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TABLE OF CONTENTS
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Information Required in Proxy StatementREG. 240.14a-101
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934(Amendment (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant ý Filed by a party other than the Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
Filed by the Registrantý | |||
Filed by a Party other than the Registranto | |||
Check the appropriate box: | |||
ý | Preliminary Proxy Statement | ||
o | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) | ||
Definitive Proxy Statement | |||
o | Definitive Additional Materials | ||
o | Soliciting Material Pursuant to |
IMPAC MORTGAGE HOLDINGS, INC. | ||||
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) | ||||
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the | ||||
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): | ||||
ý | No fee | |||
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: |
IMPAC MORTGAGE HOLDINGS, INC.
19500 Jamboree Road
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92612
NOTICE OF ANNUALSPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held July 21,, 2009
9:00 A.M. (Pacific Daylight Time)
To Our Stockholders:
You are cordially invited to attend the annualspecial meeting (the "Meeting") of stockholders of IMPAC MORTGAGE HOLDINGS, INC., a Maryland corporation ("IMH," "we," "our," "us," or the "Company"), a Maryland corporation, to be held at the Company's offices located at 19500 Jamboree Road, Irvine, California 92612 on July 21,, 2009, at 9:00 a.m. (Pacific Daylight Time).
The annual meetingMeeting of stockholders is being held forto approve amendments to our Charter to modify the following purposes:
Only holders of record of our common stock of recordCommon Stock at the close of business on April 27,, 2009 will be entitled to votenotice of and participateto vote at the meeting.Meeting.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting to Be Held on July 21, 2009. The 2009 Proxy Statement and the Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2008 are also available at http://www.vfnotice.com/impaccompanies.
The Company's Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2008 Your proxy is enclosed with this notice. The following proxy statement and enclosed proxy card is being sent to each stockholder as of the Record Date.enclosed. You are cordially invited to attend the meeting.Meeting. However, if you do not expect to attend or if you plan to attend but desire the proxy holders to vote your shares, please date and sign your proxy card and return it in the enclosed postage paid envelope. Please return the proxy promptly to avoid the expense of additional proxy solicitation. You may also instruct the voting of your shares over the Internet or by telephone by following the instructions on your proxy card. Voting by written proxy, over the Internet, or by telephone will not affect your right to vote in person in the event you find it convenient to attend.
If you have any questions regarding your proxy, or need assistance in voting your shares, please contact D.F. King & Co., Inc., our proxy solicitor at 1-800-269-6427 (toll free).
Dated: April 30,, 2009
By order of the Board of Directors | ||
Ronald M. Morrison, Secretary |
Page | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
VOTING OF SHARES | 7 | |||
Solicitation of Proxies | 7 | |||
Voting Requirements | 7 | |||
Quorum; Voting Rights | 7 | |||
Counting of Votes | 7 | |||
Votes Required | 7 | |||
Effect of Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes | 8 | |||
Revocability of Proxy | 8 | |||
Householding | 8 | |||
Postponement or Adjournment of Meeting | 8 | |||
PROPOSAL NO 1: MODIFY TERMS OF PREFERRED STOCK | 9 | |||
Effects of the Proposed Amendments on the Company's Preferred Stock | 10 | |||
Reduction of Voting Rights | 10 | |||
Modifications to Dividend Rights | 11 | |||
Modifications to Liquidation Rights | 12 | |||
Modifications to Optional Redemption Provisions | 12 | |||
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT | 15 | |||
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS | 16 | |||
Proposals to be Included in Proxy Statement | 16 | |||
Proposals to be Submitted for Special Meeting | 16 | |||
Mailing Instructions | 16 | |||
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION | 17 | |||
OTHER BUSINESS | 17 |
i
MPACIMPAC MORTGAGE HOLDINGS, INC.
19500 Jamboree Road, Irvine, CA.CA 92612949-475-3722949-475-3600
FOR ANNUALSPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS MEETING TO BE HELDJuly 21, , 2009, AT 9:00 A.M. (PACIFIC DAYLIGHTSTANDARD TIME)
This proxy statement is delivered to you by Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc., a Maryland corporation ("IMH," "we," "our," "us," or the "Company"), in connection with the annualspecial meeting of stockholders to be held on July 21,, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. (Pacific Daylight Time) at the Company's offices located at 19500 Jamboree Road, Irvine, California 92612 (the "Meeting"). We are sending this proxy statement and the enclosed proxy to our stockholders of record as of , 2009 commencing on or about May 18,, 2009.
Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") consists of its subsidiaries, IMH Assets Corp. ("IMH Assets"), Impac Warehouse Lending Group, Inc. ("IWLG"), and Impac Funding Corporation ("IFC"), together with its wholly-owned subsidiaries Impac Secured Assets Corp. ("ISAC") and Impac Commercial Capital Corporation ("ICCC"). Our Except otherwise indicated, all common stock is currently quoted on the pink sheets under the symbol "IMPM." However, for purposes of this proxy statement and pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, we have applied the rules and definitions of the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") for certain disclosure purposes. All share and option amounts and other per common share information in this proxy statementProxy Statement has been adjusted to reflect the one-for-tena reverse stock split of the Company'sour common stock that was effected on December 30, 2008 in which each 10 outstanding shares of our common stock effectedwere converted into 1 share of our common stock.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE PROXY MATERIALS
Q: Why am I receiving these materials?
A: The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") is providing these proxy materials to you in connection with the solicitation of proxies for exercise at the Meeting. As a holder of our Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), you are invited to attend the Meeting and are requested to vote on the items of business described in this proxy statement.
Q: Why are you having a Special Meeting?
A: We are holding a special meeting to seek approval from holders of Common Stock to amend our Charter (the "Charter") to modify the terms of both our 9.375% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share ("Series B Preferred Stock"), and our 9.125% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share ("Series C Preferred Stock" and together with the Series B Preferred Stock, the "Preferred Stock"). See "Effects of the Proposed Amendment on the Company's Preferred Stock" under Proposal No. 1 for a more detailed discussion of the proposed modifications. In connection with seeking approval from the holders of Common Stock to amend our Charter, we are concurrently conducting a consent solicitation of the holders of Preferred Stock to obtain their approval of the proposed amendments to modify the terms of the Preferred Stock and a tender offer (the "Purchase Offer") to the holders of our Preferred Stock to purchase their shares of Preferred Stock. If the holders of the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock approve the proposed amendments to the Charter, for each tendered share of Series B Preferred Stock accepted for purchase by us in the Purchase Offer, the holder will receive $ , and for each tendered share of Series C Preferred Stock accepted for purchase by us in the Purchase Offer, the holder will receive $ . If the proposed amendments receive the requisite stockholder approvals and the Purchase Offer is successfully completed, we will contemporaneously pay to all holders of Preferred Stock (whether the shares of Preferred Stock are tendered or not) accumulated and unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock. The accumulated and unpaid dividends are $1.17 per share of Series B Preferred Stock and $1.14 per share of Series C Preferred Stock. We will also contemporaneously pay all unpaid deferred amounts on our trust preferred securities, which totaled $518,500, including interest thereon, as of April 30, 2009.
Modification to Preferred Stock
Q. Why are you also conducting the Purchase Offer?
A: Since 2007, our management has been seriously challenged by the unprecedented turmoil in the mortgage market, including the following: significant increases in delinquencies and foreclosures; significant increases in credit-related losses; declines in originations; tightening of warehouse credit and the virtual elimination of the market for loan securitizations. As a result, we discontinued certain operations, resolved and terminated all but one of our reverse repurchase lines, which was restructured, satisfied $33.0 million of trust preferred securities for $4.95 million, exchanged $51.3 million in trust preferred securities for new notes and settled a portion of our outstanding repurchase claims, while also reducing our operating costs and liabilities.
We did not pay dividends on the Preferred Stock for the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009. As of March 31, 2009, the accumulated and unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock were $7.4 million in aggregate. We have also deferred payments on our trust preferred securities since December 2008. As of April 30, 2009, excluding the trust preferred securities that were recently exchanged for new notes, our outstanding deferred payments, including interest thereon, on our remaining trust preferred securities were $518,500 in aggregate. Plus, we have not declared a dividend on shares of our Common Stock since March 31, 2007.
One of our goals in this challenging market environment has been to align the costs of our operations to our cash flows. If the proposed amendments to the Charter are approved and made effective and the Purchase Offer is successfully completed, these actions would reduce the Company's continuing obligation to pay or accumulate quarterly dividends on the Preferred Stock, thereby allowing the Company to use or preserve cash for other purposes. Currently, the aggregate dividends on the outstanding Preferred Stock total approximately $14.9 million per year.
Upon implementation of the proposed amendments to our Charter and completion of the Purchase Offer our obligation to pay accumulated and unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock will be eliminated and future dividends, if any, on any remaining Preferred Stock will be non-cumulative. We believe the significant reduction or elimination of the outstanding Preferred Stock and the elimination of the related dividends obligations will give us the enhanced balance sheet flexibility to operate and grow our business. We additionally believe that with an improved capital structure there are multiple business opportunities we can pursue to enhance stockholder value that have not previously been feasible.
Assuming all shares of Preferred Stock are validly tendered (and not withdrawn) and repurchased by us, we will pay an aggregate of $ pursuant to the Purchase Offer. If the Purchase Offer is successfully completed, we will also contemporaneously pay to all holders of Preferred Stock (whether the shares are tendered or not) accumulated and unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock. The accumulated and unpaid dividends are $1.17 per share of Series B Preferred Stock and $1.14 per share of Series C Preferred Stock. We will also contemporaneously pay all unpaid deferred amounts on our trust preferred securities, which totaled $518,500, including interest thereon, as of April 30, 2009.
Even if the requisite stockholder approvals are obtained, we may delay completing repurchases under the Purchase Offer or terminate it and not implement any of the proposed amendments to the Charter, nor pay any of the accumulated and un paid dividends on the Preferred Stock or the deferred amounts on the trust preferred securities, if at the time of expiration of the Purchase Offer the Company is not eligible to make such distributions under Maryland law.
Q: What vote is required from the holders of Common Stock to approve the amendments to the Company's Charter modifying the terms of each series of Preferred Stock?
A: The amendments to the Company's Charter to modify the terms of each of our existing series of Preferred Stock requires the affirmative vote of holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the proposal.
Approval of Proposal No. 1 by the holders of Common Stock alone will not result in a modification of our Charter. Holders of 662/3% of the Preferred Stock (voting together as a single class) also must vote to approve or consent to the proposed amendments to our Charter. We are seeking the approval of the holders of Preferred Stock to the proposed amendments in the consent solicitation that is a part of the Purchase Offer.
Q: If Proposal No. 1 to modify the terms of the Company's Preferred Stock is approved, what will be the consequences to the Company?
A: In connection with seeking approval to amend the Company's Charter to modify the terms of the Preferred Stock, we are also conducting the Purchase Offer. The closing of the Purchase Offer and effectuating the purchase of the shares is subject to receiving approval of Proposal No. 1 from our holders of Common Stock. Shares of Preferred Stock that are purchased by us in the Purchase Offer will revert to the status of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock. The Company's obligations to holders of any remaining outstanding shares of Preferred Stock will also be altered upon the effectiveness of the proposed amendments to our Charter, as further described in Proposal No. 1.
Q: If Proposal No. 1 to modify the terms of the Company's Preferred Stock is NOT approved, what will be the consequences to the Company?
A: If our stockholders do not approve the modification of the terms of the Preferred Stock, the Preferred Stock will remain issued and outstanding, and entitled to all of the rights associated with the Preferred Stock as further described in this proxy statement. Furthermore, the Purchase Offer will be terminated. The Preferred Stock ranks senior to our Common Stock with respect to the payment of distributions and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up. There are 2,000,000 and 4,470,600 shares of Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock outstanding, respectively. The holders of the Preferred Stock will continue to be entitled to the applicable cumulative dividend and liquidation preferences if this proposal is not approved by both the holders of Common Stock and the holders of Preferred Stock.
If the proposed amendments to the Charter are not approved by the holders of our Common Stock and Preferred Stock and implemented, there may be a near-term negative effect on our business, results of operations, and financial position, including the potential inability to satisfy our liabilities and the long-term dividend-related cash requirements of our Preferred Stock and obligations pursuant to the terms of our remaining trust preferred securities. We have no present intention to pay future dividends on the Preferred Stock. If we do not pay dividends on our Preferred Stock for six or more quarterly periods (whether or not consecutive), the holders of the Preferred Stock (voting together as a single class) will be entitled to elect two directors to our Board of Directors to serve until all accumulated and unpaid dividends have been paid or declared and set apart for payment. Our failure to pay dividends on the Preferred Stock for the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009 constitute two quarterly periods for purpose of this determination.
Q: What are the general voting rights of the holders of Common Stock?
A: Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote, subject to the provisions of our Charter regarding restrictions on transfer of stock, and will be fully paid and nonassessable upon issuance. Shares of Common Stock have no preference, conversion, exchange, redemption, appraisal, sinking fund, preemptive or cumulative voting rights.
Q: What are the voting rights of the holders of Preferred Stock?
A: The Preferred Stock generally has no voting rights. However, if we do not pay dividends on any outstanding Preferred Stock for six or more quarterly periods (whether or not consecutive), holders of the Preferred Stock (voting together as a class) will be entitled to elect two additional directors to the Company's Board to serve until all accumulated and unpaid dividends have been paid or declared and set apart for payment, provided that any such directors, if elected, must not cause us to any applicable corporate governance requirements of the quotation system or securities exchange then quoting or listing our securities that would require us to maintain a majority of independent directors.
In addition, the affirmative vote of holders of at least 662/3% of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock is required to (a) authorize or create, or increase the authorized or issued amount of, any class or series of capital stock ranking prior to the Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of distributions and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up or reclassify any of our authorized capital stock into such shares, or create, authorize or issue any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase any such shares; or (b) amend, alter or repeal any of the provisions of our Charter so as to materially and adversely affect the Preferred Stock, provided that any increase or decrease in the amount of the authorized preferred stock, including the Preferred Stock, or the creation or issuance of any additional preferred stock or other series of preferred stock that we may issue, or any increase in the amount of authorized shares of such series, in each case ranking on a parity with or junior to the preferred stock that we may issue with respect to the payment of distributions and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, shall be deemed to not materially and adversely affect such terms of the Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock; or (c) enter into, approve, or otherwise facilitate a binding share exchange or reclassification involving the Preferred Stock that materially and adversely affects the Preferred Stock or a consolidation, merger or similar transaction unless in the case of a binding share exchange, reclassification, consolidation, merger or other similar transactions the shares of Preferred Stock remain outstanding and materially unchanged or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which we are not the surviving or resulting entity, the shares are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, in each case with preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications, and terms or conditions of redemption of the Preferred Stock that are not individually or in the aggregate materially less favorable to the holders of the Preferred Stock.
Q: Do the holders of Preferred Stock have any other rights?
A: In addition to the rights of the Preferred Stock to dividends discussed below, upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, each share of Preferred Stock will receive, before any payments are made to the holders of our Common Stock, $25.00 per share, plus in each case, a premium of $.50 per share up to but not including May 28, 2009, in the case of the Series B Preferred Stock, and $.50 per share up to but not including November 23, 2009, in the case of the Series C Preferred Stock, and accumulated and unpaid dividends whether or not declared. If, upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, the cash distributable among holders of Preferred Stock is insufficient to pay in full the liquidation preference of the Preferred Stock as described above, then our remaining assets (or the proceeds thereof) will be distributed among the holders of the Preferred Stock and any such other parity stock and in proportion to the amounts that would be payable on the Preferred Stock if all amounts payable thereon were paid in full. After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distributions, including the applicable premium, if any, to which they are entitled, the holders of the Preferred Stock will have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets. Our consolidation or merger with or into any other corporation, trust or entity, or the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all of our assets or business, is not be deemed to constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us for purposes of the Preferred Stock.
Q: Are holders of Preferred Stock entitled to dividends?
A: The holders of the Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock are entitled to cumulative quarterly dividends equal to 9.375% and 9.125% of the $25.00 liquidation preference per annum (equivalent to $2.34375 and $2.28125 per share), respectively, which is equal to an aggregate of $14.9 million per year. Dividends on the Preferred Stock accrue whether or not current payment of dividends is prohibited, whether or not we have earnings, whether or not there are funds legally available for the payment of such dividends and whether or not such dividends are declared. Accrued but unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock accumulate as of the dividend payment date on which they first become payable.
Q: May the Company redeem the Preferred Stock?
A: We may not redeem the Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock prior to May 28, 2009 and November 23, 2009, respectively. On or after those dates, we may, at our option, redeem the Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock, as applicable, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, for cash at $25.00 per share, plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, if any, to and including the redemption date. The Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock have a minimum liquidation preference of $25.00 per share, or an aggregate liquidation preference of approximately $161.8 million.
Q: What happens if the Company does not declare and pay dividends to the holders of Preferred Stock?
A: Unless full cumulative dividends on the Preferred Stock have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof is set apart for payment for all past dividend periods and the then current dividend period: (i) no dividends (other than in shares of Common Stock or in shares of any series of preferred stock that we may issue ranking junior to the preferred stock as to the payment of distributions and the distribution of assets upon liquidation) shall be declared or paid or set aside for payment; (ii) no distribution shall be declared or made upon shares of our Common Stock; and (iii) no shares of our Common Stock shall be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any moneys be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such shares) by us.
In addition, if we do not pay dividends on our Preferred Stock for six or more quarterly periods (whether or not consecutive), the holders of the Preferred Stock (voting together as a single class) will be entitled to elect two directors to our Board of Directors to serve until all accumulated and unpaid dividends have been paid or declared and set apart for payment. Our failure to pay dividends on the Preferred Stock for the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009 constitute two quarterly periods for purpose of this determination.
Q: How does the Board Recommend I vote on the proposal?
A: The Board recommends a vote FOR approval of the amendments to the Company's Charter to modify the terms of the Preferred Stock.
Since 2007, our management has been seriously challenged by the unprecedented turmoil in the mortgage market, including the following: significant increases in delinquencies and foreclosures; significant increases I credit-related losses; declines in originations; tightening of warehouse credit and the virtual elimination of the market for loan securitizations. As a result, we discontinued certain operations, resolved and terminated all but one of our reverse repurchase lines, which was restructured, satisfied $33.0 million of trust preferred securities for $4.95 million, exchanged $51.3 million in trust preferred securities for new notes and settled a portion of our outstanding repurchase claims, while also reducing our operating costs and liabilities.
One of our goals in this challenging market environment has been to align the costs of our operations to our cash flows. The approval and implementation of the proposed amendments to our Charter would reduce the Company's continuing obligation to pay or accumulate quarterly dividends on the Preferred Stock, thereby allowing the Company to use or preserve cash for other purposes. Currently, the aggregate dividends on the outstanding Preferred Stock total approximately $14.9 million per year.
We believe the significant reduction or elimination of the Preferred Stock sought in the Purchase Offer and the elimination of the related dividends through the proposed amendments to our Charter will give us the enhanced balance sheet flexibility to operate and grow our business. We additionally believe that with an improved capital structure there are multiple business opportunities we can pursue to enhance stockholder value that have not previously been feasible.
If the proposed amendments to our Charter are not approved and implemented, there may be a near-term negative effect on our business, results of operations, and financial position, including the potential inability to satisfy our liabilities and the long-term dividend-related cash requirements of our Preferred Stock and obligations pursuant to the terms of our remaining trust preferred securities. If we do not successfully complete the Purchase Offer and obtain the requisite approvals of the holders of the Common Stock and the holders of the Preferred Stock to the proposed amendments to our Charter, we will not pay the accumulated and unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock and we currently do not intend to continue making dividend payments on our Preferred Stock, which could adversely affect our business. If we do not pay dividends on our Preferred Stock for six or more quarterly periods (whether or not consecutive), the holders of the Preferred Stock will be entitled to elect two directors to our Board of Directors. Our failure to make dividend payments for the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009 counts as two quarterly periods of nonpayment towards the potential triggering of this right.
Our Board of Directors is soliciting the enclosed proxy. We will bear the cost of this solicitation of proxies. Solicitations will be made by mail. We may, in a limited number of instances, solicit proxies personally or by telephone. The Company has retained D.F. King & Co., Inc., a proxy solicitation firm, for assistance with the distribution of the materials to beneficial stockholders and the solicitation of proxies for the special meeting at a cost of approximately $20,000 and reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. We will reimburse banks, brokerage firms, other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable expenses incurred in sending proxy materials to beneficial owners of our common stock.shares.
Our annual report to stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2008 will be concurrently provided to each stockholder at the time we send this proxy statement and the enclosed proxy and is not to be considered a part of the proxy-soliciting material.
Voting Requirements & Procedures
Your vote is important. If you hold your shares as a record holder, yourYour shares can be voted at the annual meetingMeeting only if you are present in person at the meeting or your shares are represented by proxy. Even if you plan to attend the Meeting, we urge you to vote by proxy in advance. YouUnder Maryland law, a stockholder may authorize another person as proxy to vote your shares by using one of the following three methods: (1) you may vote by mail, by marking your proxy card, and then date, sign and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided; (2)via electronic or telephonic means. Therefore, you may direct your vote electronically by accessing the website located at www.voteproxy.com and following the on-screen instructions;instructions or (3) you may vote by calling the toll-free number listed on your proxy card. Please have your proxy card in hand when going online or calling.If you instruct the voting of your shares electronically, or telephonically, you do not need to return your proxy card.card
. If you choose to vote by mail, simply mark your proxy card, and then date, sign and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided.
Stockholders who hold yourtheir shares beneficially in street name through a nominee (such as a bank or stock broker), you may be able to vote by telephone or the Internet as well as by mail. You should follow the instructions you receive from your nominee to vote these shares. If you are a stockholder who owns shares through a
broker and attends the Meeting intending to vote at the Meeting, you should bring a letter from your broker identifying you as the beneficial owner of the shares and acknowledging that you will vote your shares.
Holders of our common stockCommon Stock of record at the close of business on April 27,, 2009 (the "Record Date") will be entitled to vote at the Meeting. There were 7,618,146 shares of common stock,Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, outstanding at that date. Each share of our common stockCommon Stock is entitled to one vote and the presence, in person or by proxy, of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stockCommon Stock is necessary to constitute a quorum for the Meeting.
If a proxy in the accompanying form is duly executed and returned, the shares represented by the proxy will be voted as directed. All properly executed proxies delivered pursuant to this solicitation and not revoked will be voted at the Meeting in accordance with the directions given. If you sign and return your proxy card without giving specific voting instructions, your shares will be voted FOR the nomineesproposal to our boardamend the Company's Charter to modify the terms of directors.the Preferred Stock. Representatives of our transfer agent will assist us in the tabulation of the votes.
The amendments to the Company's Charter to modify the terms of each of our existing series of Preferred Stock requires the affirmative vote of holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to cast a pluralitymajority of all of the votes entitled to be cast aton the Meeting (i.e. the six director-nominees who receive the greatest number of votes) at which a quorum is present is necessary for the election of a director. You may vote in favor of all nominees, withhold your voteproposal, as to all nominees or withhold your votewell as to specific nominees. Ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm will require the affirmative
vote of the holders of a majority662/3% of the votes castoutstanding shares of the Preferred Stock, voting as a single class separate from the holders of Common Stock. We are not seeking the approval of the holders of the Preferred Stock at the Meeting.Meeting but are seeking that approval in the consent solicitation that is part of the Purchase Offer.
Effect of Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes
An abstention is the voluntary act of not voting by a stockholder who is present at a meeting and entitled to vote. Abstentions will not be counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on the election of directors.
A broker non-vote occurs when a broker nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the nominee does not have discretionary power for that particular item and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner. None
Abstentions and broker non-votes will be treated as present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum. However, abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect as a vote "against" the proposal to amend the terms of the proposals are subject to broker non-votes.preferred stock.
Any proxy given may be revoked at any time prior to its exercise by notifying the Secretary of Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc.the Company in writing of such revocation, by duly executing and delivering another proxy bearing a later date (including an Internet or telephone vote), or by attending and voting in person at the Meeting.
Interest of Executive Officers and Directors
None of the Company's executive officers or directors has any interest in any of the matters to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting, except, with respect to each director, to the extent that a director is named as a nominee for election to the Board of Directors.
Householding
"Householding" "Householding" is a program, approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC""SEC"), which allows companies and intermediaries (e.g.(e.g., brokers) to satisfy the delivery requirements for proxy statements and annual reports by delivering only one package of stockholder proxy materials to any household at which two or more stockholders reside. If you and other residents at your mailing address own shares of our common stockCommon Stock in street name, your broker or bank may have notified you that your household will receive only one copy of our proxy materials. Once you have received notice from your broker that they will be "householding" materials to your address, "householding" will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent. If, at any time, you no longer wish to participate in "householding" and would prefer to receive a separate proxy statement, or if you are receiving multiple copies of the proxy statement and wish to receive only one, please notify your broker if your shares are held in a brokerage account. If you hold shares of our common stockCommon Stock in your own name as a holder of record, "householding" will not apply to your shares.
Postponement or Adjournment of Meeting
If a quorum is not present or represented, our bylaws permit the stockholders entitled to vote at the Meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, to adjourn the Meeting from time to time to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date without notice other than the announcement at the Meeting.
PROPOSAL NO. 1ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Our directors are elected annually to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and thereafter until their successors are elected and qualify. Accordingly, a board of six directors is to be elected at the Meeting, all of whom have been recommended for nomination by the members of the Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee of the Board. Our charter and bylaws currently provide for a variable number of directors with a range of between one and fifteen members. The size of our Board of Directors is set at six. No proxy may vote for more than six nominees for director.
Unless otherwise directed by stockholders within the limits set forth in the bylaws, the proxy holders will vote all shares represented by proxies held by them for the election of the maximum number of the following nominees, all of whom are now members of and constitute our Board of Directors. We have been advised that all of the nominees have indicated their availability and willingness to serve if elected. In the event that any nominee becomes unavailable or unable to serve as a director, prior to the voting, the proxy holders will refrain from voting for the unavailable nominee or will vote for a substitute nominee in the exercise of their best judgment.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" ALL NOMINEES.
Information Concerning Director Nominees
Joseph R. Tomkinson has been Chairman of the Board since April 1998 and Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Company since its formation in August 1995. Mr. Tomkinson was also an officer and director of a real estate investment trust investing in commercial mortgage assets and a specialty finance company until its sale. Mr. Tomkinson brings over 28 years of combined experience in real estate, real estate financing and mortgage banking.
William S. Ashmore has been President of the Company since August 1995 and a Director since July 1997. Mr. Ashmore also served as the Chief Operating Officer from August 1995 to May 2006. Mr. Ashmore has over 30 years of combined experience in real estate, asset liability management, risk management, and mortgage banking. Mr. Ashmore received a B.S. degree in Psychology from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1971 and a Master's degree in Social Psychology from California State University at Northridge in 1974.
James Walsh has been a Director of IMH since August 1995. Since January 2000, he has been Managing Director of Sherwood Trading and Consulting Corporation.
Frank P. Filipps has been a Director of IMH since August 1995. From April 2005 to July 2008, Mr. Filipps was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Clayton Holdings, Inc., a mortgage services company. From June 1999 to April 2005, Mr. Filipps was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Radian Group, Inc. (NYSE: RDN) and its principal subsidiary, Radian Guaranty, Inc., which were formed through a merger of Amerin and Commonwealth Mortgage Assurance Company. Mr. Filipps has been a director and a member of the compensation committee of the Board of Directors of Primus Guaranty, Ltd. (NYSE: PRS), a holding company primarily engaged in selling credit protection against investment grade credit obligations of corporate and sovereign entities, since September 2004. Mr. Flipps received a B.S. in Economics in 1969 from Rutgers University and a Master's degree in Corporate Finance and International Business in 1972 from New York University.
Stephan R. Peers has been a Director of IMH since October 1995. Since January 2005, Mr. Peers has been an independent financial advisor. From September 2001 to January 2005, Mr. Peers was a Managing Director of Sandler O'Neill & Partners, LP practicing corporate finance covering financial institutions. Mr. Peers has a B.S. in Engineering from Manhattan College in 1974, a M.S. in Engineering from Stanford University in 1975 and an MBA from Stanford University in 1979.
Leigh J. Abrams has been a Director of IMH since April 2001 and lead independent director since June 2005. Mr. Abrams became chairman of the board of Drew Industries Incorporated (NYSE: DW), which manufactures a wide variety of components for recreational vehicles and manufactured homes, in
January 2009. Prior to that, since August 1979, Mr. Abrams previously served as the President and Chief Executive Officer, from which he resigned in May 2008 and December 2008, respectivly. Mr. Abrams has served as a director of Drew Industries since August 1979. Mr. Abrams, a CPA, has over 35 years of experience in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and operations. Mr. Abrams received a BBA in Accounting from Brauch College in 1964.
Executive Officers
The following table provides certain information regarding the executive officers of IMH, but who do not serve as directors of IMH:
Todd R. Taylor served as the Chief Accounting Officer of the Company from October 2007 until February 2008 when he was appointed to the position of Interim Chief Financial Officer. He was then appointed Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President in November 2008. Mr. Taylor joined IMH in October 2004 as the Senior Vice President, Controller and served in this position until he was promoted to Senior Vice President and Director of Accounting in June 2006. Mr. Taylor served as the Senior Vice President and Director of Accounting until October 2007 when he was promoted to Chief Accounting Officer. Prior to joining IMH, Mr. Taylor served as the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary for Primal Solutions, Inc. from August 2003 until October 2004. Mr. Taylor earned his B.A. degree in Business from California State University at Fullerton, and is a certified public accountant.
Ronald M. Morrison became General Counsel in July 1998 and was promoted to Executive Vice President in August 2001. In July 1998 he was also elected Secretary of IMH and in August 1998 he was elected Secretary of our mortgage operations and our warehouse lending operations.
Family Relationships
There are no family relationships between any of the directors or executive officers of IMH.
Corporate Governance and Board Matters
Vacancies
All directors are elected at each annual meeting of stockholders for a term of one year and hold office until their successors are elected and qualify. Any vacancy on the Board of Directors for any cause, other than an increase in the number of directors, may be filled by a majority vote of the remaining directors, unless such majority is less than a quorum. Replacements for vacancies occurring among the unaffiliated directors will be elected by a majority vote of the remaining directors, including a majority of the unaffiliated directors. Any vacancy in the number of directors created by an increase in the number of directors may be filled by a majority vote of the entire Board of Directors.
Board Member Independence
While we are not a listed company on the NYSE, for purposes of this proxy statement and pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, we have applied the listing standards of the NYSE in
determining the "independence" of the members of our Board of Directors. Based the listing standards of the NYSE and after reviewing the relationships with members of our Board, our Board of Directors has determined, with the assistance of the Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee that, with the exception of Mr. Tomkinson, our CEO, and Mr. Ashmore, our President, the members of the Board of Directors qualify as independent. The Governance and Nomination Committee reviews with the Board at least annually the qualifications of new and existing Board members, considering the level of independence of individual members, together with such other factors as the Board may deem appropriate, including overall skills and experience. The Governance and Nomination Committee also evaluates the composition of the Board as a whole and each of its committees to ensure the Company's on-going compliance with the independence standards of the NYSE.
In reviewing the independence of its Board members, the Board of Directors reviewed relationships with Messers. Filipps and Peers. From April 2005 to July 2008, Mr. Filipps was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Clayton Holdings, Inc., a mortgage services company. A subsidiary of Clayton provided loan due diligence services to IFC by analyzing a pool of loans that the Company was considering purchasing, and verified that the loans met the Company's internal mortgage underwriting standards. Clayton's subsidiary also confirmed that the information contained in the loan files was accurate and complete. Neither Clayton nor its subsidiary provided compliance or other consulting services for the Company. The Company engaged Clayton's subsidiaries prior to the commencement of Mr. Filipps' employment with Clayton and did not pay Mr. Filipps directly for any of these services. While the Company did not pay any fees to Clayton in 2008 or 2007, the Company paid $29 thousand in 2006 for the loan verification services, which amount did not exceed the 2% of the gross revenues of Clayton. Mr. Filipps was not paid a bonus and did not receive any other compensation from Clayton or its subsidiary as a result of the Company's dealings with Clayton or its subsidiaries. Mr. Filipps was not involved with the day-to-day business dealings between the Company and Clayton, and there did not appear to be any direct benefit to Mr. Filipps arising from this relationship.
The Board of Directors also reviewed and analyzed Stephan Peers' status as an independent director. In the fourth quarter of 2008, Mr. Peers was appointed to a special committee of the Board of Directors, which committee has focused on strategic goals of the Company and has required a large amount of time from Mr. Peers. The Board of Directors, however, believes that that Mr. Peers' service on the special committee has not jeopardized his status as an independent director as he is continuing to serve in the capacity as a director. Based on the above facts and circumstances, the Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Filipps and Peers continue to qualify as independent directors applying the standards of the NYSE.
None of the other non-employee directors currently have any material relationship with the Company, its parents or its subsidiaries (either directly or as a partner, stockholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company, its parents or its subsidiaries).
Attendance at Board and Committee Meetings
Our Board of Directors met seventeen times during 2008. Each director attended at least 75% of the aggregate of the total number of meetings held by the Board of Directors and a majority of the total number of meetings held by those committees of the Board of Directors on which such director served.
We encourage all directors to attend the annual meeting of stockholders. In 2008, three of our directors attended the annual meeting of stockholders.
Committees and Corporate Governance
The current standing committees of our Board of Directors are the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, and the Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee. Each of these committees has a written charter approved by our Board of Directors. The members of the committees and a description of the principal responsibilities of each committee are described below.
Our Board of Directors has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines. The Corporate Governance Guidelines include items such as criteria for director qualifications, director responsibilities, committees of the board, director access to officers and employees, director compensation, orientation and continuing education, evaluation of the CEO, annual performance evaluation and management succession. The Board of Directors has chosen not to impose term limits with regard to service on the board in the belief that continuity of service and the past contributions of the board members who have developed an in-depth understanding of the Company and its business over time bring a seasoned approach to IMH's governance. Each director is to act on a good faith basis and informed business judgment in a manner such director reasonably believes to be in the best interest of the Company.
A copy of each committee charter and our Corporate Governance Guidelines can be found on our website at www.impaccompanies.com by clicking "Stockholder Relations" and then "Corporate Governance," and is available in print upon request to the Secretary of Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc., 19500 Jamboree Road, Irvine, California 92612.
The Audit Committee
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors consists of three directors, all of whom are independent pursuant to the Director Independence Standards of the NYSE and other SEC rules and regulations applicable to audit committees. The following directors are currently members of the Audit Committee: Frank P. Filipps, who serves as the chairman, Leigh J. Abrams, and Stephan R. Peers. The Board of Directors has determined that Frank P. Filipps qualifies as an audit committee financial expert, as such term is defined by Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). During 2008, the Audit Committee met twelve times.
The purpose of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibility relating to: (i) the integrity of the Company's financial statements and financial reporting process and its system of internal accounting and financial controls, (ii) the performance of the internal audit function, (iii) the performance of the independent auditors, which would include an evaluation of the independent auditor's qualifications and independence, (iv) the Company's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, including disclosure controls and procedures, and (v) the preparation of an Audit Committee report to be included in the Company's annual proxy statement.
The Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee is responsible for (1) recommending to our Board of Directors the cash and non-cash compensation of our executive officers as defined in the rules promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, (2) evaluating the performance of our executive officers, (3) recommending to our Board of Directors the cash and non-cash compensation policies for our non-employee directors, (4) making recommendations to our Board of Directors with respect to incentive compensation and equity-based plans that are subject to Board approval, (5) recommending to the Board of Directors on whether the compensation discussion and analysis should be included in the proxy or Form 10-K, and (6) assisting our Board of Directors in evaluating potential candidates for executive officer positions with the Company. The Compensation Committee met ten times during 2008. During 2008, the Compensation Committee consisted of James Walsh (Chairman), Leigh J. Abrams and Stephan R. Peers.
The Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee
The Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee assists the Board of Directors in (1) identifying qualified individuals to become members of the Board of Directors, (2) determining the composition of the Board of Directors and its committees, (3) selecting the director nominees for the next annual meeting of stockholders, (4) monitoring a process to assess board, committee and management effectiveness, (5) aiding and monitoring management succession planning and (6) developing, implementing and monitoring policies and processes related to our corporate governance. During 2008, the Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee consisted of Stephan R. Peers (Chairman) and James Walsh. The committee met one time during 2008.
The Director Nomination Process. The Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee has the authority to lead the search for individuals qualified to become members of the Company's Board of Directors and to select or recommend to the Board of Directors director nominees to be presented for stockholder approval. The committee will select individuals who have high personal and professional integrity, have demonstrated ability and sound judgment and were or are effective, in conjunction with other director nominees, in collectively serving the long-term interests of our stockholders. The committee may use its network of contacts to compile a list of potential candidates, but may also engage, if it deems appropriate, a professional search firm. The committee may meet to discuss and consider candidates' qualifications and then choose a candidate by majority vote.
Submission for Proxy Materials. The Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee will consider nominees recommended in good faith by our stockholders as long as these nominees for the appointment to the Board of Directors meet the requirements set forth in our Corporate Governance Guidelines as follows: the Board of Directors will consist of a majority of directors who (1) qualify as "independent" directors within the meaning of the listing standards of the NYSE, as the same may be amended from time to time; (2) meet the applicable requirements to be "unaffiliated" as defined in the Company's Bylaws, as may be amended from time to time; and (3) are affirmatively determined by the Board to have no material relationship with the Company, its parents or its subsidiaries (either directly or as a partner, stockholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company, its parents or its subsidiaries). Possible candidates who have been suggested by stockholders are evaluated by the Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee in the same manner as are other possible candidates. Stockholders are hereby notified that if they wish their director-nominee(s) to be included in our proxy statement and form of proxy relating to the 2010 annual meeting of stockholders, they must submit, in writing, the candidate's name, credentials, contact information, along with the other information set forth below, and his or her written consent to be considered as a candidate, to our Secretary no later than January 18, 2010. If the date of next year's annual meeting is changed by more than 30 days from the date of this year's meeting, then the deadline is a reasonable time before we begin to print and mail proxy materials. Director nominations must comply with the proxy rules relating to stockholder proposals, in particular Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, in order to be included in our proxy materials.
Submission for Consideration at Annual Meeting. Stockholders who wish to submit a director-nominee for consideration at the next annual meeting, but who do not wish to submit the nominee for inclusion in our proxy statement, must, in accordance with our Bylaws, deliver the information no earlier than the 90th day prior to the first anniversary of this annual meeting, nor later than the 60th day prior to the first anniversary of this annual meeting. In the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than 30 days or delayed by more than 60 days from the first anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting, then notice must be delivered not earlier than the 90th day prior to such annual meeting and no later than the close of business on the later of the 60th day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. If the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased and there is no public announcement
naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors made by us at least 70 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting, a stockholder's nomination will be deemed timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it is delivered to our Secretary not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made by us. Public announcement means disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable news service or in a document that we publicly file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
The proposing stockholder must provide (1) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director (a) all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act and (b) such person's written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected, and (2) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, (a) the name and address of such stockholder, as it appears on our books, and of such beneficial owner and (b) the number of shares of each class of our stock that are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.
We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. This code of ethics applies to our directors, executive officers and employees. This code of ethics is publicly available in the corporate governance section of the stockholder relations page of our website located at www.impaccompanies.com and in print upon request to the Secretary at Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc., 19500 Jamboree Road, Irvine, California, 92612. If we make amendments to the code of ethics or grant any waiver that the SEC requires us to disclose, we will disclose the nature of such amendment or waiver on our website.
Stockholder Communication with Our Board of Directors.
Stockholders who wish to contact any of our directors either individually or as a group may do so by writing them c/o Ronald M. Morrison, Secretary, Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc., 19500 Jamboree Road, Irvine, California 92612, by telephone at (949) 475-3942 or by email tormorrison@impaccompanies.com specifying whether the communication is directed to the entire board or to a particular director. Stockholder letters are screened, which includes filtering out improper or irrelevant topics such as solicitations, by Company personnel, based on criteria established and maintained by our Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee.
Compensation of Board Members
The compensation of the Company's non-employee directors is described below.
Board Fees. The Company's non-employee directors are paid the following fees: (i) an annual fee of $40,000; (ii) a meeting fee of $2,500; (iii) for services on the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance Committee, fees of $2,500, $1,000 and $1,000, respectively, per meeting; (iv) an annual fee payable to the chairperson of each of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance Committee of $20,000, $5,000 and $5,000, respectively; and (v) an annual fee payable to the lead independent director of $10,000.
Equity Awards. Non-employee directors typically receive an annual equity award of options to purchase 4,000 shares of the Company's common stock (the "Director Stock Options"), or instead, at the election of the individual director, a number of shares of restricted Company common stock equal in value to the number of Director Stock Options (based on the binomial value of the Director Stock Options) not taken by such director. No dividend equivalent rights will be issued with respect to the
Director Stock Options granted, although the existing dividend equivalent rights on prior option grants continue to be retained.
Special Services. From time to time, the Company's non-employee directors may be asked to engage in special director services, whether or not a committee of the board has been formed for such purpose. Such services have included and may include strategic reviews, strategic transaction oversight, independent major litigation oversight and like matters involving substantially greater commitments of time from the relevant directors. In such circumstances, the Committee and Board have determined that the directors engaged in such efforts shall receive a fee of $25,000 per quarter for the duration of such service, and any designated director or committee chair appointed shall receive a quarterly fee of $50,000. Such fees shall be paid whether or not the matter concludes in a transaction or other specific result and may be adjusted upward or downward based on the amount of work required and any other criteria the Committee and Board deem appropriate. Stephan Peers was paid $150,000 in 2008 in connection with services on a special committee of the board. Set forth below is the compensation earned for our non-employee directors during 2008. Messrs. Tomkinson and Ashmore received no additional compensation for their services as directors.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION FOR 2008
Name | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) | Stock Awards ($) (1) | Option Awards ($) (2) | Total ($) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
James Walsh | 96,000 | 10,271 | 34,429 | 140,700 | ||||
Frank P. Filipps | 130,000 | 10,271 | 34,429 | 174,700 | ||||
Stephan R. Peers (3) | 278,500 | 10,271 | 34,429 | 323,200 | ||||
William E. Rose (4) | 36,000 | - - | 41,403 | 77,403 | ||||
Leigh J. Abrams | 132,500 | 10,271 | 34,429 | 177,200 |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATIONPROPOSAL NO 1:
MODIFY TERMS OF PREFERRED STOCK
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Overview of Compensation Policies and Objectives
The Compensation Committee of Since 2007, our Board of Directors administers the policies governing our executive compensation program. All issues pertaining to executive compensation are reviewed and approvedmanagement has been seriously challenged by the Compensation Committee and, where appropriate, approved by our Board of Directors. The Committee focuses on designing our executive compensation program to achieve the following objectives in a market competitive manner:
Since 2007, the Company has been significantly affected by concerns over declining home prices and the general economic environment. These concerns have led to deteriorationunprecedented turmoil in the value and quality ofmortgage market, including the Company's loans held-for-sale and long-term mortgage portfolio, as evidenced by thefollowing: significant increases in delinquencies foreclosures and foreclosures; significant increases in credit-related losses; declines in originations; tightening of warehouse credit losses. Existing conditions are unprecedented and inherently involve significant risks and uncertainty to the Company. In response to the overall market conditions beginning in 2007, the Company discontinued several businesses and continues to adjust its business strategies to adapt to the current business environment. During 2008, the Company's employees reduced from 827 to 127. Due to the uncertainty of both the general economy and with ongoing business operations, the Company has not established new incentive programs for Joseph R. Tomkinson, our CEO, and William S. Ashmore, our President, and other executive officers of Impac. Currently, the Compensation Committee's goal is to provide executive management incentive compensation that will motivate them in the near future to successfully implement the Company's short-term strategies and to preserve, and generate interest income on, the mortgage portfolio and to initiate and generate net earnings from new mortgage-related fee based businesses.
Compensation Decision-Making
General Background. We rely upon our judgment in making compensation decisions, after reviewing the performancevirtual elimination of the Company, including its short- and long-term strategies, current economic and market conditions, and carefully evaluating an executive's performance during the year against established goals, leadership qualities, operational performance, business responsibilities, and career with the Company, current compensation arrangements and long-term potential to enhance stockholder value. Our main objective in establishing compensation arrangements is to set criteria that are consistent with the Company's business strategies. Generally, in evaluating performance, we review the following criteria:
Our executive compensation program and policies depends on the position and responsibilities for each executive officer but remain consistent with our objectives. We seek to achieve an appropriate mix between guaranteed and at-risk compensation, as well as a balance between cash and equity compensation. Our mix of compensation elements is designed not only to reward past performance, but also to proactively encourage long-term future performance through a combination of cash and equity incentive awards. Although these criteria continue to generally form a basis of the Compensation Committee's decision-making, the events during the past year have altered how the Committee determines compensation for the near future. Due to the change in the Company's business and the economic environment, the function of our executive officers changed from one of seeking growth to one of business survival.
Given this dramatic change in our business operations, the criteria that are used to evaluate performance have also adjusted. Prior to and during a short period of 2008, key financial measurements such as taxable net income (loss), return on equity, common equity distributions, total assets, book value per common share were factors that we used in making compensation decisions. However, in light of the change in our business strategies, the Compensation Committee's focus in 2008 was to provide incentive to the executive officers to ensure the survival of the Company.
Role of Management, Consultants and Peers Groups
In reviewing and making compensation decisions of other executive officers, the Committee has in the past and may in the future consult with the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Joseph R. Tomkinson, President, William S. Ashmore and other executive officers. These officers review the performance of the other executive officers, provide annual recommendations for individual management objectives, and provide input on strategic initiatives. Mr. Tomkinson has also been given authority to negotiate employment terms for executive that report to him within certain parameters as approved by the Compensation Committee.
In some cases, prior to 2008 we have reviewed reports from consultants to assist us in determining appropriate compensation arrangements for executive officers. We also have reviewed publicly available compensation of peer companies with which we compete in various business segments. These companies have included Countrywide Home Loans, IndyMac Bancorp, NovaStar Financial, Inc., Arbor Realty Trust Inc., American Home Mortgage Investment Corp., Annaly Mortgage Management, Inc., Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation, Capstead Mortgage Corp., Hanover Capital Mortgage Holdings Inc., MFA Mortgage Investments, Inc., Redwood Trust, Inc., Saxon Capital, Inc., and Thornburg Mortgage Asset Corporation., some of which are no longer operating businesses. We believe that prior to 2008, the salaries of our Chief Executive Officer and President fell within the median of the amounts awarded by the peer group companies to their respective officers.
Although the Compensation Committee has explored the use of compensation consultants, and has used compensation consultants in the past, it did not use or rely on reports of compensation consultants during 2008 in connection with determining appropriate compensation and arrangements for Messrs. Tomkinson, Ashmore, Taylor and Morrison due to the uncertainty of the current business environment and the unprecedented interruption of the Company's business model.
Elements of our Executive Compensation Program
Historically and for 2008, our executive compensation program consisted of the following elements:
We do not have formal policies relating to the allocation of total compensation among the various elements. However, both management and the Committee believe that the more senior the position an executive holds, the more influence they have over our financial performance. Prior to 2008, it was believed that a greater amount of an officer's compensation should be at-risk based on the Company's performance.
Upon the expiration of the previous 5-year employment agreements with Messrs. Tomkinson and Ashmore as of December 31, 2007 and the change in the mortgage market and the Company's business operations, the Compensation Committee began to analyze the most appropriate mix of compensation for these executive officers. Because the market continued to deteriorate during 2007 and 2008 and had materially changed since the previous employment contracts were approved, the Compensation Committee believes that short-term contracts would be more appropriate in this current market environment. In 2007 and 2008, the Company entered into new employment agreements with the current executive officers and developed new terms, which they believe take into account the current economic environment and the Company's operations. These employment agreements are described below under "Employment Agreements."
Base Salary
The Committee typically sets an executive's base salary with the objective of attracting and retaining highly qualified individuals for the relevant position and rewarding individual performance. When setting and adjusting individual executive salary levels, the Committee considers the relevant established salary range, the executive officer's responsibilities, experience, potential, individual performance, and contribution to the Company. The Committee also considers other factors such as our overall corporate budget for annual merit increases, unique skills, demand in the labor market and succession planning.
In determining the current base salaries for Messrs. Tomkinson and Ashmore, the Compensation Committee considered whether goals and standards should be established. After review of the mortgage market, the efforts needed to succeed in the current market and the need to retain management to ensure the continuation and success of the Company, the Compensation Committee determined that their current salaries remain in place, without any automatic adjustment and that there be no bonus incentives in place for the next two years (2008 and 2009). These shorter agreement terms allow Messrs. Tomkinson and Ashmore a period of time to implement new strategies and goals for the Company and will provide the Compensation Committee the ability to re-evaluate their base salaries in light of the Company's success in the market that will exist at that time. This same approach was also taken for Messers. Taylor and Morrison. Mr. Taylor's base salary was increased as a result of his appointments as interim and then Chief Financial Officer.
Quarterly and Annual Cash-Based Incentive Compensation
Historically, we have used cash-based incentive compensation to emphasize and reward the attainment of certain annual or quarterly financial goals and corporate or individual performance metrics. The objective was to select performance metrics that provide a meaningful measure of our success in implementing our short-term business strategies that yield long-term benefits, such as increasing or maintaining the amount of mortgage loans in the Company's long-term mortgage portfolio, credit quality and portfolio earnings and increasing taxable income and distributions to stockholders.
As discussed above, the change in the mortgage market and related business caused the Compensation Committee to change for 2008 its view of incentive compensation that is based on those factors. Instead, for Messrs. Tomkinson and Ashmore, as the Company is focusing on long-term success through an adverse market, the Compensation Committee believes that quarterly and annual cash-based incentive compensation based on financial performance is no longer appropriate. As such, cash-based incentive compensation was eliminated for Messrs. Tomkinson and Ashmore, Mr. Taylor receives bonuses based on internal management objectives and Mr. Morrison receives a discretionary bonus.
Performance Metrics. For the first half of 2008 and prior to that time, annual cash incentive awards were typically driven by a combination of taxable net income, return on equity, and production goals. Based on these performance metrics, contractual incentive compensation was directly tied to the Company's financial performance and the Company's success in achieving its goal of providing income for distribution to our stockholders. However, starting in 2008, due to the upheaval in the mortgage markets, these performance metrics were no longer used to determine cash incentive compensation.
We believe that these performance metrics in the past had contributed to our success in meeting our strategic objectives of maintaining and growing our overall business and contributed to the Company's goal to generate consistent and reliable income for distribution to our stockholders primarily from the earnings of our former operating businesses. However, these performance metrics are no longer suitable in the current market and are no longer applicable given that the Company is revoking its REIT status. As such, we currently focus on the accomplishment of individual performance objectives to measure an executive officer's success.
For 2008, in light of the Company's financial condition, neither Mr. Tomkinson nor Mr. Ashmore received any bonus compensation. However, based on the accomplishment of individual management objectives, Mr. Taylor received incentive compensation. Mr. Taylor's incentive compensation, which was initially limited to 50% of his base salary and then increased to 65% in light of his additional responsibilities when he was appointed as Chief Financial Officer in November 2008, is determined and paid on a quarterly basis. In 2008, it was based on internal company goals such as establishing an adequate control environment, and timely filing SEC reports. His 2009 performance objectives have also included completion of annual budgeting and company transactions. Mr. Morrison's bonus compensation is completely discretionary and may be based on his overall annual performance.loan securitizations. As a result, we discontinued certain operations, resolved and terminated all but one of our reverse repurchase lines, which was restructured, satisfied $33.0 million of trust preferred securities for $4.95 million, exchanged $51.3 million in trust preferred securities for new notes and settled a portion of our outstanding repurchase claims, while also reducing our operating costs and liabilities.
We did not pay dividends on the Company's financial condition, Mr. Taylor waived his bonus compensationPreferred Stock for the fourth quarter of 2008 and Mr. Morrison waived half of his annual bonus.
Stock-Based Plans and Equity Awards
We believe that long-term performance is aided by the use of stock-based awards which create an ownership culture amongst our executive officers that fosters beneficial, long-term performance by the Company. We have established an equity incentive plan to provide our employees, including our executive officers, as well as our directors and consultants, with incentives to help align their interests with the interests of stockholders. The Compensation Committee believes that the use of stock-based
awards promotes our overall executive compensation objectives and expects that stock options will continue to be a significant source of potential compensation for our executives. A substantial majority of our awards are non qualified stock option grants with time-based vesting, and in some cases, in the past, with dividend equivalent rights whereby the participant receives cash payments based on dividends paid on the Company's common stock. In the past, we have granted stock options with performance-based vesting and awards of restricted stock with time-based vesting, and since stock dividends were one of the components that we typically use to measure our performance, we have also granted stock options with DERs and restricted stock awards to align the long-range interest of our executive officers with the interests of our stockholders. However, since the first quarter of 2007,2009. As of March 31, 2009, the accumulated and unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock were $7.4 million in aggregate. We have also deferred payments on our trust preferred securities since December 2008. As of April 30, 2009, excluding the trust preferred securities that were recently exchanged for new notes, our outstanding deferred payments, including interest thereon, on our remaining trust preferred securities were $518,500 in aggregate. Plus, we have not declared a dividend on shares of our Common Stock since March 31, 2007.
On May , 2009, the Board approved amendments to the Company's Charter to modify the terms of our Preferred Stock as described in this proxy statement. The Board directed that a proposal to approve these amendments be submitted to the holders of Common Stock for their consideration at a special meeting, and to the holders of the Preferred Stock, voting as a single class separate from the holders of Common Stock, in a consent solicitation. The proposed amended text of the affected provisions of our Charter is set forth inAnnex A andAnnex B to this proxy statement, marked to show changes against the current text of the Charter. The proposed amendments would make the following changes to the provisions of each of the Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock:
The Committee believes granting stock optionsfrom electing to our executive officers encouragesredeem Preferred Stock prior to the creationfifth year anniversary of long-term value for our stockholders and promotes employee retention and stock ownership,the issuance of such Preferred Stock;
If the proposed amendments are approved by taking into consideration the officer's position with IMH, overall individual performance, our performance and an estimateholders of the long-term valueCommon Stock and the holders of Preferred Stock and the Purchase Offer is successfully completed, all holders of Preferred Stock (whether the shares were tendered or not) will receive payment of the award considering current base salaryaccumulated and unpaid dividends, but untendered shares of Preferred Stock will remain outstanding after completion of the Purchase Offer and will become subject to any cash bonus awarded. Other thanof the individual limitproposed amendments implemented.
Under Maryland law and our Charter, the approval of 500,000Proposal No. 1 requires the affirmative vote of holders of outstanding shares awarded during any fiscal year, we do not have any limitof Common Stock entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the amountproposal, and the vote or consent of options or awards that may be granted to any executive officer. The Compensation Committee determines the appropriate criteria for granting awards to executive officers, which generally includes individual performance, our strategic goals and our financial condition. The exercise priceholders of any stock option issued by us will be662/3% of the last quoted price onoutstanding shares of the Pink Sheets onPreferred Stock, voting as a single class separate from the grant date. The Compensation Committee generally has issued awards underholders of Common Stock. At the Company's equity incentive plan once a year.
2008 Grants
The Company made option grants to the executive officers in February 2008 to further incentivize them as the mortgage market continued to deteriorate. Messrs. Tomkinson and Ashmore received the largest awards of 200,000 options each in order to incentivize them to remain withMeeting, the Company and implement new business strategies. In order to promote retention and provide incentive to buildis seeking the Company's business, the 2008 option grants vest after two years and expire at the end of five years from the date of grant. Since the timeapproval of the 2008 option grants, the priceholders of the Company's common stock has continuedCommon Stock to decline so that all outstanding options have prices that are more thanamend our Charter to modify the current trading price, which means that all the options are "underwater." On April 28, 2009, each executive officer gave noticeterms of the surrender of their 2008 option grantsSeries B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock. The Company will require that the Board accepted and approved the cancellationholders of the options. Since we do not intend to rely as heavily on cash incentive compensation, we believe that we will continue to award more options in the future to individuals.
Fringe Benefits
Health Benefits
During 2008, we provided the following benefits to all of our U.S. salaried employees, including the Named Executive Officers: medical, dental and prescription coverage, company-paid short- and long- term disability insurance, and paid vacation and holidays.
Retirement Benefits
We maintain the Impac Companies 401(k) Savings Plan for all full time employees, including the executive officers, with at least six months of service. The 401(k) Plan provides that each participant may contribute up to 25% of salary pursuant to certain restrictions. The Company contributesPreferred Stock consent to the participant's plan account at the end of each plan year 50% of the first 4% of salary contributed by a
participant. Subjectmodifications to the rules for maintaining the tax status of the 401(k) Plan, an additional company contribution may be made at our discretion, as determined by the Board of Directors. Contributions made by us to the plan for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 were approximately $200,000 and $487,000, respectively.
Severance
Currently, all the executive officers are entitled to certain severance benefits under the terms of each officer's respective employment agreement, whichseries of Preferred Stock as a condition to tendering their shares in the Purchase Offer. We are on filenot seeking the approval of the holders of the Preferred Stock at the Meeting, but are seeking that approval in the consent solicitation that is part of the Purchase Offer.
If Proposal No. 1 is approved by holders of Common Stock at the Meeting, the amendments to modify the terms of each series of our Preferred Stock will not become effective with respect to any series unless it is also approved by the requisite consent of the holders of Preferred Stock and Articles of Amendment setting forth the amendments are filed with the SEC. Severance benefits are intendedState Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland. At any time before or after our stockholders approve the proposed amendments, our Board may determine to easemake less than all of the consequences of an unexpected or involuntary termination of employment and give the executive an opportunity to find new employment. The severance payments for the executive officers are currently for an 18 month period, and in the case of Mr. Taylor, 12 months. Although the current employment terms for Messrs. Tomkinson and Ashmore are for 2 years, their severance payments periods are also 18 months as the Committee believes that this period is reasonable in light of their positions, valuemodifications described above to the Company and lengthterms of service. We do not provide for change of control payments. Please see the discussion below entitled "Potential Payments upon Termination and Change-in Control" for a further description of severance payments for each Named Executive Officer.
Perquisites
The Committee typically prefers to compensate our executive officers in cash and equity rather than with perquisites and does not view perquisites as a significant elementany or all of our total compensation structure. Executive officers usually receive a car allowance.
Tax and Accounting Implications
Deductibilityseries of Executive Compensation
Under Section 162(m)Preferred Stock. If this occurs, we will file Articles of Amendment that include only the modifications that our Board determines to make. Even if some or all of the Internal Revenue Code, publicly-held corporations mayprovisions of the proposed amendments are approved by our stockholders as required by Maryland law and our Charter, we will not take a tax deduction for compensation in excessfile Articles of $1 million paidAmendment to amend our Charter to modify any of the executive officers named interms of our Preferred Stock unless a sufficient number of holders of Preferred Stock have tendered their Preferred Stock to allow us to complete the Summary Compensation Table duringPurchase Offer and all other conditions to closing the Purchase Offer have been satisfied or waived. In particular, even if the requisite stockholder approvals are obtained and a sufficient number of shares of Preferred Stock are validly tendered, we may delay completing repurchases under the Purchase Offer or terminate it and not implement any fiscal year. There is an exceptionof the proposed amendments to the $1 million limitation for performance-based compensation meeting certain requirements, including compensation based upon performance goals determined by a compensation committee consisting solely of two or more outside directors, the material terms of which are approved by a majority voteCharter, nor pay any of the stockholders prior toaccumulated and un paid dividends on the paymentPreferred Stock or the deferred amounts on the trust preferred securities, if at the time of such remuneration. Plus, performance objectives must be established in the first 90 daysexpiration of the performance period. To maintain flexibility in compensating executives in a manner designed to promote varying corporate goals, the compensation committee has not adopted a policy requiring all compensation to be deductible under 162(m). However, the Compensation Committee considers deductibility under Section 162(m) with respect to compensation arrangements for executives, and to the extent applicable, intends to qualify for the exception under 162(m). The incentive compensation under the new Employment Agreements with each of Messrs. Tomkinson and Ashmore and our 2001 Stock Plan are structured with the intent to meet the compensation deduction under Section 162(m).
The Compensation Committee regularly reviews our compensation programs to determine the deductibility of the future compensation paid or awarded pursuant thereto and will seek guidance with respect to changes to our existing compensation program that will enable IMH to continue to attract and retain key individuals while optimizing the deductibility to IMH of amounts paid as compensation. However, this policy does not rule out the possibility that compensation may be approved that may not qualify for the compensation deduction if, in light of all applicable circumstances, it would be in the best interests ofPurchase Offer the Company for such compensation to be paid.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
On October 22, 2004, the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 was signed into law, changing the tax rules applicable to nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements. While the final regulations are not yet effective, we believe we are operating in good faith compliance with statutory provisions that were effective on January 1, 2005. When the regulations are finalized, we will assess the impact on our compensation programs and make appropriate amendments.
Accounting for Share-Based Compensation
Beginning on January 1, 2006, we began accounting for our stock option awards in accordance with the requirements of FASB Statement 123R, "Share-Based Payments." Before we grant stock-based compensation awards, we consider the accounting impact of the award as structured and under various other scenarios in order to analyze the expected financial statement impact of the award.
Compensation Committee Report (1)
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, or CD&A, contained in this Proxy Statement. Based on this review and discussion, the Compensation Committee has recommended to the board of directors that the CD&A be included in this Proxy Statement.
Compensation Committee
James Walsh (Chairman)Leigh J. AbramsStephan R. Peers
The Company's Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock are currently quoted on the Securities and Exchange Commission, and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc. under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
During 2008, our compensation committee consisted of Messrs. Walsh, Abrams and Peers. During the fiscal year, no member of the compensation committee was, an officer or employee of IMH, nor was any member of the compensation committee formerly an officer of IMH. No member of the Compensation Committee during our 2008 fiscal year was part of a "compensation committee interlock" as described under SEC rules. In addition, none of our executive officers served as a director or compensation committee member of another entity that would constitute a "compensation committee interlock."
2008 Summary Compensation Table
The following table presents compensation earned by our executive officers for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 (the "Named Executive Officers"). The compensation of Messrs. Tomkinson, Taylor, Ashmore and Morrison is based on each of their employment agreements in effect during 2008, which are further described below under "Employment Agreements."over-the-counter Pink Sheets.
Summary Compensation Table for 2008Effects of the Proposed Amendments on the Company's Preferred Stock
Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary ($) | Bonus ($) | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($) | Option Awards ($)(1) | All Other Compensation ($)(2) | Total ($) | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Joseph R. Tomkinson | 2008 | 600,000 | - | - | 457,746 | 39,618 | 1,097,363 | |||||||
Chairman of the Board | 2007 | 613,846 | - | 163,779 | (38,865 | ) | 126,280 | 865,041 | ||||||
and Chief Executive Officer | 2006 | 600,000 | - | 426,241 | 32,060 | 276,301 | 1,334,602 | |||||||
Todd R. Taylor | 2008 | 277,875 | - - | 91,748 | (3) | 99,868 | 30,734 | 500,222 | ||||||
Executive Vice President and | ||||||||||||||
Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||||||||
William S. Ashmore | 2008 | 500,001 | - - | - - | 457,746 | 31,218 | 988,964 | |||||||
President of IMH; President | 2007 | 511,538 | - | 170,290 | 34,909 | 105,237 | 821,975 | |||||||
2006 | 500,000 | - | 443,186 | 155,622 | 227,467 | 1,326,275 | ||||||||
Ronald M. Morrison | 2008 | 385,000 | 96,250 | - - | 122,156 | 25,433 | 628,840 | |||||||
General Counsel and Secretary | ||||||||||||||
Andrew McCormick (4) | 2008 | 96,036 | - - | - - | - - | 6,033 | 102,069 | |||||||
Former Executive Vice President | 2007 | 358,077 | - | 675,000 | - | 33,686 | 1,066,763 | |||||||
and Chief Investment Officer |
In addition to the Consolidated Financial Statements includedeffects described above, the paragraphs below describe the effects of the proposed amendments to the Company's Charter to modify the terms of the Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock. Only holders of the Company's Preferred Stock who do not tender their shares in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K forPurchase Offer will remain holders of such Preferred Stock after the year ended December 31, 2008 for a discussionproposed modifications are approved by our stockholders and become effective. Our Board may determine to make less than all of the relevant assumptions used in calculating these amounts. The amounts expensed in 2007 reflect a reversalmodifications described herein to the terms of any or all of the expense recognizedSeries B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock, so the amendments, when they take effect, may not have all of the effects described in prior periods for Messrs. Tomkinsonthis proxy statement. The following summary of the effects of the proposed amendments does not purport to be complete and Ashmore's performance based options, which are described on footnote (1)is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the table entitled "Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2008," sincetext of the performance goals for 2007 related to those options were not met. The fair value of each performance based option was measured on the date of grant using the same assumptions used to value the service based options, and initially assumed that the performance goals would be achieved. If the goals are not met, no compensation cost is recognized and any recognized compensation cost is reversed. Since the performance goals for those options were not met, the Company reversed all previous expense recorded for those performance based options and is no longer recognizing any further expense related to those options.
Currently, our Charter provides that, whenever dividends on any series of Preferred Stock is in arrears for six or more quarterly periods, whether or not consecutive, the following table:
All Other CompensationPreferred Stock, voting as a single class together with any other series of preferred stock ranking on a parity with the Preferred Stock as to the payment of distributions and the distribution of assets upon liquidation (the "Parity Preferred ") upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, will be entitled to
Name | Car Allowance ($) | IMH 401 K Contributions ($) | Insurance Benefit IMH Portion ($) | Total ($) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Joseph R. Tomkinson | 14,400 | 7,668 | 17,550 | 39,618 | ||||
William S. Ashmore | 6,000 | 7,668 | 17,550 | 31,218 | ||||
Todd R. Taylor | 6,000 | 7,185 | 17,550 | 30,734 | ||||
Ronald M. Morrison | 5,000 | 7,668 | 12,765 | 25,433 | ||||
Andrew McCormick | 1,525 | - | 4,508 | 6,033 | ||||
elect two additional directors. The term of these two additional directors will end, and the number of directors will automatically decrease by two, at such time as all dividends accumulated on shares of the Preferred Stock or any Parity Preferred have been paid in full or declared and set apart for payment. Our failure to 50% of his base salary and then was increased to 65% when he was appointed as Chief Financial Officer. However, Mr. Taylor waived his incentive bonusmake dividend payments for the fourth quarter of 2008.2008 and the first quarter of 2009 counts as two quarterly periods of non-payment towards the potential triggering of this right.
Our Charter provides that, so long as shares of either series of the Preferred Stock remain outstanding, without the approval of holders of 662/3% of the outstanding shares of the Preferred Stock, voting as a single class together with any Parity Preferred that we may issue upon which like voting have been conferred and are exercisable, we may not:
The proposed amendments apply to each series of Preferred Stock and would eliminate all of the voting rights of the Preferred Stock described above, except for the right to approve certain amendments to our Charter. If approved, the proposed amendments would eliminate the right of holders of Preferred Stock to become involved in management of the Company by electing directors upon the Company's failure to pay dividends.
After the effectiveness of the proposed amendments, the sole voting right of holders of any series of Preferred Stock will be to approve any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the Company's Charter, whether by merger or consolidation or otherwise (each, an "Event"), so as to materially and adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power of that series of Preferred Stock or the holders thereof. The occurrence of an Event will not be considered to materially and adversely affect the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock if shares of the series (or shares issued by a surviving entity in November 2006, and was not a Named Executive Officer in 2006. He departedsubstitution for the series) remain outstanding with their terms materially unchanged (taking into account that upon the occurrence of an Event, the Company asmay not be the surviving entity). In addition, an increase in the number of March 31, 2008.
Currently, the Company's Charter provides that dividends on each existing series of Plan-Based AwardsPreferred Stock accrue and are cumulative, and holders of each series of Preferred Stock are entitled to receive
full cumulative dividends accrued on outstanding shares of each series of Preferred Stock for 2008
all past dividend periods (and any partial portion of the then-current dividend period) upon the occurrence of certain events, including the redemption of such shares or the Company's liquidation or dissolution. The following table sets forth non-equity plan awardsCompany must pay or declare and set apart for payment full cumulative dividends accrued for all past dividend periods on shares of each series of Preferred Stock before the Company may pay dividends on, or redeem or repurchase, shares of Common Stock, Parity Preferred or shares of stock ranking junior to the series of Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of distributions and the grantsdistribution of optionsassets upon liquidation ("Junior Preferred").
We did not make dividend payments for the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009, and the accumulated and unpaid dividends are $1.17 per share of Series B Preferred Stock and $1.14 per share of Series C Preferred Stock, which we will pay contemporaneously with completion of the Purchase Offer, if completed. Upon the effectiveness of the proposed amendments, the Preferred Stock will no longer have the right to receive dividends accrued during any past dividend period, including any dividend period ended before the proposed amendments become effective, and any dividends accrued during past dividend periods will no longer be payable upon redemption of shares of any series of Preferred Stock or upon liquidation or dissolution of the Company. The proposed amendments would eliminate each of the other restrictions described above and allow the Company to declare and pay dividends on shares of Common Stock, Parity Preferred or Junior Preferred, or redeem, repurchase or make other payments to holders of Common Stock, Parity Preferred or Junior Preferred without paying or setting apart for payment any dividends on shares of any series of Preferred Stock. The proposed amendments would also allow the Company to repurchase less than all of the shares of any series of Preferred Stock, or redeem or repurchase shares of another series of preferred stock, without declaring and paying or setting apart for payment any dividends on the other outstanding shares of Preferred Stock.
The proposed amendments will not change the other terms of the Preferred Stock relating to dividends, including the base rate at which dividends accrue, the payment dates for dividends or provisions of our Charter that require us, if we pay less than the full amount of dividends for any dividend period, to pay dividends among the holders of each series of the Preferred Stock pro rata, based on the respective amounts of unpaid dividends that are payable on each such share of Preferred Stock and Parity Preferred for such period.
The Company's Charter requires it, upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, to pay to the named executive officers during 2008.holders of each series of the Preferred Stock, the $25.00 liquidation preference per share, an amount equal to any accumulated and unpaid dividends to the date of payment, and a premium of $0.50 per share up to but not including May 28, 2009, in the case of the Series B Preferred Stock, and $0.50 per share up to but including November 23, 2009, in the case of the Series C Preferred Stock. The proposed amendments would eliminate the right to receive upon liquidation the amount of any accumulated and unpaid dividends and any premiums, although holders of the Preferred Stock would still be entitled to receive the liquidation preference per share.
Our Charter prohibits us from electing to redeem shares of each series of Preferred Stock prior to the applicable fifth year anniversary of the issuance of each series of Preferred Stock and, after such dates, permits us to redeem shares of each series of Preferred Stock for a redemption price equal to the $25.00 liquidation preference per share, plus all accumulated and unpaid dividends to and including the date fixed for redemption without interest. Our Charter requires us to declare and pay, or set apart for payment, all cumulative dividends for all past dividend periods on each series of Preferred Stock before we redeem less than all of the outstanding shares of that series of Preferred Stock. Further,
unless full cumulative dividends on all shares of any series of Preferred Stock shall have been, or contemporaneously are, declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for payment for all past dividend periods and the then current dividend period, no shares of that series of Preferred Stock shall be redeemed unless all outstanding shares of that series of Preferred Stock are simultaneously redeemed. The proposed amendments would allow the Company to complete any future repurchase offer or redemption without paying accumulated dividends on any shares of Preferred Stock, including any shares that will remain outstanding following the completion of the Purchase Offer.
The proposed amendments would also allow the Company to elect to redeem any number of shares of any series of Preferred Stock, at any time, for a redemption price equal to the liquidation preference per share, without paying or declaring and setting apart for payment any accrued but unpaid dividends on the redeemed shares of Preferred Stock or paying or declaring and setting apart for payment any dividends to holders of any other series of preferred stock. If the redemption date for shares of any series of Preferred Stock falls after the record date but before the payment date of any dividend declared by the Company on that series of Preferred Stock, holders of any redeemed shares of such series of Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive the dividend when and as paid by the Company. The proposed amendments will not change the existing procedures for redemption of any series of the Preferred Stock or the requirement that, if we redeem less than all of the shares of any series of Preferred Stock, we will redeem shares of such series pro rata among the holders of that series in proportion to the number of shares held by such stockholders or by lot or by any other equitable manner determined by the Board.
GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS FOR 2008Benefits for the Company
| | Estimated Possible Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards (1) | | | | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Exercise or Base Price of Option Awards ($/SH) | | ||||||||||
Name | Grant Date | Threshold ($) | Target ($) | Maximum ($) | All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options (#)(2) | Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards ($) | ||||||||
Joseph R. Tomkinson | 2/12/2008 | - | - | - | 200,000 | 13.30 | 1,551,800 | |||||||
Todd R. Taylor | 2/12/2008 | - - 67,568 | - - 91,748 | - - 135,136 | 25,000 - - | 13.30 - - | 193,975 - - | |||||||
William S. Ashmore | 2/12/2008 | - - | - - | - - | 200,000 | 13.30 | 1,551,800 | |||||||
Ronald M. Morrison | 2/12/2008 | - - | - - | - - | 30,000 | 13.30 | 232,770 | |||||||
Andrew McCormick (3) | 2/12/2008 | - - | - - | - - | 40,000 | 13.30 | 532,000 |
We will not be able to his employment agreement, Mr. Taylor received an incentive bonuscomplete the Purchase Offer unless the proposed amendments to our Charter to modify the terms of upthe Preferred Stock described above, and set forth inAnnex A andAnnex B to 50%this proxy statement, are approved by holders of his base salary,a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote and by holders of 662/3% of the outstanding shares of the Preferred Stock, voting as a single class separate from the holders of the Common Stock.
The Board believes there will be significant adverse consequences to the Company if the proposed amendments described above are not approved by either the holders of Common Stock or upPreferred Stock. If the proposed amendments are not approved and implemented, there may be a near-term negative effect on our business, results of operations, and financial position, including the potential inability to $140,000, until November 2008satisfy our liabilities and thereafter was eligiblethe long-term dividend-related cash requirements of our Preferred Stock and obligations pursuant to receive upthe terms of our remaining trust preferred securities. Future dividends payable to 65%the holders of his base salary. The bonus is paid quarterly basedSeries B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock represent a significant reduction in our cash, approximately $14.9 million per year, making it difficult for us to satisfy other continuing obligations.
If we do not successfully complete the Purchase Offer and proposed amendment of our Charter, we will not pay the accumulated and unpaid dividends and we currently do not intend to continue making dividend payments on our Preferred Stock, which could adversely affect our business. We would most likely not be able to raise additional capital if we cannot pay dividends on the achievement of mutually agreed management by objectives ("MBOs"). The bonus is prorated if all MBOs arePreferred Stock or satisfy our outstanding obligations. If we do not attained, but there is no bonus if at least 50%pay dividends on our Preferred Stock for six or more quarterly periods (whether or not consecutive), the holders of the MBOs are not obtained. Mr. Taylor waived his incentive bonusPreferred Stock will be entitled to elect two directors to our Board of Directors. Our failure to make dividend payments for the fourth quarter of 2008. The target amount is2008 and the amount received for 2008.
We believe the executive officers gave noticesignificant reduction or elimination of the surrender of these optionsoutstanding Preferred Stock and the Board accepted and approved the cancellationelimination of the options.
Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2008
The following table sets forth the outstanding stock options for each of our named executive officers as of December 31, 2008. As of April 27, 2009, the Company's common stock was quoted at $0.51, which means that all the options set forth below are "underwater."
OUTSTANDING OPTION AWARDS AT DECEMBER 31, 2008
| OPTION AWARDS | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable | Option Exercise Price ($) | Option Expiration Date | ||||
Joseph R. Tomkinson | - | 200,000 | (8) | 13.30 | 2/12/2013 | |||
24,000 | - | (4) | 41.80 | 3/27/2011 | ||||
- | 7,500 | (1) | 99.40 | 8/18/2010 | ||||
Todd R. Taylor | - - | 25,000 | (8) | 13.30 | 2/12/2013 | |||
1,666 | 3,334 | (7) | 25.60 | 9/27/2011 | ||||
3,333 | 1,667 | (3) | 99.40 | 8/18/2010 | ||||
2,500 | - | (2) | 137.60 | 8/12/2009 | ||||
William S. Ashmore | - - | 200,000 | (8) | 13.30 | 2/12/2013 | |||
20,000 | - | (4) | 41.80 | 3/27/2011 | ||||
- | 7,500 | (1) | 99.40 | 8/18/2010 | ||||
Ronald M. Morrison | - - | 30,000 | (8) | 13.30 | 2/12/2013 | |||
4,000 | - | (6) | 217.7 | 6/22/2014 | ||||
5,500 | - | (5) | 76.00 | 12/18/2011 | ||||
500 | - | (4) | 41.80 | 3/27/2011 | ||||
5,000 | 2,500 | (3) | 99.40 | 8/18/2010 | ||||
5,000 | - | (2) | 137.60 | 8/12/2009 |
Option Exercise and Stock Vested for 2008
There were no option exercises or stock vesting during 2008 for the Named Executive Officers.
Employment Agreements
Joseph R. Tomkinson, Chief Executive Officer, and William S. Ashmore, President
On June 11, 2008, Messrs. Tomkinson and Ashmore executed new employment agreements, effective as of April 1, 2008 (the "Employment Agreements"). Each of the Employment Agreements has a term from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2009, unless terminated earlier, and automatically renew for an additional two years unless the Company provides notice of non-renewal between July 15 and August 15, 2009.
Base Salary, Discretionary Bonus and Other Compensation. Mr. Tomkinson's and Mr. Ashmore's base salary is $600,000 and $500,000 per year, respectively, with no automatic adjustments, and each officer is eligible to receive cash or stock bonuses in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors. Messrs. Tomkinson and Ashmore are also eligible to receive paid vacation, an annual car allowance of $12,000, and participate in health and other benefit plans and will be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary business and entertainment expenses. Each officer is prohibited, without approval from the Board of Directors, from receiving compensation, directly or indirectly, from any companies with whom the Company or any of its affiliates has any financial, business, or affiliated relationship.
Severance Compensation. If Mr. Tomkinson's or Mr. Ashmore's employment is terminated for any reason, other than without cause or good reason, each will be entitled to receive his base salary prorated through the termination date, any expense reimbursement due and owing for reasonable and necessary business and entertainment expenses, and accrued vacation benefits. If termination is due to death or the executive officer is declared legally incompetent, then such officer will also receive six additional months of his base salary. If either officer is terminated without cause or resigns with good reason, he will also receive 18 months of his base salary, along with health benefits, to be paid out over an 18 month period. Termination with cause includes conviction of a crime of dishonesty or a felony with certain penalties, substantial failure to perform duties after notice, willful misconduct or gross negligence, or material breach of the employment agreement. Good reason includes material changes to employee's duties, relocation, without his prior written consent, of the place of principal performance of such executive's responsibilities and duties to a location more than 65 miles away, the Company's material breach of the employment agreement and failure by the Company to obtain from any acquirer of the Company an agreement to assume the employment agreement. Each executive officer has agreed not to compete with the Company during the 18 months that severance payments are made, provided that the agreement not to compete will be waived if the executive officer foregoes the severance compensation.
Change of Control. The Employment Agreements will not be terminated by merger, an acquisition by another entity, or by transferring of all or substantially all of the Company's assets. In the event of any
such change of control, the surviving entity or transferee would be bound by the employment agreements.operate and grow our business. We additionally believe that with an improved capital structure there are multiple business opportunities we can pursue to enhance stockholder value that have not previously been feasible.
Guarantees. Because IMH will receive direct and indirect benefits from the performance of each officer under the Employment Agreements, IMH entered into guaranties also effective as of AprilTHE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR PROPOSAL 1, 2008, in favor of each officer. Under the terms of each guaranty, IMH promises to pay any and all obligations owed to the officers in the event of default by IFC.TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS TO THE COMPANY'S CHARTER TO MODIFY THE TERMS OF EACH SERIES OF THE COMPANY'S PREFERRED STOCK. PROXIES WILL BE VOTED FOR SUCH APPROVAL UNLESS INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CONTRARY ARE INDICATED IN THE PROXY.
Todd R. Taylor, Chief Financial Officer
Effective October 1, 2007, IMH and Todd R. Taylor entered into an employment agreement, which terminates on October 1, 2009, unless terminated earlier.
Base Salary, Bonus Incentive and Other Compensation. Pursuant to the current terms of the employment agreement, Mr. Taylor receives a base salary of $300,000 per year, subject to cost of living increases, and he is also eligible to receive incentive bonus of up to 65% of his base salary paid quarterly based on the achievement of mutually agreed management by objectives ("MBOs"). The bonus is prorated if all MBOs are not attained, but not eligible if at least 50% of the MBOs are not obtained. Mr. Taylor is also eligible to receive an annual car allowance of $6,000, paid vacation and to participate in health and other benefit plans. Mr. Taylor is prohibited, without prior approval of the Board of Directors, from receiving compensation, directly or indirectly from any companies with whom IMH or any of its affiliates has any financial, business or affiliated relationship.
Severance Compensation. If Mr. Taylor's employment is terminated for any reason, other than by the Company for good reason, Mr. Taylor will receive his base salary and accrued vacation benefits prorated through the termination date. If Mr. Taylor is terminated by IMH (for any reason) or resigns with good reason, he will receive 12 months of his base salary and health benefits, to be paid out proportionally over a 12 month period. Good reason includes material changes to employee's duties and the Company's material breach of the employment agreement, including reduction of base salary, without employee's consent. Unless Mr. Taylor foregoes the severance compensation, he has agreed not to compete with the Company for 12 months after termination by the Company or if he resigns for good reason.
Change of Control. The employment agreement will not be terminated by merger, an acquisition by another entity, or by transferring of all or substantially all of the Company's assets. In the event of any such change of control, the surviving entity or transferee, will be bound by the employment agreement.
Ronald M. Morrison, Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Effective June 1, 2006, the Company and Ronald M. Morrison entered into an employment agreement, which expires on May 31, 2009, unless terminated earlier.
Base Salary, Discretionary Bonus and Other Compensation. Pursuant to the terms of the employment agreement, Mr. Morrison receives a base salary of $385,000 per year and he is eligible to receive an annual discretionary bonus of up to 50% of his base salary. Mr. Morrison is also eligible to receive an annual car allowance of $6,000 and paid vacation. Mr. Morrison is prohibited, without prior approval of the Board of Directors, from receiving compensation, directly or indirectly, from any companies with whom IFC or any of its affiliates has any financial, business or affiliated relationship.
Severance Compensation. If Mr. Morrison's employment is terminated for any reason, other than without cause or good reason, Mr. Morrison will receive his base salary, bonus incentive compensation and accrued vacation benefits prorated through the termination date. If Mr. Morrison is terminated
without cause or resigns with good reason, he will receive, in addition to his base salary, bonus incentive compensation and accrued vacation benefits prorated through the termination date, 18 months of his base salary along with health benefits, to be paid out proportionally over an 18 month period. Termination with cause includes conviction of a crime of dishonesty, a felony with certain penalties, disbarment or suspension of his license to practice law for more than 30 days, substantial failure to perform duties after notice, willful misconduct or gross negligence, or material breach of the employment agreement. Good reason includes material changes to employee's duties, relocation of the Company's business by more than 65 miles without employee's consent, the Company's material breach of the employment agreement or, in the event of a change of control, the acquiring company fails to assume the agreement. Mr. Morrison has agreed not to compete with the Company or any of its affiliates during the 18 months that severance payments are made, provided that the agreement not to compete will be waived if Mr. Morrison foregoes the severance compensation.
Change of Control. The employment agreement will not be terminated by merger, an acquisition by another entity, or by transferring of all or substantially all of the Company's assets. In the event of any such change of control, the surviving entity or transferee, will be bound by the employment agreement.
Guaranty. Because IMH will receive direct and indirect benefits from the performance of Mr. Morrison under the employment agreement, IMH entered into a guaranty in favor of Mr. Morrison. Under the terms of the guaranty, IMH promises to pay any and all obligations owed to Mr. Morrison in the event of default by IFC. The employment agreement will not be terminated by merger, an acquisition by another entity, or by transferring all or substantially all of IFC's assets. In the event of any such change of control, the surviving entity or transferee, will be bound by the employment agreement.
Potential Payments upon Termination and Change-in-Control
Based on the termination provisions of their applicable employment agreements, if each Named Executive Officer was terminated without cause or resigned for good reason as of December 31, 2008, they would have received the following aggregate payments:
Name | Cash Severance ($) | (#MO) | ($) (1) | Total ($) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Joseph R. Tomkinson | 900,000 | 18 | 26,900 | 926,900 | ||||
William S. Ashmore | 750,000 | 18 | 26,900 | 776,900 | ||||
Todd R. Taylor | 300,000 | 12 | 17,933 | 317,933 | ||||
Ronald Morrison | 577,500 | 18 | 26,900 | 604,400 |
None of the Named Executive Officers would receive payments upon a change-on-control.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
Our current stock plan consists of our 2001 Stock Option, Deferred Stock and Restricted Stock Plan, which was approved by our stockholders on July 25, 2001. Our 2001 Stock Plan authorizes our Board of Directors to grant awards that include incentive stock options as defined under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), non-qualified stock options, deferred stock, non-vested stock and dividend equivalent rights.
The following table summarizes our equity compensation plan information as of December 31, 2008 with respect to outstanding awards and shares remaining available for issuance under our equity compensation plans.
Plan Category | Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options (A) | Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options (B) | Number of securities remaining available for future issuance (excluding securities in col A) (C) (1) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders | 1,140,186 | 37.18 | 53,414 | |||
Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders | - - | - - | - - | |||
Total | 1,140,186 | 37.18 | 53,414 | |||
Stock Option, Deferred Stock and Restricted Stock Plans
2001 Stock Plan
Our 2001 Stock Option, Deferred Stock and Restricted Stock Plan (the "2001 Stock Plan") provides for the grant of Incentive Stock Options that meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code, Non-qualified Stock Options, deferred stock and restricted stock awards and dividend equivalent rights.
1995 Stock Plan
The 1995 Stock Option, Deferred Stock and Non-vested stock Plan expired in August 2005. As of March 31, 2009, options to purchase 67,500 shares were outstanding. In the event of a change in control, all stock options will fully vest and the value of all such awards will be cashed out by payment of cash or other property, as determined by the Administrator, on the basis of a "change of control price."
401(k) Plan
During 2008, we participated in the Impac Companies 401(k) Savings Plan for all full time employees with at least six months of service, which is designed to be tax deferred in accordance with the provisions of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. The 401(k) Plan provides that each participant may contribute from 1% to 25% of his or her salary pursuant to certain restrictions or up to $15,500 annually for 2008. We will contribute to the participant's plan account at the end of each plan year 50% of the first 4% of salary contributed by a participant. Under the 401(k) Plan, employees may elect to enroll on the first day of any month, provided that they have been employed for at least six months. Subject to the rules for maintaining the tax status of the 401(k) Plan, an additional company contribution may be made at our discretion, as determined by the Board of Directors. The discretionary contributions made to the plan vest over a three year period. We recorded approximately $200,000 for matching and discretionary contributions during 2008.
The Audit Committee of our Board of Directors is responsible for providing independent, objective oversight of our accounting functions and internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee is currently comprised of three directors. The Audit Committee operates under a written audit committee charter, which was amended and restated and approved by the Board of Directors on January 26, 2009.
Management is responsible for our internal control over financial reporting and financial reporting process. Squar, Milner, Peterson, Miranda & Williamson, LLP, or Squar Milner, the independent registered public accounting firm, is responsible for performing an independent audit of our consolidated financial statements, as well as the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and to issue separate reports thereon. The Audit Committee's responsibility is to monitor and oversee these management processes and related independent audits.
In connection with these responsibilities, the Audit Committee met with management and Squar Milner to review and discuss the December 31, 2008 financial statements. The Audit Committee also discussed with Squar Milner the matters required by Statement on Auditing Standards ("SAS") No. 61 (Communication with Audit Committees) as may be modified or supplemented.
In addition, the Audit Committee also received written disclosures and the letter from Squar Milner required by Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Ethics and Independence Rule 3526, which superseded Independence Standards Board ("ISB") Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees) and ISB Interpretations 00-1 and 00-2, which requires the written disclosure of all relationships between us and our independent registered public accounting firm that, in the independent registered public accounting firm's professional judgment, may reasonably be thought to bear on independence and confirmation that, in its professional judgment, it is independent of the Company that it is auditing.
The Audit Committee has also reviewed the non-audit fees described below and has concluded that the amount and nature of those fees is compatible with maintaining Squar Milner's independence.
Based on the Audit Committee's discussions with management, review of Squar Milner's letter and discussions with Squar Milner, the Audit Committee has recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, for filing with the SEC.
INFORMATION REGARDING INDEPENDENT PUBLIC AUDITOR
Changes in Certifying Accountant
We engaged Squar Milner as our independent registered public accounting firm on November 17, 2008 upon our dismissal of our previous independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP. The decision to dismiss Ernst & Young LLP and engage Squar Milner was approved by the Company's Audit Committee.
The reports of Ernst & Young on the financial statements of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
During the period from January 1, 2006 through the date of Ernst & Young's dismissal, there have been no disagreements (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions) with Ernst & Young on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements if not resolved to the satisfaction of Ernst & Young would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of such disagreements in their reports on the financial statements for such years. Further, there have been no reportable events (as described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K), except for the following: a) as previously disclosed by the Company in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, Ernst & Young reported that the Company did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007 because of the effect of a material weakness in controls related to the Company's financial statement close process that existed as of December 31, 2007; and b) as previously disclosed by the Company in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, Ernst & Young reported that the Company did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006 because of the effect of a material weakness in controls over the preparation, review, presentation and disclosure of amounts included in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf consulted with Squar Milner during the period from January 1, 2006 through the date of Ernst & Young's dismissal regarding either (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions) or a reportable event (as described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).
A representative of Squar Milner is expected to be present at the meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement and is expected to be available to answer appropriate questions.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
In November 2008, we engaged Squar, Milner, Peterson, Miranda & Williamson, LLP as the Company's new independent registered public accounting firm to audit our financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2008. Ernst & Young LLP served as our independent auditors for our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2007. The following table sets forth the aggregate fees billed to us by
Squar Milner for the year ended December 31, 2008 and by Ernst & Young LLP for the year ended December 31, 2007.
| For the Year Ended December 31, | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 (1) | 2007 (2) | ||||
Audit fees | $ | 469,800 | $ | 3,315,791 | ||
Audit-related fees | 64,800 | 205,680 | ||||
Tax fees | - - | 112,078 | ||||
All other fees | 20,000 | - - | ||||
Total | $ | 554,600 | $ | 3,633,549 | ||
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures for Audit and Non-Audit Services
The Audit Committee pre-approves all auditing services and permitted non-audit services, including the fees and terms thereof, to be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm, subject to the de minimis exceptions for non-audit services described in Section 10A(i)(1)(B) of the Exchange Act which are approved by the Audit Committee prior to the completion of the audit. The Audit Committee may form and delegate authority to subcommittees consisting of one or more members of the Audit Committee when appropriate, including the authority to grant pre-approvals of audit and permitted non-audit services, provided that decisions of such subcommittee to grant pre-approvals shall be presented to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. In pre-approving the services in 2008 and 2007 under audit related fees, tax fees or all other fees, the Audit Committee did not rely on the de minimis exception to the SEC pre-approval requirements.
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors, executive officers, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities, to file reports of ownership of such securities with the SEC. Directors, executive officers and greater than 10% beneficial owners are required by SEC regulations to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
To our knowledge, based solely on review of the copies of such reports furnished to us during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to our executive officers, directors and greater than ten percent stockholders were satisfied by such persons.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
There have been no transactions since the beginning of the Company's last fiscal year, nor are there any currently proposed transactions, in which the Company was or is a participant and in which any related person (as defined in the SEC's rules) had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.
Policies and Procedures
Pursuant to our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, directors and officers must notify the General Counsel or the Chairman of our Audit Committee of the existence of any actual or potential conflict of interest. The Audit Committee, as described in its charter, reviews reports and disclosures of insider and affiliated party transactions or other conflicts of interest.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information known to us with respect to beneficial ownership of our common stock as of the April 28, 2009 (taking into account cancellation of certain outstanding options) by (i) each director, (ii) each Named Executive Officer, (iii) each person known to us to beneficially own more than five percent of our common stock, and (iv) all directors and executive officers as a group. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes to the table, the beneficial owners named have, to our knowledge, sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares beneficially owned, subject to community property laws where applicable.
Name of Beneficial Owner (1) | Number of Shares Beneficially Owned | Percentage of Shares Beneficially Owned | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Joseph R Tomkinson (2) | 60,375 | * | |||
William S Ashmore (3) | 34,462 | * | |||
Ron Morrison (4) | 14,892 | * | |||
James Walsh (5) | 6,222 | * | |||
Stephan R Peers (6) | 4,918 | * | |||
Frank P Filipps (7) | 4,185 | * | |||
Leigh J Abrams (8) | 3,960 | * | |||
Todd R. Taylor | 126 | * | |||
Directors and executive officers as a group (8 persons) (9) | 129,140 | 1.7 | % |
Name of BeneficialOwner(1) | Number of Shares Beneficially Owned | Percentage of Shares Beneficially Owned | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Joseph R. Tomkinson(2) | 60,375 | * | |||||
William S. Ashmore(3) | 34,462 | * | |||||
Ronald M. Morrison(4) | 14,892 | * | |||||
James Walsh(5) | 6,222 | * | |||||
Stephan R. Peers(6) | 4,918 | * | |||||
Frank P. Filipps(7) | 4,185 | * | |||||
Leigh J. Abrams(8) | 3,960 | * | |||||
Todd R. Taylor | 126 | * | |||||
Directors and executive officers as a group (8 persons)(9) | 129,140 | 1.7% |
Proposals to be Submitted for Special Meeting
Under our Bylaws, no business may be brought before a special meeting except as specified in the notice of the special meeting.
Proposals to be Included in Proxy Statement for Annual Meeting
Stockholders are hereby notified that if they wish a proposal to be included in our proxy statement and form of proxy relating to the 2010 annual meeting of stockholders, they must deliver a written copy of their proposal no later than January 18,, 2010. If the date of next year's annual meeting is changed by more than 30 days from the date of this year's meeting, then the deadline is a reasonable time before we begin to print and mail proxy materials. Proposals must comply with the proxy rules relating to stockholder proposals, in particular Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, in order to be included in our proxy materials.
Proposals to be Submitted for Annual Meeting
Stockholders who wish to submit a proposal for consideration at our 2010 annual meeting of stockholders, but who do not wish to submit the proposal for inclusion in our proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, must, in accordance with our bylaws, deliver a copy of their proposal no later than the close of business on the 60th60th day prior to the first anniversary of this annual meeting, nor earlier than the 90th90th day prior to the first anniversary of this annual meeting. Any stockholder submitting a proposal must provide a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial holder, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made. The stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made must provide their name and address as it appears on the books of the company and the class and number of shares of the company which are beneficially owned and of record. Furthermore, such stockholder must promptly provide any other information reasonably requested by the Company.
In the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than 30 days or delayed by more than 60 days from the first anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting, then notice must be delivered not earlier than the 90th90th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 60th60th day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Public announcement means disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable news service or in a document publicly filed by the company with the SEC pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
Mailing Instructions
In each case, proposals should be delivered to 19500 Jamboree Road, Irvine, California 92612, Attention: Ronald M.Ron Morrison, Secretary. To avoid controversy and establish timely receipt by us, it is suggested that stockholders send their proposals by certified mail return receipt requested.
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" information into this Proxy Statement, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to other documents that we have filed separately with the SEC and are delivering to you with the copy of this Proxy Statement. The
information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this Proxy Statement. This Proxy Statement incorporates by reference the following documents:
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available over the Internet at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any of our SEC filings at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information on the Public Reference Room and its copy charges.
Our Internet website address is www.impaccompanies.com. We make available free of charge, through our Internet website, under the "Investors—Investor Information—SEC Filings" section, our annual report on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, our current reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports that we file or furnish pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. The information contained in or accessible from our Internet website is not part of this Proxy Statement.
We filed a Schedule TO pursuant to Rule 13e-4 under the Exchange Act to furnish certain information about the Purchase Offer and related consent solicitation. You may obtain copies of the Schedule TO (and any amendments to those documents) in the manner described above.
We have not authorized anyone to give any information or make any representation about the proposals that is different from, or in addition to, that contained in this Proxy Statement. Therefore, you should not rely on any other information. The information contained in this Proxy Statement speaks only as of the date of this Proxy Statement unless the information specifically indicates that another date applies.
The Board of Directors does not know of any other matter to be acted upon at the Meeting. However, if any other matter shall properly come before the Meeting, the proxy holders named in the proxy accompanying this proxy statement will have authority to vote all proxies in accordance with their discretion.
By Order of the Board of Directors | ||
Ronald M. Morrison, Secretary |
Dated: April 30,, 2009
Irvine, California
Amendment to the Company's Charter
Series B Preferred Stock
PROXY FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERSArticles of AmendmentArticles SupplementaryTO BE HELD ON JULY 21, 20099.375% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Corporation"), hereby certifies to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland that:
FIRST:Under a power contained in Article VI of the Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Corporation, as amended and supplemented (the "Charter"), the Board of Directors by duly adopted resolutions classified and designated 7,500,000 shares of authorized but unissued Preferred Stock (as defined in the Charter) as shares of 9.375% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stockaccepted for record by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland on May 26, 2004 (the "Articles Supplementary") and forming a part of the charter of the Corporation (the "Charter") shall be amended as follows:with the following preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and other distributions, qualifications, and terms and conditions of redemption, which, upon any restatement of the Charter, shall become part of Article VI of the Charter, with any necessary or appropriate renumbering or relettering of the sections or subsections hereof.
1.The Articles Supplementary shall be amended and restated and replaced as follows:
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORSSeries B Preferred Stock
(1) DESIGNATION AND NUMBER. A series of preferred stock, designated the "9.375% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock" (the "Series B Preferred Stock"), is hereby established. The number of shares of the Series B Preferred Stock shall be7,500,000.2,000,000.
(2) RANK. The Series B Preferred Stock shall, with respect to the payment of distributions and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, rank (a) senior to all classes or series of Common Stock, to the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (as defined in the Charter) and to all equity securities of the Corporation the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank junior to such Series B Preferred Stock; (b) on a parity with all equity securities issued by the Corporation the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank on parity with the Series B Preferred Stock; and (c) junior to all equity securities issued by the Corporation the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank senior to the Series B Preferred Stock. The term "equity securities" shall not include convertible debt securities.
(3) DIVIDENDS.
(a) Holders of the then outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when and as authorized by the Board of Directors, out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends,cumulative preferentialcash dividends at the rate of 9.375% of the $25.00 liquidation preference per annum (equivalent to a fixed annual amount of $2.34375 per share). Such dividends shallnotbe cumulativefrom the first date on which any Series B Preferred Stock is issuedand shall, if declared, be payable quarterlyin arrearson March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 of each year or, if not a business day, the prior preceding business day (each, a "Dividend Payment Date"). Any dividend payable on the Series B Preferred Stock for any partial dividend period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months (it being understood that the dividend payable on June 30, 2004 will be for less than the full dividend period). Dividends will be payable to holders of record as they appear in the stock records of the Corporation at the close of business on the applicable record date, which shall be the first day of the calendar month on which the applicable Dividend Payment Date falls or on such other date designated
by the Board of Directors of the Corporation for the payment of dividends that is not more than 60 nor less than 10 days prior to such Dividend Payment Date (each, a "Dividend Record Date").
(b) No dividends on shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be declared by the Corporation or paid or set apart for payment by the Corporation at such time as the terms and provisions of any agreement of the Corporation, including any agreement relating to its indebtedness, prohibit such declaration, payment or setting apart for payment or provide that such declaration, payment or setting apart for payment would constitute a breach thereof or a default thereunder, or if such declaration or payment shall be restricted or prohibited by law.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock shall accrue whether or not the terms and provisions set forth in Section 3(b) hereof at any time prohibit the current payment of dividends, whether or not the Corporation has earnings. whether or not there are funds legally available for the payment of such dividends and whether or not such dividends are declared. Accrued but unpaid dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock will accumulate as of the Dividend Payment Date on which they first become payable.The Corporation shall not be obligated to pay any unpaid dividend accrued on or prior to the effective date of these Articles of Amendment.
(d) Except as provided in Section 3(e) below, unless full cumulative dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof is set apart for payment for all past dividend periods and the then current dividend period, no dividends (other than in shares of Common Stock or in shares of any series of preferred stock making junior to the Series B Preferred Stock as to the payment of distributions and the distribution of assets upon liquidation) shall be declared or paid or set aside for payment nor shall any other distribution be declared or made upon the Common Stock, or any preferred stock of the Corporation ranking junior to or on a parity with the Series B Preferred Stock as to the payment of distributions and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, nor shall any shares of Common Stock, or any shares of preferred stock of the Corporation ranking junior to or on a parity with the Series B Preferred Stock as to the payment of distributions and the distribution of assets upon liquidation be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any moneys be paid to or nude available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such shares) by the Corporation (except by conversion into or exchange for other capital stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series B Preferred Stock as to the payment of distributions and the distribution of assets upon liquidation and except for transfers made pursuant to the provisions of Article VII of the Charter).Intentionally Omitted.
(e) When dividends are not paid in full (or a sum sufficient for such full payment is not so set apart) on the Series B Preferred Stock and the shares of any other series of preferred stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with the Series B Preferred Stock, all dividends declared upon the Series B Preferred Stock and any other series of preferred stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with the Series B Preferred Stockin that respective quartershall be declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share of Series B Preferred Stock and such other series of preferred stock shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratiothat accrued dividends per share on the Series B Preferred Stock and such other series of preferred stock (which shall not include any accrual in respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods if such preferred stock does not have a cumulative dividend) bear to each otherin that respective quarter.. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on Series B Preferred Stock whichmay be in arrearsis declared but unpaid.
(f) Any dividend payment made on shares of the Series B Preferred Stock shall first be credited against the earliestaccrueddeclared but unpaid dividend due with respect to such shares which remains payable. Holders of the Series B Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividend, whether payable in cash, property or stock in excess offull cumulativedividends on the Series B Preferred Stockwhich have been declared as described above.
(4) LIQUIDATION DISTRIBUTION.
(a) Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, the holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock then outstanding are entitled to be paid out of the assets of the Corporation, legally available for distribution to its stockholders, the sum of(a)a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share, (b) an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared) to the date of payment and (c) the applicable premium (expressed in dollar amount) per share during the applicable period as set forth in the table below, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of Common Stock or any series of preferred stock of the Corporation that ranks junior to the Series B Preferred Stock as to liquidation rights:.
Premium | ||||
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(b) In the event that, upon any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the available assets of the Corporation are insufficient to pay the amount of the liquidating distributions on all outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock and the corresponding amounts payable on all shares of other classes or series of capital stock of the Corporation ranking on a parity with the Series B Preferred Stock in the distribution of assets, then the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock and all other such classes or series of capital stock shall share ratably in any such distribution of assets in proportion to the full liquidating distributions to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled.
(c) After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distributions to which they are entitled, the holders of Series B Preferred Stock will have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation.
(d) Written notice of any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, stating the payment date or dates when, and the place or places where, the amounts distributable in such circumstances shall be payable, shall be given by first class mail, postage pre-paid, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the payment date stated therein, to each record holder of the Series B Preferred Stock at the respective addresses of such holders as the same shall appear on the stock transfer records of the Corporation.
(e) The consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into any other corporation, trust or entity or of any other corporation with or into the Corporation, or the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all of the assets or business of the Corporation, shall not be deemed to constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.
(5) REDEMPTION.
(a) Right of Optional Redemption. The Series B Preferred Stockis not redeemable prior to the fifth year anniversary of the issuance of the Series B Preferred Stock,has no stated maturity and will not be subject to any sinking fund or mandatory redemption.However, inIn order to ensure that the Corporation continues to qualify as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") for federal income tax purposes, the Series B Preferred Stock will be subject to the provisions of Article VII of the Charter. Pursuant to Article VII, and without limitation of any provisions of such Article VII, Series B Preferred Stock, together with other equity stock of the Corporation, owned by a stockholder in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit (as defined in the Charter) will automatically be transferred to a Trust (as defined in the Charter) for the benefit of a Charitable Beneficiary (as defined in the Charter).On and after the fifth year anniversary of the issuance of the Series B Preferred Stock, theThe Corporation, at its option and upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' written notice, may redeem shares of the Series B Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, for cash at a redemption price of $25.00 per share, plus all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to and including the date fixed for redemption (except as provided in Section 5(c) below), without interest. If less than all of the outstanding Series B Preferred Stock is to be redeemed, the Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be selected pro rata (as nearly as may be practicable without creating fractional shares) or by any other equitable method determined by the Corporation.
(b) Limitations on Redemption.Unless full cumulative dividendson all shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall have been, or contemporaneously are, declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for payment for all past dividend periods and the then current dividend period, no shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be redeemed unless all outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock are simultaneously redeemed, and the Corporation shall not purchase or otherwise acquire directly or indirectly any shares of Series B Preferred Stock (except by exchange for capital stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series B Preferred Stock as to the payment of distributions and the distribution of assets upon liquidation); provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prevent such action by the Board of Directors or its designees pursuant to Article VII in order to ensure that the Corporation remains qualified as a REIT for federal income tax purposes or the purchase or acquisition of shares of Series B Preferred Stock pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of all outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock.Intentionally Omitted.
(c) Rights to Dividends on Shares Called for Redemption.Immediately prior to any redemption of Series B Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall pay, in cash, any accumulated and unpaid dividends to and including the redemption date, unless a redemption date falls after a Dividend Record Date and prior to the corresponding Dividend Payment Date, in which case each holder of Series B Preferred Stock at the close of business on such Dividend Record Date shall be entitled to the dividend payable on such shares on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date notwithstanding the redemption of such shares before such Dividend Payment Date. Except as provided above, theThe Corporation will make no payment or allowance fordeclared andunpaid dividends, whether or not in arrears, on Series B Preferred Stock which is redeemed.
(d) Procedures for Redemption.
(i) Notice of redemption will be mailed by the Corporation, postage prepaid, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date, addressed to the respective holders of record of the Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed at their
respective addresses as they appear on the stock transfer records of the Corporation. No failure to give such notice or any defect thereto or in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any shares of Series B Preferred Stock except as to the holder to whom notice was defective or not given.
(ii) In addition to any information required by law or by the applicable rules of any exchange upon which Series B Preferred Stock may be listed or admitted to trading, such notice shall state: (A) the redemption date; (B) the redemption price; (C) the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed;and (D) the place or places where the Series B Preferred Stock is to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and (E) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such redemption date. If less than all of the Series B Preferred Stock held by any holder is to be redeemed, the notice mailed to such holder shall also specify the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock held by such holder to be redeemed.
(iii) If notice of redemption of any shares of Series B Preferred Stock has been given and if the funds necessary for such redemption have been set aside by the Corporation in trust for the benefit of the holders of any shares of Series B Preferred Stock so called for redemption, then, from and after the redemption date,dividends will cease to accrue on such shares of Series B Preferred Stock,such shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall no longer be deemed outstanding and all rights of the holders of such shares will terminate, except the right to receive the redemption price. Holders of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall surrender such Series B Preferred Stock at the place designated in such notice and.uponUpon surrender in accordance with said notice of the certificates for shares of Series B Preferred Stock so redeemed (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Corporation shall so require and the notice shall so state), such shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be redeemed by the Corporation at the redemption price plus any accrued and unpaid dividends payable upon such redemption. In case less than all the shares of Series B Preferred Stock represented by any such certificate are redeemed, a new certificate or certificates shall be issued representing the unredeemed shares of Series B Preferred Stock without cost to the holder thereof.
(iv) The deposit of funds with a bank or trust corporation for the purpose of redeeming Series B Preferred Stock shall be irrevocable except that:
(A) the Corporation shall be entitled to receive from such bank or trust corporation the interest or other earnings, if any, earned on any money so deposited in trust, and the holders of any share redeemed shall have no claim to such interest or other earnings: and
(B) any balance of monies so deposited by the Corporation and unclaimed by the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock entitled thereto at the expiration of two years from the applicable redemption dates shall be repaid, together with any interest or other earnings thereon, to the Corporation, and after any such repayment, the holders of the shares entitled to the funds so repaid to the Corporation shall look only to the Corporation for payment without interest or other earnings.
(e) Application of Article VII. The shares of Series B Preferred Stock are subject to the provisions of Article VII of the Charter, including, without limitation, the provision for the redemption of shares transferred to the Trust (as defined in such Article). For this purpose, the market price of the Series B Preferred Stock shall equal $25.00 per share, plus all accrued and unpaid dividends on the shares of Series B Preferred Stock.
(f) Status of Redeemed Shares. Any shares of Series B Preferred Stock that shall at any time have been redeemed or otherwise acquired by the Corporation shall, after such redemption or acquisition, have the status of authorized but unissued preferred stock, without designation as to series until such shares are once more classified and designated as part of a particular series by the Board of Directors.
(6) VOTING RIGHTS.
(a) Holders of the Series B Preferred Stock will not have any voting rights, except as set forth below.
(b)Whenever dividends on any shares of Series B Preferred Stock or any series of preferred stock ranking on parity as to payment of dividends with the Series B Preferred Stock shall be in arrears for six or more quarterly periods, whether or not consecutive (a "Preferred Dividend Default"), the holders of such shares of Series B Preferred Stock (voting separately as a class with any other classes or all other series of our preferred stock ranking on a parity with the Series B Preferred Stock as to the payment of distributions and the distribution of assets upon liquidation ("Parity Preferred"), upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable), will be entitled to vote for the election of a total of two additional directors of the Corporation, provided that any such directors, if elected, shall not cause the Corporation to violate the requirement of Section 303A.02 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual, or any successor provision thereto, that the Corporation have a majority of independent directors (the "Preferred Stock Directors"), and the number of directors on the Board of Directors shall increase by two, at a special meeting called by the holders of record of at least 20% of the Series B Preferred Stock or the holders of any other series of Parity Preferred so in arrears (unless such request is received less than 90 days before the date fixed for the next annual or special meeting of stockholders in which event such meeting shall be held at such next annual or special meeting of stockholders), and at each subsequent annual meeting until all dividends accumulated on such shares of Series B Preferred Stock and any series of preferred stock ranking on parity as to payment of dividends with the Series B Preferred Stock for the past dividend periods and the dividend for the then current dividend period shall have been fully paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for payment.
(c)f and when all accumulated dividends and the dividend for the then current dividend period on the Series B Preferred Stock and any series of preferred stock ranking on parity as to payment of dividends with the Series B Preferred Stock shall have been paid in full or set aside for payment in full, the holders of shams of Series B Preferred Stock shall be divested of the voting rights set forth in Section 6(b) hereof (subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent Preferred Dividend Default) and, if all accumulated dividends and the dividend for the current dividend period have been paid in full or set aside for payment in full on all other series of Parity Preferred upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, the term of office of each Preferred Stock Director so elected shall terminate and the number of directors on the Board of Directors shall decrease by two. Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time with or without cause by the vote of, and shall not be removed otherwise than by the vote of, the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Series B Preferred Stock when they have the voting rights set forth in Section 6(b) (voting separately as a class with the Parity Preferred upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable). So long as a Preferred Dividend Default shall continue, any vacancy in the office of a Preferred Stock Director may be filled by written consent of the Preferred Stock Director remaining in office, or, if none remains in office, by a vote of the holders of recordof amajority of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock when they have the voting rights set forth in Section 6(b) (voting separately as a class
with all other series of Parity Preferred upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable). The Preferred Stock Directors shall each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter.
(db) So long as any shares of Series B Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the shares of the Series B Preferred Stock outstanding at the time, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at a meeting (voting separately as a class with all series of Parity Preferred that the Corporation may issue upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable), (i) authorize or create, or increase the authorized or issued amount of, any class or series of capital stock ranking prior to the Series B Preferred Stock with respect to payment of distributions and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or reclassify any authorized capital stock of the Corporation into any such shares, or create, authorize or issue any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase any such shares; (ii) amend, alter or repeal any of the provisions of the Charter, so as to materially and adversely affect any preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications, or terms or conditions of redemption of the Series B Preferred Stock or the holders thereof; provided, however, that any increase or decrease in the number of the authorized preferred stock (subject to the limit that the number of authorized share of preferred stock shall not be decreased below the number issued and outstanding at such time), including the number of Series B Preferred Stock (subject to the limit that the number of authorized shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall not be decreased below the number issued and outstanding at such time), or the creation or issuance of any additional Series B Preferred Stock or other series of preferred stock that the Corporation may issue, or any increase in the amount of authorized shares of such series, in each case rankingsenior to oron a parity with or junior to the Series B Preferred Stock that the Corporation may issue with respect to the payment of distributions and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, shall be deemed not to materially and adversely affect such preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications, or terms or conditions of redemption; or (iiiii) enter into, approve, or otherwise facilitate a binding share exchange or reclassification involving the Series B Preferred Stock that materially and adversely affects any of the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications, or terms or conditions of redemption of the Series B Preferred Stock or a consolidation, merger or similar transaction involving the Corporation unless in the case of a binding share exchange, reclassification, consolidation, merger or other similar transactions the shares of Series B Preferred Stock remain outstanding with preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications, or terms or conditions of redemption materially unchanged or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which the Corporation is not the surviving or resulting entity, the shares are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, in each case with preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitation as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications, or terms or conditions of redemption of the Series B Preferred Stock that are not individually or in the aggregate materially less favorable to the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock than the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitation as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications, or terms or conditions of redemption of the Series B Preferred Stock as described herein.
(ec) The foregoingvoting provisionsprovision 6(b)will not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be
effected, all outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed or called for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust to effect such redemption.
(7) CONVERSION. The Series B Preferred Stock is not convertible into or exchangeable for any property or securities of the Corporation.
SECOND: The7,500,0002,000,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock have been classified and designated by the Board of Directors under the authority contained in the Charter.
THIRD:TheseThe foregoing amendments to the Charter were advised Articles Supplementary have been approved by the Board of Directorsand approved by the stockholders asin the manner and by the vote required by lawand the Charter.
FOURTH: The undersigned President of the Corporation acknowledges these ArticlesSupplementaryof Amendment to be the corporate act of the Corporation and, as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath, the undersigned Secretary and President acknowledges that, to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, these matters and facts are true in all material respects and that this statement is made under the penalties of perjury.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused theseAmended and RestatedArticles Supplementary to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its President and attested to by its secretary on this day of ,2004.2009.
ATTEST: | IMPAC MORTGAGE HOLDINGS, INC. | |||||||
By: | Name: Ronald M. Morrison Title: Secretary | By: | Name: William S. Ashmore Title: President |
The undersigned stockholder(s)Amendment to the Company's Charter
Series C Preferred Stock
Articles of AmendmentArticles Supplementary
9.125% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc., a DelawareMaryland corporation (the "Corporation"), hereby acknowledges receiptcertifies to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland that:
FIRST:Under a power contained in Article VI of the The Articles Supplementary of the Corporation establishing and NoticeArticles of Annual MeetingAmendment and Restatement of Stockholdersthe Corporation, as amended and Proxy Statement dated April 30, 2009,supplemented (the "Charter"), the Board of Directors by duly adopted resolutions reclassified and hereby appoints Todd R. Taylordesignated 5,500,000 shares of authorized but unissuedRonald M. Morrison, or eitherfixing the rights and preferences of them acting singlythe Corporation's 9.375% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock(as defined in the as shares of 9.125% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stockaccepted for record by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland on November 18, 2004 (the "Articles Supplementary") and forming a part of the charter of the Corporation (the "Charter") shall be amended as follows:absenceCharter)with the following preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and other distributions, qualifications, and terms and conditions of redemption, which, upon any restatement of the Charter, shall become part of Article VI of the Charter, with full powerany necessary or appropriate renumbering or relettering of substitution,the sections or subsections hereof.
1.The Articles Supplementary shall be amended and restated and replaced as attorneys-in-factfollows:
(1) DESIGNATION AND NUMBER. A series of preferred stock, designated, the "9.125% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock" (the "Series C Preferred Stock"), is hereby established. The number of shares of the Series C Preferred stock shall be 5,500,000.
(2) RANK. The Series C Preferred Stock shall, with respect to the payment of distributions and proxies for, andthe distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, rank (a) senior to all classes or series of Common Stock, to the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (as defined in the nameCharter) and placeto all equity securities of the undersigned,Corporation the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank junior to such Series C Preferred Stock; (b) on a parity with the 9.375% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (as defined in the Charter) and hereby authorizes eachwith all other equity securities issued by the Corporation the terms of themwhich specifically provide that such equity securities rank on parity with the Series C Preferred Stock; and (c) junior to represent andall equity securities issued by the Corporation the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank senior to vote allthe Series C Preferred Stock. The term "equity securities" shall not include convertible debt securities.
(3) DIVIDENDS.
(a) Holders of the then outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when and as authorized by the Board of Directors, out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends,cumulative preferentialcash dividends at the rate of 9.125% of the $25.00 liquidation preference per annum (equivalent to a fixed annual amount of $2.28125 per share). Such dividends shallnotbe cumulative from the first date on which any Series C Preferred Stock is issued and shall, if declared, be payable quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 of each year or, if not a business day, the, prior preceding business; day (each, a "Dividend Payment Date"). Any dividend payable on the Series C Preferred Stock for any partial dividend period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months (it being understood that the dividend
payable on December 31, 2004 will be for less than the full dividend period). Dividends will be payable to holders of record as they appear in the stock records of the Corporation at the close of business on the applicable record date, which shall be the first day of the calendar month on which the applicable Dividend Payment Date falls or on such other date designated by the Board of Directors of the Corporation for the payment of dividends that is not more than 60 nor less than 10 days prior to such Dividend Payment Date (each, a Dividend Record Date).
(b) No dividends on shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall be declared by the Corporation or paid or set apart for payment by the Corporation at such time as the terms and provisions of any agreement of the Corporation, including any agreement relating to its indebtedness, prohibit such declaration, payment or setting apart for payment or provide that such declaration, payment or setting apart for payment would constitute a breach thereof or a default thereunder, or if such declaration or payment shall be restricted or prohibited by law.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock shall accrue whether or not the terms and provisions set forth in Section 3(b) hereof at any time prohibit the current payment of dividends, whether or not the Corporation has earnings, whether or not there are funds legally available for the payment of such dividends and whether or not such dividends are declared. Accrued but unpaid dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock will accumulate as of the Dividend Payment Date on which they first become payable.The Corporation shall not be obligated to pay any unpaid dividend accured on or prior to the effective date of these Articles of Amendment.
(d) Except as provided in Section 3(e) below, unless full cumulative dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof is set apart for payment for all past dividend periods and the then current dividend period, no dividends (other than in shares of Common Stock or in shares of any series of preferred stock ranking junior to the Series C Preferred Stock as to the payment of distributions and the distribution of assets upon liquidation) shall be declared or paid r set aside for payment nor shall any other distribution be declared or made upon the Common Stock, or any preferred stock of the Corporation ranking junior to or on a parity with the Series C Preferred Stock as to the payment of distributions and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, nor shall any shares of Common Stock, or any shares of preferred stock of the Corporation ranking junior to or on a parity with the Series C Preferred Stock as to the payment of distributions and the distribution of assets upon liquidation be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any moneys be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such shares) by the Corporation (except by conversion into or exchange for other capital stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series C Preferred Stock as to the payment of distributions and the distribution of assets upon liquidation and except for transfers made pursuant to the provisions of Article VII of the Charter).Intentionally Omitted.
(e) When dividends are not paid in full (or a sum sufficient for such full payment is not so set apart) on the Series C Preferred Stock and the shares of any other series of preferred stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with the Series C Preferred Stock, all dividends declared upon the Series C Preferred Stock and any other series of preferred stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with the Series C Preferred Stockin that respective quartershall be declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share of Series C Preferred Stock and such other series of preferred stock shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratiothat accrued dividends per share on the Series C Preferred Stock and such other series of preferred stock (which shall not include any accrual in respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods if such preferred stock does not have a cumulative dividend) bear to each
otherin that respective quarter. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on Series C Preferred Stock whichmay be in arrearsis declared but unpaid.
(f) Any dividend payment made on shares of the Series C Preferred Stock shall first be credited against the earliestaccrueddeclared but unpaid dividend due with respect to such shares which remains payable. Holders of the undersigned isSeries C Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to vote atany dividend, whether payable in cash, property or stock in excess offull cumulativedividends on the Annual MeetingSeries C Preferred Stockwhich have been declared as described above.
(4) LIQUIDATION DISTRIBUTION.
(a) Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Stockholdersthe affairs of Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc.the Corporation, the holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock then outstanding are entitled to be held on July 21, 2009, at 9:00 a.m.paid out of the assets of the Corporation, legally available for distribution to its stockholders, the sum of(a)a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of Common Stock or any series of preferred stock of the Corporation that ranks junior to the Series C Preferred StockPacific Daylight Time,(b) an amount equal to any accrued and at any adjournments thereof, uponunpaid dividends (whether or not declared) to the mattersdate of payment and (c) the applicable premium (expressed in dollar amount) per share during the applicable period as set forth in the table below, as to liquidation rights:.
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(b) In the event that, upon any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the available assets of the Corporation are insufficient to pay the amount of the liquidating distributions on all outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock and the corresponding amounts payable on all shares of other classes or series of capital stock of the Corporation ranking on a parity with the Series C Preferred Stock in the distribution of assets, then the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock and all other such classes or series of capital stock shall share ratably in any such distribution of assets in proportion to the full liquidating distributions to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled.
(c) After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distributions to which they are entitled, the holders of Series C Preferred Stock will have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation.
(d) Written notice of any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, stating the payment date or dates when, and the place or places where, the amounts distributable in such circumstances shall be payable, shall be given by first class mail, postage pre-paid, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the payment date stated therein, to each record holder of the Series C Preferred Stock at the respective addresses of such holders as the same shall appear on the stock transfer records of the Corporation.
(e) The consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into any other corporation, trust or entity or of any other corporation with or into the Corporation, or the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all of the assets or business of the Corporation, shall not be deemed to constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.
(5) REDEMPTION.
(a) Right of Optional Redemption. The Series C Preferred Stockis not redeemable prior to the fifth year anniversary of the issuance of the Series C Preferred Stock,has no stated maturity and will not be subject to any sinking fund or mandatory redemption.However, inIn order to ensure that the Corporation continues to qualify as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") for federal income tax purposes, the Series C Preferred Stock will be subject to the provisions of Article VII of the Charter. Pursuant to Article VII, and without limitation of any provisions of such Article VII, Series C Preferred Stock, together with other equity stock of the Corporation, owned by a stockholder in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit (as defined in the Charter) will automatically be transferred to a Trust (as defined in the Charter) for the benefit of a Charitable Beneficiary (as defined in the Charter).On and after the fifth year anniversary of the issuance of the Series C Preferred Stock, theThe Corporation,tat its option and upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' written notice, may redeem shares of the Series C Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, for cash at a redemption price of $25.00 per share, plus all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to and including the date fixed for redemption (except as provided n Section 5(c) below), without interest. If less than all of the outstanding Series C Preferred Stock is to be redeemed, the Series C Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be selected pro rata (as nearly as may be practicable without creating fractional shares) fir by any other equitable method determined by the Corporation.
(b) Limitations on Redemption. Unless full cumulative dividends on all shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall have been, or contemporaneously are, declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for payment for all past dividend periods and the then current dividend period, no shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall be redeemed unless all outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock are simultaneously redeemed, and the Corporation shall not purchase or otherwise acquire directly or indirectly any shares of Series C Preferred Stock (except by exchange for capital stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series C Preferred Stock as to the payment of distributions and the distribution of assets upon liquidation); provided, however, that the foregoing, shall not prevent such action by the Board of Directors or its designees pursuant to Article VII in order to ensure that the Corporation remains qualified as a REIT for federal income tax purposes or tie purchase or acquisition of shares of Series C Preferred Stock pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of all outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock.Intentionally Omitted.
(c) Rights to Dividends on Shares Called for Redemption. Immediately prior to any redemption of Series C Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall pay in cash, any accumulated and unpaid dividends to and including the redemption date, unless a redemption date falls after a Dividend Record Date and prior to the corresponding Dividend Payment Date, in which case each holder of Series C Preferred Stock at the close of business on such Dividend Record Date shall be entitled to the dividend payable on such shares on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date notwithstanding the redemption of such shares before such Dividend Payment Date. Except as provided above, theThe Corporation will make no payment or allowance fordeclared andunpaid dividends, whether or not in arrears, on Series C Preferred Stock which is redeemed.
(d) Procedures for Redemption.
(i) Notice of Annual Meetingredemption will be mail by the Corporation, postage prepaid, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date, addressed to the respective holders of Stockholders and Proxy Statement, receiptrecord of which is hereby acknowledged.the Series Preferred Stock to be redeemed at their respective
addresses as they appear on the stock transfer records of the Corporation. No failure to give such notice or any defect thereto or in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any shares of Series C Preferred Stock except as to the holder to whom notice was defective or not given.
THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED AND RETURNED IN A TIMELY MANNER, WILL BE VOTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND AT ANY ADJOURNMENTS THEREOF IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER(S) (ii) In addition to any information required by law or by the applicable rules of any exchange upon which Series C Preferred Stock may be listed or admitted to trading, such notice shall state: (A) the redemption date; (B) the redemption price; (C) the number of shares of Series C Preferred Stock to be redeemed;and (D) the place or places where the Series C Preferred Stock is to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and (E) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such redemption date. IF NO SPECIFICATION IS MADE, THE PROXY WILL BE VOTED "FOR" ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES LISTED IN PROPOSAL 1, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE JUDGMENT OF THE PERSONS NAMED AS PROXIES HEREIN ON ANY OTHER MATTERS THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING.If less than all of the Series C Preferred Stock held by any holder is to be redeemed, the notice mailed to such holder shall also specify the number of shares of Series C Preferred Stock held by such holder to be redeemed.
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE (iii) If notice of redemption of any shares of Series C Preferred Stock has been given and if the funds necessary for such redemption have been set aside by the Corporation in trust for the benefit of the holders of any shares of Series C Preferred Stock so called for redemption, then, from and after the redemption date,dividends will cease to accrue on such shares of Series C Preferred Stock,such shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall no longer be deemed outstanding and all rights of the holders of such Shares will terminate, except the right to receive the redemption price. Holders of Series C Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall surrender such Series C Preferred Stock at the place designated in such notice and, upon. Upon surrender in accordance with said notice of the certificates for shares of Series C Preferred Stock so redeemed (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Corporation shall so require and the notice shall so state), such shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall be redeemed by the Corporation at the redemption price plus any accrued and unpaid dividends payable upon such redemption. In case less than all the shares of Series C Preferred Stock represented by any such certificate are redeemed, a new certificate or certificates shall be issued representing the unredeemed shares of Series C Preferred Stock without cost to the holder thereof.
(iv) The deposit of funds with a bank or trust corporation for the purpose of redeeming Series C Preferred Stock shall be irrevocable except that:
(A) the Corporation shall be entitled to receive from such bank or trust corporation the interest or other earnings, if any, earned on any money so deposited in trust, and the holders of any shares redeemed shall have no claim to such interest or other earnings; and
(B) any balance of monies so deposited by the Corporation and unclaimed by the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock entitled thereto at the expiration of two years from the applicable redemption dates shall be repaid, together with any interest or other earnings thereon, to the Corporation, and after any such repayment, the holders of the shares entitled to the funds so repaid to the Corporation shall look only to the Corporation for payment without interest or other earnings.
(e) Application of Article VII. The shares of Series C Preferred Stock are subject to the provisions of Article VII of the Charter, including, without limitation, the provision for the redemption of shares transferred to the Trust (as defined in such Article). For this purpose, the market price of the Series C Preferred Stock shall equal $25.00 per share, plus all accrued and unpaid dividends on the shares of Series C Preferred Stock.
(f) Status of Redeemed Shares. Any shares of Series C Preferred Stock that shall at any time have been redeemed or otherwise acquired by the Corporation shall, after such redemption or acquisition, have the status of authorized but unissued preferred stock, without designation as to series until such shares are once more classified and designated as part of a particular series by the Board of Directors.
(6) VOTING RIGHTS.
(a) Holders of the Series C Preferred Stock will not have any voting rights, except as set forth below.
(b)Whenever dividends on any shares of Series C Preferred Stock or any series of preferred stock ranking on parity as to payment of dividends with the Series C Preferred Stock, including the 9.375% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (as defined in the Charter), shall be in arrears for six or more quarterly periods, whether or not consecutive (a 'Preferred Dividend Default"), the holders of such shares of Series C Preferred Stock (voting separately as a class with ant other classes or all other series of our preferred stock, including the 9.375% Series Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (as defined in the Charter), ranking on a parity with the Series C Preferred Stock as to the payment of distributions and the distribution of assets upon liquidation ("Parity Preferred"), upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable), will be entitled to vote for the election of a total of two additional directors of the Corporation, provided that any such directors, if elected, shall not cause the Corporation to violate the requirement of Section 303A.02 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual, or any successor provision thereto, that the Corporation have a majority of independent directors (the `Preferred Stock Directors"), and the number of directors on the Board of Directors shall increase by two, at a special meeting called by the holders of record of at least 20% of the Series C Preferred Stock or the holders of any other series of Parity Preferred so in arrears (unless such request is received less than 90 days before the date fixed for the next annual or special meeting of stockholders in which event such meeting shall be held at such next annual or special meeting of stockholders), and at each subsequent annual meeting until all dividends accumulated on such shares of Series C Preferred Stock and any series of preferred stock ranking on parity as to payment of dividends with the Series C Preferred Stock for the past dividend periods and the dividend for the then current dividend period shall have been fully paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment t thereof set aside for payment.
(c)If and when all accumulated dividends and the dividend for the then current dividend period on the Series C Preferred Stock and any series of preferred stock ranking on parity as to payment of dividends with the Series C Preferred Stock, including the 9.375% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (as defined in the Charter), shall have been paid in full or set aside for payment in full, the holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall be divested of the voting right set forth in Section 6(b) hereof (subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent Preferred Dividend Default) and, if all accumulated dividends and the dividend for the current dividend period have been paid in full or set aside for payment in full on all other series of Parity Preferred upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, the term of office of each Preferred Stock Director so elected shall terminate and the number of directors on the Board of Directors shall decrease by two. Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time with or without cause by the vote of, and shall not be removed otherwise than by the vote of, the holders of record of 4 majority of the outstanding shares of the Series C Preferred Stock when they have the voting rights set forth in Section 6(b) (voting separately as a class with the Parity Preferred upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable). So long as a Preferred Dividend Default shall continue, any vacancy in the office of a Preferred Stock Director may
be filled by written consent of the Preferred Stock Director remaining in office, or, if none remains in office, by a vote of the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock when they have the voting rights set forth in Section 6(b) (voting separately as a class with all other series of Parity Preferred upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable). The Preferred Stock Directors shall each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter.
(b)(d) So long as any shares of Series C Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the shares of the Series C Preferred Stock outstanding at the time, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at a meeting (voting separately as a class with all series of Parity Preferred that the Corporation may issue upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable), (i) authorize or create, or increase the authorized or issued amount of, any class or series of capital stock ranking prior to the Series C Preferred Stock with respect to payment of distributions and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up or reclassify any authorized capital stock of the Corporation into any such shares, or create, authorize or issue any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase any such shares; (ii) amend, alter or repeal any of the provisions of the Charter, so as to materially and adversely affect any preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications, or terms or conditions of redemption of the Series C Preferred Stock or the holders thereof; provided, however, that any increase or decrease in the number of the authorized preferred stock (subject to the limit that the number of authorized shares of preferred stock shall not be decreased below the number issued and outstanding at such time), including the number of Series C Preferred Stock (subject to the limit that the number of authorized shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall not be decreased below the number issued and outstanding at such time), or the creation or issuance of any additional Series C Preferred Stock or other series of preferred stock that the Corporation may issue, or any increase in the amount of authorized shares of such series, in each case rankingsenior to oron a parity with or junior to the Series C Preferred Stock that the Corporation may issue with respect to the payment of distributions and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, shall be deemed not to materially and adversely affect such preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications, or terms or conditions of redemption; or (iii) enter into, approve, or otherwise facilitate a binding share exchange or reclassification involving the Series C Preferred Stock that materially and adversely affects any of the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications, or terms or conditions of redemption of the Series C Preferred Stock or a consolidation, merger or similar transaction involving the Corporation unless in the case of a binding share exchange, reclassification, consolidation, merger or other similar transactions the shares of Series C Preferred Stock remain outstanding with preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications, or terms or conditions of redemption materially unchanged or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which the Corporation is not the surviving or resulting entity, the shares are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, in each case with preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications, or terms or conditions of redemption of the Series C Preferred Stock that are not individually or in the aggregate materially less favorable to the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock than the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitation as to dividends
or other distributions, qualifications, or terms or conditions of redemption of the Series C Preferred Stock as described herein.
(continued,ec) The foregoingvoting provisionsprovision 6(b) will not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be effected, all outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed or called for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust to effect such redemption.
(7) CONVERSION. The Series C Preferred Stock is not convertible into or exchangeable for any property or securities of the Corporation.
SECOND: The 5,500,000 shares of Series C Preferred Stock have been reclassified and designated by the Board of Directors under the authority contained in the Charter.
THIRD:These Articles Supplementary have been approvedThe foregoing amendments to the Charter were advised by the Board of Directorsand approved by the stockholders of the Corporation asin the manner and by the vote required by lawand the Charter.
FOURTH: The undersigned President of the Corporation acknowledges these Articlesof AmendmentSupplementary to be the corporate act of the Corporation and, as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath, the undersigned Secretary and President acknowledges that, to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, these matters and facts are true in all material respects and that this statement is made under the penalties of perjury.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has causedthosethese Amended and Restated Articles Supplementary to be signed in its name and dated, on reverse side)its behalf by its President and attested to by its Secretary on this day of ,2004.2009.
ATTEST: | IMPAC MORTGAGE HOLDINGS, INC. | |||||||
By: | Name: Ronald M. Morrison Title: Secretary | By: | Name: William S. Ashmore Title: President |
ANNUALSPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF
IMPAC MORTGAGE HOLDINGS, INC.July 21, , 2009 9:00 a.m., Pacific Daylight Time
Please date,
PROXY VOTING INSTRUCTIONS
MAIL—Date, sign and mail
your proxy card in the
envelope provided as soonas possible.so it will be received by , 2009.
-OR-
v TELEPHONE—Call toll-free 1-800-776-9437 from any touch-tone telephone and follow the instructions. Have your proxy card available when you call.
-OR-
INTERNET—Access "www.voteproxy.com" and follow the on-screen instructions. Have your proxy card available when you access the web page.
COMPANY NUMBER
ACCOUNT NUMBER
You may enter your voting instructions at 1-800-776-9437 or www.voteproxy.com up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time on , 2009.
Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided. v
provided IF you are not voting via telephone or the Internet.
THIS PROXY IS BEING SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOUA VOTE "FOR" PROPOSAL 1 TO AMEND THE NOMINEES LISTED IN PROPOSAL 1. COMPANY'S CHARTER TO MODIFY THE TERMS OF THE SERIES B PREFERRED STOCK AND SERIES C PREFERRED STOCK.
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USINGIN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE. ýHERE
FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN | |||||||||
1. | Proposal to Amend the Company's Charter to Modify the terms of the Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock. | ||||||||||
INSTRUCTION:This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned stockholder(s).
To withhold authorityIf no other indication is made, the proxies shall vote "FOR" Proposal 1 to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark "FOR ALL EXCEPT" and checkamend the box nextCompany's Charter to each nominee(s) you wish to withhold, as shown here: ý
Eachmodify the terms of the persons named as proxies herein are authorized, in such person's discretion, toSeries B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock.
A vote upon such other matters as may properly come before"FOR" Proposal 1 is recommended by the Annual Meeting, or any adjournments thereof.Board of Directors.
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE SPECIAL MEETING, YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THIS PROXY IN THE ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE OR BY VOTING BY TELEPHONE OR OVER THE INTERNET BY FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE PROXY CARD.
To change the address on your account, please check
the box at right and indicate your new address in the
address space above. Please note that changes to the
registered name(s) on the account may not be submitted
via this method.o
Please check here if you plan to attend the meeting. o
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Signature of | Date: | Signature of | Date: |
Note: