “Incentive
Stock Option”
means
an Option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code;
(bb) “Insider”
means:
(i) a
Director or Senior Officer of the Company;
(ii) a
Director or Senior Officer of a person that is itself an Insider or Subsidiary
of the Company;
(iii) a
person
that has:
(A) direct
or
indirect beneficial ownership of,
(B) control
or direction over, or
(C) a
combination of direct or indirect beneficial ownership of and control or
direction over, securities of the Company carrying more than ten percent (10%)
of the voting rights attached to all the Company’s outstanding voting
securities, excluding, for the purpose of the calculation of the percentage
held, any securities held by the person as underwriter in the course of a
distribution; or
(iv) the
Company itself, if it has purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired any
securities of its own issue, for so long as it continues to hold those
securities;
(cc) “Named
Executive Officer”
means,
if applicable, an Eligible Participant who, as of the date of vesting and/or
payout of an Award, is one of the groups of “Covered Employees,” as
defined.
(dd) “Non-Qualified
Stock Option”
means
an Option which is not an Incentive Stock Option;
(ee) “Officer”
means
a
person who is an officer, including a Senior Officer, of the Company or a
Related Entity within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the
rules and regulations promulgated there under;
(ff) “Option”
means
an option to purchase Shares pursuant to an Award Agreement granted under the
Plan;
(gg) “Parent”
means
a
“parent
corporation”,
whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the
Code;
(hh) “Performance
- Based Compensation”
means
compensation qualifying as “performance-based
compensation”
under
Section 162(m) of the Code;
(ii) “Plan”
means
this 2006 Stock Incentive Plan as amended from time to time;
(jj) “Related
Entity”
means
any Parent or Subsidiary, and includes any business, corporation, partnership,
limited liability company or other entity in which the Company, a Parent or
a
Subsidiary holds a greater than fifty percent (50%) ownership interest, directly
or indirectly;
(kk) “Related
Entity Disposition”
means
the sale, distribution or other disposition by the Company of all or
substantially all of the Company’s interests in any Related Entity effected by a
sale, merger or consolidation or other transaction involving that Related Entity
or the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of that Related
Entity.
(ll) “Senior
Officer”
means:
(i) the
chair
or vice chair of the Board, the president, a vice-president, the secretary,
the
treasurer or the general manager of the Company or a Related Entity;
(ii) any
individual who performs functions for a person similar to those normally
performed by an individual occupying any office specified in Section 2.1(ll)(i)
above; and
(iii) the
five
(5) highest paid employees of the Company or a Related Entity, including any
individual referred to in Section 2.1(ll)(i) or 2.1(ll)(ii) and excluding a
commissioned salesperson who does not act in a managerial capacity;
(mm) “Share”
means
a
share of the Common Stock; and
(nn) “Subsidiary”
means a
“subsidiary
corporation,”
whether
now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the
Code.
3. STOCK
SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
3.1 Number
of Shares Available.
(a) Subject
to the provisions of Section 12, the maximum aggregate number of Shares which
may be issued pursuant to all Awards under this Plan is eighteen million
(18,000,000) (“Maximum
Number”).
The
maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be granted in the form of Incentive
Stock Options is eighteen million (18,000,000). See Section 23 for Reservation
of Shares.
(b) Shares
that have been issued under the Plan pursuant to an Award shall not be returned
to the Plan and shall not become available for future issuance under the Plan
except that Shares (i) covered by an Award (or portion of an Award) which is
forfeited or cancelled, expires or is settled in cash, or (ii) withheld to
satisfy a Grantee’s minimum tax withholding obligations, shall be deemed not to
have been issued for purposes of determining the Maximum Number of Shares which
may be issued under the Plan. Also, only the net numbers of Shares that are
issued pursuant to the exercise of an Award shall be counted against the Maximum
Number.
(c) However,
in the event that prior to the Award's cancellation, termination, expiration,
forfeiture or lapse, the holder of the Award at any time received one or more
elements of "beneficial
ownership"
pursuant to such Award (as defined by the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC),
pursuant to any rule or interpretations promulgated under Section 16 of the
Exchange Act), the Shares subject to such Award shall not again be made
available for regrant under the Plan.
3.2 Shares
to insiders.
Subject
to Section 9.1(b) and 9.1(c), no Insider of the Company is eligible to receive
an Award where:
(a) the
Insider is not a Director or Senior Officer of the Company;
(b) any
Award, together with all of the Company’s other previously established or
proposed Awards under the Plan could result at any time in:
(i) the
number of Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to Options granted to Insiders
exceeding 10% of the outstanding issue of Common Stock; or
(ii) the
issuance to Insiders pursuant to the exercise of Options, within a one year
period of a number of Shares exceeding 10% of the outstanding issue of the
Common Stock; provided, however, that this restriction on the eligibility of
Insiders to receive an Award shall cease to apply if it is no longer required
under any Applicable Laws.
3.3
Limitations
on Award.
Unless
and until the Administrator determines that an Award to a Grantee is not
designed to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, the following limits
("Award
Limits")
shall
apply to grants of Awards to Grantees subject to the Award Limits by Applicable
Laws under this Plan:
(a) Options.
Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary (but subject to
adjustment as provided in Section 12), the maximum number of Shares with respect
to one or more Options that may be granted during any one calendar year under
the Plan to any one Grantee shall be one hundred eight thousand (180,000),
all
of which may be granted as Incentive Stock Options;
4. ADMINISTRATION
4.1 Authority
of Plan Administrator. Authority
to control and manage the operation and administration of this Plan shall be
vested in a committee consisting of two (2) or more members of the Board (the
"Committee").
It is
intended that the directors appointed to serve on the Committee shall be
"non-employee
directors"
(within
the meaning of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) and "outside
directors"
(within
the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code) to the extent that Rule 16b-3 and,
if
necessary for relief from the limitation under Section 162(m) of the Code and
such relief sought by the Company, Section 162(m) of the Code, respectively,
are
applicable. However, the mere fact that a Committee member shall fail to qualify
under either of the foregoing requirements shall not invalidate any Award made
by the Committee which Award is otherwise validly made under the Plan. Members
of the Committee may be appointed from time to time by, and shall serve at
the
pleasure of, the Board. As used herein, the term "Administrator"
means
the Committee.
4.2 Powers
of the Administrator.
Subject
to Applicable Laws and the provisions of the Plan or sub plans hereof (including
any other powers given to the Administrator hereunder), and except as otherwise
provided by the Board, the Administrator shall have the exclusive power and
authority, in its discretion:
(a) to
construe and interpret this Plan and any agreements defining the rights and
obligations of the Company and Grantees under this Plan;
(b) to
select
the Eligible Participants to whom Awards may be granted from time to time
hereunder;
(c) to
determine whether and to what extent Awards are granted hereunder;
(d) to
determine the number of Shares or the amount of other consideration to be
covered by each Award granted hereunder;
(e) to
approve forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan, which need not be
identical for each Grantee;
(f) to
determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted under the Plan,
including, but not limited to, the exercise price, grant price or purchase
price, any restrictions or limitations on the Award, any schedule for lapse
or
forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on the exercisability of the Award,
and
acceleration or waivers thereof, based in each case on such considerations
as
the Committee in its sole discretion determines that is not inconsistent with
any rule or regulation under any tax or securities laws or includes an
alternative right that does not disqualify an Incentive Stock Option under
applicable regulations;
(g) to
amend
the terms of any outstanding Award granted under the Plan, provided that any
amendment that would adversely affect the Grantee’s rights under an existing
Award shall not be made without the Grantee’s consent unless as a result of a
change in Applicable Law;
(h) to
suspend the right of a holder to exercise all or part of an Award for any reason
that the Administrator considers in the best interest of the
Company;
(i) subject
to regulatory approval, amend or suspend the Plan, or revoke or alter any action
taken in connection therewith, except that no general amendment or suspension
of
the Plan, shall, without the written consent of all Grantees, alter or impair
any Award granted under the Plan unless as a result of a change in the
Applicable Law;
(j) to
establish additional terms, conditions, rules or procedures to accommodate
the
rules or laws of applicable foreign jurisdictions and to afford Grantees
favorable treatment under such laws; provided, however, that no Award shall
be
granted under any such additional terms, conditions, rules or procedures with
terms or conditions which are inconsistent with the provisions of the
Plan;
(k) to
further define the terms used in this Plan;
(l) to
correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in
this
Plan or in any Award Agreement;
(m) to
provide for rights of refusal and/or repurchase rights;
(n) to
amend
outstanding Award Agreements to provide for, among other things, any change
or
modification which the Administrator could have provided for upon the grant
of
an Award or in furtherance of the powers provided for herein that does not
disqualify an Incentive Stock Option under applicable regulations unless the
Grantee so consents;
(o) to
prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the
administration of this Plan; and
(p) to
take
such other action, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the
Administrator deems appropriate.
4.3 Effect
of Administrator’s Decision. All
decisions, determinations and interpretations of the Administrator shall be
conclusive and binding on all persons. The Administrator shall not be liable
for
any decision, action or omission respecting this Plan, or any Awards granted
or
Shares sold under this Plan. In the event an Award is granted in a manner
inconsistent with the provisions of this Section 4, such Award shall be
presumptively valid as of its grant date to the extent permitted by the
Applicable Laws.
4.4 Action
by Committee. Except
as
otherwise provided by committee charter or other similar corporate governance
documents, for purposes of administering the Plan, the following rules of
procedure shall govern the Committee. A majority of the Committee shall
constitute a quorum. The acts of a majority of the members present at any
meeting at which a quorum is present, and acts approved unanimously in writing
by the members of the Committee in lieu of a meeting, shall be deemed the acts
of the Committee. Each member of the Committee is entitled to, in good faith,
rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to that member by
any
officer or other employee of the Company or any Parent or Affiliate, the
Company’s independent certified public accountants, or any executive
compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company to assist
in the administration of the Plan.
4.5 Limitation
on Liability. To
the
extent permitted by applicable law in effect from time to time, no member of
the
Committee shall be liable for any action or omission of any other member of
the
Committee nor for any act or omission on the member's own part, excepting only
the member's own willful misconduct or gross negligence, arising out of or
related to this Plan. The Company shall pay expenses incurred by, and satisfy
a
judgment or fine rendered or levied against, a present or former member of
the
Committee in any action against such person (whether or not the Company is
joined as a party defendant) to impose liability or a penalty on such person
for
an act alleged to have been committed by such person while a member of the
Committee arising with respect to this Plan or administration thereof or out
of
membership on the Committee or by the Company, or all or any combination of
the
preceding, provided, the Committee member was acting in good faith, within
what
such Committee member reasonably believed to have been within the scope of
his
or her employment or authority and for a purpose which he or she reasonably
believed to be in the best interests of the Company or its stockholders.
Payments authorized hereunder include amounts paid and expenses incurred in
settling any such action or threatened action. The provisions of this Section
4.5 shall apply to the estate, executor, administrator, heirs, legatees or
devisees of a Committee member, and the term "person"
as used
on this Section 4.5 shall include the estate, executor, administrator, heirs,
legatees, or devisees of such person.
5. ELIGIBILITY
Except
as
otherwise provided, all types of Awards may be granted to Eligible Participants.
An Eligible Participant, who has been granted an Award may be, if he or she
continues to be eligible, granted additional Awards.
6. AWARDS
6.1 Type
of Awards. The
Administrator is authorized to award any type of arrangement to an Eligible
Participant that is not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan and that
by
its terms involves or might involve the issuance of Options.
6.2 Designation
of Award. Each
Award shall be designated as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified
Stock Option. But see Section 7.3(a) regarding exceeding the Incentive Stock
Option threshold.
7. GRANT
OF OPTIONS; TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF GRANT
7.1 Grant
of Options.
(a) One
or
more Options may be granted to any Eligible Participant. Subject to the express
provisions of this Plan, the Administrator shall determine from the Eligible
Participants those individuals to whom Options under this Plan may be
granted.
(b) Further,
subject to the express provisions of this Plan, the Administrator shall specify
the Grant Date, the number of Shares covered by the Option, the exercise price
and the terms and conditions for exercise of the Options. As soon as practicable
after the Grant Date, the Company shall provide the Grantee with a written
Award
Agreement in the form approved by the Administrator, which sets out the Grant
Date, the number of Shares covered by the Option, the exercise price and the
terms and conditions for exercise of the Option. 3
(c) The
Administrator may, in its absolute discretion, grant Options under this Plan
at
any time and from time to time before the expiration of this Plan.
7.2 General
Terms and Conditions. Except
as
otherwise provided herein, the Options shall be subject to the following terms
and conditions and such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with this
Plan as the Administrator may impose:
(a) Exercise
of Option.
The
Administrator may determine in its discretion whether any Option shall be
subject to vesting and the terms and conditions of any such vesting. The Award
Agreement shall contain any such vesting schedule.
(b) Option
Term.
Each
Option and all rights or obligations there under shall expire on such date
as
shall be determined by the Administrator, but not later than ten (10) years
after the Grant Date (five (5) years in the case of an Incentive Stock Option
when the Optionee owns more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting
power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary
("Ten
Percent Stockholder")),
and
shall be subject to earlier termination as hereinafter provided.
(c) Exercise
Price.
The
Exercise Price of any Option shall be determined by the Administrator when
the
Option is granted and may not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the
Fair Market Value of the Shares on the Grant Date, and the Exercise Price of
any
Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder shall not be less
than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares
on
the Grant Date. Payment for the Shares purchased shall be made in accordance
with Section 10 of this Plan. The Administrator is authorized to issue Options,
whether Incentive Stock Options or Non-qualified Stock Options, at an option
price in excess of the Fair Market Value on the Grant Date.
(d) Method
of Exercise.
Options
may be exercised only by delivery to the Company of a stock option exercise
agreement (the "Exercise
Agreement")
in a
form approved by the Administrator (which need not be the same for each
Grantee), stating the number of Shares being purchased, the restrictions imposed
on the Shares purchased under such Exercise Agreement, if any, and such
representations and agreements regarding the Grantee's investment intent and
access to information and other matters, if any, as may be required or desirable
by the Company to comply with applicable securities laws, together with payment
in full of the exercise price for the number of Shares being
purchased.
(e) Exercise
After Certain Events.
(i) Termination
of Continuous Services. If for any reason other than Disability or death, a
Grantee terminates Continuous Service, vested Options held at the date of such
termination may be exercised, in whole or in part, at any time within three
(3)
months after the date of such termination or such lesser period specified in
the
Award Agreement (but in no event after the earlier of (i) the expiration date
of
the Option as set forth in the Award Agreement, and (ii) ten (10) years from
the
Grant Date (five (5) years for a Ten Percent Stockholder if the Option is an
Incentive Stock Option)).
(ii) Continuation
of Services as Consultant/Advisor. If a Grantee granted an Incentive Stock
Option terminates employment but continues as a Consultant (no termination
of
Continuous Service), Grantee need not exercise an Incentive Stock Option within
three (3) months of termination of employment but shall be entitled to exercise
within three (3) months of termination of Continuous Service (one (1) year
in
the event of Disability or death) or such lesser period specified in the Award
Agreement (but in no event after the earlier of (i) the expiration date of
the
Option as set forth in the Award Agreement, and (ii) ten (10) years from the
Grant Date). However, if Grantee does not exercise within three (3) months
of
termination of employment, pursuant to Section 422 of the Code the Option shall
not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.
(iii) Disability
and Death. If a Grantee becomes Disabled while rendering Continuous Service,
or
dies while employed by the Company or Related Entity or within three (3) months
thereafter, vested Options then held may be exercised by the Grantee, the
Grantee's personal representative, or by the person to whom the Option is
transferred by the laws of descent and distribution, in whole or in part, at
any
time within one (1) year after the termination because of the Disability or
death or any lesser period specified in the Award Agreement (but in no event
after the earlier of (i) the expiration date of the Option as set forth in
the
Award Agreement, and (ii) ten (10) years from the Grant Date (five (5) years
for
a Ten Percent Stockholder if the Option is an Incentive Stock
Option).
7.3 Limitations
on Grant of Incentive Stock Options
(a) Threshold.
The
aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the Grant Date) of the Shares
for
which Incentive Stock Options may first become exercisable by any Grantee during
any calendar year under this Plan, together with that of Shares subject to
Incentive Stock Options first exercisable by such Grantee under any other plan
of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, shall not exceed $100,000. For
purposes of this Section 7.3(a), all Options in excess of the $100,000 threshold
shall be treated as Non-Qualified Stock Options notwithstanding the designation
as Incentive Stock Options. For this purpose, Options shall be taken into
account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value
of
the Shares shall be determined as of the date the Option with respect to such
Shares is granted.
(b) Compliance
with Section 422 of the Code.
There
shall be imposed in the Award Agreement relating to Incentive Stock Options
such
terms and conditions as are required in order that the Option be an
"incentive
stock option"
as that
term is defined in Section 422 of the Code.
(c) Requirement
of Employment.
No
Incentive Stock Option may be granted to any person who is not an Employee
of
the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.
8. TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF AWARDS
8.1 In
General. Subject
to the terms of the Plan and Applicable Laws, the Administrator shall determine
the provisions, terms, and conditions of each Award including, but not limited
to, the Award vesting schedule, repurchase provisions, rights of first refusal,
forfeiture provisions, form of payment (cash, Shares, or other consideration)
upon settlement of the Award, payment contingencies, and satisfaction of any
performance criteria.
8.2 Term
of Award.
The term
of each Award shall be the term stated in the Award Agreement.
8.3 Transferability.
(a) Limits
on Transfer.
No
right or interest of a Grantee in any unexercised Award may be pledged,
encumbered or hypothecated to or in favor of any party other than to the Company
or a Related Entity or Affiliate. No Award shall be sold, assigned, transferred
or disposed of by a Grantee other than by the laws of descent and distribution
or, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, pursuant to a domestic relations
order that would satisfy Section 414(p)(1)(A) of the Code if such Section
applied to an Award under the Plan; provided, however, that the Administrator
may (but need not) permit other transfers where the Administrator concludes
that
such transferability (i) does not result in accelerated taxation or other
adverse tax consequences, (ii) does not cause any Option intended to be an
Incentive Stock Option to fail to be described in Section 422(b) of the Code,
and (iii) is otherwise appropriate and desirable, taking into account any
factors deemed relevant, including, without limitation, state or federal tax
or
securities laws applicable to transferable Awards.
(b) Beneficiaries.
Notwithstanding Section 8.3(a), a Grantee may, in the manner determined by
the
Administrator, designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of the Grantee
and
to receive any distribution with respect to any Award upon the Grantee's death.
A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal representative or other person claiming
any
rights under the Plan is subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and
any
Award Agreement applicable to the Grantee, except to the extent the Plan and
such Award Agreement otherwise provide, and to any additional restrictions
deemed necessary or appropriate by the Administrator. If no beneficiary has
been
designated or survives the Grantee, payment shall be made to the Grantee's
estate. Subject to the foregoing, a beneficiary designation may be changed
or
revoked by a Grantee at any time, provided the change or revocation is filed
with the Administrator.
8.4 Performance
Goals.
In
order to preserve the deductibility of an Award under Section 162(m) of the
Code, the Administrator may determine that any Award granted pursuant to this
Plan to a Grantee that is or is expected to become a Covered Employee shall
be
determined solely on the basis of (a) the achievement by the Company or
Subsidiary of a specified target return, or target growth in return, on equity
or assets, (b) the Company’s stock price, (c) the Company’s total shareholder
return (stock price appreciation plus reinvested dividends) relative to a
defined comparison group or target over a specific performance
period,
(d) the
achievement by the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary, or a business unit of
any
such entity, of a specified target, or target growth in, net income, earnings
per share, earnings before income and taxes, and earnings before income, taxes,
depreciation and amortization, or (e) any combination of the goals set forth
in
(a) through (d) above. If an Award is made on such basis, the Administrator
shall establish goals prior to the beginning of the period for which such
performance goal relates (or such later date as may be permitted under Section
162(m) of the Code or the regulations there under but not later than 90 days
after commencement of the period of services to which the performance goal
relates), and the Administrator has the right for any reason to reduce (but
not
increase) the Award, notwithstanding the achievement of a specified goal. Any
payment of an Award granted with performance goals shall be conditioned on
the
written certification of the Administrator in each case that the performance
goals and any other material conditions were satisfied.
In
addition, to the extent that Section 409A is applicable, (i) performance-based
compensation shall also be contingent on the satisfaction of pre-established
organizational or individual performance criteria relating to a performance
period of at least twelve (12) consecutive months in which the Eligible
Participant performs services and (ii) performance goals shall be established
not later than 90 days after the beginning of any performance period to which
the performance goal relates, provided that the outcome is substantially
uncertain at the time the criteria are established.
8.5 Acceleration.
The
Administrator may, in its sole discretion (but subject to the limitations of
and
compliance with Section 409A of the Code and Section 8.7 in connection
therewith), at any time (including, without limitation, prior to, coincident
with or subsequent to a Change of Control) determine that (a) all or a portion
of a Grantee’s Awards shall become fully or partially exercisable, and/or (b)
all or a part of the restrictions on all or a portion of the outstanding Awards
shall lapse, in each case, as of such date as the Administrator may, in its
sole
discretion, declare. The Administrator may discriminate among Grantees and
among
Awards granted to a Grantee in exercising its discretion pursuant to this
Section 8.5.
8.6 Compliance
with Section 162(m) of the Code. Notwithstanding
any provision of this Plan to the contrary, if the Administrator determines
that
compliance with Section 162(m) of the Code is required or desired, all Awards
granted under this Plan to Named Executive Officers shall comply with the
requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code. In addition, in the event that
changes are made to Section 162(m) of the Code to permit greater flexibility
with respect to any Award or Awards under this Plan, the Administrator may
make
any adjustments it deems appropriate.
8.7 Compliance
with Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding
any provision of this Plan to the contrary, if any provision of this Plan or
an
Award Agreement contravenes any regulations or Treasury guidance promulgated
under Section 409A of the Code or could cause an Award to be subject to the
interest and penalties under Section 409A of the Code, such provision of this
Plan or any Award Agreement shall be modified to maintain, to the maximum extent
practicable, the original intent of the applicable provision without violating
the provisions of Section 409A of the Code. In addition, in the event that
changes are made to Section 409A of the Code to permit greater flexibility
with
respect to any Award under this Plan, the Administrator may make any adjustments
it deems appropriate. To the extent permitted under Section 409A of the Code,
the Administrator may accelerate payment of any portion of an Award otherwise
subject to Section 409A of the Code to pay employment taxes permitted to be
paid
on compensation deferred under the Plan.
8.8 Section
280G of the Code. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, unless expressly provided
otherwise in the Award Agreement, if the right to receive or benefit from an
Award under this Plan, either alone or together with payments that a Grantee
has
a right to receive from the Company, would constitute a "parachute
payment"
(as
defined in Section 280G of the Code), all such payments shall be reduced to
the
largest amount that shall result in no portion being subject to the excise
tax
imposed by Section 4999 of the Code.
8.9 Exercise
of Award Following Termination of Continuous Service. An
Award
may not be exercised after the termination date of such Award set forth in
the
Award Agreement and may be exercised following the termination of a Grantee’s
Continuous Service only to the extent provided in the Award Agreement. Where
the
Award Agreement permits a Grantee to exercise an Award following the termination
of the Grantee’s Continuous Service for a specified period, the Award shall
terminate to the extent not exercised on the last day of the specified period
or
the last day of the original term of the Award, whichever occurs
first.
8.10 Cancellation
of Awards. In
the
event a Grantee's Continuous Service has been terminated for “Cause”, he or she
shall immediately forfeit all rights to any and all Awards outstanding. The
determination that termination was for Cause shall be final and conclusive.
In
making its determination, the Board shall give the Grantee an opportunity to
appear and be heard at a hearing before the full Board and present evidence
on
the Grantee's behalf. Should any provision to this Section 8.10 be held to
be
invalid or illegal, such illegality shall not invalidate the whole of this
Section 8, but, rather, this Plan shall be construed as if it did not contain
the illegal part or narrowed to permit its enforcement, and the rights and
obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced
accordingly.
9. ADDITIONAL
TERMS IF THE COMPANY BECOMES LISTED ON A STOCK EXCHANGE
9.1 In
the
event the Shares become listed on a stock exchange and to the extent such
provision is required by that stock exchange or recommended by the Board or
the
Administrator, then the following terms and conditions shall apply in addition
to those contained herein, as applicable:
(a) the
exercise price of an Award granted to an Insider cannot be reduced, or the
term
of the Award cannot be extended to benefit an Insider, unless the Company
obtains shareholder approval, excluding the votes of securities held directly
or
indirectly by Insiders benefiting from such change;
(b) the
number of securities issuable to Insiders, at any time, under all of the
Company's security based compensation arrangements (whether entered into prior
to or subsequent to such listing), cannot exceed ten percent (10%) of the
Company's total issued and outstanding Common Stock; and
(c) the
number of securities issued to Insiders, within any one year period, under
all
of the Company's security based compensation arrangements (whether entered
into
prior to or subsequent to such listing), cannot exceed ten percent (10%) of
the
issued and outstanding Common Stock.
10. PAYMENT
FOR SHARE PURCHASES
10.1 Payment.
Payment
for Shares purchased pursuant to this Plan may be made:
(a) Cash.
By
cash, cashier’s check or wire transfer.
Or
at the
discretion of the Administrator expressly for the Grantee and where permitted
by
law as follows:
(b) Surrender
of Shares.
By
surrender of shares of Common Stock of the Company that have been owned by
the
Grantee for more than six (6) months, or lesser period if the surrender of
shares is otherwise exempt from Section 16 of the Exchange Act, (and, if such
shares were purchased from the Company by use of a promissory note, such note
has been fully paid with respect to such shares).
(c) Deemed
Net-Stock Exercise.
By
forfeiture of Shares equal to the value of the exercise price pursuant to a
“deemed net-stock exercise” by requiring the Grantee to accept that number of
Shares determined in accordance with the following formula, rounded down to
the
nearest whole integer:
where:
|
|
|
a
=
net Shares to be issued to Grantee
|
|
|
|
b
=
number of Awards being exercised
|
|
|
|
c
=
Fair Market Value of a Share
|
|
|
|
d
=
exercise price of the Awards
|
(d) Broker-Assisted.
By
delivering a properly executed exercise notice to the Company together with
a
copy of irrevocable instructions to a broker to deliver promptly to the Company
the amount of sale or loan proceeds necessary to pay the exercise price and
the
amount of any required tax or other withholding obligations.
10.2 Combination
of Methods. By
any
combination of the foregoing methods of payment or any other consideration
or
method of payment as shall be permitted by applicable corporate law.
11. WITHHOLDING
TAXES
11.1 Withholding
Generally. Whenever
Shares are to be issued in satisfaction of Awards granted under this Plan or
Shares are forfeited pursuant to a "deemed net-stock exercise," the Company
may
require the Grantee to remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy
the
foreign, federal, state, provincial, or local income and employment tax
withholding obligations, including, without limitation, on exercise of an Award.
When, under applicable tax laws, a Grantee incurs tax liability in connection
with the exercise or vesting of any Award, the disposition by a Grantee or
other
person of an Award or an Option prior to satisfaction of the holding period
requirements of Section 422 of the Code, or upon the exercise of a Non-Qualified
Stock Option, the Company shall have the right to require such Grantee or such
other person to pay by cash, or check payable to the Company, the amount of
any
such withholding with respect to such transactions. Any such payment must be
made promptly when the amount of such obligation becomes
determinable.
11.2 Stock
for Withholding. To
the
extent permissible under applicable tax, securities and other laws, the
Administrator may, in its sole discretion and upon such terms and conditions
as
it may deem appropriate, permit a Grantee to satisfy his or her obligation
to
pay any such withholding tax, in whole or in part, with Shares up to an amount
not greater than the Company's minimum statutory withholding rate for federal
and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to such
supplemental taxable income. The Administrator may exercise its discretion,
by
(i) directing the Company to apply Shares to which the Grantee is entitled
as a
result of the exercise of an Award, or (ii) delivering to the Company Shares
that have been owned by the Grantee for more than six (6) months, unless the
delivery of Shares is otherwise exempt from Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
A
Grantee who has made an election pursuant to this Section 11.2 may satisfy
his
or her withholding obligation only with Shares that are not subject to any
repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting or other similar requirements.
The
Shares so applied or delivered for the withholding obligation shall be valued
at
their Fair Market Value as of the date of measurement of the amount of income
subject to withholding.
12. ADJUSTMENTS
UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION
12.1 In
General. Subject
to any required action by the shareholders of the Company, the number of Shares
covered by each outstanding Award, and the number of Shares which have been
authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Awards have yet been
granted or which have been returned to the Plan, the exercise or purchase price
of each such outstanding Award, as well as any other terms that the
Administrator determines require adjustment shall be proportionately adjusted
for (i) any increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares resulting from
a
stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or
reclassification of the Shares, or (ii) any other increase or decrease in the
number of issued Shares effected without receipt of consideration by the
Company; provided, however that conversion of any convertible securities of
the
Company shall not be deemed to have been effected without receipt of
consideration. The Administrator shall make the appropriate adjustments to
(i)
the maximum number and/or class of securities issuable under this Plan; and
(ii)
the number and/or class of securities and the exercise price per Share in effect
under each outstanding Award in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement
of
benefits there under; provided, however, that the number of Shares subject
to
any Award shall always be a whole number and the Administrator shall make such
adjustments as are
necessary to insure Awards of whole Shares. Such adjustment shall be made by
the
Administrator and its determination shall be final, binding and
conclusive.
12.2 Company’s
Right to Effect Changes in Capitalization. The
existence of outstanding Awards shall not affect the Company's right to effect
adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations or other changes in its or
any
other corporation's capital structure or business, any merger or consolidation,
any issuance of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stock ahead
of
or affecting the Shares, the dissolution or liquidation of the Company's or
any
other corporation's assets or business or any other corporate act whether
similar to the events described above or otherwise.
13.
CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS/CHANGES IN CONTROL/RELATED ENTITY
DISPOSITIONS
13.1 Company
is Not the Survivor. Except
as
may otherwise be provided in an Award Agreement, the Administrator shall have
the authority, in its absolute discretion, exercisable either in advance of
any
actual or anticipated Corporate Transaction or Related Entity Disposition in
which the Company is not the surviving corporation, or at the time of an actual
Corporate Transaction or Related Entity Disposition in which the Company is
not
the surviving corporation (a) to cancel each outstanding Award upon payment
in
cash to the Grantee of the amount by which any cash and the Fair Market Value
of
any other property which the Grantee would have received as consideration for
the Shares covered by the Award if the Award had been exercised before such
Corporate Transaction or Related Entity Disposition exceeds the exercise price
of the Award, or (b) to negotiate to have such Award assumed by the surviving
corporation. The determination as to whether the Company is the surviving
corporation is at the sole and absolute discretion of the
Administrator.
In
addition to the foregoing, in the event of a dissolution or liquidation of
the
Company, or a Corporate Transaction or Related Entity Disposition in which
the
Company is not the surviving corporation, the Administrator, in its absolute
discretion, may accelerate the time within which each outstanding Award may
be
exercised. Section 13.3 shall control with respect to any acceleration in
vesting in the event of Change of Control.
The
Administrator shall also have the authority:
(a) to
release the Awards from restrictions on transfer and repurchase or forfeiture
rights of such Awards on such terms and conditions as the Administrator may
specify, and
(b) to
condition any such Award's vesting and exercisability or release from such
limitations upon the subsequent termination of the Continuous Service of the
Grantee within a specified period following the effective date of the Corporate
Transaction or Related Entity Disposition.
Effective
upon the consummation of a Corporate Transaction or Related Entity Disposition
governed by this Section 13.1, all outstanding Awards under this Plan not
exercised by the Grantee or assumed by the successor corporation shall
terminate.
13.2 Company
is the Survivor. In
the
event of a Corporate Transaction or Related Entity Disposition in which the
Company is the surviving corporation, the Administrator shall determine the
appropriate adjustment of the number and kind of securities with respect to
which outstanding Awards may be exercised, and the exercise price at which
outstanding Awards may be exercised. The Administrator shall determine, in
its
sole and absolute discretion, when the Company shall be deemed to survive for
purposes of this Plan. Subject to any contrary language in an Award Agreement
evidencing an Award, any restrictions applicable to such Award shall apply
as
well to any replacement shares received by the Grantee as a result.
13.3 Change
in Control.
If there
is a Change of Control, all outstanding Awards shall fully vest immediately
upon
the Company's public announcement of such a change.
14. PRIVILEGES
OF STOCK OWNERSHIP
No
Grantee shall have any of the rights of a stockholder with respect to any Shares
until the Shares are issued to the Grantee. After Shares are issued to the
Grantee, the Grantee shall be a stockholder and have all the rights of a
stockholder with respect to such Shares, including the right to vote and receive
all dividends or other distributions made or paid with respect to such Shares.
The Company shall issue (or cause to be issued) such stock certificate promptly
upon exercise of the Award.
15. RESTRICTION
ON SHARES
At
the
discretion of the Administrator, the Company may reserve to itself and/or its
assignee(s) in the Award Agreement that the Grantee not dispose of the Shares
for a specified period of time, or that the Shares are subject to a right of
first refusal or a right to repurchase by the Company at the Shares’ Fair Market
Value at the time of sale. The terms and conditions of any such rights or other
restrictions shall be set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing the
Award.
16. CERTIFICATES
All
certificates for Shares or other securities delivered under this Plan shall
be
subject to such stock transfer orders, legends and other restrictions as the
Administrator may deem necessary or advisable, including restrictions under
any
applicable federal, state or foreign securities law, or any rules, regulations
and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any stock
exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Shares may be listed
or
quoted.
17. ESCROW;
PLEDGE OF SHARES
To
enforce any restrictions on a Grantee's Shares, the Administrator may require
the Grantee to deposit all certificates representing Shares, together with
stock
powers or other instruments of transfer approved by the Administrator,
appropriately endorsed in blank, with the Company or an agent designated by
the
Company to hold in escrow until such restrictions have lapsed or terminated,
and
the Administrator may cause a legend or legends referencing such restrictions
to
be placed on the certificates.
18. SECURITIES
LAW AND OTHER REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
18.1 Compliance
With Applicable Law. An
Award
shall not be effective unless such Award is in compliance with all applicable
federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations of any governmental
body, and the requirements of any stock exchange or automated quotation system
upon which the Shares may then be listed or quoted, as they are in effect on
the
Grant Date and also on the date of exercise or other issuance. Notwithstanding
any other provision in this Plan, the Company shall have no obligation to issue
or deliver certificates for Shares under this Plan prior to (i) obtaining any
approvals from governmental agencies that the Company determines are necessary
or advisable; and/or (ii) completion of any registration or other qualification
of such Shares under any state or federal laws or rulings of any governmental
body that the Company determines to be necessary or advisable. The Company
shall
be under no obligation to register the Shares with the Securities Exchange
Commission or to effect compliance with the registration, qualification or
listing requirements of any state securities laws, stock exchange or automated
quotation system, and the Company shall have no liability for any inability
or
failure to do so. Evidences of ownership of Shares acquired pursuant to an
Award
shall bear any legend required by, or useful for purposes of compliance with,
applicable securities laws, this Plan or the Award Agreement.
During
any time when the Company has a class of equity security registered under
Section 12 of the Exchange Act, it is the intent of the Company that Awards
pursuant to this Plan and the exercise of Awards granted hereunder shall qualify
for the exemption provided by Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. To the extent
that any provision of this Plan or action by the Board or the Administrator
does
not comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3, it shall be deemed inoperative
to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Board or the
Administrator, and shall not affect the validity of this Plan. In the event
that
Rule 16b-3 is revised or replaced, the Administrator may exercise its discretion
to modify this Plan in any respect necessary to satisfy the requirements of,
or
to take advantage of any features of, the revised exemption or its
replacement.
18.2 Investment
Representation. As
a
condition to the exercise of an Award, the Company may require the person
exercising such Award to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise
that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present
intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for
the Company, such a representation is required by any Applicable
Laws.
19. NO
OBLIGATION TO EMPLOY
Nothing
in this Plan or any Award granted under this Plan shall confer or be deemed
to
confer on any Grantee any right to continue in the employ of, or to continue
any
other relationship with, the Company or to limit in any way the right of the
Company to terminate such Grantee's employment or other relationship at any
time, with or without Cause.
20. EFFECTIVE
DATE AND TERM OF PLAN
This
Plan
shall become effective upon the earlier to occur of its adoption by the Board
or
its approval by the shareholders of the Company. It shall continue in effect
for
a term of ten (10) years unless sooner terminated.
21. SHAREHOLDER
APPROVAL
This
Plan
shall be subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company within twelve
(12) months from the date the Plan is adopted by the Company’s Board. Such
shareholder approval shall be obtained in the degree and manner required under
Applicable Laws. The Administrator may grant Awards under this Plan prior to
approval by the shareholders, but until such approval is obtained, no such
Award
shall be exercisable. In the event that shareholder approval is not obtained
within the twelve (12) month period provided above, all Awards previously
granted under this Plan shall be cancelled and of no force or
effect.
22. AMENDMENT,
SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF THIS PLAN OR AWARDS
The
Board
may amend, suspend or terminate this Plan at any time and for any reason. To
the
extent necessary to comply with Applicable Laws, the Company shall obtain
shareholder approval of any Plan amendment in such a manner and to such a degree
as required. Shareholder approval shall be required for the following types
of
amendments to this Plan: (i) any increase in Maximum Number of Shares issuable
under the Plan except for a proportional increase in the Maximum Number as
a
result of stock split or stock dividend, or a change from a fixed Maximum Number
of Shares to a fixed maximum percentage, (ii) any change to those persons who
are entitled to become participants under the Plan which would have the
potential of broadening or increasing Insider participation, or (iii) the
addition of any form of financial assistance or amendment to a financial
assistance provision which is more favorable to Grantees.
Further,
the Board may, in its discretion, determine that any amendment should be
effective only if approved by the shareholders even if such approval is not
expressly required by this Plan or by law. No Award may be granted during any
suspension of this Plan or after termination of this Plan.
Any
amendment, suspension or termination of this Plan shall not affect Awards
already granted, and such Awards shall remain in full force and effect as if
this Plan had not been amended, suspended or terminated, unless mutually agreed
otherwise between the Grantee and the Administrator, which agreement must be
in
writing and signed by the Grantee and the Company. At any time and from time
to
time, the Administrator may amend, modify, or terminate any outstanding Award
or
Award Agreement without approval of the Grantee; provided however, that subject
to the applicable Award Agreement, no such amendment, modification or
termination shall, without the Grantee’s consent, reduce or diminish the value
of such Award determined as if the Award had been exercised, vested, cashed
in
or otherwise settled on the date of such amendment or termination.
Notwithstanding
any provision herein to the contrary, the Administrator shall have broad
authority to amend this Plan or any outstanding Award under this Plan without
approval of the Grantee to the extent necessary or desirable (i) to comply
with,
or take into account changes in, applicable tax laws, securities laws,
accounting rules and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, or (ii)
to
ensure that an Award is not subject to interest and penalties under Section
409A
of the Code or the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code.
Further,
notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, and subject to Applicable
Law, the Administrator may, in its absolute discretion, amend or modify this
Plan (i) to make amendments which are of a “housekeeping” or clerical nature;
(ii) to change the vesting provisions of an Award granted hereunder, as
applicable; (iii) to change the termination provision of an Award granted
hereunder, as applicable, which does not entail an extension beyond the original
expiry date of such Award; and (iv) the addition of a cashless exercise feature,
payable in cash or securities, which provides for a full deduction of the number
of underlying securities from the Maximum Number.
23. RESERVATION
OF SHARES
The
Company, during the term of this Plan, shall at all times reserve and keep
available such number of Shares as shall be sufficient to satisfy the
requirements of this Plan.
The
Shares to be issued hereunder upon exercise of an Award may be either authorized
but unissued; supplied to the Plan through acquisitions of Shares on the open
market; Shares forfeited back to the Plan; Shares surrendered in payment of
the
exercise price of an Award; or Shares withheld for payment of applicable
employment taxes and/or withholding obligations resulting from the exercise
of
an Award.
The
inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having
jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary
to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the
Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares
as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.
24. EXCHANGE
AND BUYOUT OF AWARDS
The
Administrator may, at any time or from time to time, authorize the Company,
with
the consent of the respective Grantees, to issue new Awards in exchange for
the
surrender and cancellation of any or all outstanding Awards. The administrator
may at any time buy from a Grantee an Award previously granted with payment
in
cash, Shares or other consideration, based on such terms and conditions as
the
Administrator and the Grantee may agree.
25. APPLICABLE
TRADING POLICY
The
Administrator and each Eligible Participant will ensure that all actions taken
and decisions made by the Administrator or an Eligible Participant, as the
case
may be, pursuant to this Plan comply with any Applicable Laws and policies
of
the Company relating to insider trading or “blackout” periods.
26. GOVERNING
LAW
The
Plan
shall be governed by the laws of the State of Nevada; provided, however, that
any Award Agreement may provide by its terms that it shall be governed by the
laws of any other jurisdiction as may be deemed appropriate by the parties
thereto.
27. MISCELLANEOUS
Except
as
specifically provided in a retirement or other benefit plan of the Company
or a
Related Entity, Awards shall not be deemed compensation for purposes of
computing benefits or contributions under any retirement plan of the Company
or
a Related Entity, and shall not affect any benefits under any other benefit
plan
of any kind or any benefit plan subsequently instituted under which the
availability or amount of benefits is related to level of compensation. The
Plan
is not a “Retirement
Plan”
or
“Welfare
Plan”
under
the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as
amended.