Notice is hereby given that a Special General Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting” or the “Special Meeting”) of TTI Team Telecom International Ltd. (“we”, “TTI” or the “Company”) will be held on Tuesday, July 29, 2008, at 5:00 p.m. (Israel time), at the offices of the Company, 12 Amal Street, Afek Park, Rosh Ha’ayin, Israel, for the following purposes:
Shareholders of record at the close of business on June 27, 2008, are entitled to notice of, and to vote at the Meeting. All shareholders are cordially invited to attend the Meeting in person. Joint holders of shares should take note that, pursuant to our Articles of Association, the vote of the senior of joint holders of any share who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy, will be accepted to the exclusion of the vote(s) of the other holder(s) of the share.
Shareholders who are unable to attend the Special Meeting in person are requested to complete, date and sign the enclosed form of proxy and return it promptly in the pre-addressed envelope provided, so as to be received not later than seventy-two (72) hours before the Meeting. No postage is required if mailed in the United States.
TTI TEAM TELECOM INTERNATIONAL LTD.
12 Amal Street
Rosh Ha’ayin, Israel
PROXY STATEMENT
This Proxy Statement is being furnished to the shareholders of TTI Team Telecom International Ltd. (“we”, “TTI” or the “Company”) in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of the Company for use at the Special General Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting” or the “Special Meeting”) to be held on Tuesday, July 29, 2008, at 5:00 p.m., and at any adjournment thereof. This Proxy Statement and the accompanying form of proxy are first being mailed to our shareholders on or about June 30, 2008.
Purpose of the Special Meeting
The agenda of the Special Meeting will be as follows:
| (1) To approve an increase in compensation paid to the Company’s non-employee directors; and |
| (2) To transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
Recommendation of the Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR approval of the proposal set forth in this Proxy Statement.
Record Date; Outstanding Securities; Quorum
Only holders of record of our shares at the close of business on June 27, 2008, the record date for the Meeting, are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Special Meeting. We had 16,003,155 Ordinary Shares, NIS 0.50 nominal value each (“Ordinary Shares”), and 2,936,389 Series A Preferred Shares, NIS 0.50 nominal value each (“Series A Preferred Shares”), outstanding on June 1, 2008.
Each Ordinary Share and each Series A Preferred Share outstanding on the record date will entitle its holder to one vote upon each of the matters to be presented at the Special Meeting.
A quorum must be present in order for the Special Meeting to be held. According to our Amended and Restated Articles of Association (the “Articles of Association”), the quorum at the Meeting shall be two shareholders present in person or by proxy, holding or representing at least one third (33.3%) of the total voting rights in the Company. If within one hour from the time established for the commencement of the Meeting a quorum is not present, the Meeting shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week, August 5, 2008 at the same time and place or, if the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company so determines, with the consent of a majority of the shares represented at the Meeting, in person or by proxy, and voting on the question of adjournment, to such other day, time and place as shall be so determined. This notice shall serve as notice of such adjourned meeting if no quorum is present at the original date and time, and no further notice of the adjourned meeting will be given to shareholders. If, at such adjourned meeting, a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for holding the meeting, any two shareholders present in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum.
Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted as shares present for determination of a quorum. For purposes of determining whether a matter is approved by the shareholders, abstentions and broker non-votes will not be treated as either votes “for” or “against” the matter.
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Proxies
Proxies for use at the Special Meeting are being solicited by the Board of Directors of the Company. Proxies are being mailed to shareholders on or about June 30, 2008 and will be solicited primarily by mail; however, certain of the Company’s officers, directors, employees and agents, none of whom will receive additional compensation therefor, may solicit proxies by telephone, telegram or other personal contact. The Company will bear the cost of the solicitation of proxies, including the cost of preparing, assembling and mailing the proxy material, and will reimburse the reasonable expense of brokerage firms and others for forwarding material to the beneficial owners of our shares.
All shares represented by properly executed proxies received by the Company seventy-two (72) hours prior to the Meeting will, unless such proxies have been previously revoked, be voted at the Special Meeting in accordance with the directions on the proxies. If no direction is indicated on the properly executed proxy, the shares will be voted in favor of the matters described above. If any other matters are properly presented for action at the Meeting (which is not anticipated), the proxy holders will vote (which authority is conferred to such holders to vote on such matters by the proxies) in accordance with their best judgment. A shareholder returning a proxy may revoke it at any time up to one hour prior to commencement of the Meeting by communicating such revocation in writing to the Company’s Chief Financial Officer or by executing and delivering a later-dated proxy. In addition, any person who has executed a proxy and is present at the Special Meeting may vote in person instead of by proxy, thereby canceling any proxy previously given, whether or not written revocation of such proxy has been given. Any written notice revoking a proxy should be sent to TTI Team Telecom International Ltd., 12 Amal Street, Afek Park, Rosh Ha’ayin, Israel, Attention: Israel (Eli) Ofer, Chief Financial Officer.
Security Ownership
Major Shareholders
Set forth below is information known to us concerning our shareholders that are the beneficial owners of 5% or more of outstanding ordinary shares or preferred shares as of June 1, 2008:
Name of shareholder
| Number of ordinary shares held
| Percentage of our outstanding ordinary shares *
| Number of preferred shares held
| Percentage of our outstanding preferred shares **
| Total shares beneficially owned ***
| Percentage of our outstanding share capital****
|
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| | | | | | |
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| | | | | | |
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| | | | | | |
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| | | | | | |
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Shlomo Eisenberg (1)(2)(3) | | | | 4,379,142 | | | 27.4 | % | | -- | | | -- | | | 4,379,142 | | | 23.1 | % |
Neuberger & Berman (4)(5) | | | | 1,180,332 | | | 7.4 | % | | 1,799,995 | | | 61.3 | % | | 3,980,325 | | | 21.0 | % |
Rima Management, LLC and Richard Mashaal (6) | | | | 1,104,705 | | | 8.3 | % | | 227,300 | | | 7.7 | % | | 1,332,005 | | | 7.7 | % |
S Squared Technology (7) | | | | 363,637 | | | 2.3 | % | | 909,091 | | | 30.9 | % | | 1,272,728 | | | 6.7 | % |
* Based on an aggregate of 16,003,155 ordinary shares outstanding as of June 1, 2008. |
** Based on an aggregate of 2,936,391preferred shares outstanding as of June 1, 2008. |
*** Includes shares underlying options or warrants held by such person that are exercisable within 60 days. Ordinary shares deemed beneficially owned by virtue of the right of any person or group to acquire such ordinary shares within 60 days are treated as outstanding only for purposes of determining the percent owned by such person or group. |
**** Based on an aggregate of 18,939,546 ordinary and preferred shares outstanding as of June 1, 2008. |
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(1) | Shlomo Eisenberg holds 744,836 ordinary shares, 67,468 ordinary shares through a wholly owned corporation, and his wife, Tirza Eisenberg, holds 188,912 ordinary shares. In addition, Mr. Eisenberg, directly and indirectly (through a wholly owned corporation), owns approximately 13.3% of Team Computers and Systems Ltd. and is also a member of the controlling group of shareholders of Arad Investments and Industrial Development Ltd. Therefore, Mr. Eisenberg may be deemed to beneficially own the ordinary shares held by Arad, Team Computers and Team Software Industries Ltd. (see below). Mr. Eisenberg disclaims any such beneficial ownership. |
(2) | Arad, directly and indirectly (through a wholly owned corporation), holds 3,227,476 ordinary shares. In addition, Arad owns 47.6% of Team Computers and, therefore, may be deemed to beneficially own the ordinary shares held by Team Computers and Team Software. Arad disclaims any such beneficial ownership. Arad is an Israeli company whose shares are publicly traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. |
(3) | Team Software holds 145,150 ordinary shares. Team Computers holds 5,300 ordinary shares. Since Team Computers holds 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Team Software, it may be deemed to beneficially own the ordinary shares held by Team Software. Team Computers, an Israeli company whose shares are publicly traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, is a large computer vendor in Israel. In addition, as of June 1, 2008, Meir Lipshes, the Chairman of our board of directors and CEO, owned approximately 6.4% of Team Computers’ shares. Mr. Lipshes disclaims any beneficial ownership. As of June 1, 2008, Meir Lipshes owned approximately 2.5% of our outstanding shares directly. |
(4) | As of May 9, 2006, based on a Schedule 13D/A filed by Neuberger & Berman with the SEC on May 25, 2006. Neuberger Berman, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“NB LLC”), serves as the investment adviser to LibertyView Special Opportunities Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“LV Opportunities”), LibertyView Funds, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“LV Funds”), and certain other investment funds and accounts (together with LV Opportunities and LV Funds, the “Funds”). Neuberger Berman, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“NB Inc.”), serves as the sole owner and managing member of NB LLC. NB LLC may be deemed to beneficially own the ordinary shares directly held by the Funds and NB Inc. may be deemed to control NB LLC by virtue of its position as the sole owner and managing member of NB LLC. The 3,980,325 shares reported as beneficially owned by NB LLC include 1,180,332 ordinary shares, 1,799,995 Series A Preferred Shares, and 999,999 warrants to purchase ordinary shares which are exercisable within 60 days. |
(5) | LV Opportunities holds 1,363,635 Series A Preferred Shares, and warrants to purchase 545,454 ordinary shares which are exercisable within 60 days, with an exercise price of $2.50 per share. LV Funds holds 909,090 Series A Preferred Shares, and warrants to purchase 363,636 ordinary shares which are exercisable within 60 days, with an exercise price of $2.50 per share. |
(6) | As of December 31, 2007, based on a Schedule 13G filed by Rima Management, LLC and Richard Mashaal with the SEC on February 13, 2008. The Schedule 13G indicates that Rima Management, LLC and Richard Mashaal share voting and dispositive power as to the 1,332,005 ordinary shares (comprised of 227,300 Series A Preferred Shares and 90,920 warrants to purchase ordinary shares which are exercisable within 60 days, with an exercise price of $2.5 per share) . |
(7) | As of December 31, 2007, based on a Schedule 13G/A filed by S Squared Technology, LLC with the SEC on January 17, 2008. The Schedule 13G/A indicates that S Squared Technology LLC, or SST, holds a total of 991,283 ordinary shares (out of which 708,059 Series A Preferred Shares and and warrants to purchase 283,224 ordinary shares which are exercisable within 60 days, with an exercise price of $2.50 per share ) and S Squared Technology Partners , LP , or SSTP, beneficially owns 281,445 ordinary shares (out of which 201,032 Series A Preferred Shares, and warrants to purchase 80,413 ordinary shares which are exercisable within 60 days, with an exercise price of $2.50 per share). Seymour L. Goldblatt, the President of each of SST and SSTP, and Kenneth A. Goldblatt, who beneficially own a majority of the interests in SST disclaim beneficially ownership of the ordinary shares held by SST and SSTP. |
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Security Ownership of Our Directors and Executive Officers
The following table details, as of June 1, 2008, the number of our ordinary shares owned (including the shares underlying options or warrants held by such person that are exercisable within 60 days) by our directors and executive officers:
Name and Address
| Number of Shares Owned
| Percent of Shares Outstanding
|
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| | |
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| | |
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| | |
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| | |
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Meir Lipshes (1)(2) | | | | 551,563 | | | 2.9 | % |
| | |
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All other directors and executive officers, as a group (consisting of | | |
11 persons, other than Meir Lipshes) (3) | | | | 145,334 | | | * | |
* less than 1% of our outstanding ordinary shares.
(1) | Includes options exercisable into 75,000 ordinary shares, at an exercise price of $3 per share, which expire on October 15, 2008. |
(2) | As of June 1, 2008, Team Computers and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Team Software Industries Ltd., beneficially owned 150,450 of our ordinary shares, representing approximately 0.8% of our outstanding share capital and voting rights. As of June 1, 2008, Meir Lipshes, the Chairman of our board of directors and our acting Chief Executive Officer, owned approximately 6.4% of Team Computers’ shares. Mr. Lipshes disclaims any beneficial interest in the ordinary shares owned by Team Software or Team Computers in us. |
(3) | The number of shares owned consists solely of options exercisable into ordinary shares within 60 days. The options have exercise prices ranging from $3.5 per share to $8.0 per share, and expire between June 30, 2009 and January 10, 2011. |
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AGENDA OF THE SPECIAL MEETING
ITEM 1 – Compensation to the Directors of the Company
Background
The minimum and maximum compensation that may be paid to external directors (as defined in the Israeli Companies Law, 1999 (the “Companies Law”)) of Israeli public companies, such as the Company, is regulated by the Companies Law and the Israeli Companies Regulations (Rules regarding Compensation and Expenses to External Directors), 2000 (as amended, the “Compensation Regulations”).
In accordance with the Compensation Regulations, the Company’s external directors (namely, Ms. Julie Kunstler and Mr. Doron Zinger) received in 2007 and through March 2008, (1) annual compensation of approximately NIS 48,000 (currently equates to approximately $13,700) each and (2) approximately NIS 1,800 (currently equates to approximately $500) per board meeting or per board committee meeting in which they participate, all linked to the Israeli Consumer Price Index (“CPI”). All other non-employee directors of the Company (namely, Messrs. Ilan Toker and Meir Dvir) received the same compensation as the external directors.
In addition, in November 2006, the Company granted options to purchase up to 15,000 ordinary shares to each of the non-employee directors (including the external directors but excluding Mr. Toker, who waived his right for such grant), at an exercise price of $3.5 per share. The grant was approved by the Company’s shareholders in December 2006. The options vest over a period of 3 years and shall expire in November 2011.
Proposed Changes
In March 2008, the Compensation Regulations were amended in a manner that, among others, allows Israeli public companies to increase (and only increase) the fees paid to their existing external directors; provided the change is effected until August 6, 2008. A company, such as the Company, is now allowed to pay each of its external directors annual compensation of up to NIS 115,400 (currently equates to approximately $33,600) and up to approximately NIS 3,470 (currently equates to approximately $1,010) per board meeting or per board committee meeting, all linked to the CPI.
In light of the aforesaid amendment, the Company’s Audit Committee and Board of Directors have approved the increase of (1) the annual compensation paid to the external directors to NIS 80,000 (currently equates to approximately $23,400) and (2) compensation paid to the external directors per board meeting or per board committee meeting to NIS 3,000 (currently equates to approximately $880), all linked to the CPI, effective April 1, 2008. The external directors are also entitled to reimbursement of expenses. All other non-employee directors of the Company shall receive the same compensation and reimbursement of expenses as the external directors.
According to Article 43 of our Articles of Association, the said changes to compensation to the directors require the approval of the shareholders.
It is therefore proposed that at the Meeting the following resolution be adopted:
| “RESOLVED, that the compensation to the non-employee directors of the Company, who may serve the Company from time to time, as described in the Proxy Statement dated June 30, 2008, be, and it hereby is, approved.” |
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Required Vote
Approval of this matter will require the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present, in person or by proxy, and voting on the matter.
The Board of Directors recommends that the shareholders vote “FOR” the adoption of this resolution.
Other Matters
It is not anticipated that there will be presented at the Special Meeting any matters other than those on the agenda described above. If any other matters should come before the Meeting, the persons named on the enclosed proxy card will have discretionary authority to vote all proxies in accordance with their best judgment.
| | By Order of the Board of Directors
Meir Lipshes Chairman of the Board of Directors |
June 30, 2008
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