UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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☒ | Definitive Proxy Statement |
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☐ | Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
NEULION, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
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NEULION, INC.
1600 Old Country Road
Plainview, New York 11803
_______________________________
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
_______________________________
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF NEULION, INC.:
The annual meeting of the stockholders of NeuLion, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), will be held on June 5, 2012, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, at the Long Island Marriott Hotel & Conference Center at 101 James Doolittle Boulevard, Uniondale, New York 11553 (the “Annual Meeting”), for the following purposes:
1. | To elect eight (8) members of the Board of Directors named in the accompanying proxy statement, each for a term of one year; |
2. | To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012; |
3. | To approve the adoption of the NeuLion, Inc. 2012 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan; |
4. | To approve an amendment to increase in the number of shares of common stock, par value $0.01, of the Company (“Common Stock”) authorized for issuance under the Company’s Amended and Restated Directors’ Compensation Plan, as amended, from 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock to 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock; and |
5. | To transact any other business as may properly be presented at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. |
A proxy statement providing information and a form of proxy to vote with respect to the foregoing matters accompany this Notice of Annual Meeting.
It is important that your shares of the Company are represented at the Annual Meeting. Regardless of whether you expect to attend the Annual Meeting, please complete, date and sign the accompanying form of proxy and return it promptly in the enclosed return envelope, or follow the instructions on the enclosed form of proxy to vote your proxy by telephone or Internet. If you grant a proxy, you may revoke it at any time prior to the Annual Meeting or nevertheless vote in person at the Annual Meeting.
| By Order of the Board of Directors, |
| |
| |
| /s/ Roy E. Reichbach |
| Roy E. Reichbach |
| General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Director |
Dated: April 19, 2012
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON JUNE 5, 2012: This Notice of Annual Meeting, our proxy statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, are available on our website at www.neulion.com.
NEULION, INC.
_______________________________
PROXY STATEMENT
_______________________________
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING
Why did I receive these proxy materials?
We are providing these proxy materials in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of NeuLion, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“NeuLion” or the “Company”), of proxies to be voted at our annual meeting of stockholders to be held on June 5, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time at the Long Island Marriott Hotel & Conference Center at 101 James Doolittle Boulevard, Uniondale, New York 11553 and at any adjournment or postponement thereof (the “Annual Meeting”). You may obtain directions to the Annual Meeting by writing to the Company at 1600 Old Country Road, Plainview, New York 11803, ATTN: Corporate Secretary, prior to the date thereof. Stockholders will be admitted to the Annual Meeting beginning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
This proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement”) and the accompanying form of proxy are first being sent to stockholders on or about April 24, 2012.
A copy of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K containing its audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 accompanies this Proxy Statement. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K is not part of this Proxy Statement.
What items will be put to a vote?
The following items will be put to a stockholder vote at the Annual Meeting:
| · | The election of eight (8) members of the Board of Directors named in this Proxy Statement, each for a term of one year; |
| · | The ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP (“E&Y”) as the Company’s independent registered public accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012; |
| · | The approval of the adoption of the NeuLion, Inc. 2012 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan (the “2012 Plan”); |
| · | The approval of an amendment to increase in the number of shares of common stock, par value $0.01, of the Company (“Common Stock”) authorized for issuance under the Company’s Amended and Restated Directors’ Compensation Plan, as amended (the “Directors’ Compensation Plan”), from 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock to 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock; and |
| · | The transaction of any other business as may properly be presented at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. |
Who is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting?
Persons registered on the records of the Company at the close of business on April 16, 2012 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and at all adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting.
As of the Record Date, the Company had outstanding 140,827,310 shares of Common Stock, 17,176,818 shares of Class 3 Preference Shares, par value $0.01 (“Class 3 Preferred Stock”), and 10,912,265 shares of Class 4 Preference Shares, par value $0.01 (“Class 4 Preferred Stock,” and together with Class 3 Preferred Stock, the “Preferred Stock”), being all of the classes of stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Each share of Common Stock entitles its holder to one vote, and each share of Preferred Stock entitles its holder to one vote. The Common Stock and Preferred Stock shall vote as one class on all matters covered in this Proxy Statement.
How do I vote?
You may vote your proxy by completing, dating, signing and mailing the accompanying form of proxy in the return envelope provided, or by telephone or by Internet by following the instructions on the form of proxy. If you vote your shares by telephone or Internet, you do not have to return your proxy card. The persons authorized by such means to vote your shares will vote them as you specify or, in the absence of your specification, as stated on the form of proxy.
You may also vote by attending the Annual Meeting in person. If you attend the Annual Meeting, you may vote there in person, regardless whether you have previously voted. If you wish to vote your shares in person at the Annual Meeting and your shares are registered in the name of a broker, trust, bank or other holder of record, you will need to bring a legal proxy or a letter from that broker, trust, bank or other holder of record that confirms that you are the beneficial owner of those shares.
Your vote is important to the Company.
What can I do if I change my mind after I vote?
If you are a stockholder of record, you may revoke any proxy before it is exercised by notifying the Company in a writing received at the above address, ATTN: Corporate Secretary, by 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on June 4, 2012 or by voting a subsequent proxy or by voting in person at the Annual Meeting. If you are a beneficial owner of shares, you may submit new voting instructions by contacting your broker, trust, bank or other holder of record.
What is the difference between holding shares as a stockholder of record and as a beneficial owner?
If your shares are registered in your name with the Company’s transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., you are the “stockholder of record” of those shares, and this Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement and any accompanying documents have been provided to you directly by the Company.
If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank, trust or other holder of record, you are considered the “beneficial owner” of those shares, and this Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement and any accompanying documents have been forwarded to you by your broker, bank, trust or other holder of record. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank, trust or other holder of record how to vote your shares by using the proxy card or by following the instructions provided by such entity.
What is a broker non-vote? What is an abstention?
If you hold shares through an account with a broker, bank, trust or other holder of record, your shares may be voted on routine matters even if you do not provide voting instructions. However, when a proposal is not routine and a brokerage firm, bank, trust or other holder of record has not received specific voting instructions from its customers, it cannot vote the shares on that proposal. Those shares are considered broker “non-votes.” An abstention occurs when a stockholder does not cast a ballot on a matter that has been put to a vote and instead marks the “abstain” box on the proxy card.
Our proposals will be affected by broker “non-votes” and abstentions as follows:
Election of Directors
The election of directors is not considered a routine matter. The Company’s Bylaws require that in an uncontested election, such as the election at the Annual Meeting, each director will be elected by vote of the majority of the votes with respect to the director nominee. A majority of the votes cast means that the number of shares cast “for” a director’s election must exceed the number of votes cast “against” that nominee. Abstentions and broker “non-votes” are not counted as “for” or “against” a director nominee, and will not have an effect on the outcome of the election of directors.
Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accountants
The ratification of the appointment of E&Y as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 is considered a routine matter, and therefore there will be no broker “non-votes” associated with this proposal. The ratification of this matter requires the affirmative vote of the majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the matter. Abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against this matter.
Adoption of the 2012 Plan
The approval of the adoption of the NeuLion, Inc. 2012 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan (the “2012 Plan”) is not considered a routine matter. The Company’s Bylaws require the 2012 Plan be approved by the affirmative vote of the majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the matter. Abstentions and broker “non-votes” are not counted as “for” or “against” the adoption of the 2012 Plan, and will not have an effect on the outcome of the adoption of the 2012 Plan.
Amendment to Directors’ Compensation Plan
The approval of the amendment to the Directors’ Compensation Plan is not considered a routine matter. The Company’s Bylaws require the amendment to the Directors’ Compensation Plan be approved by the affirmative vote of the majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the matter. Abstentions and broker “non-votes” are not counted as “for” or “against” the approval of the amendment to the Directors’ Compensation Plan, and will not have an effect on the outcome of the approval of the amendment to the Directors’ Compensation Plan.
We encourage you to provide your instructions to your broker, bank, trust or other holder of record regarding the voting of your shares.
What constitutes a quorum for the Annual Meeting?
The presence of a majority of shares entitled to vote on a matter, in person or represented by proxy, will constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, other than in such cases where a separate vote by a class is required whereby a majority of the outstanding shares of such class, present in person or represented by proxy, will also be required to constitute a quorum with respect to a vote on that matter. The Company’s list of stockholders as of the Record Date has been used to deliver to stockholders this Notice of Annual Meeting and this Proxy Statement as well as to determine who is eligible to vote.
What are the voting requirements to elect the directors and to approve each of the proposals discussed in this Proxy Statement?
Under our Bylaws, directors must be elected by vote of the majority of the votes cast with respect to a director nominee in uncontested elections. This means that the number of votes cast “for” a director nominee must exceed the number of votes cast “against” that nominee. The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote is required to ratify the appointment of E&Y, to adopt the 2012 Plan and to approve the increase in the number of Common Shares authorized for issuance under the Directors’ Compensation Plan.
How does the Board of Directors recommend that I vote?
Your Board of Directors recommends that you vote your shares:
| · | ‘FOR’ the election of each of the nominees to the Board; |
| · | ‘FOR’ the ratification of the appointment of E&Y as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2012; |
| · | ‘FOR’ the approval of the adoption of the 2012 Plan; and |
| · | ‘FOR’ the approval of an amendment to increase in the number of Common Shares authorized for issuance under the Directors’ Compensation Plan from 1,500,000 Common Shares to 5,000,000 Common Shares. |
Does any director or executive officer of the Company have an interest in the matters to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting?
To the knowledge of the Company, no person who has been a director or an executive officer of the Company at any time since the beginning of the Company’s last fiscal year, no nominee for election as a director of the Company, and no associate of any of the foregoing persons, has any substantial interest, direct or indirect, by security holdings or otherwise, in any matter to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting except as disclosed in this Proxy Statement.
Who will pay for the costs of these proxy materials?
The Company will bear the entire cost of preparing, assembling, printing and mailing the Proxy Statement, the accompanying form of proxy, and any additional material that may be furnished to stockholders. Proxies may be solicited through the mails or direct communication with certain stockholders or their representatives by the Company’s officers, directors or employees, who will receive no additional compensation therefor. The costs of solicitation will be borne by the Company.
Who tabulates the votes?
Votes are counted by employees of Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the Company’s transfer agent and registrar, and certified by the inspectors of election.
Where can I find the voting results of the Annual Meeting?
The Company will report the voting results on a Form 8-K shortly after the Annual Meeting.
What is “householding” and does NeuLion do this?
Householding is a procedure approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) by which stockholders who have the same address and last name and do not participate in electronic delivery of proxy materials will receive only one copy of a company’s proxy statement and annual report from a company, bank, broker, trust or other holder of record, unless one or more of these stockholders notifies such an entity that they wish to continue to receive individual copies. At the present time, the Company does not “household” for any of our stockholders of record. However, your bank, broker, trust or other holder of record may be householding your account if you hold your shares in street name.
Could other matters be decided at the Annual Meeting?
At the date of this Proxy Statement, we did not know of any matters to be raised at the Annual Meeting other than those referred to in this Proxy Statement.
If you return your signed and completed proxy card or vote by telephone or on the Internet and other matters are properly presented at the Annual Meeting for consideration, the proxy appointed by the Board of Directors will have the discretion to vote for you.
Can I access the proxy materials for the Annual Meeting on the Internet or receive another copy?
This Proxy Statement and the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 are available on the Company’s website at www.neulion.com. This Proxy Statement, the form of proxy and the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, excluding exhibits, will be mailed without charge to any stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting upon written request to NeuLion, Inc., 1600 Old Country Road, Plainview, New York 11803, ATTN: Corporate Secretary.
How do I submit a proposal for inclusion in NeuLion’s proxy material for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2013?
Stockholder proposals may be submitted for the Company’s proxy material for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2013 after the Annual Meeting but must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 25, 2012. Proposals should be sent via registered, certified or express mail to NeuLion, Inc., 1600 Old Country Road, Plainview, New York 11803, ATTN: Corporate Secretary.
Management carefully considers all proposals and suggestions from stockholders.
How do I submit an item of business for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2013?
Stockholders who intend to present an item of business at the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2013 (other than a proposal submitted for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement) must provide notice of such business to the Company’s Secretary no earlier than March 7, 2013 and no later than April 6, 2013 as set forth more fully in the Company’s By-Laws.
How do I nominate a director for inclusion in NeuLion’s proxy material for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2013?
Stockholder nominees for director may be submitted for the Company’s proxy material for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2013 after the Annual Meeting but must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 25, 2012. Proposals should be sent via registered, certified or express mail to: NeuLion, Inc., 1600 Old Country Road, Plainview, New York 11803, ATTN: Corporate Secretary.
Are any of the directors or executive officers of the Company subject to any voting restrictions?
Charles B. Wang, the chairman of our Board of Directors, Nancy Li, our Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company, and AvantaLion LLC (“AvantaLion”), which is controlled by Mr. Wang, are parties to a voting trust agreement (the “Voting Trust Agreement”) pursuant to which all shares of Common Stock of the Company directly or indirectly controlled by them were deposited with Computershare so that shares of Common Stock controlled by Mr. Wang, Ms. Li and AvantaLion, representing more than 9.9% of the total issued and outstanding Common Stock of the Company may not be voted in relation to:
| · | the election of directors; |
| · | any matters related to security-based compensation; and |
| · | any other matters which may change the governance structure of the Company as disclosed in the management information circular dated September 4, 2008 relating to the stockholder approval of the business combination of the entities then known as JumpTV Inc. (now called NeuLion, Inc.) and NeuLion, Inc. (now called NeuLion USA, Inc.). |
The voting restrictions imposed by the Voting Trust Agreement do not apply to any arm’s-length transferee of any of the Common Stock held by Mr. Wang, Ms. Li or AvantaLion. The Voting Trust Agreement will terminate on the first to occur of:
| · | five years from October 20, 2008; |
| · | the date when the Common Stock ceases to be listed and posted for trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange; and |
| · | the date that Mr. Wang, Ms. Li and AvantaLion no longer own any Common Stock. |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MATTERS
Independence of Directors
The Board of Directors is currently comprised of eight members: Charles B. Wang; G. Scott Paterson; Nancy Li; Roy E. Reichbach; John R. Anderson; Gabriel A. Battista; Shirley Strum Kenny; and David Kronfeld. All of these individuals are nominated for election at the Annual Meeting. The Board has determined that four of the current eight members of the Board of Directors, namely, Dr. Kenny and Messrs. Kronfeld, Anderson and Battista, are independent directors of the Company, with independence being defined in accordance with the rules of NASDAQ. Ms. Li, Chief Executive Officer of the Company and spouse of Mr. Wang, Mr. Wang, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company and spouse of Ms. Li, Mr. Paterson, Executive Vice Chairman of the Company, and Mr. Reichbach, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of the Company, are each deemed to have material relationships with the Company and are therefore not considered to be independent. In determining whether a director is independent, the Board relied upon the definition as set forth in NASDAQ Listing Rule 5605.
To facilitate the functioning of the Board of Directors independently of management, the following structures and processes are in place:
| · | The majority of the Board of Directors is comprised of non-executive directors. The only members of management on the Board of Directors are the Executive Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer and the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of the Company. While Mr. Wang is not “independent” as defined by NASDAQ Listing Rule 5605, he is not a member of management of the Company and is therefore considered to be a non-executive director. |
| · | A lead independent director, currently Mr. Anderson, provides overall leadership to the Board of Directors and ensures that the Board’s agenda will enable it to successfully carry out its duties. Mr. Anderson is familiar with the mandate of the Board of Directors and the charters of the Board committees and acts as chair of or serves on any ad hoc special committee established by the Board of Directors, and supervises compliance with the terms of the Voting Trust Agreement (see “Questions and Answer About the Annual Meeting and Voting — Are any of the directors or executive officers of the Company subject to any voting restrictions?”). |
| · | Independent, non-executive directors meet periodically without management present. |
| · | Members of management, including the Executive Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, are not present for the discussion and determination of certain matters at meetings of the Board of Directors. |
| · | The Chief Executive Officer’s compensation is determined by the Compensation Committee, which is comprised entirely of independent directors. The Chief Executive Officer is not present at these deliberations. |
Board Operations
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Lead Independent Director
The positions of Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Lead Independent Director of the Company are held by different persons. The responsibilities of the Chairman of the Board of Directors include developing the agenda for each meeting of the Board of Directors in consultation with management, facilitating the activities of the Board of Directors and chairing meetings of the Board of Directors. The responsibilities of the Chief Executive Officer include developing and successfully implementing the Company’s strategic plans, providing quality leadership to the Company’s staff, maintaining existing and developing new strategic alliances, considering possible strategic alternatives for the Company, and acting as an entrepreneur and innovator within the strategic goals of the Company. The Lead Independent Director coordinates the activities of the independent directors, coordinates with the Chairman of the Board of Directors and management to set the agenda for Board meetings, chairs executive sessions of the independent directors, and performs the other duties assigned from time to time by the Board. Our Board believes its current leadership structure is appropriate because it effectively allocates authority, responsibility and oversight between management and the independent members of our Board. It does this by giving primary responsibility for the operational leadership and strategic direction of the Company to our Chief Executive Officer, while enabling the Lead Independent Director to facilitate our Board’s independent oversight of management, promote communication between management and our Board, and support our Board’s consideration of key governance matters.
Role in Risk Oversight
The Board is responsible for assessing the risks facing the Company and considers risk in virtually every business decision and as part of the Company’s business strategy. The Board recognizes that it is neither possible nor prudent to eliminate all risk, and that strategic and appropriate risk-taking is essential for the Company to compete in its industry and in the global market and to achieve its growth and profitability objectives. Effective risk oversight, therefore, is an important priority of the Board.
While the Board supervises risk management, the Company’s executive officers are charged on a day-to-day basis with weighing and managing the risks the Company faces. The Company has a strong internal control environment and robust internal processes to identify and manage risks and to communicate with the Board. These include active risk management by the Chief Financial Officer and the General Counsel and a Code of Business Conduct (the “Code”). Additionally, the Company has engaged E&Y as its independent registered public accountants to provide comprehensive external audit services. The Board and the Audit Committee monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the internal controls and the risk management program at least annually, and the Audit Committee reports as necessary to the Board on financial risks. Management communicates routinely with the Board, Board committees and individual directors on the significant risks identified and how they are being managed. The Board reviews and adjusts the Company’s risk management strategies at regular intervals, or as needed. Directors are free to, and often do, communicate directly with senior management.
Meetings
The Board of Directors meets at least once each quarter. The frequency of the meetings and the nature of the meeting agendas are dependent upon the nature of the business and issues that the Company faces from time to time. Non-executive directors meet periodically without management present. The Board of Directors held seven meetings during 2011. During 2011, no director attended fewer than 75% of the meetings of the Board of Directors or of the Board committees of which the director was a member.
Annual Meeting Attendance
It is the policy of the Board of Directors that all directors should attend the annual meetings in person or by teleconference. Last year all directors other than Messrs. Anderson and Battista attended the annual meeting.
Board Committees
The Board of Directors has three standing committees: Audit; Compensation; and Corporate Governance. The Audit and Compensation Committees are comprised solely of independent directors. Each committee has a charter or mandate, which is available at the Company’s website at www.neulion.com.
The table below provides membership information for each of the Board of Director committees for 2011. If re-elected by the stockholders, each director will remain a member of the committee upon which he or she currently serves.
Name | | Audit | | Compensation | | Corporate Governance | | Disclosure |
John R. Anderson | | Chair | | | | Chair | | |
Gabriel A. Battista | | | | X | | X | | X |
Shirley Strum Kenny | | X | | X | | X | | |
David Kronfeld | | X | | Chair | | | | |
Nancy Li | | | | | | | | |
G. Scott Paterson | | | | | | | | |
Roy E. Reichbach | | | | | | X | | X |
Charles B. Wang | | | | | | | | |
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in discharging its responsibilities relating to the financial management of the Company and oversight of the accounting and financial reporting of the Company, the Company’s independent auditor and audits, the internal financial controls of the Company and the continuous improvement of the Company’s financial policies and practices. In addition, the Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and discussing with management the Company’s policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management. Further detail about the role of the Audit Committee in risk assessment and risk management is included above in this section under the heading “—Role in Risk Oversight.”
The Audit Committee may be composed of a minimum of three and a maximum of five members. Each member of the Audit Committee is a “non-employee director” whom the Board has determined to be an independent director. As of the date hereof, the members of the Audit Committee are John R. Anderson (Chairman), Shirley Strum Kenny and David Kronfeld. The Board of Directors has determined that Messrs. Anderson and Kronfeld qualify as “financial experts” as defined by the SEC. In addition, the Board has determined that all of the Audit Committee members have sufficient knowledge in reading and understanding the Company’s financial statements to serve on the Audit Committee.
During 2011, the Audit Committee held four meetings. All members attended each meeting.
A copy of the Audit Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website at www.neulion.com.
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee assists the Board of Directors in setting and maintaining the compensation philosophy of the Company and in discharging its responsibilities relating to executive and other human resources hiring, assessment and compensation, and succession planning. The Compensation Committee approves all awards, grants and related actions under the Company’s various incentive compensation plans. The Compensation Committee has direct responsibility for reviewing and recommending to the Board of Directors specific corporate goals and objectives that the Chief Executive Officer is expected to attain, assessing the Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of these goals and objectives and recommending to the Board of Directors the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation. The Compensation Committee also reviews the performance of the Company’s senior officers and recommends the compensation structure. Further, the Compensation Committee may, in appropriate circumstances, engage external advisors and set and pay their compensation, subject to advising the Chairman of the Board.
The Compensation Committee may be composed of a minimum of three and a maximum of five members. Each member of the Compensation Committee has been determined by the Board of Director to qualify as an independent director. As of the date hereof, the members of the Compensation Committee are David Kronfeld (Chairman), Shirley Strum Kenny and Gabriel A. Battista. The Board has also determined that each of its Compensation Committee members is an “outside director” pursuant to criteria established by the Internal Revenue Service and is a “non-employee” director pursuant to criteria established by the SEC.
During 2011, the Compensation Committee held no separate meetings outside of the context of a meeting of the Board.
A copy of the Mandate of the Compensation Committee is available on the Company’s website at www.neulion.com.
Corporate Governance Committee
The Corporate Governance Committee assists the Board of Directors in identifying and recommending qualified individuals as nominees for election as directors, in determining the composition of the Board, and in assessing the Board’s effectiveness. The Corporate Governance Committee also assesses the Board’s relationship with management and recommends, where necessary, limits on management’s authority to act without explicit Board of Director approval. The Corporate Governance Committee periodically reviews the Code and the mandate of the Board of Directors and mandates and charters of each of the committees. The Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for supervising the management representative charged with implementing the Company’s corporate governance procedures.
The Corporate Governance Committee may be composed of a minimum of three and a maximum of five members. As of the date hereof, the members of the Corporate Governance Committee are John R. Anderson (Chairman), Shirley Strum Kenny, Roy E. Reichbach and Gabriel A. Battista. Each member, except for Mr. Reichbach, qualifies as an independent director.
During 2011, the Corporate Governance Committee held no separate meetings outside of the context of a meeting of the Board.
A copy of the Mandate of the Corporate Governance Committee is available on the Company’s website at www.neulion.com.
Disclosure Committee
The Board of Directors has unanimously consented to dissolve the Disclosure Committee based upon its assessment that the purpose of the Disclosure Committee is being fulfilled through other processes already in place in the Company.
The Disclosure Committee was composed of two members, Roy E. Reichbach and Gabriel A. Battista. During 2011, the Disclosure Committee held one meeting. All members attended the meeting.
Compensation of Directors
The Compensation Committee annually reviews the directors’ compensation and makes its recommendations to the full Board of Directors for approval. The Compensation Committee believes that the directors’ compensation is aligned with the Company’s performance on both a short-term and a long-term basis and that the Company’s compensation philosophy assists in attracting and retaining qualified individuals to serve as directors. Directors who are also executives of the Company do not receive an annual retainer for service on the Board of Directors and are not currently entitled to any compensation for attending meetings of the Board of Directors, committees of the Board of Directors or meetings of the stockholders. Ms. Li, Mr. Paterson and Mr. Reichbach did not receive any compensation for service on the Board of Directors in 2011 as each is an executive officer of the Company.
The key elements of the Company’s non-executive director compensation are cash retainers and equity-based grants. In setting the Board of Directors’ compensation, the Compensation Committee considered the significant amount of time that the directors spend fulfilling their duties and the skills required by directors. In 2011, each non-executive director was paid an annual retainer of $20,000 and a fee of $2,000 per Board of Directors meeting attended, except in the case of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, who earned a fee of $3,000 per Board of Directors meeting attended. Each committee member was paid $1,000 per committee meeting attended, and each committee chairman was paid an additional $500 per meeting for acting in such capacity. The Lead Independent Director was paid an additional annual fee of $5,000 for serving in such capacity. Non-executive directors are reimbursed for any out-of pocket travel expenses incurred in order to attend meetings.
Pursuant to the Directors’ Compensation Plan, the non-executive directors of the Company are required to receive at least 50% of their annual retainers and Board of Directors and committee meeting fees in Common Stock and may elect to receive up to 100% of their retainers and fees in Common Stock in lieu of cash compensation.
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, each of the non-executive directors earned the following compensation in cash and/or Common Stock:
2011 DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Name | | Fees earned or paid in cash ($) | | Stock awards ($) | | Total ($) |
John R. Anderson(1)(3) | | | 23,000 | | | | 23,000 | | | | 46,000 | |
Gabriel A. Battista(1)(3) | | | 16,500 | | | | 16,500 | | | | 33,000 | |
Shirley Strum Kenny(2)(3) | | | 10,000 | | | | 29,000 | | | | 39,000 | |
David Kronfeld(2)(3) | | | 10,000 | | | | 28,000 | | | | 38,000 | |
Charles B. Wang(2)(3) | | | 11,000 | | | | 30,000 | | | | 41,000 | |
| | | 70,500 | | | | 126,500 | | | | 197,000 | |
(1) | Messrs. Anderson and Battista each elected to receive his 2011 director compensation as follows: 50% in cash and 50% in Common Stock. |
(2) | Dr. Kenny and Messrs. Kronfeld and Wang each elected to receive 100% of his or her director compensation for the first half of 2011 in Common Stock, and 50% in cash and 50% in Common Stock for the second half of 2011. |
(3) | For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, non-management directors earned the following number of shares of Common Stock: |
John R. Anderson | | | 77,883 | |
Gabriel A. Battista | | | 56,420 | |
Shirley Strum Kenny | | | 95,739 | |
David Kronfeld | | | 92,614 | |
Charles B. Wang | | | 99,375 | |
| | | 422,031 | |
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Security Ownership of Management
The following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial ownership of Common Stock as of April 13, 2012 by each of the Company’s directors and nominees for director, each of the Company’s named executive officers, and all of the Company’s directors and executive officers as a group. Also shown are shares over which the named person could acquire voting power or investment power within 60 days after April 13, 2012. Voting power includes the power to direct the voting of shares held, and investment power includes the power to direct the disposition of shares held. Except as otherwise noted, the persons identified have sole voting and investment powers with respect to their shares.
Name | | Total Number of Shares Beneficially Owned(1)(2)(3) | | | Number of Shares Owned | | | Convertible Instruments Exercisable Within Next 60 Days | | | Percent of Class | |
Nancy Li (4) | | | 39,966,934 | | | | 39,216,934 | | | | 750,000 | | | | | 28.2 | % | |
Charles B. Wang (5) | | | 30,711,007 | | | | 30,711,007 | | | | 0 | | | | | 21.8 | % | |
G. Scott Paterson (6) | | | 7,316,290 | | | | 7,316,290 | | | | 0 | | | | | 5.2 | % | |
J. Christopher Wagner | | | 3,759,270 | | | | 2,030,103 | | | | 1,729,167 | | | | | 2.6 | % | |
John R. Anderson | | | 465,471 | | | | 315,471 | | | | 150,000 | | | | | * | | |
Gabriel A. Battista (7) | | | 522,363 | | | | 269,302 | | | | 253,061 | | | | | * | | |
Shirley Strum Kenny | | | 323,572 | | | | 323,572 | | | | 0 | | | | | * | | |
David Kronfeld (8) | | | 30,260,252 | | | | 2,274,230 | | | | 27,986,022 | | | | | 17.9 | % | |
Roy E. Reichbach | | | 798,125 | | | | 145,000 | | | | 653,125 | | | | | * | | |
All current directors and executive officers (12 persons) | | | 123,053,535 | | | | 87,940,743 | | | | 35,112,792 | | | | | 69.9 | % | |
(1) | The address of each director and executive officer named in the above table is c/o NeuLion, Inc., 1600 Old Country Road, Plainview, New York 11803. |
(2) | No director, nominee for director or executive officer directly owns any of the Company’s Preferred Stock. See footnotes (5), (7) and (8) below for information regarding Messrs. Wang’s, Battista’s and Kronfeld’s indirect interests in the Preferred Stock. |
(3) | No director, nominee for director, or executive officer has pledged any Common Stock as security. |
(4) | Excludes 30,711,007 shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Mr. Wang, Ms. Li’s spouse, including 27,820,650 shares of Common Stock held by AvantaLion, an entity controlled by Mr. Wang. Ms. Li disclaims beneficial ownership of all such shares of Common Stock. Includes 56,040 shares of Common Stock held indirectly by two trusts for the benefit of Ms. Li’s children for which Ms. Li is the trustee. |
(5) | Excludes 39,966,934 shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Ms. Li, Mr. Wang’s spouse, as to which Mr. Wang disclaims beneficial ownership. Includes 27,820,650 shares of Common Stock held by AvantaLion, an entity controlled by Mr. Wang. Excludes 12,033,989 shares of Preferred Stock owned by JK&B Capital V Special Opportunity Fund, L.P. (“JK&B SOF”), an entity in which Mr. Wang has an 86% pecuniary interest. Mr. Wang does not have voting or dispositive power over the shares of Common Stock held by Ms. Li or JK&B SOF. Includes 256,040 shares of Common Stock held indirectly by two trusts for the benefit of Mr. Wang’s grandchildren for which Mr. Wang is the trustee. |
(6) | Excludes 696,826 shares of Common Stock held by Mr. Paterson’s Family Trust. Mr. Paterson does not exercise voting or investment powers over this trust and disclaims beneficial ownership of all such shares of Common Stock. |
(7) | Includes 103,061 shares of Preferred Stock directly owned by The Gabriel A. Battista Revocable Trust Under a Trust dated August 22, 2006. |
(8) | Includes 2,006,300 shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by DKB JTV Holdings, LLC, an entity controlled by Mr. Kronfeld. Mr. Kronfeld disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. Includes 15,952,033 shares of Preferred Stock directly owned by JK&B Capital V, L.P. (“JK&B”) and 12,033,989 shares of Preferred Stock directly owned by JK&B SOF. Mr. Kronfeld is the managing member of JK&B Capital V, L.L.C., the general partner of JK&B Management V, L.P. (“JK&B Management”). JK&B Management is the general partner of both JK&B and JK&B SOF. Mr. Kronfeld, JK&B Capital V, L.L.C. and JK&B Management each may be deemed to have sole voting and dispositive power over the shares. |
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
Our records and other information available from outside sources indicate the following stockholders were beneficial holders of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock as of December 31, 2011. The information below was reported in their filings with the SEC. The Company is not aware of any other beneficial holder of more than 5% of the Company’s Common Stock as of December 31, 2011. The total number of shares beneficially owned includes shares over which the named person could have acquired voting power or investment power within 60 days after December 31, 2011.
Name and Address of Beneficial Holder | | Total Number of Shares Beneficially Owned(1) | | Percent of Class |
Nancy Li (2) | | 39,798,184(3) | | 28.3% |
Charles B. Wang (2) | | 30,711,187(4) | | 21.9% |
G. Scott Paterson (2) | | 7,657,290(5) | | 5.5% |
David Kronfeld (2) | | 29,727,888(6) | | 17.8% |
JK&B Capital V, L.L.C. (7) | | 27,986,022(8) | | 16.7% |
JK&B Management V, L.P. (7) | | 27,986,022(8) | | 16.7% |
AvantaLion LLC(9) | | 27,820,650(10) | | 20.0% |
(1) | Based on 140,012,310 total shares of Common Stock outstanding on December 31, 2011. |
(2) | The address of this beneficial owner is c/o NeuLion, Inc., 1600 Old Country Road, Plainview, New York 11803. |
(3) | Holdings as of December 31, 2011 as reported in Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 14, 2012. According to the report, Ms. Li had sole voting and dispositive power over 39,798,184 shares of Common Stock. Excludes 30,711,187 shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Mr. Wang, Ms. Li’s spouse, including 27,820,650 shares of Common Stock held by AvantaLion, an entity controlled by Mr. Wang. Ms. Li disclaims beneficial ownership of all such shares of Common Stock. Includes 56,040 shares of Common Stock held indirectly by two trusts for the benefit of Ms. Li’s children for which Ms. Li is the trustee. |
(4) | Holdings as of December 31, 2011 as reported in Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on February 14, 2012. According to the report, Mr. Wang had sole voting and dispositive power over 30,711,187 shares of Common Stock. Includes 27,820,650 shares of Common Stock held by AvantaLion, an entity controlled by Mr. Wang. Excludes 39,798,184 shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Ms. Li, Mr. Wang’s spouse, as to which Mr. Wang disclaims beneficial ownership. Excludes 12,033,989 shares of the Company’s Preferred Stock owned by JK&B SOF, an entity in which Mr. Wang has an 86% pecuniary interest. Mr. Wang does not have voting or dispositive power over the shares of Common Stock held by Ms. Li or JK&B SOF. Includes 256,040 shares of Common Stock held indirectly by two trusts for the benefit of Mr. Wang’s grandchildren for which Mr. Wang is the trustee. |
(5) | Holdings as of December 31, 2011 as reported in Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 14, 2012. According to the report, Mr. Paterson had sole voting and dispositive power over 7,657,290 shares of Common Stock. Excludes 696,826 shares of Common Stock held by Mr. Paterson’s Family Trust. Mr. Paterson does not exercise voting or investment powers over this trust and disclaims beneficial ownership of all such shares of Common Stock. |
(6) | Holdings as of June 29, 2011 as reported in Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on July 11, 2011. Includes 231,566 shares of Common Stock directly owned by Mr. Kronfeld. Includes 1,510,300 shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by DKB JTV Holdings, LLC, an entity controlled by Mr. Kronfeld. Mr. Kronfeld disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. Includes 15,952,033 shares of Preferred Stock directly owned by JK&B and 12,033,989 shares of Preferred Stock directly owned by JK&B SOF. Mr. Kronfeld is the managing member of JK&B Capital V, L.L.C., the general partner of JK&B Management. JK&B Management is the general partner of both JK&B and JK&B SOF. Mr. Kronfeld, JK&B Capital V, L.L.C. and JK&B Management each may be deemed to have sole voting and dispositive power over the shares. |
(7) | The address of this beneficial owner is c/o JK&B Capital, Two Prudential Plaza, 180 N. Stetson Avenue, Suite 4500, Chicago, Illinois 60601. |
(8) | Holdings as of June 29, 2011 as reported in Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on July 11, 2011. According to the report, the number of shares reported above represents 15,952,033 shares of Preferred Stock directly owned by JK&B and 12,033,989 shares of Preferred Stock directly owned by JK&B SOF. JK&B Management is the general partner of both JK&B and JK&B SOF. Mr. Kronfeld is the managing member of JK&B Capital V, L.L.C., the general partner of JK&B Management. Mr. Kronfeld, JK&B Capital V, L.L.C. and JK&B Management each may be deemed to have sole voting and dispositive power over the shares. |
(9) | The address of this beneficial owner is 250 Pehle Avenue, Suite 404, Saddle Brook, New Jersey 07663. |
(10) | Holdings as of December 31, 2010 as reported in Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on February 11, 2011. According to the report, AvantaLion had sole voting and dispositive power over the number of shares reported above. AvantaLion is controlled by Mr. Wang. |
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), requires the Company’s directors and executive officers and any beneficial owner of more than 10% of any class of the Company’s equity security to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC and furnish copies of the reports to the Company. Based solely on the Company’s review of copies of such forms and written representations by the Company’s executive officers and directors received by it, the Company believes that during 2011, all such reports were timely filed, except as set forth in this section.
Three purchases of Common Stock by Mr. Paterson were inadvertently reported late on SEC Form 4. Four purchases of Common Stock by Mr. Kronfeld were inadvertently reported late on SEC Form 4. One purchase of Common Stock by Mr. Kronfeld was timely filed on SEC Form 4 but contained a typographical error that underreported by 500 shares the number of shares purchased.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
The Company has entered into certain transactions and agreements in the normal course of operations with related parties. In evaluating related party transactions, the Board establishes a special committee to review the proposed matters and make recommendations to the Board of Directors on the course of action, and in a case where a director is the related party, such individual abstains from voting to approve the transaction. Significant related party transactions in which the Company was a participant with a related party and the amount involved exceeded $120,000 in 2011 are set forth immediately below.
Private Placement of Preferred Stock
On June 29, 2011, the Company issued 10,912,265 shares of Class 4 Preferred Stock in a private offering, at a price of $0.4582 per share, for aggregate gross proceeds of $5 million, to each of JK&B and JK&B SOF, pursuant to a Subscription Agreement, dated June 29, 2011, between each purchaser and the Company. JK&B received 6,219,991 shares valued at $2,849,999.88 and JK&B SOF received 4,692,274 shares valued at $2,149,999.95. Both JK&B and JK&B SOF are limited partnerships controlled by Mr. Kronfeld, a director of the Company. Mr. Wang, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, holds an 86% pecuniary interest in JK&B SOF. Mr. Wang does not have voting or dispositive power over the shares of Common Stock held by JK&B SOF.
KyLinTV, Inc. (“KyLinTV”)
KyLinTV is an IPTV company that is controlled by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company. On June 1, 2008, the Company entered into an agreement with KyLinTV to build and deliver the setup and back office operations for KyLinTV’s IPTV service. The Company also provides and charges KyLinTV for administrative and general corporate support. In 2011, the Company paid $380,754 for these services.
New York Islanders Hockey Club, L.P. (“New York Islanders”)
The Company provides IT-related professional and administrative services to the New York Islanders, a professional hockey club that is owned by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company.
Renaissance Property Associates, LLC (“Renaissance”)
Renaissance is a real estate management company owned by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company. In June 2009, the Company signed a sublease agreement with Renaissance for office space in Plainview, New York. In 2011, the Company paid rent of $410,931 to Renaissance inclusive of taxes and utilities.
Smile Train, Inc. (“Smile Train”)
The Company provides IT-related professional services to Smile Train, a public charity whose founder and significant benefactor is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company.
The Company recognized revenue from related parties in 2011 as follows: | | | |
| | | |
New York Islanders | | | $324,453 | |
Renaissance | | | $120,000 | |
Smile Train | | | $108,000 | |
KyLinTV | | | $3,084,526 | |
As at December 31, 2011, the amounts due from (to) related parties were as follows: | | | |
| | | | |
New York Islanders | | | ($13,298 | ) |
KyLinTV | | | $734,452 | |
Code of Business Conduct
All of our directors, officers and employees are required to abide by the Company’s Code of Business Conduct to ensure that our business is conducted in a consistently legal and ethical manner. Our policies and procedures cover all major areas of professional conduct, including employee policies, conflicts of interest, protection of confidential information, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The Code is available at the Company’s website at www.neulion.com.
Stockholder Communications
Stockholders can mail communications to the Company by writing to NeuLion, Inc., 1600 Old Country Road, Plainview, New York 11803 ATTN: Corporate Secretary. All correspondence is handled by the Corporate Secretary, forwarded to the appropriate department for response or forwarded to the Board of Directors.
PROPOSALS REQUIRING YOUR VOTE
PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors of the Company currently consists of eight directors. The Bylaws of the Company provide that the number of directors on the Board shall not be less than one nor more than fifteen persons. The Company has determined that the number of directors to be elected at the Annual Meeting will be eight. All eight of the nominees are currently directors of the Company and each has been a director since the date indicated below. Each director elected at the Annual Meeting will hold office until the next annual meeting or until his or her successor is duly elected or appointed. All of the nominees have consented to being named in this Proxy Statement and to serve if elected. We do not presently expect that any of the nominees will be unavailable to serve on the Board of Directors. There are no family relationships between the officers and directors of the Company other than the relationship between Mr. Wang, our Chairman of the Board, and Ms. Li, our Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company, who are married to each other.
Director Qualifications and Review of Director Nominees
The process for identifying and evaluating nominees for the Board of Directors is initiated by the Corporate Governance Committee, which conducts an annual evaluation of critical Company and Board needs based on the present and future strategic objectives of the Company and the specific skills required for the Board of Directors as a whole and for each of its committees. This annual evaluation provides guidance to the Corporate Governance Committee members, who report to the full Board with a recommendation on the size and composition of the Board as a whole and its committees. If necessary, the Corporate Governance Committee also recommends steps to be taken so that the Board of Directors as a whole and its committees reflect the appropriate balance of experience, knowledge, skills, expertise and diversity.
In conducting a review of the Corporate Governance Committee’s recommendations, the Board may consider age, experience, ability, qualifications, independence from the Company and current Board members and such other factors as it deems appropriate given the current needs of the Company. The Board utilizes the same evaluation process for director nominees recommended by stockholders as it does for those nominees recommended by the Board. Due to the historically limited number of stockholder proposals received annually, the Board does not believe a separate policy for considering such nominations is necessary or efficient at this time. Current members of the Board with skills and experience relevant to the Company’s strategic objectives are considered for re-nomination.
The nominees to the Board of Directors listed in this Proxy Statement, each of whom is currently a director of the Company, were approved unanimously by the Board of Directors. The paragraphs that follow provide information about each nominee for director. Each of these individuals brings a strong and singular background and skill set to the full Board of Directors that includes accounting and finance, risk management, marketing, technology, legal and civic experience, among others, which led the Board of Directors to the conclusion that each should continue to serve as a director.
Biographical and Business Experience of Directors
The narrative below contains biographical and business information about the nominees for re-election, including name, office or position with the Company, date the Company directorship began, principal occupation, age, business experience and public company directorships during at least the past five years.
Charles B. Wang (Age 67)
Charles B. Wang has been the Chairman of the Board of the Company since October 2008. Mr. Wang also has been the owner of the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League since July 2000. In 1976, he founded Computer Associates International, Inc. (“Computer Associates”), a provider of information technology management services now known as CA Inc., and served as its Chairman until November 2002. Mr. Wang created the New York Islanders Children’s Foundation, has his own charitable foundation and is extremely active in supporting charitable causes such as Smile Train, Inc., which he co-founded, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. He is the author of “TECHNOVISION II: Every Executive’s Guide to Understanding and Mastering Technology and the Internet.” Mr. Wang earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Queens College and began his computer career at Columbia University’s Riverside Research Institute as a programming trainee. Mr. Wang is married to Ms. Li. Mr. Wang’s qualifications to serve on the Board include his status as a leading technology visionary and his experience in leading both technology start-ups and a Fortune 200 company. He has built many relationships as an investor in China and familiarized himself with that economic market, which is a potentially important one for the Company. Furthermore, Mr. Wang is also able to provide diverse and valuable finance and strategic expertise to the Board.
G. Scott Paterson (Age 48)
G. Scott Paterson has been our Executive Vice Chairman since October 2008. Prior to his current position, Mr. Paterson was our Chairman from January 2002 until October 2008 and Chief Executive Officer from May 2005 until October 2007 and again from June 2008 until October 2008. Mr. Paterson is a Director, Chairman of the Audit Committee and a member of the Strategic Committee of Lions Gate Entertainment (NYSE:LGF). Mr. Paterson is also Chairman of Automated Benefits Corp. (TSX:AUT) and Apogee Silver Ltd. (TSX:APE). He is also the Chairman of the Merry Go Round Children’s Foundation and a Governor of Ridley College. From October 1998 until December 2001, Mr. Paterson was Chairman and CEO of Yorkton Securities Inc., which under his leadership became Canada’s leading technology investment bank. Mr. Paterson has served in the past as Chairman of the Canadian Venture Stock Exchange and as Vice Chairman of the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”). Mr. Paterson is a graduate of Ridley College and earned a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) degree from the University of Western Ontario. In 2009, Mr. Paterson obtained the ICD.D designation by graduating from the Rotman Institute of Corporate Directors at the University of Toronto. Mr. Paterson’s qualifications to serve on the Board include his expertise with technology investment securities as well as his founder’s knowledge of the Company and its history. Mr. Paterson’s service on both public company and nonprofit boards enables him to provide valuable guidance to the Board on financial and strategic matters.
Nancy Li (Age 54)
Nancy Li has been the Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company since October 2008. She is the founder of NeuLion USA, our wholly-owned subsidiary, and has been its Chief Executive Officer since its inception in 2003. From 2001 to 2003, Ms. Li established and ran iCan SP, a provider of end-to-end service management software for information technology operations and a wholly owned subsidiary of CA Inc. From 1990 to 2001, Ms. Li was Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Computer Associates, and prior to that held a variety of management positions covering virtually every facet of Computer Associates’ business from a development and engineering perspective. Ms. Li holds a Bachelor of Science degree from New York University. Ms. Li is married to Mr. Wang. Ms. Li’s qualifications to serve on the Board include her knowledge of information technology systems and her executive and business experience. Ms. Li created the technology behind the Company’s successful IPTV platform and has an in-depth knowledge of the Company, its history and the IPTV industry.
Roy E. Reichbach (Age 49)
Roy E. Reichbach has been the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary and a director of the Company since October 2008 and has been the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of NeuLion USA since 2003. Mr. Reichbach is also an Alternate Governor of the New York Islanders on the NHL Board of Governors. From 2000 until October 2008, Mr. Reichbach was the General Counsel of the New York Islanders and was responsible for the legal affairs of the club and its affiliated real estate companies. From 1994 until 2000, Mr. Reichbach was Vice President - Legal at Computer Associates. Prior to that, he was a trial lawyer in private practice. Mr. Reichbach holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fordham University and a Juris Doctorate degree from Fordham Law School. He has been admitted to practice law since 1988. Mr. Reichbach’s qualifications to serve on the Board include his legal experience as a litigator in private practice and as in-house counsel for companies in several industries, as well as his executive management experience.
John R. Anderson (Age 66)
John R. Anderson has been a director of the Company since March 2008. Mr. Anderson has been the Chief Financial Officer of LPBP Inc., a company which formerly invested in health science-focused partnerships, since May 2004 and Chief Financial Officer of TriNorth Capital Inc., a Canadian-based investment company, since December 2009. Mr. Anderson was the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Impax Energy Services Income Trust (“Impax”), an income trust, from June 2006 to May 2009, and the Chief Financial Officer of Tailwind Financial Inc., a special acquisition company, from April 2007 to April 2009. From 2005 to June 2006, Mr. Anderson was self-employed. Previously, he was the Chief Financial Officer of The T. Eaton Company Limited and was also a partner with Ernst & Young LLP. Since January 2012, Mr. Anderson has been serving as a director, and the chair of the audit committee, of Primary Corp., a Canadian-based merchant bank. Mr. Anderson was formerly a director, and the chair of the audit committee, of the Canadian Medical Discoveries Fund, and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ridley College. Mr. Anderson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto and is a chartered accountant in Canada. In 2006, Mr. Anderson obtained the ICD.D designation by graduating from the Rotman Institute of Corporate Directors at the University of Toronto. Mr. Anderson’s qualifications to serve on the Board include the corporate financial expertise he gained as chief financial officer of several companies. Furthermore, as a former public accountant and auditor, he is able to provide the Company with knowledgeable advice regarding navigating the evolving accounting regulatory environment.
Impax filed for bankruptcy in December 2009, after the departure of Mr. Anderson.
Gabriel A. Battista (Age 67)
Gabriel A. Battista has been a director of the Company since March 2008. Mr. Battista has been the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Trustees of Capitol College since 2010, having become a member of that board in 1992, and has also been a member of the Board of Trustees since 2006 and Vice Chairman since 2009 of the American University of Rome. Mr. Battista serves as a member of the Boards of Directors of Sentrillion, Network Alliance and TEOCO and the National Italian American Foundation. From 1999 until December 2006, Mr. Battista was the President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Talk America. Mr. Battista received a Bachelor of Science degree from Villanova University, a Master of Science degree from Drexel University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Temple University. He is also a registered professional engineer in the State of Pennsylvania. Mr. Battista’s qualifications to serve on the Board include his success as business leader with substantial experience in the area of telecommunications, which is a significant market for the Company’s services, as well as his experience in serving as a board member of six publically traded companies in the Internet, software and telecommunications industries.
Shirley Strum Kenny (Age 77)
Shirley Strum Kenny has been a director of the Company since October 2008. Dr. Kenny served as President of Stony Brook University from 1994 to 2009. Prior thereto, Dr. Kenny was President of Queens College and had taught at the University of Texas, Gallaudet College, the Catholic University of America, the University of Delaware, and the University of Maryland, where she was Provost. She has served as a member of the Boards of Directors of Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and New Jersey, and the Long Island Association. She also was a board member and vice chair of the Board of Directors of Brookhaven Science Associates, which oversees Brookhaven National Laboratory. From 2000 to 2008, she served on the Board of Directors of Toys ‘R’ Us, Inc. and of Computer Associates. Dr. Kenny holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Arts degree in English from the University of Minnesota and a Ph.D. degree in English from the University of Chicago. Dr. Kenny’s qualifications to serve on the Board include her expertise as a successful educational administrator and her large public company board experience.
David Kronfeld (Age 64)
David Kronfeld has been a director of the Company since October 2008. Mr. Kronfeld is the Chairman of JK&B Capital V, L.L.C., a venture capital firm, which he founded in 1995. Prior thereto he served as a General Partner at Boston Capital Ventures, the Vice President of Acquisitions and Venture Investments at Ameritech, a Senior Manager at Booz Allen & Hamilton and a Systems Analyst at Electronic Data Systems. Since February 2010, Mr. Kronfeld has been a director, and a member of the compensation committee and the audit committee, of Dynasil Corporation of America (NASDAQ-GM:DYSL). Mr. Kronfeld earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering with high honors and a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from Stevens Institute of Technology, and a Master of Business Administration degree from The Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Kronfeld’s qualifications to serve on the Board include his extensive corporate financial expertise as an investor and venture capitalist. Mr. Kronfeld is also greatly experienced in guiding early to mid-stage companies to evolve and mature and has served on many boards over the course of the past 20 years.
Legal Proceedings
To the best of the Company’s knowledge, there are no material proceedings in which any director, officer or affiliate of the Company, any owner of record or beneficially of more than five percent of any class of voting securities of the Company, or any associate of any such person, is a party adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or has a material interest adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
To the best of the Company’s knowledge, other than the information disclosed in Mr. Anderson’s biography above, during the past ten years there have been no events under any bankruptcy act, no criminal proceedings and no judgments, injunctions, orders or decrees involving any possibility of enjoining or suspending members of the Company’s Board of Directors or the Company’s executive officers from engaging in any business, securities or banking activities, and no member of the Company’s Board of Directors and no executive officer has been found to have violated, or been accused of having violated, any federal or state securities or commodities laws or any law or regulation prohibited mail or wire fraud or fraud in connection with any business entity.
The election of each director nominee requires a vote of the majority of the votes cast with respect to such nominee.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ NOMINEES. Pursuant to the terms of the Voting Trust Agreement, Mr. Wang, Ms. Li and AvantaLion may only vote shares of Common Stock representing 9.9% of the votes attached to all of the then-issued shares of Common Stock of the Company, which is equal to approximately 13,941,904 shares of Common Stock as of April 13, 2012.
PLEASE NOTE: If your shares are held in street name, your broker, trust, bank or other nominee can only vote your shares in the election of directors if you direct the holder how to vote by marking your proxy, which will be sent to you by such holder.
ITEM 2 — RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Audit Committee has appointed, and the Board of Directors has approved the appointment of, Ernst & Young LLP (“E&Y”) as the Company’s independent registered public accountants for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. Before selecting E&Y, the Audit Committee carefully considered the firm’s qualifications as an independent registered public accounting firm for the Company. This included a review of its performance in prior years, as well as its reputation for integrity and competence in the fields of accounting and auditing.
We are asking our stockholders to ratify the selection of E&Y as our independent registered public accounting firm. Although ratification is not required by our Bylaws or otherwise, the Board of Directors is submitting the selection of E&Y to our stockholders for ratification because we value our stockholders’ views on the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and as a matter of good corporate practice. In the event that our stockholders fail to ratify the selection, it will be considered a recommendation to the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee to consider the selection of a different firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee may in its discretion select a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders.
Representatives of E&Y are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting to respond to appropriate questions and will have an opportunity to make a statement, if they so desire.
The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the matter is required to ratify the appointment of E&Y.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS.
Pre-Approval of Services
The Audit Committee follows a policy pursuant to which audit and non-audit services proposed to be performed by the independent registered public accountants may be pre-approved. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services, and other services.
The Audit Committee determines from time to time permitted services that have its general pre-approval. Any pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or category of services and is generally subject to a specific budget and annual review. The Chief Financial Officer reviews all requests for services to be provided by the independent registered public accountants to determine whether such services are included within the list of services that have received the general pre-approval or require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee. The Chief Financial Officer shall consult as necessary with the chairman of the Audit Committee in determining whether any particular service has been pre-approved.
Audit-related services in the amount of $310,000 for 2011 and $350,000 for 2010, and tax services in the amount of $76,000 for 2011 and $80,000 for 2010, were provided through the general pre-approval process. The Audit Committee has determined such services are consistent with SEC rules on auditor independence. A service which has not received general pre-approval will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee before the service can be provided by the independent registered public accountants. The Audit Committee has delegated pre-approval authority to the chairman of the Audit Committee, who must report to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting any services so approved by him. All services performed by the independent registered public accountants in 2011 were pre-approved under the general pre-approval process or under the specific pre-approval process.
The Audit Committee pre-approves all services performed by the independent registered public accountants, in part to assess whether the provision of such services might impair the independent registered public accountants’ independence. The Audit Committee’s policy and procedures are as follows:
| · | The Audit Committee approves the annual audit services engagement and, if necessary, any changes in terms, conditions, and fees resulting from changes in audit scope, company structure, or other matters. As discussed above, the Audit Committee may also pre-approve other audit services, which are those services that only the independent registered public accountants reasonably can provide. |
| · | The Audit Committee believes that the provision of audit-related services does not impair the independence of the independent registered public accountants. Audit-related services are assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit, and that are traditionally performed by the independent registered public accountants. |
| · | The Audit Committee believes that, in appropriate cases, the independent registered public accountants can provide tax compliance services, tax planning and tax advice without impairing the auditors’ independence. |
| · | The Audit Committee may approve other services to be provided by the independent registered public accountants if (i) the services are permissible under SEC and Public Company Accounting Oversight Board rules, (ii) the Audit Committee believes the provision of the services would not impair the independence of the independent registered public accountants and (iii) management believes that the independent registered public accountants are the best choice to provide the service. |
For each engagement, management provides the Audit Committee with information about the services and fees sufficiently detailed to allow the Audit Committee to make an informed judgment about the nature and scope of the services and the potential for the services to impair the independence of the independent registered public accountants.
After the end of the audit year, management provides the Audit Committee with a summary of the actual fees incurred for the completed audit year.
Services and Fees of Independent Registered Public Accountants
The following table shows the fees incurred for services rendered by E&Y in 2011 and 2010. All such services were pre-approved by the Audit Committee in accordance with the pre-approval policy.
Fees | | 2011 | | | 2010 | |
Audit fees | | $ | 310,000 | | | $ | 350,000 | |
Audit-related fees | | | -- | | | | -- | |
Tax fees | | $ | 76,000 | | | $ | 80,000 | |
All other fees | | $ | 2,000 | | | $ | 2,000 | |
Total | | $ | 388,000 | | | $ | 432,000 | |
Audit fees are comprised of fees for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements and the review of the Company’s quarterly financial statements.
Tax fees are comprised of fees for professional services rendered for the preparation of the Company’s tax returns and, in 2011, for tax analysis of the Company’s dissolution of China iMedia Enterprise Ltd. All other fees in 2011 and 2010 were comprised of fees related to an E&Y online subscription.
In considering the nature of the services provided by the independent registered public accountants, the Audit Committee determined that such services were compatible with the provision of independent audit services. The Audit Committee discussed these services with E&Y and Company management to determine that they were permitted under the applicable rules and regulations.
Audit Committee Report
The Audit Committee reviews the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors. Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process, including the systems of internal control and disclosure controls. In this context, the Audit Committee has met and held discussions with management and the independent registered public accountants. Management represented to the Audit Committee that the Company’s financial statements were prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, and the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements and related disclosures with management and the independent registered public accountants, including a review of the significant management judgments underlying the financial statements and disclosures.
The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work (including resolution of disagreements between management and the Company’s independent registered public accountants regarding financial reporting) of any independent registered public accounting firm engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Company. The independent registered public accountants report to the Audit Committee at each regularly scheduled Audit Committee meeting or as necessary, and the chairman of the Audit Committee reports to the Board of Directors at each regularly scheduled Board meeting or as necessary.
The Audit Committee has discussed with the independent registered public accountants the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards (“SAS”) No. 61 (Communication with Audit Committees), as amended by SAS Nos. 89 and 90, as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, and by Rule 2-07 of Regulation S-X, including the quality, not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments, and the clarity of the disclosures in the financial statements. In addition, the Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accountants required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent registered public accountants’ communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence and has discussed with the independent registered public accountants their independence from the Company and its management. In concluding that the independent registered public accountants are independent, the Audit Committee determined, among other things, that the non-audit services provided by E&Y (as described above) were compatible with their independence. Consistent with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Audit Committee has adopted policies to avoid compromising the independence of the independent registered public accountants, such as prior Audit Committee approval of non-audit services and required audit partner rotation.
In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors (and the Board of Directors subsequently approved the recommendation) that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 for filing with the SEC. The Audit Committee has also appointed E&Y as the Company’s independent registered public accountants for 2012.
| AUDIT COMMITTEE MEMBERS: |
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| John R. Anderson, Chairman Shirley Strum Kenny David Kronfeld |
PROPOSAL 3 — ADOPTION OF THE NEULION, INC. 2012 OMNIBUS SECURITIES AND INCENTIVE PLAN
The Company is seeking approval of the stockholders to adopt its 2012 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan (the “2012 Plan”). The purpose of the 2012 Plan is to assist the Company and its affiliates to attract and retain key management employees and non-employee directors of, and non-employee consultants to, the Company and its affiliates and to provide incentives to such individuals to align their interests with those of the Company’s stockholders. If the 2012 Plan is approved, awards under the 2012 Plan which provide for the issuance of shares of the Company’s Common Stock will be limited in the aggregate to 20,000,000 shares of Common Stock, representing approximately 14% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Common Stock.
The Company’s current equity-based compensation plans, other than the Directors’ Compensation Plan, consist of the Second Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan, as amended (“Stock Option Plan”), the 2006 Stock Appreciation Rights Plan, as amended (“SARs Plan”), the Amended and Restated Retention Warrants Plan, as amended (“Retention Warrants Plan”), and the Employee Share Purchase Plan (such four plans, collectively, the “Existing Plans”). If the 2012 Plan is approved by the stockholders of the Company, no new awards will be made under any of the Existing Plans; however, outstanding awards under the Existing Plans will remain in effect pursuant to their terms. As of April 13, 2012, the number of securities to be issued upon the exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights under the Existing Plans was 16,040,239 securities, or approximately 11.39% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock.
General Description of the 2012 Plan Proposal
The following is a summary of the material provisions of the 2012 Plan and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the 2012 Plan, a copy of which is attached to this proxy statement as Appendix A.
Administration. The 2012 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board, which consists of three members of the Board, each of whom is a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act and an “outside director” within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code (the “IRS Code”) Section 162(m). Among other things, the Compensation Committee has complete discretion, subject to the express limits of the 2012 Plan, to determine the non-employee directors, employees and non-employee consultants to be granted an award, the type of award to be granted, the terms and conditions of the award, the form of payment to be made and/or the number of shares of Common Stock subject to each award, the exercise price of each award which is a stock option and the base value of each award which is a stock appreciation right (“SAR”), the term of each award, the vesting schedule for an award, whether to accelerate vesting, the value of the Common Stock underlying the award, and the required withholding, if any. Subject to the express limits of the 2012 Plan and any applicable stock exchange rule on which the shares of Common Stock trade at the applicable time, the Compensation Committee may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding award, provided that the participant’s consent to such action is required if the action would impair the participant’s rights or entitlements with respect to that award. The Compensation Committee is also authorized to construe the award agreements, and may prescribe rules relating to the 2012 Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Compensation Committee does not have any authority to grant or modify an award under the 2012 Plan with terms or conditions that would cause the grant, vesting or exercise thereof to be considered nonqualified “deferred compensation” subject to IRS Code Section 409A.
Grant of Awards; Shares Available for Awards. The 2012 Plan provides for the grant of stock options, SARs, performance share awards, performance unit awards, distribution equivalent right awards, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards and unrestricted stock awards to non-employee directors, employees and non-employee consultants of the Company and its affiliates. The Company has reserved a total of 20,000,000 shares of Common Stock for issuance as or under awards to be made under the 2012 Plan. If any award lapses, expires, is cancelled, is terminated unexercised or ceases to be exercisable or issuable for any reason, or the rights of its holder terminate, the number of shares of Common Stock subject thereto is again available for grant under the 2012 Plan. The number of shares of Common Stock for which awards of stock options or SARs may be granted under the 2012 Plan to a participant who is an employee is limited in any calendar year to 1,000,000 shares.
Currently, all of our approximately 375 employees and our five non-employee directors would be entitled to receive stock options and/or shares of restricted stock under the 2012 Plan. Future new hires and additional non-employee directors and/or consultants would be eligible to receive awards under the 2012 Plan as well. The number of stock options and/or shares of restricted stock to be granted to executives and non-employee directors cannot be determined at this time as the grant of stock options and/or shares of restricted stock is dependent upon various factors such as hiring requirements and job performance.
Stock Options. Stock options granted under the 2012 Plan may be either “incentive stock options” (“ISOs”), which are intended to meet the requirements for special federal income tax treatment under the IRS Code, or “nonqualified stock options” (“NQSOs”). Stock options may be granted on such terms and conditions as the Compensation Committee may determine; provided, however, that the per share exercise price under a stock option may not be less than the fair market value of a share of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant calculated using the five-day volume weighted average trading price of the Company’s Common Stock and the term of the stock option may not exceed 10 years (110% of such value and 5 years in the case of an ISO granted to an employee who owns (or is deemed to own) more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of capital stock of the Company or a parent or subsidiary of the Company). ISOs may only be granted to participants who are employees. In addition, the aggregate fair market value of the Company’s Common Stock covered by one or more ISOs (determined at the time of grant) which are exercisable for the first time by a participant who is an employee during any calendar year may not exceed $100,000. Any excess is treated as a NQSO.
Stock Appreciation Rights. A SAR entitles the participant, upon exercise, to receive an amount, in cash or stock or a combination thereof, equal to the increase in the fair market value of the underlying Company Common Stock between the date of grant and the date of exercise. SARs may be granted in tandem with, or independently of, stock options granted under the 2012 Plan. A SAR granted in tandem with a stock option: (i) is exercisable only at such times, and to the extent, that the related stock option is exercisable in accordance with the procedure for exercise of the related stock option; (ii) terminates upon termination or exercise of the related stock option (likewise, a stock option granted in tandem with a SAR terminates upon exercise of the SAR); (iii) is transferable only with the related stock option; and (iv) may be exercised only when the value of the stock subject to the stock option exceeds the exercise price under the stock option. A SAR that is not granted in tandem with a stock option is exercisable at such times as the Compensation Committee may specify.
Performance Shares and Performance Unit Awards. Performance share and performance unit awards entitle the participant to receive cash or shares of the Company’s Common Stock upon the attainment of specified performance goals. In the case of performance units, the right to acquire the units is denominated in cash values.
Distribution Equivalent Right Awards. A distribution equivalent right award entitles the participant to receive bookkeeping credits, cash payments and/or distributions of the Company’s Common Stock equal in amount to the distributions that would have been made to the participant had the participant held a specified number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock during the period the participant held the distribution equivalent right. A distribution equivalent right may be awarded as a component of another award under the 2012 Plan, where, if so awarded, such distribution equivalent right will expire or be forfeited by the participant under the same conditions as under such other award.
Restricted Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Unit Awards. A restricted stock award is a grant or sale of Common Stock to the participant, subject to the Company’s right to repurchase all or part of the shares at their purchase price (or to require forfeiture of such shares if issued to the participant at no cost) in the event that conditions specified by the Compensation Committee in the award are not satisfied prior to the end of the time period during which the shares subject to the award may be repurchased by or forfeited to the Company. A restricted stock unit entitles the participant to receive (i) a cash payment equal to the fair market value of a share of the Company’s Common Stock or (ii) a share of the Company’s Common Stock, as determined by the Compensation Committee, for each restricted stock unit subject to such restricted stock unit award, if the participant satisfies the applicable vesting requirement.
Unrestricted Stock Awards. An unrestricted stock award is a grant or sale of shares of the Company’s Common Stock to the participant that is not subject to transfer, forfeiture or other restrictions, in consideration for past services rendered to the Company or an affiliate or for other valid consideration.
Change of Control Provisions. In the event of a change of control of the Company (as defined in the 2012 Plan), all then-outstanding awards will automatically become fully vested and, as applicable, immediately and fully exercisable.
Amendment and Termination. The Compensation Committee may adopt, amend and rescind rules relating to the administration of the 2012 Plan. The Board of Directors may in its discretion at any time terminate the 2012 Plan with respect to any shares of Common Stock for which awards have not yet been granted; provided, that the 2012 Plan’s termination may not materially and adversely impair the rights of a participant with respect to any award granted to the participant before that time, without the participant’s consent. The Board of Directors may without stockholder approval but subject to receipt of the approval of the TSX, in its sole discretion make (i) amendments to the 2012 Plan of a housekeeping nature; (ii) a change to the vesting provisions of an award or the 2012 Plan; (iii) a change to the termination provisions of an award or the 2012 Plan which does not entail an extension beyond the original expiry date, except as contemplated in the 2012 Plan; and (iv) the addition of a cashless exercise feature, payable in cash or securities, which provides for a full deduction of the number of underlying securities from the 2012 Plan reserve; provided, however (and subject to the following sentence), that without the approval by a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders at which a quorum representing a majority of the shares of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is present in person or by proxy, no amendment or modification of the 2012 Plan may:
| (i) | modify the limits with respect to the maximum number of shares of Common Stock reserved for grant under the 2012 Plan; |
| (ii) | amend the article of the 2012 Plan addressing amendments and terminations; |
| (iii) | amend, modify or suspend certain repricing prohibitions of the 2012 Plan, including reducing the exercise price of an award which is an option benefiting an insider; |
| (iv) | extend the term of an award which is an option benefiting an insider; |
| (v) | disproportionately increase the benefits accruing to insiders; or |
| (vi) | amend the limits with respect to insiders set forth in the 2012 Plan. |
With respect to items (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi), any stockholder approval at a meeting of stockholders must exclude any shares of the Company voted by any insiders benefiting from the amendment or modification. For greater certainty, shares of the Company voted by any holder and any insider will be included in the applicable quorum and stockholder vote with respect to an increase in the maximum number of shares issuable under the 2012 Plan.
IRS Code Section 162(m). The Company has attempted to structure the 2012 Plan so that remuneration attributable to stock options and other awards will not be subject to the deduction limitation contained in IRS Code Section 162(m).
Recapitalization or Reorganization. Subject to certain restrictions, the 2012 Plan provides for the adjustment of shares of the Company’s Common Stock underlying awards previously granted if, and whenever, prior to the expiration or distribution to the holder of shares of the Company’s Common Stock underlying an award theretofore granted, the Company shall effect a subdivision or consolidation of the shares of the Company’s Common Stock or the payment of a common stock dividend on shares of the Company’s Common Stock without receipt of consideration by the Company. If the Company recapitalizes or otherwise changes its capital structure, thereafter upon any exercise or satisfaction, as applicable, of a previously granted award, the holder shall be entitled to receive (or entitled to purchase, if applicable) under such award, in lieu of the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock then covered by such award, the number and class of shares and securities to which the participant would have been entitled pursuant to the terms of the recapitalization if, immediately prior to such recapitalization, the participant had been the holder of record of the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock then covered by such award. The 2012 Plan also provides for the adjustment of shares underlying awards previously granted by the Board in the event of changes to the outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock by reason of an extraordinary cash dividend, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, split up, spin off, exchange or other relevant change in capitalization occurring after the date of the grant of any award, subject to certain restrictions.
Limitation on Insiders. Pursuant to Section 613(h)(i) of the Toronto Stock Exchange Company Manual, in no event will awards issued under the 2012 Plan, alone or when combined with awards made under all other securities-based compensation arrangements of the Company, result in shares of the Company’s Common Stock being issued during any one-year period or issuable at any time, in either case to “Insiders” (as defined in the 2012 Plan), in excess of 10% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (calculated on a non-dilutive basis).
Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences of the 2012 Plan
The following is a general summary of the federal income tax consequences under current U.S. tax law to the Company and to participants in the 2012 Plan who are individual citizens or residents of the United States for federal income tax purposes (“U.S. Participants”) of stock options, SARs, restricted stock, performance shares, performance units, restricted stock units, distribution equivalent rights and unrestricted stock. It does not purport to cover all of the special rules including special rules relating to limitations on the ability of the Company to deduct the amounts for federal income tax purposes of certain compensation, special rules relating to deferred compensation, golden parachutes, participants subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or the exercise of a stock option with previously-acquired shares of the Company’s Common Stock. For purposes of this summary it is assumed that U.S. Participants will hold their shares of the Company’s Common Stock received under the 2012 Plan as capital assets within the meaning of IRS Code Section 1221. In addition, this summary does not address the non-U.S., state or local income or other tax consequences, or any U.S. federal non-income tax consequences, inherent in the acquisition, ownership, vesting, exercise, termination or disposition of an award under the 2012 Plan, or shares of the Company’s Common Stock issued pursuant thereto. All participants are urged to consult with their own tax advisors concerning the tax consequences to them of an award under the 2012 Plan or shares of the Company’s Common Stock issued thereto pursuant to the 2012 Plan.
A U.S. Participant does not recognize taxable income upon the grant of a NQSO or an ISO. Upon the exercise of a NQSO, the U.S. Participant recognizes ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the shares of the Company’s Common Stock acquired on the date of exercise over the exercise price paid therefor under the NQSO, and the Company will generally be entitled to a deduction for such amount at that time. If the U.S. Participant later sells shares of the Company’s Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of a NQSO, the U.S. Participant recognizes long-term or short-term capital gain or loss, depending on the period for which the shares were held. Long-term capital gain is generally subject to more favorable tax treatment than ordinary income or short-term capital gain. Upon the exercise of an ISO, the U.S. Participant does not recognize taxable income. If the U.S. Participant disposes of the shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an ISO more than two years after the date of grant and more than one year after the transfer of the shares to the U.S. Participant, the U.S. Participant recognizes long-term capital gain or loss and the Company will not be entitled to a deduction. However, if the U.S. Participant disposes of such shares prior to the end of the required holding period, all or a portion of the gain is treated as ordinary income and the Company is generally entitled to deduct such amount. In addition to the tax consequences described above, a U.S. Participant may be subject to the alternative minimum tax, which is payable to the extent it exceeds the U.S. Participant’s regular tax. For this purpose, upon the exercise of an ISO, the excess of the fair market value of the shares of the Company’s Common Stock over the exercise price paid therefor under the ISO is a preference item for alternative minimum taxable income determination purposes. In addition, the U.S. Participant’s basis in such shares is increased by such excess for purposes of computing the gain or loss on the disposition of the shares for alternative minimum tax purposes.
A U.S. Participant does not recognize taxable income upon the grant of a SAR. The U.S. Participant has ordinary compensation income upon exercise of the SAR equal to the increase in the value of the underlying shares, and the Company will generally be entitled to a deduction for such amount.
A U.S. Participant does not recognize taxable income upon the receipt of a performance share award until the shares are received. At such time, the U.S. Participant recognizes ordinary compensation income equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the shares over any amount paid thereby for the shares, and the Company will generally be entitled to deduct such amount at such time.
A U.S. Participant does not recognize taxable income upon the receipt of a performance unit award, restricted stock unit award or dividend equivalent right award until a cash payment (or in the case of a restricted stock unit award, until a cash payment or distribution of shares of the Company’s Common Stock) is received. At such time, the U.S. Participant recognizes ordinary compensation income equal to the amount of cash (or fair market value of the shares) received, and the Company will generally be entitled to deduct such amount at such time.
A U.S. Participant who receives a grant of restricted stock generally recognizes ordinary compensation income equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of such shares of stock at the time the restriction lapses over any amount paid thereby for the shares. Alternatively, the U.S. Participant may elect to be taxed on the fair market value of such shares at the time of grant. The Company will generally be entitled to a deduction at the same time and in the same amount as the income required to be included by the U.S. Participant.
A U.S. Participant recognizes ordinary compensation income upon receipt of shares of the Company’s Common Stock under an unrestricted stock award equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the shares over any amount paid thereby for the shares, and the Company will generally be entitled to deduct such amount at such time.
Plan Approval Requirements
Under the TSX rules, the 2012 Plan requires stockholder approval. The form of the 2012 Plan has been pre-cleared by the TSX.
The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the matter is required to approve the adoption of the 2012 Plan.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE ADOPTION OF THE 2012 PLAN. Pursuant to the terms of the Voting Trust Agreement, Mr. Wang, Ms. Li and AvantaLion may only vote shares of Common Stock representing 9.9% of the votes attached to all of the then-issued shares of Common Stock of the Company, which is equal to approximately 13,941,904 shares of Common Stock as of April 13, 2012.
PLEASE NOTE: If your shares are held in street name, your broker, bank, trust or other holder of record can only vote your shares with respect to the adoption of the 2012 Plan if you direct the holder how to vote by marking your proxy, which will be sent to you by such holder.
PROPOSAL 4 — AMENDMENT TO THE DIRECTORS’ COMPENSATION PLAN
NeuLion’s Board of Directors has approved an increase in the number of shares of Common Stock that are authorized for issuance pursuant to the Directors’ Compensation Plan from 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock to 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock.
The purpose of the Directors’ Compensation Plan is to advance the interests of NeuLion by (i) encouraging its directors to acquire shares of Common Stock, thereby increasing the proprietary interests of such persons in NeuLion and aligning the interests of such persons with the interests of stockholders generally and (ii) preserving NeuLion’s cash for other corporate purposes.
The Directors’ Compensation Plan is administered by the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee. Subject to the limitations of the Directors’ Compensation Plan, the Board of Directors has the authority to:
| · | issue shares of Common Stock to non-executive directors under the Directors’ Compensation Plan; |
| · | determine the terms, including the limitations, restrictions and conditions, if any, upon such grants; |
| · | interpret the Directors’ Compensation Plan and adopt, amend and rescind such administrative guidelines and other rules and regulations relating to the Directors’ Compensation Plan as it may from time to time deem advisable, subject to required prior approval by any applicable regulatory authority; |
| · | suspend or terminate the Directors’ Compensation Plan; and |
| · | make all other determinations and to take all other actions in connection with the implementation and administration of the Directors’ Compensation Plan as it may deem necessary or advisable. |
Management directors are not eligible to receive shares of Common Stock under the Directors’ Compensation Plan because they do not receive compensation as directors.
Under the Directors’ Compensation Plan, the non-executive directors of NeuLion receive at least 50% of their annual retainers and Board of Directors and committee meeting fees in the form of shares of Common Stock and may elect to receive up to 100% of their retainers and fees in shares of Common Stock in lieu of cash compensation. Each non-executive director is paid an annual retainer of $20,000 and a fee of $2,000 per Board of Directors meeting attended, except in the case of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, who earns a fee of $3,000 per Board of Directors meeting attended. Each committee member is paid $1,000 per committee meeting attended, and each committee chairman is paid an additional $500 per meeting for acting in such capacity. The Lead Independent Director is paid an additional annual fee of $5,000 for serving in such capacity. Non-executive directors are reimbursed for any out-of-pocket travel expenses incurred in order to attend meetings. Subject to the overall maximum as described in the first paragraph of this Proposal 4, there is no cap on the maximum number of shares of Common Stock available to be issued by NeuLion to any individual non-executive director under the Directors’ Compensation Plan.
Upon ceasing to be a non-executive director, a director will no longer be eligible to receive shares of Common Stock under the Directors’ Compensation Plan and any amounts owing to such director shall be paid in cash.
NeuLion is committed to delivering value to stockholders and firmly believes in long-term, stock-based incentives for its directors, executives and key employees. In the context of the Directors’ Compensation Plan, NeuLion believes that stock-based incentives align the interests of NeuLion’s directors with stockholder interests, help NeuLion attract and retain qualified and talented directors, and focus directors on the long-term stock and financial performance of NeuLion.
The Board of Directors believes that it is consistent with the interests of stockholders and sound corporate governance practices and in NeuLion’s best interests to increase the number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Directors’ Compensation Plan as contemplated herein. If the amendment is not approved, NeuLion may be compelled to increase the cash component of director compensation, which is not in line with its compensation philosophy of pay-for-performance and aligning the directors’ interests with those of stockholders.
The Directors’ Compensation Plan currently authorizes the issuance of 1,500,000 Shares of Common Stock. As of April 13, 2012, NeuLion has issued 1,407,700 shares of Common Stock to its directors. The amendment to the Directors’ Compensation Plan seeks to increase the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance from 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock to 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock.
Pursuant to the terms of the Directors’ Compensation Plan and under the TSX rules, the amendment of Directors’ Compensation Plan to increase the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance requires stockholder approval.
The form of the Directors’ Compensation Plan amendment has been pre-cleared by the TSX.
The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the matter is required to approve the amendment to the Director’s Compensation Plan.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE DIRECTORS’ COMPENSATION PLAN. Pursuant to the terms of the Voting Trust Agreement, Mr. Wang, Ms. Li and AvantaLion may only vote shares of Common Stock representing 9.9% of the votes attached to all of the then-issued shares of Common Stock of the Company, which is equal to approximately 13,941,904 shares of Common Stock as of April 13, 2012.
PLEASE NOTE: If your shares are held in street name, your broker, bank, trust or other holder of record can only vote your shares with respect to the approval of the amendment to the Directors’ Compensation Plan if you direct the holder how to vote by marking your proxy, which will be sent to you by such holder.
STATEMENT OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table (the “Summary Compensation Table”) sets forth all compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to, during each of the Company’s last two completed fiscal years, our principal executive officer and our two most highly compensated executive officers other than our principal executive officer who were serving as executive officers at the end of the 2011 fiscal year (collectively, the “Named Executive Officers”). Other than as described in this Proxy Statement, the Company does not have any employment agreements, supplemental executive retirement plans, change in control agreements or company perks (e.g., company cars, country club memberships, etc.).
2011 SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Name and Principal Position | | Year | | Salary ($) | | Bonus ($) | | Option- Based Awards ($)(4)(5) | | Other ($)(6) | | Total ($) |
Nancy Li | | 2011 | | 310,000 | | — | | 130,905 | | | | 440,905 |
Chief Executive Officer(1) | | 2010 | | 310,000 | | — | | 191,070 | | | | 501,070 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
J. Christopher Wagner | | 2011 | | 250,000 | | 250,000 | | 43,635 | | | | 543,635 |
Executive Vice President(2) | | 2010 | | 250,000 | | 250,000 | | 354,110 | | | | 854,110 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
G. Scott Paterson | | 2011 | | 300,000 | | — | | — | | 2,064 | | 302,064 |
Executive Vice Chairman(3) | | 2010 | | 300,000 | | — | | — | | 1,895 | | 301,895 |
(1) | Ms. Li became the Chief Executive Officer of the Company on October 20, 2008. |
(2) | Mr. Wagner became an Executive Vice President of the Company on October 20, 2008. |
(3) | Mr. Paterson became the Executive Vice Chairman of the Company on October 20, 2008. |
(4) | “Option-Based Awards” includes options (“Options”) granted under our Stock Option Plan, and incentive warrants to acquire 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock issued to employees in connection with the business combination of the entities then known as JumpTV Inc. (now called NeuLion, Inc.) and NeuLion, Inc. (now called NeuLion USA, Inc.) (the “Merger”) that took place on October 20, 2008 (the “Incentive Warrants”). The exercise price for Options granted under the Stock Option Plan is based on the 5-day volume weighted average price preceding the grant date. The exercise price for the Incentive Warrants was negotiated as part of the Merger. In calculating the value of both Options and Incentive Warrants, the grant date fair market value price is based on the closing price on the grant date. As a result, there is generally a difference between the exercise price and the fair market value as at the grant date. |
(5) | The amounts reported in the Option-Based Awards column of the Summary Compensation Table represent the total fair value of the Options and Incentive Warrants granted by the Company to each of the Named Executive Officers, calculated based on values determined as of the grant date in accordance with Accounting Standard Codification Topic 718 utilizing a Black-Scholes-Merton model. |
| The Company cautions that the amounts reported in the Summary Compensation Table in the Option-Based Awards column may not represent the amounts that the Named Executive Officers will actually realize from the awards. A Named Executive Officer can only exercise Options that vest while he or she is employed by the Company and or within 90 days of such person’s termination or departure date (unless terminated for cause, in which case such Options shall immediately terminate unless the Board of Directors determines otherwise), and will only realize value if the Options are exercised when NeuLion’s stock price exceeds the Option exercise price. |
| The assumptions used by the Company in calculating these amounts are set forth below. Below is detail corresponding to the total amounts set forth in the Option-Based Awards column above as it relates to the total fair value of the Options and Incentive Warrants granted in 2011 and 2010: |
Name | | 2011 Grants (1) | | 2010 Grants (1) | | Total Fair Value (1) |
Nancy Li | | $130,935(a) | | $191,070(c) | | $322,005 |
J. Christopher Wagner | | $43,635(b) | | $63,690(c) $290,420(d) | | $397,745 |
G. Scott Paterson | | 0 | | 0 | | 0 |
(1) The following assumptions were used in calculating the total amounts set forth in the above table regarding Option Awards:
Note | | Security | | Grant Date | | Expected Life | | Volatility | | Exercise Price | | Market Price | | Risk-Free Interest Rate |
(a) | | Options | | May 16, 2011 | | 4 years | | 104% | | $0.43 | | $0.41 | | 2.5% |
(b) | | Options | | May 16, 2011 | | 4 years | | 104% | | $0.43 | | $0.41 | | 2.5% |
(c) | | Options | | March 19, 2010 | | 4 years | | 95% | | $0.59 | | $0.62 | | 2.77% |
(d) | | Incentive Warrants | | October 20, 2008 (modified on June 15, 2010) | | 3 years | | 103% | | $0.63 | | $0.44 | | 2.16% |
The Options were awarded under the Stock Option Plan. The Incentive Warrants were granted under stand-alone warrant certificates in connection with the Merger.
(6) | NeuLion has arranged for and paid the premiums on CDN$10 million of key-man term life insurance for Mr. Paterson to provide 24-hour all-peril coverage with NeuLion as beneficiary of CDN$8 million of the proceeds, with the remaining CDN$2 million to be paid to beneficiaries designated by Mr. Paterson. The annual premium payable by NeuLion in respect of the portion of Mr. Paterson’s insurance to be paid to his designated beneficiaries was CDN$1,973. |
The material terms of each Option grant are set forth below in the Outstanding Equity Awards at 2011 Fiscal Year End table and its footnotes.
On June 15, 2010, the Company’s stockholders approved an extension of the expiration of the Incentive Warrants. The Incentive Warrants now expire on October 20, 2013.
See the description below under “—Payments in Connection with Termination or Change in Control” for a description of shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. Paterson upon a change in control of the Company.
The following table sets forth, for each Named Executive Officer, information regarding unvested stock awards, unexercised stock options and other equity incentive plan awards outstanding as of December 31, 2011.
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT 2011 FISCAL YEAR END
| | Option Awards |
| | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options | | | | | |
Name | | (#) Exercisable | | | (#) Unexercisable | | | Option Exercise Price ($) | | Option Expiration Date |
Nancy Li | | | 346,875 | | | | 103,125 | | | | 0.47 | | 11/17/13 |
Chief Executive Officer (1) | | | 196,875 | | | | 253,125 | | | | 0.54 | | 03/19/15 |
| | | 0 | | | | 450,000 | | | | 0.43 | | 05/16/16 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
J. Christopher Wagner | | | 1,300,000 | | | | 0 | | | | 0.63 | | 10/20/13 |
Executive Vice President (2) | | | 158,333 | | | | 41,667 | | | | 0.60 | | 10/20/13 |
| | | 115,625 | | | | 34,375 | | | | 0.47 | | 11/17/13 |
| | | 65,625 | | | | 84,375 | | | | 0.54 | | 03/19/15 |
| | | 0 | | | | 150,000 | | | | 0.43 | | 05/11/16 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
G. Scott Paterson | | | 450,000 | | | | 0 | | | | 6.05 | | 04/09/12 |
Executive Vice Chairman (3) | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) | Ms. Li became the Chief Executive Officer on October 20, 2008. Options granted to Ms. Li through May 31, 2010 vest at a rate of one forty-eighth per month and are exercisable for a period of five years from the date of grant. Options granted to Ms. Li after May 31, 2010 vest at a rate of one-quarter of their allotted amount per year and are exercisable for a period of five years from the date of grant. |
(2) | Mr. Wagner became an Executive Vice President of the Company on October 20, 2008. Options granted to Mr. Wagner through May 31, 2010 vest at a rate of one forty-eighth per month and are exercisable for a period of five years from the date of grant. Options granted to Mr. Wagner after May 31, 2010 vest at a rate of one-quarter of their allotted amount per year and are exercisable for a period of five years from the date of grant. |
(3) | Mr. Paterson became the Executive Vice Chairman of the Company on October 20, 2008. Options granted to Mr. Paterson through May 31, 2010 vest at a rate of one forty-eighth of their allotted amount per month and are exercisable for a period of five years from the date of grant. |
Employee Benefits Plans
We do not sponsor any qualified or non-qualified pension benefit plans, nor do we maintain any non-qualified defined contribution or deferred compensation plans. We sponsor a tax-qualified defined contribution 401(k) plan in which employees are eligible for participation on the next entry date after completing the earlier of (i) one month of service in which the employee is credited with 83 hours of service and (ii) one year of service.
Director and Officer Liability Insurance
The Company has purchased directors and officers liability insurance. This insurance provides financial protection for our directors and officers in the event that they are sued in connection with the performance of their duties as they relate to the Company and also provides employment practices liability coverage, which insures for harassment and discrimination suits.
Payments in Connection with Termination or Change in Control
The Company’s Stock Option Plan, SARs Plan and Retention Warrants Plan each provide for immediate vesting of all Options, stock appreciation rights or retention warrants held thereunder by plan participants if any such person’s employment, directorship, or other association, as the case may be, with the Company is terminated (other than for cause) prior to the expiry of such Options, stock appreciation rights or retention warrants by virtue of, or in connection with, a change of control (as this term is defined in each respective plan) of the Company. The Board of Directors of the Company may also provide in its discretion for vesting under such plans if there is a take-over bid or issuer bid (as such terms are defined in each respective plan) or in the event of a change of control.
The Company does not have any employment agreements or other related arrangement with any employee other than Mr. Paterson, its Executive Vice Chairman. Mr. Paterson’s agreement is for an indefinite term, subject to the provisions of the agreement. Mr. Paterson is permitted to terminate the employment agreement upon 60 days’ notice and the Company is permitted to terminate the employment agreement at any time for cause.
In the event of a change of control of the Company, all Options, stock appreciation rights granted under the SARs Plan or other incentive compensation held by Mr. Paterson that are subject to vesting within a period of twelve months from the date of the change of control will automatically vest. The agreement contains (i) non-solicitation and non-competition covenants in favor of the Company, which apply during the term of Mr. Paterson’s employment and for a period of 24 months following the termination of his employment (subject to exclusions to the non-solicitation covenant allowing Mr. Paterson or his designates to solicit without restriction executives who had been associated with Paterson Partners or its affiliated entities and exclusions to the non-competition covenant in respect of commercial involvement that encompasses an interest of less than five percent in a publicly traded company), and (ii) confidentiality covenants in favor of the Company, which apply indefinitely. In the event of termination of the agreement by the Company without cause, Mr. Paterson is entitled to a severance package consisting of 24 months compensation in lieu of notice inclusive of base salary and bonuses and a continuation of benefits for a period of 24 months. In addition, all Options, stock appreciation rights granted under the SARs Plan or other incentive compensation held by Mr. Paterson that were subject to vesting within a period of 24 months from the date of termination will automatically vest.
For purposes of Mr. Paterson’s employment agreement, termination “without cause” includes a change of control or a constructive dismissal after Mr. Paterson provides specified notice to the Company. “Change of control” means a transaction or series of transactions whereby, directly or indirectly:
| (a) | any person or combination of persons obtains Common Stock or other securities in excess of the number which, directly or following conversion thereof, would entitle them to cast 50% or more of the votes attaching to all Common Stock which may cast to elect directors; or |
| (b) | the Company shall consolidate or amalgamate with, or enter into a statutory arrangement with, any other person (other than a subsidiary of the Company (a “Subsidiary”)) or merge with and into any other person (other than a Subsidiary) or another person shall merge with or into, the Company, and, in connection therewith, all or part of the outstanding voting Common Stock shall be changed in any way, reclassified or converted into, exchanged or otherwise acquired for Common Stock or other securities of the Company or any other person or for cash or any other property; or |
| (c) | the Company (or a Subsidiary) shall sell or otherwise transfer, including by way of the grant of a leasehold interest property or assets (A) aggregating more than 50% of the consolidated assets (measured by either book value or fair market value) of the Company and its subsidiaries as at the end of the most recently completed financial year of the Company or (B) which during the most recently completed financial year of the Company generated, or during the then current financial year of the Company are expected to generate, more than 50% of the consolidated operating income or cash flow of the Company and its subsidiaries; or |
| (d) | there occurs a change in the composition of the Board which occurs at a single meeting, or a succession of meetings occurring within six months, of the stockholders, whereby such individuals who were members of the Board immediately prior to such meeting or succession of meetings, cease to constitute a majority of the Board without the Board, as constituted immediately prior to such meeting, approving of such change. |
A “constructive dismissal” shall be deemed to have occurred upon any material and adverse change in the title, status, position, job function, job responsibilities and/or reporting responsibilities of Mr. Paterson from those current at the date of his employment agreement without his prior written consent.
The agreement provides annual base salary, subject to annual increases as determined by the Board of Directors and a bonus that is based on the attainment of certain objectives to be determined by mutual agreement of the Board of Directors and Mr. Paterson. Until April 9, 2012, Mr. Paterson held 450,000 Options to purchase Common Stock with an exercise price of $6.05 per Option with such Options vesting at a rate of 1/48th per month. On April 9, 2012 the Options expired. NeuLion has arranged for and paid the premiums on CDN$10 million of key-man term life insurance for Mr. Paterson to provide 24-hour all-peril coverage with NeuLion as beneficiary of CDN$8 million of the proceeds, with the remaining CDN$2 million to be paid to beneficiaries designated by Mr. Paterson. The annual premium payable by NeuLion in respect of the portion of Mr. Paterson’s insurance to be paid to his designated beneficiaries was CDN$1,973, or US$2,064.
Pursuant to a Restricted Share Agreement (the “Restricted Share Agreement”) between the Company and Marc Sokol, the Executive Vice President of Business Development of the Company in 2011, dated as of November 12, 2010, the Company agreed to issue 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock to Mr. Sokol over a four-year period. Mr. Sokol will be issued 25% of the shares on each anniversary of November 12, 2010, with 25% of each tranche of newly issued shares to be released on each such anniversary and an additional 25% to be released each successive year thereafter. In the event of a change in control of the Company, the shares of Common Stock shall be immediately issued and released to Mr. Sokol. In the event of Mr. Sokol’s termination prior to issuance of all of the shares, all unissued shares will be forfeited. Mr. Sokol resigned from his position as Executive Vice President of the Company on January 31, 2012 and forfeited 1,875,000 shares of Common Stock upon his resignation.
Other than as set forth above, the Company is not a party to any other contract, agreement, plan or arrangement (written or unwritten) that provides for payment following a change in an executive officer’s responsibilities or following a change in control. The Company has no other plan that provides for the payment of retirement benefits, or other benefits that will be paid primarily following retirement, or at, following, or in connection with resignation, retirement or other termination of an executive officer.
| By Order of the Board of Directors, |
| |
| /s/ Roy E. Reichbach |
| Roy E. Reichbach |
| General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Director |
April 19, 2012
APPENDIX A
NEULION, INC.
2012 OMNIBUS SECURITIES AND INCENTIVE PLAN
NEULION, INC.
2012 OMNIBUS SECURITIES AND INCENTIVE PLAN
Table Of Contents
| | | Page |
| | | |
ARTICLE I | PURPOSE | 1 |
| | |
ARTICLE II | DEFINITIONS | 1 |
| | |
ARTICLE III | EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN | 7 |
| | |
ARTICLE IV | ADMINISTRATION | 7 |
| Section 4.1 | Composition of Committee | 7 |
| Section 4.2 | Powers | 8 |
| Section 4.3 | Additional Powers | 8 |
| Section 4.4 | Committee Action | 8 |
| | | |
ARTICLE V | STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN AND LIMITATIONS THEREON | 9 |
| Section 5.1 | Stock Grant and Award Limits | 9 |
| Section 5.2 | Stock Offered | 9 |
| | | |
ARTICLE VI | ELIGIBILITY FOR AWARDS; TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT, DIRECTOR STATUS OR CONSULTANT STATUS | 9 |
| Section 6.1 | Eligibility | 9 |
| Section 6.2 | Termination of Employment or Director Status | 10 |
| Section 6.3 | Termination of Consultant Status | 11 |
| Section 6.4 | Special Termination Rule | 12 |
| Section 6.5 | Termination for Cause | 12 |
| | | |
ARTICLE VII | OPTIONS | | 12 |
| Section 7.1 | Option Period | 12 |
| Section 7.2 | Limitations on Exercise of Option | 12 |
| Section 7.3 | Special Limitations on Incentive Stock Options | 13 |
| Section 7.4 | Option Agreement | 13 |
| Section 7.5 | Option Price and Payment | 14 |
| Section 7.6 | Stockholder Rights and Privileges | 14 |
| Section 7.7 | Options and Rights in Substitution for Stock Options Granted by Other Corporations | 14 |
| Section 7.8 | Prohibition Against Repricing | 14 |
| | | |
ARTICLE VIII | RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS | 15 |
| Section 8.1 | Restriction Period to be Established by Committee | 15 |
| Section 8.2 | Other Terms and Conditions | 15 |
| Section 8.3 | Payment for Restricted Stock | 16 |
| Section 8.4 | Restricted Stock Award Agreements | 16 |
| | | |
ARTICLE IX | UNRESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS | 16 |
| | |
ARTICLE X | RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARDS | 16 |
NEULION, INC.
2012 OMNIBUS SECURITIES AND INCENTIVE PLAN
Table Of Contents (continued)
| | | Page |
| | | |
| Section 10.1 | Terms and Conditions | 16 |
| Section 10.2 | Payments | 16 |
| | | |
ARTICLE XI | PERFORMANCE UNIT AWARDS | 17 |
| Section 11.1 | Terms and Conditions | 17 |
| Section 11.2 | Payments | 17 |
| | | |
ARTICLE XII | PERFORMANCE SHARE AWARDS | 17 |
| Section 12.1 | Terms and Conditions | 17 |
| Section 12.2 | Stockholder Rights and Privileges | 17 |
| | | |
ARTICLE XIII | DISTRIBUTION EQUIVALENT RIGHTS | 18 |
| Section 13.1 | Terms and Conditions | 18 |
| Section 13.2 | Interest Equivalents | 18 |
| | | |
ARTICLE XIV | STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS | 18 |
| Section 14.1 | Terms and Conditions | 18 |
| Section 14.2 | Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights | 19 |
| | | |
ARTICLE XV | RECAPITALIZATION OR REORGANIZATION | 19 |
| Section 15.1 | Adjustments to Common Stock | 19 |
| Section 15.2 | Recapitalization | 20 |
| Section 15.3 | Other Events | 20 |
| Section 15.4 | Powers Not Affected | 20 |
| Section 15.5 | No Adjustment for Certain Awards | 21 |
| | | |
ARTICLE XVI | AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF PLAN | 21 |
| | |
ARTICLE XVII | MISCELLANEOUS | 21 |
| Section 17.1 | No Right to Award | 21 |
| Section 17.2 | No Rights Conferred | 22 |
| Section 17.3 | Other Laws; No Fractional Shares; Withholding | 22 |
| Section 17.4 | No Restriction on Corporate Action | 22 |
| Section 17.5 | Restrictions on Transfer | 23 |
| Section 17.6 | Beneficiary Designations | 23 |
| Section 17.7 | Rule 16b-3 | 23 |
| Section 17.8 | Section 162(m) | 24 |
| Section 17.9 | Section 409A | 24 |
| Section 17.10 | Indemnification | 25 |
| Section 17.11 | Other Plans | 25 |
| Section 17.12 | Limits of Liability | 25 |
| Section 17.13 | Governing Law | 25 |
| Section 17.14 | Severability of Provisions | 25 |
NEULION, INC.
2012 OMNIBUS SECURITIES AND INCENTIVE PLAN
Table Of Contents (continued)
| | | Page |
| | | |
| Section 17.15 | No Funding | 25 |
| Section 17.16 | Headings | 25 |
| Section 17.17 | Terms of Award Agreements | 26 |
| Section 17.18 | Effect of a Change of Control | 26 |
| | | |
APPENDIX A - PROVISION APPLICABLE TO CANADIAN PERSONS | 27 |
NEULION, INC.
2012 OMNIBUS SECURITIES AND INCENTIVE PLAN
ARTICLE I
PURPOSE
The purpose of this NeuLion, Inc. 2012 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is to benefit the stockholders of NeuLion, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), by assisting the Company to attract, retain and provide incentives to key management employees and nonemployee directors of, and nonemployee consultants to, the Company and its Affiliates, and to align the interests of such employees, nonemployee directors and nonemployee consultants with those of the Company’s stockholders. Accordingly, the Plan provides for the granting of Distribution Equivalent Rights, Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Performance Share Awards, Performance Unit Awards, Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Unit Awards, Stock Appreciation Rights, Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights, Unrestricted Stock Awards or any combination of the foregoing, as may be best suited to the circumstances of the particular Employee, Director or Consultant as provided herein.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
The following definitions shall be applicable throughout the Plan unless the context otherwise requires:
“Affiliate” shall mean any corporation which, with respect to the Company, is a “subsidiary corporation” within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code.
“Award” shall mean, individually or collectively, any Distribution Equivalent Right, Option, Performance Share Award, Performance Unit Award, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit Award, Stock Appreciation Right or Unrestricted Stock Award.
“Award Agreement” shall mean a written agreement between the Company and the Holder with respect to an Award, setting forth the terms and conditions of the Award, and each of which shall constitute a part of the Plan.
“Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Cause” shall mean (i) if the Holder is a party to an employment or similar agreement with the Company or an Affiliate which agreement defines “Cause” (or a similar term) therein, “Cause” shall have the same meaning as provided for in such agreement, or (ii) for a Holder who is not a party to such an agreement, “Cause” shall mean termination by the Company or an Affiliate of the employment (or other service relationship) of the Holder by reason of the Holder’s (A) intentional failure to perform reasonably assigned duties, (B) dishonesty or willful misconduct in the performance of the Holder’s duties, (C) involvement in a transaction which is materially adverse to the Company or an Affiliate, (D) breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit, (E) willful violation of any law, rule, regulation or court order (other than misdemeanor traffic violations and misdemeanors not involving misuse or misappropriation of money or property), (F) commission of an act of fraud or intentional misappropriation or conversion of any asset or opportunity of the Company or an Affiliate, or (G) material breach of any provision of the Plan or the Holder’s Award Agreement or any other written agreement between the Holder and the Company or an Affiliate, in each case as determined in good faith by the Board, the determination of which shall be final, conclusive and binding on all parties.
“Change of Control” shall mean (i) for a Holder who is a party to an employment or consulting agreement with the Company or an Affiliate which agreement defines “Change of Control” (or a similar term) therein, “Change of Control” shall have the same meaning as provided for in such agreement, or (ii) for a Holder who is not a party to such an agreement, “Change of Control” shall mean the satisfaction of any one or more of the following conditions (and the “Change of Control” shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day that any one or more of the following conditions shall have been satisfied):
(a) Any person (as such term is used in paragraphs 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, hereinafter in this definition, “Person”), other than the Company or an Affiliate or an employee benefit plan of the Company or an Affiliate, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities;
(b) The closing of a merger, consolidation or other business combination (a “Business Combination”) other than a Business Combination in which holders of the Common Stock immediately prior to the Business Combination have substantially the same proportionate ownership of common stock of the surviving corporation immediately after the Business Combination as immediately before;
(c) The closing of an agreement for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to any entity that is not an Affiliate;
(d) The approval by the holders of shares of Common Stock of a plan of complete liquidation of the Company other than a liquidation of the Company into any subsidiary or a liquidation a result of which persons who were stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such liquidation have substantially the same proportionate ownership of shares of common stock of the surviving corporation immediately after such liquidation as immediately before; or
(e) Within any twenty-four (24) month period, the Incumbent Directors shall cease to constitute at least a majority of the Board or the board of directors of any successor to the Company; provided, however, that any director elected to the Board, or nominated for election, by a majority of the Incumbent Directors then still in office, shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director for purposes of this paragraph (e), but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of an individual, entity or “group” other than the Board (including, but not limited to, any such assumption that results from paragraphs (a), (b), (c), or (d) of this definition).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “Change of Control” shall not be deemed to occur if the Company files for bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization under the United States Bankruptcy Code.
“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference in the Plan to any section of the Code shall be deemed to include any amendments or successor provisions to any section and any regulation under such section.
“Committee” shall mean a committee comprised of not less than three (3) members of the Board who are selected by the Board as provided in Section 4.1.
“Common Stock” shall mean the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.
“Company” shall mean NeuLion, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor thereto.
“Consultant” shall mean any non-Employee (individual or entity) advisor to the Company or an Affiliate who or which has contracted directly with the Company or an Affiliate to render bona fide consulting or advisory services thereto.
“Director” shall mean a member of the Board or a member of the board of directors of an Affiliate, in either case, who is not an Employee.
“Distribution Equivalent Right” shall mean an Award granted under Article XIII of the Plan which entitles the Holder to receive bookkeeping credits, cash payments and/or Common Stock distributions equal in amount to the distributions that would have been made to the Holder had the Holder held a specified number of shares of Common Stock during the period the Holder held the Distribution Equivalent Right.
“Distribution Equivalent Right Award Agreement” shall mean a written agreement between the Company and a Holder with respect to a Distribution Equivalent Right Award.
“Effective Date” shall mean April 18, 2012.
“Employee” shall mean any employee, including officers, of the Company or an Affiliate.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Fair Market Value” shall mean, as determined consistent with the applicable requirements of Sections 409A and 422 of the Code, as of any specified date, the volume-weighted average trading price of the Common Stock (calculated by dividing the total value by the total number of shares of Common Stock traded) for the five (5) trading days immediately preceding such date (or, in the event that the Common Stock is not traded on such date, on the immediately preceding trading date) on the Nasdaq Stock Market or a domestic or foreign national securities exchange (including London’s Alternative Investment Market) on which the Common Stock may be listed, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or The Financial Times. If the Common Stock is not listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market or on a national securities exchange, but is quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board or by the National Quotation Bureau, the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock shall be the mean of the bid and asked prices per share of the Common Stock for such date. If the Common Stock is not quoted or listed as set forth above, Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Board in good faith by any fair and reasonable means (which means, with respect to a particular Award grant, may be set forth with greater specificity in the applicable Award Agreement). The Fair Market Value of property other than Common Stock shall be determined by the Board in good faith by any fair and reasonable means, and consistent with the applicable requirements of Sections 409A and 422 of the Code.
“Family Member” shall mean any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, any person sharing the Holder’s household (other than a tenant or employee of the Holder), a trust in which such persons have more than fifty percent (50%) of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which such persons (or the Holder) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which such persons (or the Holder) own more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting interests.
“Holder” shall mean an Employee, Director or Consultant who has been granted an Award or any such individual’s beneficiary, estate or representative, to the extent applicable.
“Incentive Stock Option” shall mean an Option which is intended by the Committee to constitute an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code.
“Incumbent Director” shall mean, with respect to any period of time specified under the Plan for purposes of determining whether or not a Change of Control has occurred, the individuals who were members of the Board at the beginning of such period.
“Insiders” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 5.1.
“Non-Qualified Stock Option” shall mean an Option which is not an Incentive Stock Option.
“Option” shall mean an Award granted under Article VII of the Plan of an option to purchase shares of Common Stock and includes both Incentive Stock Options and Non-Qualified Stock Options.
“Option Agreement” shall mean a written agreement between the Company and a Holder with respect to an Option.
“Performance Criteria” shall mean the criteria that the Committee selects for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal(s) for a Holder for a Performance Period.
“Performance Goals” shall mean, for a Performance Period, the written goal or goals established by the Committee for the Performance Period based upon the Performance Criteria.
“Performance Period” shall mean one or more periods of time, which may be of varying and overlapping durations, selected by the Committee, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals or other business objectives shall be measured for purposes of determining a Holder’s right to, and the payment of, a Qualified Performance-Based Award.
“Performance Share Award” shall mean an Award granted under Article XII of the Plan under which, upon the satisfaction of predetermined individual and/or Company (and/or Affiliate) performance goals and/or objectives, shares of Common Stock are paid to the Holder.
“Performance Share Award Agreement” shall mean a written agreement between the Company and a Holder with respect to a Performance Share Award.
“Performance Unit” shall mean a Unit awarded to a Holder pursuant to a Performance Unit Award.
“Performance Unit Award” shall mean an Award granted under Article XI of the Plan under which, upon the satisfaction of predetermined individual and/or Company (and/or Affiliate) performance goals and/or objectives, a cash payment shall be made to the Holder, based on the number of Units awarded to the Holder.
“Performance Unit Award Agreement” shall mean a written agreement between the Company and a Holder with respect to a Performance Unit Award.
“Plan” shall mean this NeuLion, Inc. 2012 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time, together with each of the Award Agreements utilized hereunder.
“Qualified Performance-Based Award” shall mean an Award intended to qualify as “performance-based” compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.
“Restricted Stock Award” shall mean an Award granted under Article VIII of the Plan of shares of Common Stock, the transferability of which by the Holder shall be subject to Restrictions.
“Restricted Stock Award Agreement” shall mean a written agreement between the Company and a Holder with respect to a Restricted Stock Award.
“Restricted Stock Unit Award” shall mean an Award granted under Article X of the Plan under which, upon the satisfaction of predetermined individual service-related vesting requirements, a cash payment shall be made to the Holder, based on the number of Units awarded to the Holder.
“Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement” shall mean a written agreement between the Company and a Holder with respect to a Restricted Stock Unit Award.
“Restriction Period” shall mean the period of time for which shares of Common Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Award shall be subject to Restrictions, as set forth in the applicable Restricted Stock Award Agreement.
“Restrictions” shall mean forfeiture, transfer and/or other restrictions applicable to shares of Common Stock awarded to an Employee, Director or Consultant under the Plan pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award and set forth in a Restricted Stock Award Agreement.
“Rule 16b-3” shall mean Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act, as such may be amended from time to time, and any successor rule, regulation or statute fulfilling the same or a substantially similar function.
“Stock Appreciation Right” shall mean an Award granted under Article XIV of the Plan of a right, granted alone or in connection with a related Option, to receive a payment on the date of exercise.
“Stock Appreciation Right Award Agreement” shall mean a written agreement between the Company and a Holder with respect to a Stock Appreciation Right.
“Tandem Stock Appreciation Right” shall mean a Stock Appreciation Right granted in connection with a related Option, the exercise of which shall result in termination of the otherwise entitlement to purchase some or all of the shares of Common Stock under the related Option, all as set forth in Section 14.2.
“Ten Percent Stockholder” shall mean an Employee who, at the time an Incentive Stock Option is granted to him or her, owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation thereof (both as defined in Section 424 of the Code), within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code.
“Total and Permanent Disability” shall mean the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, all as described in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
“Units” shall mean bookkeeping units, each of which represents such monetary amount as shall be designated by the Committee in each Performance Unit Award Agreement, or represents one (1) share of Common Stock for purposes of each Restricted Stock Unit Award.
“Unrestricted Stock Award” shall mean an Award granted under Article IX of the Plan of shares of Common Stock which are not subject to Restrictions.
“Unrestricted Stock Award Agreement” shall mean a written agreement between the Company and a Holder with respect to an Unrestricted Stock Award.
ARTICLE III
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN
The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date, provided that the Plan is approved by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months of such date.
ARTICLE IV
ADMINISTRATION
Section 4.1 Composition of Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which shall be appointed by the Board. The Committee shall consist solely of three (3) or more Directors who are each (i) “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code (“Outside Directors”), (ii) “non-employee directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 (“Non-Employee Directors”) and (iii) “independent” for purposes of any applicable listing requirements; provided, however, that the Board or the Committee may delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board who are not (x) Outside Directors, the authority to grant Awards to eligible persons who are not (A) then “covered employees” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and are not expected to be “covered employees” at the time of recognition of income resulting from such Award, or (B) persons with respect to whom the Company wishes to comply with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code, and/or (y) Non-Employee Directors, the authority to grant Awards to eligible persons who are not then subject to the requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange Act. If a member of the Committee shall be eligible to receive an Award under the Plan, such Committee member shall have no authority hereunder with respect to his or her own Award.
Section 4.2 Powers. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the sole authority, in its discretion, to make all determinations under the Plan, including but not limited to determining which Employees, Directors or Consultants shall receive an Award, the time or times when an Award shall be made (the date of grant of an Award shall be the date on which the Award is awarded by the Committee), what type of Award shall be granted, the term of an Award, the date or dates on which an Award vests (including acceleration of vesting), the form of any payment to be made pursuant to an Award, the terms and conditions of an Award (including the forfeiture of the Award (and/or any financial gain) if the Holder of the Award violates any applicable restrictive covenant thereof), the Restrictions under a Restricted Stock Award and the number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued under an Award, all as applicable. In making such determinations the Committee may take into account the nature of the services rendered by the respective Employees, Directors and Consultants, their present and potential contribution to the Company’s (or the Affiliate’s) success and such other factors as the Committee in its discretion shall deem relevant.
Section 4.3 Additional Powers. The Committee shall have such additional powers as are delegated to it under the other provisions of the Plan. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Committee is authorized to construe the Plan and the respective Award Agreements executed hereunder, to prescribe such rules and regulations relating to the Plan as it may deem advisable to carry out the intent of the Plan, and to determine the terms, restrictions and provisions of each Award, including such terms, restrictions and provisions as shall be requisite in the judgment of the Committee to cause designated Options to qualify as Incentive Stock Options, and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for administering the Plan. The Committee may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in any Award Agreement in the manner and to the extent it shall deem expedient to carry it into effect. The determinations of the Committee on the matters referred to in this Article IV shall be conclusive and binding on the Company and all Holders.
Section 4.4 Committee Action. In the absence of specific rules to the contrary, action by the Committee shall require the consent of a majority of the members of the Committee, expressed either orally at a meeting of the Committee or in writing in the absence of a meeting. No member of the Committee shall have any liability for any good faith action, inaction or determination in connection with the Plan.
ARTICLE V
STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN AND LIMITATIONS THEREON
Section 5.1 Stock Grant and Award Limits. The Committee may from time to time grant Awards to one or more Employees, Directors and/or Consultants determined by it to be eligible for participation in the Plan in accordance with the provisions of Article VI. Subject to Article XV, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan shall not exceed Twenty Million (20,000,000) shares. Shares shall be deemed to have been issued under the Plan solely to the extent actually issued and delivered pursuant to an Award. To the extent that an Award lapses, expires, is cancelled, is terminated unexercised or ceases to be exercisable or issuable for any reason, or the rights of its Holder terminate, any shares of Common Stock subject to such Award shall again be available for the grant of a new Award. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be subject to Awards of Options under Article VII and/or Stock Appreciation Rights under Article XIV, in either or both cases granted to any one Employee during any calendar year, shall be One Million (1,000,000) shares (subject to adjustment in the same manner as provided in Article XV with respect to shares of Common Stock subject to Awards then outstanding). The limitation set forth in the preceding sentence shall be applied in a manner which shall permit compensation generated in connection with the exercise of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights to constitute “performance-based” compensation for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code, including, but not limited to, counting against such maximum number of shares, to the extent required under Section 162(m) of the Code, any shares subject to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights that are canceled or repriced. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, in no event will the Awards issued to Insiders under the Plan, either alone or when combined with awards made under all other security-based compensation arrangements of the Company, result in shares of Common Stock in excess of Ten Percent (10%) of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (calculated on a non-diluted basis) being: (a) issued to Insiders in any one (1) year period; or (b) issuable to Insiders at any time. For the purposes of the immediately preceding sentence, “Insiders” shall mean (i) the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer or the Chief Operating Officer of (and any other individual who acts in a similar capacity for) the Company or of a subsidiary of the Company; (ii) a director of the Company or of a subsidiary of the Company; (iii) a person or company responsible for a principal business unit, division or function of the Company; (iv) a management company that provides significant management or administrative services to the Company or a subsidiary of the Company, every director of the management company, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer or the Chief Operating Officer of (and any other individual who acts in a similar capacity for) the management company, and every stockholder of the management company; (v) an individual performing functions similar to the functions performed by any of the insiders described in clauses (i) to (iv); (vi) any person that (A) in the ordinary course receives or has access to information as to material facts or material changes concerning the Company before the material facts or material changes are generally disclosed; and (B) directly or indirectly exercises, or has the ability to exercise, significant power or influence over the business, operations, capital or development of the Company; or (vii) any other person who is considered an “Insider” within the meaning of the rules of the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Section 5.2 Stock Offered. The stock to be offered pursuant to the grant of an Award may be authorized but unissued Common Stock, Common Stock purchased on the open market or Common Stock previously issued and outstanding and reacquired by the Company.
ARTICLE VI
ELIGIBILITY FOR AWARDS; TERMINATION OF
EMPLOYMENT, DIRECTOR STATUS OR CONSULTANT STATUS
Section 6.1 Eligibility. Awards made under the Plan may be granted solely to persons or entities who, at the time of grant, are Employees, Directors or Consultants. An Award may be granted on more than one occasion to the same Employee, Director or Consultant, and, subject to the limitations set forth in the Plan, such Award may include, a Non-Qualified Stock Option, a Restricted Stock Award, an Unrestricted Stock Award, a Distribution Equivalent Right Award, a Performance Stock Award, a Performance Unit Award, a Stock Appreciation Right, a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right, any combination thereof or, solely for Employees, an Incentive Stock Option.
Section 6.2 Termination of Employment or Director Status. Except to the extent inconsistent with the terms of the applicable Award Agreement and/or the provisions of Section 6.4 or 6.5, the following terms and conditions shall apply with respect to the termination of a Holder’s employment with, or status as a Director of, the Company or an Affiliate, as applicable, for any reason, including, without limitation, Total and Permanent Disability or death:
(a) The Holder’s rights, if any, to exercise any then exercisable Non-Qualified Stock Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights shall terminate:
(1) If such termination is for a reason other than the Holder’s Total and Permanent Disability or death, three (3) months after the date of such termination of employment or after the date of such termination of Director status;
(2) If such termination is on account of the Holder’s Total and Permanent Disability, one (1) year after the date of such termination of employment or Director status; or
(3) If such termination is on account of the Holder’s death, one (1) year after the date of the Holder’s death.
Upon such applicable date the Holder (and such Holder’s estate, designated beneficiary or other legal representative) shall forfeit any rights or interests in or with respect to any such Non-Qualified Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights.
(b) The Holder’s rights, if any, to exercise any then exercisable Incentive Stock Option shall terminate:
(1) If such termination is for a reason other than the Holder’s Total and Permanent Disability or death, three (3) months after the date of such termination of employment;
(2) If such termination is on account of the Holder’s Total and Permanent Disability, one (1) year after the date of such termination of employment; or
(3) If such termination is on account of the Holder’s death, one (1) year after the date of the Holder’s death.
Upon such applicable date the Holder (and such Holder’s estate, designated beneficiary or other legal representative) shall forfeit any rights or interests in or with respect to any such Incentive Stock Options.
(c) If a Holder’s employment with, or status as a Director of, the Company or an Affiliate, as applicable, terminates for any reason prior to the actual or deemed satisfaction and/or lapse of the Restrictions, vesting requirements, terms and conditions applicable to a Restricted Stock Award and/or Restricted Stock Unit Award, such Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units shall immediately be canceled, and the Holder (and such Holder’s estate, designated beneficiary or other legal representative) shall forfeit any rights or interests in and with respect to any such Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units. The immediately preceding sentence to the contrary notwithstanding, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine, prior to or within thirty (30) days after the date of such termination of employment or Director status, that all or a portion of any such Holder’s Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units shall not be so canceled and forfeited.
Section 6.3 Termination of Consultant Status. Except to the extent inconsistent with the terms of the applicable Award Agreement and/or the provisions of Section 6.4 or 6.5, the following terms and conditions shall apply with respect to the termination of a Holder’s status as a Consultant, for any reason:
(a) The Holder’s rights, if any, to exercise any then exercisable Non-Qualified Stock Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights shall terminate:
(1) If such termination is for a reason other than the Holder’s death, three (3) months after the date of such termination; or
(2) If such termination is on account of the Holder’s death, one (1) year after the date of the Holder’s death.
(b) If the status of a Holder as a Consultant terminates for any reason prior to the actual or deemed satisfaction and/or lapse of the Restrictions, vesting requirements, terms and conditions applicable to a Restricted Stock Award and/or Restricted Stock Unit Award, such Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units shall immediately be canceled, and the Holder (and such Holder’s estate, designated beneficiary or other legal representative) shall forfeit any rights or interests in and with respect to any such Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units. The immediately preceding sentence to the contrary notwithstanding, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine, prior to or within thirty (30) days after the date of such termination of such a Holder’s status as a Consultant, that all or a portion of any such Holder’s Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units shall not be so canceled and forfeited.
Section 6.4 Special Termination Rule. Except to the extent inconsistent with the terms of the applicable Award Agreement, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article VI, if a Holder’s employment with, or status as a Director of, the Company or an Affiliate shall terminate, and if, within ninety (90) days of such termination, such Holder shall become a Consultant, such Holder’s rights with respect to any Award or portion thereof granted thereto prior to the date of such termination may be preserved, if and to the extent determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, as if such Holder had been a Consultant for the entire period during which such Award or portion thereof had been outstanding. Should the Committee effect such determination with respect to such Holder, for all purposes of the Plan, such Holder shall not be treated as if his or her employment or Director status had terminated until such time as his or her Consultant status shall terminate, in which case his or her Award, as it may have been reduced in connection with the Holder’s becoming a Consultant, shall be treated pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3; provided, however, that any such Award which is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall, upon the Holder’s no longer being an Employee, automatically convert to a Non-Qualified Stock Option. Should a Holder’s status as a Consultant terminate, and if, within ninety (90) days of such termination, such Holder shall become an Employee or a Director, such Holder’s rights with respect to any Award or portion thereof granted thereto prior to the date of such termination may be preserved, if and to the extent determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, as if such Holder had been an Employee or a Director, as applicable, for the entire period during which such Award or portion thereof had been outstanding, and, should the Committee effect such determination with respect to such Holder, for all purposes of the Plan, such Holder shall not be treated as if his or her Consultant status had terminated until such time as his or her employment with the Company or an Affiliate, or his or her Director status, as applicable, shall terminate, in which case his or her Award shall be treated pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.2.
Section 6.5 Termination for Cause. Notwithstanding anything in this Article VI or elsewhere in the Plan to the contrary, and unless a Holder’s Award Agreement specifically provides otherwise, should a Holder’s employment, Director status or engagement as a Consultant with or for the Company or an Affiliate be terminated by the Company or Affiliate for Cause, all of such Holder’s then outstanding Awards shall expire immediately and be forfeited in their entirety upon such termination.
ARTICLE VII
OPTIONS
Section 7.1 Option Period. The term of each Option shall be as specified in the Option Agreement; provided, however, that except as set forth in Section 7.3, no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date of its grant.
Section 7.2 Limitations on Exercise of Option. An Option shall be exercisable in whole or in such installments and at such times as specified in the Option Agreement.
Section 7.3 Special Limitations on Incentive Stock Options. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time the respective Incentive Stock Option is granted) of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by an individual during any calendar year under all plans of the Company and any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation thereof (both as defined in Section 424 of the Code) which provide for the grant of Incentive Stock Options exceeds One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) (or such other individual limit as may be in effect under the Code on the date of grant), the portion of such Incentive Stock Options that exceeds such threshold shall be treated as Non-Qualified Stock Options. The Committee shall determine, in accordance with applicable provisions of the Code, Treasury Regulations and other administrative pronouncements, which of a Holder’s Options, which were intended by the Committee to be Incentive Stock Options when granted to the Holder, will not constitute Incentive Stock Options because of such limitation, and shall notify the Holder of such determination as soon as practicable after such determination. No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to an Employee if, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, such Employee is a Ten Percent Stockholder, unless (i) at the time such Incentive Stock Option is granted the Option price is at least one hundred ten percent (110 %) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Incentive Stock Option, and (ii) such Incentive Stock Option by its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date of grant. No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted more than ten (10) years from the date on which the Plan is approved by the Company’s stockholders. The designation by the Committee of an Option as an Incentive Stock Option shall not guarantee the Holder that the Option will satisfy the applicable requirements for “incentive stock option” status under Section 422 of the Code.
Section 7.4 Option Agreement. Each Option shall be evidenced by an Option Agreement in such form and containing such provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as the Committee from time to time shall approve, including, but not limited to, provisions intended to qualify an Option as an Incentive Stock Option. An Option Agreement may provide for the payment of the Option price, in whole or in part, by the delivery of a number of shares of Common Stock (plus cash if necessary) that have been owned by the Holder for at least six (6) months and having a Fair Market Value equal to such Option price, or such other forms or methods as the Committee may determine from time to time, in each case, subject to such rules and regulations as may be adopted by the Committee. Each Option Agreement shall, solely to the extent inconsistent with the provisions of Sections 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 and 6.5, as applicable, specify the effect of termination of employment, Director status or Consultant status on the exercisability of the Option. Moreover, without limited the generality of the foregoing, an Option Agreement may provide for a “cashless exercise” of the Option, in whole or in part, by (a) establishing procedures whereby the Holder, by a properly-executed written notice, directs (i) an immediate market sale or margin loan as to all or a part of the shares of Common Stock to which he is entitled to receive upon exercise of the Option, pursuant to an extension of credit by the Company to the Holder of the Option price, (ii) the delivery of the shares of Common Stock from the Company directly to a brokerage firm and (iii) the delivery of the Option price from sale or margin loan proceeds from the brokerage firm directly to the Company, or (b) reducing the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued upon exercise of the Option by the number of such shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the Option price (or portion thereof to be so paid) as of the date of the Option’s exercise. Each Option Agreement shall, solely to the extent inconsistent with the provisions of Sections 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 and 6.5, as applicable, specify the effect of the termination of the Holder’s employment, Director status or Consultant status on the exercisability of the Option. An Option Agreement may also include provisions relating to (i) subject to the provisions hereof, accelerated vesting of Options, including but not limited to upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, (ii) tax matters (including provisions covering any applicable Employee wage withholding requirements and requiring additional “gross-up” payments to Holders to meet any excise taxes or other additional income tax liability imposed as a result of a payment made upon a Change of Control resulting from the operation of the Plan or of such Option Agreement) and (iii) any other matters not inconsistent with the terms and provisions of the Plan that the Committee shall in its sole discretion determine. The terms and conditions of the respective Option Agreements need not be identical.
Section 7.5 Option Price and Payment. The price at which a share of Common Stock may be purchased upon exercise of an Option shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that such Option price (i) shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date such Option is granted, and (ii) shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Article XV. The Option or portion thereof may be exercised by delivery of an irrevocable notice of exercise to the Company. The Option price for the Option or portion thereof shall be paid in full in the manner prescribed by the Committee as set forth in the Plan and the applicable Option Agreement, which manner, with the consent of the Committee, may include the withholding of shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable in connection with the exercise of the Option, for purposes of Section 7.4(b). Separate stock certificates shall be issued by the Company for those shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option and for those shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
Section 7.6 Stockholder Rights and Privileges. The Holder of an Option shall be entitled to all the privileges and rights of a stockholder of the Company solely with respect to such shares of Common Stock as have been purchased under the Option and for which certificates of stock have been registered in the Holder’s name.
Section 7.7 Options and Rights in Substitution for Stock Options Granted by Other Corporations. Options may be granted under the Plan from time to time in substitution for stock options held by individuals employed by entities who become Employees as a result of a merger or consolidation of the employing entity with the Company or any Affiliate, or the acquisition by the Company or an Affiliate of the assets of the employing entity, or the acquisition by the Company or an Affiliate of stock of the employing entity with the result that such employing entity becomes an Affiliate.
Section 7.8 Prohibition Against Repricing. Except to the extent (i) approved in advance by holders of a majority of the shares of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, excluding any shares of the Company voted by any Holder benefiting from the amendment, or (ii) as a result of any Change of Control or any adjustment as provided in Article XV, the Committee shall not have the power or authority to reduce, whether through amendment or otherwise, the exercise price under any outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation right, or to grant any new Award or make any payment of cash in substitution for or upon the cancellation of Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights previously granted.
ARTICLE VIII
RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS
Section 8.1 Restriction Period to be Established by Committee. At the time a Restricted Stock Award is made, the Committee shall establish the Restriction Period applicable to such Award. Each Restricted Stock Award may have a different Restriction Period, in the discretion of the Committee. The Restriction Period applicable to a particular Restricted Stock Award shall not be changed except as permitted by Section 8.2.
Section 8.2 Other Terms and Conditions. Common Stock awarded pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award shall be represented by a stock certificate registered in the name of the Holder of such Restricted Stock Award. The Holder shall have the right to receive dividends on the Common Stock during the Restriction Period, except that (i) the Holder shall not be entitled to delivery of the stock certificate until the Restriction Period shall have expired, (ii) the Company shall retain custody of the stock certificate during the Restriction Period (with a stock power endorsed by the Holder in blank), (iii) the Holder may not sell, transfer, pledge, exchange, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of the Common Stock during the Restriction Period and (iv) a breach of the terms and conditions established by the Committee pursuant to the Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall cause a forfeiture of the Restricted Stock Award. At the time of such Award, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, prescribe additional terms and conditions or restrictions relating to Restricted Stock Awards, including, but not limited to, rules pertaining to the effect of termination of employment, Director status or Consultant status prior to expiration of the Restriction Period. Such additional terms, conditions or restrictions shall, to the extent inconsistent with the provisions of Sections 6.2, 6.3 and 6.4, as applicable, be set forth in a Restricted Stock Award Agreement made in conjunction with the Award. Such Restricted Stock Award Agreement may also include provisions relating to (i) subject to the provisions hereof, accelerated vesting of Awards, including but not limited to accelerated vesting upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, (ii) tax matters (including provisions covering any applicable Employee wage withholding requirements and requiring additional “gross-up” payments to Holders to meet any excise taxes or other additional income tax liability imposed as a result of a payment made in connection with a Change of Control resulting from the operation of the Plan or of such Restricted Stock Award Agreement) and (iii) any other matters not inconsistent with the terms and provisions of the Plan that the Committee shall in its sole discretion determine. The terms and conditions of the respective Restricted Stock Agreements need not be identical. All shares of Common Stock delivered to a Holder as part of a Restricted Stock Award shall be delivered and reported by the Company or the Affiliate, as applicable, to the Holder by no later than by the fifteenth (15th) day of the third (3rd) calendar month next following the end of the Company’s fiscal year in which the Holder’s entitlement to such shares becomes vested.
Section 8.3 Payment for Restricted Stock. The Committee shall determine the amount and form of any payment from a Holder for Common Stock received pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award, if any, provided that in the absence of such a determination, a Holder shall not be required to make any payment for Common Stock received pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award, except to the extent otherwise required by law.
Section 8.4 Restricted Stock Award Agreements. At the time any Award is made under this Article VIII, the Company and the Holder shall enter into a Restricted Stock Award Agreement setting forth each of the matters contemplated hereby and such other matters as the Committee may determine to be appropriate.
ARTICLE IX
UNRESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS
Pursuant to the terms of the applicable Unrestricted Stock Award Agreement, a Holder may be awarded (or sold) shares of Common Stock which are not subject to Restrictions, in consideration for past services rendered thereby to the Company or an Affiliate or for other valid consideration.
ARTICLE X
RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARDS
Section 10.1 Terms and Conditions. The Committee shall set forth in the applicable Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement the individual service-based vesting requirement which the Holder would be required to satisfy before the Holder would become entitled to payment pursuant to Section 10.2 and the number of Units awarded to the Holder. Such payment shall be subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” under Section 409A of the Code. At the time of such Award, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, prescribe additional terms and conditions or restrictions relating to Restricted Stock Unit Awards, including, but not limited to, rules pertaining to the effect of termination of employment, Director status or Consultant status prior to expiration of the applicable vesting period. The terms and conditions of the respective Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreements need not be identical.
Section 10.2 Payments. The Holder of a Restricted Stock Unit shall be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock, or one (1) share of Common Stock, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee and as set forth in the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, for each Restricted Stock Unit subject to such Restricted Stock Unit Award, if the Holder satisfies the applicable vesting requirement. Such payment shall be made no later than by the fifteenth (15th) day of the third (3rd) calendar month next following the end of the calendar year in which the Restricted Stock Unit first becomes vested.
ARTICLE XI
PERFORMANCE UNIT AWARDS
Section 11.1 Terms and Conditions. The Committee shall set forth in the applicable Performance Unit Award Agreement the performance goals and objectives (and the period of time to which such goals and objectives shall apply) which the Holder and/or the Company would be required to satisfy before the Holder would become entitled to payment pursuant to Section 11.2, the number of Units awarded to the Holder and the dollar value assigned to each such Unit. Such payment shall be subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” under Section 409A of the Code. At the time of such Award, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, prescribe additional terms and conditions or restrictions relating to Performance Unit Awards, including, but not limited to, rules pertaining to the effect of termination of employment, Director status or Consultant status prior to expiration of the applicable performance period. The terms and conditions of the respective Performance Unit Award Agreements need not be identical.
Section 11.2 Payments. The Holder of a Performance Unit shall be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to the dollar value assigned to such Unit under the applicable Performance Unit Award Agreement if the Holder and/or the Company satisfy (or partially satisfy, if applicable under the applicable Performance Unit Award Agreement) the performance goals and objectives set forth in such Performance Unit Award Agreement. If achieved, such payment shall be made no later than by the fifteenth (15th) day of the third (3rd) calendar month next following the end of the Company’s fiscal year to which such performance goals and objectives relate.
ARTICLE XII
PERFORMANCE SHARE AWARDS
Section 12.1 Terms and Conditions. The Committee shall set forth in the applicable Performance Share Award Agreement the performance goals and objectives (and the period of time to which such goals and objectives shall apply) which the Holder and/or the Company would be required to satisfy before the Holder would become entitled to the receipt of shares of Common Stock pursuant to such Holder’s Performance Share Award and the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such Performance Share Award. Such payment shall be subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” under Section 409A of the Code and, if such goals and objectives are achieved, the distribution of such Common Shares shall be made no later than by the fifteenth (15th) day of the third (3rd) calendar month next following the end of the Company’s fiscal year to which such goals and objectives relate. At the time of such Award, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, prescribe additional terms and conditions or restrictions relating to Performance Share Awards, including, but not limited to, rules pertaining to the effect of termination of the Holder’s employment, Director status or Consultant status prior to the expiration of the applicable performance period. The terms and conditions of the respective Performance Share Award Agreements need not be identical.
Section 12.2 Stockholder Rights and Privileges. The Holder of a Performance Share Award shall have no rights as a stockholder of the Company until such time, if any, as the Holder actually receives shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Performance Share Award.
ARTICLE XIII
DISTRIBUTION EQUIVALENT RIGHTS
Section 13.1 Terms and Conditions. The Committee shall set forth in the applicable Distribution Equivalent Rights Award Agreement the terms and conditions applicable to such Award, including whether the Holder is to receive credits currently in cash, is to have such credits reinvested (at Fair Market Value determined as of the date of reinvestment) in additional shares of Common Stock or is to be entitled to choose among such alternatives. Such receipt shall be subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” under Section 409A of the Code and, if such Award becomes vested, the distribution of such cash or shares of Common Stock shall be made no later than by the fifteenth (15th) day of the third (3rd) calendar month next following the end of the Company’s fiscal year in which the Holder’s interest in the Award vests. Distribution Equivalent Rights Awards may be settled in cash or in shares of Common Stock, as set forth in the applicable Distribution Equivalent Rights Award Agreement. A Distribution Equivalent Rights Award may, but need not be, awarded in tandem with another Award, whereby, if so awarded, such Distribution Equivalent Rights Award shall expire, terminate or be forfeited by the Holder, as applicable, under the same conditions as under such other Award.
Section 13.2 Interest Equivalents. The Distribution Equivalent Rights Award Agreement for a Distribution Equivalent Rights Award may provide for the crediting of interest on a Distribution Rights Award to be settled in cash at a future date (but in no event later than by the fifteenth (15th) day of the third (3rd) calendar month next following the end of the Company’s fiscal year in which such interest was credited), at a rate set forth in the applicable Distribution Equivalent Rights Award Agreement, on the amount of cash payable thereunder.
ARTICLE XIV
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
Section 14.1 Terms and Conditions. The Committee shall set forth in the applicable Stock Appreciation Right Award Agreement the terms and conditions of the Stock Appreciation Right, including (i) the base value (the “Base Value”) for the Stock Appreciation Right, which for purposes of a Stock Appreciation Right which is not a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right, shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of the Common Stock on the date of grant of the Stock Appreciation Right, (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Stock Appreciation Right, (iii) the period during which the Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised; provided, however, that no Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date of its grant, and (iv) any other special rules and/or requirements which the Committee imposes upon the Stock Appreciation Right. Upon the exercise of some or all of a Stock Appreciation Right, the Holder shall receive a payment from the Company, in cash or in the form of shares of Common Stock having an equivalent Fair Market Value or in a combination of both, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, equal to the product of:
(a) The excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of a share of the Common Stock on the date of exercise, over (ii) the Base Value, multiplied by;
(b) The number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised.
Section 14.2 Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights. If the Committee grants a Stock Appreciation Right which is intended to be a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right, the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall be granted at the same time as the related Option, and the following special rules shall apply:
(a) The Base Value shall be equal to or greater than the per share exercise price under the related Option;
(b) The Tandem Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised for all or part of the shares of Common Stock which are subject to the related Option, but solely upon the surrender by the Holder of the Holder’s right to exercise the equivalent portion of the related Option (and when a share of Common Stock is purchased under the related Option, an equivalent portion of the related Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall be cancelled);
(c) The Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall expire no later than the date of the expiration of the related Option;
(d) The value of the payment with respect to the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right may be no more than one hundred percent (100%) of the difference between the per share exercise price under the related Option and the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock subject to the related Option at the time the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right is exercised, multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right is exercised; and
(e) The Tandem Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised solely when the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock subject to the related Option exceeds the per share exercise price under the related Option.
ARTICLE XV
RECAPITALIZATION OR REORGANIZATION
Section 15.1 Adjustments to Common Stock. The shares with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan are shares of Common Stock as presently constituted; provided, however, that if, and whenever, prior to the expiration or distribution to the Holder of shares of Common Stock underlying an Award theretofore granted, the Company shall effect a subdivision or consolidation of shares of Common Stock or the payment of a stock dividend on Common Stock without receipt of consideration by the Company, the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which such Award may thereafter be exercised or satisfied, as applicable, (i) in the event of an increase in the number of outstanding shares, shall be proportionately increased, and the purchase price per share of the Common Stock shall be proportionately reduced, and (ii) in the event of a reduction in the number of outstanding shares, shall be proportionately reduced, and the purchase price per share of the Common Stock shall be proportionately increased. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Article XV, any adjustment made with respect to an Award (x) which is an Incentive Stock Option, shall comply with the requirements of Section 424(a) of the Code, and in no event shall any adjustment be made which would render any Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan to be other than an “incentive stock option” for purposes of Section 422 of the Code, and (y) which is a Non-Qualified Stock Option, shall comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, and in no event shall any adjustment be made which would render any Non-Qualified Stock Option granted under the Plan to become subject to Section 409A of the Code.
Section 15.2 Recapitalization. If the Company recapitalizes or otherwise changes its capital structure, thereafter upon any exercise or satisfaction, as applicable, of a previously granted Award, the Holder shall be entitled to receive (or entitled to purchase, if applicable) under such Award, in lieu of the number of shares of Common Stock then covered by such Award, the number and class of shares of stock and securities to which the Holder would have been entitled pursuant to the terms of the recapitalization if, immediately prior to such recapitalization, the Holder had been the holder of record of the number of shares of Common Stock then covered by such Award.
Section 15.3 Other Events. In the event of changes to the outstanding Common Stock by reason of extraordinary cash dividend, reorganization, mergers, consolidations, combinations, split-ups, spin-offs, exchanges or other relevant changes in capitalization occurring after the date of the grant of any Award and not otherwise provided for under this Article XV, any outstanding Awards and any Award Agreements evidencing such Awards shall be adjusted by the Board, in such manner as the Board shall deem equitable or appropriate taking into consideration the applicable accounting and tax consequences, as to the number and price of shares of Common Stock or other consideration subject to such Awards. In the event of any adjustment pursuant to Sections 15.1, 15.2 or this Section 15.3, the aggregate number of shares available under the Plan pursuant to Section 5.1 (and the Code Section 162(m) limit set forth therein) may be appropriately adjusted by the Board, the determination of which shall be conclusive. In addition, the Committee may make provision for a cash payment to a Participant or a person who has an outstanding Award. The number of shares of Common Stock subject to any Award shall be rounded to the nearest whole number.
Section 15.4 Powers Not Affected. The existence of the Plan and the Awards granted hereunder shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Board or of the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change of the Company’s capital structure or business, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of debt or equity securities ahead of or affecting Common Stock or the rights thereof, the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or any part of its assets or business or any other corporate act or proceeding.
Section 15.5 No Adjustment for Certain Awards. Except as hereinabove expressly provided, the issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, for cash, property, labor or services, upon direct sale, upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefor or upon conversion of shares or obligations of the Company convertible into such shares or other securities, and in any case whether or not for fair value, shall not affect previously granted Awards, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock subject to Awards theretofore granted or the purchase price per share, if applicable.
ARTICLE XVI
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF PLAN
The Plan shall continue in effect, unless sooner terminated pursuant to this Article XVI, until the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date on which it is adopted by the Board (except as to Awards outstanding on that date). The Board in its discretion may terminate the Plan at any time with respect to any shares for which Awards have not theretofore been granted; provided, however, that the Plan’s termination shall not materially and adversely impair the rights of a Holder with respect to any Award theretofore granted without the consent of the Holder. The Board may without stockholder approval but subject to receipt of the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange, in its sole discretion make (i) amendments to the Plan of a housekeeping nature; (ii) a change to the vesting provisions of an Award or the Plan; (iii) a change to the termination provisions of an Award or the Plan which does not entail an extension beyond the original expiry date, except as contemplated in the Plan; and (iv) the addition of a cashless exercise feature, payable in cash or securities, which provides for a full deduction of the number of underlying securities from the Plan reserve; provided, however (and subject to the following sentence), that without the approval by a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders at which a quorum representing a majority of the shares of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is present in person or by proxy, no amendment or modification of the Plan may:
| (i) | modify the limits with respect to the maximum number of shares of Common Stock reserved for grant under this Plan; |
| | amend, modify or suspend Section 7.8 (repricing prohibitions), including reducing the exercise price of an Option benefiting an Insider; |
| | extend the term of an Option benefiting an Insider; |
| | disproportionately increase the benefits accruing to Insiders; or |
| | amend the limits with respect to Insiders set forth in Section 5.1. |
With respect to items (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi), any stockholder approval at a meeting of stockholders must exclude any shares of the Company voted by any Insiders benefiting from the amendment or modification. For greater certainty, shares of the Company voted by any Holder and any Insider will be included in the applicable quorum and stockholder vote with respect to an increase in the maximum number of shares issuable under the Plan. In addition, no change in any Award theretofore granted may be made which would materially and adversely impair the rights of a Holder with respect to such Award without the consent of the Holder (unless such change is required in order to cause the benefits under the Plan to qualify as “performance-based” compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code or to exempt the Plan or any Award from Section 409A of the Code).
ARTICLE XVII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 17.1 No Right to Award. Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Company nor any action of the Board or the Committee shall be deemed to give an Employee, Director or Consultant any right to an Award except as may be evidenced by an Award Agreement duly executed on behalf of the Company, and then solely to the extent and on the terms and conditions expressly set forth therein.
Section 17.2 No Rights Conferred. Nothing contained in the Plan shall (i) confer upon any Employee any right with respect to continuation of employment with the Company or any Affiliate, (ii) interfere in any way with any right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate the employment of an Employee at any time, (iii) confer upon any Director any right with respect to continuation of such Director’s membership on the Board, (iv) interfere in any way with any right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate a Director’s membership on the Board at any time, (v) confer upon any Consultant any right with respect to continuation of his or her consulting engagement with the Company or any Affiliate, or (vi) interfere in any way with any right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate a Consultant’s consulting engagement with the Company or an Affiliate at any time.
Section 17.3 Other Laws; No Fractional Shares; Withholding. The Company shall not be obligated by virtue of any provision of the Plan to recognize the exercise of any Award or to otherwise sell or issue shares of Common Stock in violation of any laws, rules or regulations, and any postponement of the exercise or settlement of any Award under this provision shall not extend the term of such Award. Neither the Company nor its directors or officers shall have any obligation or liability to a Holder with respect to any Award (or shares of Common Stock issuable thereunder) (i) that shall lapse because of such postponement, or (ii) for any failure to comply with the requirements of any applicable law, rules or regulations, including but not limited to any failure to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of this Code. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be delivered, nor shall any cash in lieu of fractional shares be paid. The Company shall have the right to deduct in cash (whether under this Plan or otherwise) in connection with all Awards any taxes required by law to be withheld and to require any payments required to enable it to satisfy its withholding obligations. In the case of any Award satisfied in the form of shares of Common Stock, no shares shall be issued unless and until arrangements satisfactory to the Company shall have been made to satisfy any tax withholding obligations applicable with respect to such Award. Subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may impose, the Company shall have the right to retain, or the Committee may, subject to such terms and conditions as it may establish from time to time, permit Holders to elect to tender, Common Stock (including Common Stock issuable in respect of an Award) to satisfy, in whole or in part, the amount required to be withheld.
Section 17.4 No Restriction on Corporate Action. Nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed to prevent the Company or any Affiliate from taking any corporate action which is deemed by the Company or such Affiliate to be appropriate or in its best interest, whether or not such action would have an adverse effect on the Plan or any Award made under the Plan. No Employee, Director, Consultant, beneficiary or other person shall have any claim against the Company or any Affiliate as a result of any such action.
Section 17.5 Restrictions on Transfer. No Award under the Plan or any Award Agreement and no rights or interests herein or therein, shall or may be assigned, transferred, sold, exchanged, encumbered, pledged or otherwise hypothecated or disposed of by a Holder except (i) by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, or (ii) except for an Incentive Stock Option, by gift to any Family Member of the Holder. An Award may be exercisable during the lifetime of the Holder only by such Holder or by the Holder’s guardian or legal representative unless it has been transferred by gift to a Family Member of the Holder, in which case it shall be exercisable solely by such transferee. Notwithstanding any such transfer, the Holder shall continue to be subject to the withholding requirements provided for under Section 17.3 hereof.
Section 17.6 Beneficiary Designations. Each Holder may, from time to time, name a beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be contingent or successive beneficiaries) for purposes of receiving any amount which is payable in connection with an Award under the Plan upon or subsequent to the Holder’s death. Each such beneficiary designation shall serve to revoke all prior beneficiary designations, be in a form prescribed by the Company and be effective solely when filed by the Holder in writing with the Company during the Holder’s lifetime. In the absence of any such written beneficiary designation, for purposes of the Plan, a Holder’s beneficiary shall be the Holder’s estate.
Section 17.7 Rule 16b-3. It is intended that the Plan and any Award made to a person subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall meet all of the requirements of Rule 16b-3. If any provision of the Plan or of any such Award would disqualify the Plan or such Award under, or would otherwise not comply with the requirements of, Rule 16b-3, such provision or Award shall be construed or deemed to have been amended as necessary to conform to the requirements of Rule 16b-3.
Section 17.8 Section 162(m). It is intended that the Plan shall comply fully with and meet all the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code so that Awards hereunder which are made to Holders who are “covered employees” (as defined in Section 162(m) of the Code) shall constitute “performance-based” compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. Any Performance Goal(s) applicable to Qualified Performance-Based Awards shall be objective, shall be established not later than ninety (90) days after the beginning of any applicable Performance Period (or at such other date as may be required or permitted for “performance-based” compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code) and shall otherwise meet the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code, including the requirement that the outcome of the Performance Goal or Goals be substantially uncertain (as defined in the regulations under Section 162(m) of the Code) at the time established. The Performance Criteria to be utilized under the Plan to establish Performance Goals shall consist of objective tests based on one or more of the following: earnings or earnings per share, cash flow or cash flow per share, operating cash flow or operating cash flow per share revenue growth, product revenue growth, financial return ratios (such as return on equity, return on investment and/or return on assets), share price performance, stockholder return, equity and/or value, operating income, operating margins, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, earnings, pre- or post-tax income, economic value added (or an equivalent metric), profit returns and margins, credit quality, sales growth, market share, working capital levels, comparisons with various stock market indices, year-end cash, debt reduction, assets under management, operating efficiencies, strategic partnerships or transactions (including co-development, co-marketing, profit sharing, joint venture or other similar arrangements), and/or financing and other capital raising transaction. Performance criteria may be established on a Company-wide basis or with respect to one or more Company business units or divisions or subsidiaries; and either in absolute terms, relative to the performance of one or more similarly situated companies, or relative to the performance of an index covering a peer group of companies. When establishing Performance Goals for the applicable Performance Period, the Committee may exclude any or all “extraordinary items” as determined under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles including, without limitation, the charges or costs associated with restructurings of the Company, discontinued operations, other unusual or non-recurring items, and the cumulative effects of accounting changes, and as identified in the Company’s financial statements, notes to the Company’s financial statements or management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations contained in the Company’s most recent annual report filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act. Holders who are “covered employees” (as defined in Section 162(m) of the Code) shall be eligible to receive payment under a Qualified Performance-Based Award which is subject to achievement of a Performance Goal or Goals only if the applicable Performance Goal or Goals are achieved within the applicable Performance Period, as determined by the Committee. If any provision of the Plan would disqualify the Plan or would not otherwise permit the Plan to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code as so intended, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the requirements or provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee may postpone the exercising of Awards, the issuance or delivery of Common Stock under any Award or any action permitted under the Plan to prevent the Company or any subsidiary from being denied a federal income tax deduction with respect to any Award other than an Incentive Stock Option, provided that such deferral satisfies the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. For purposes of the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(e)(4)(i), the maximum amount of compensation that may be paid to any Employee under the Plan for a calendar year shall be Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000).
Section 17.9 Section 409A. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Committee shall have no authority to issue an Award under the Plan with terms and/or conditions which would cause such Award to constitute non-qualified “deferred compensation” under Section 409A of the Code. Accordingly, by way of example but not limitation, no Option shall be granted under the Plan with a per share Option exercise price which is less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant of the Option. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Award Agreement shall provide for any deferral feature with respect to an Award which constitutes a deferral of compensation under Section 409A of the Code. The Plan and all Award Agreements are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (so as to be exempt therefrom) and shall be so interpreted and construed.
Section 17.10 Indemnification. Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Committee or of the Board shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred thereby in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which such person may be made a party or may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid thereby in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid thereby in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit, or proceeding against such person; provided, however, that such person shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive and shall be independent of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or By-laws, by contract, as a matter of law, or otherwise.
Section 17.11 Other Plans. No Award, payment or amount received hereunder shall be taken into account in computing an Employee’s salary or compensation for the purposes of determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, life insurance or other benefit plan of the Company or any Affiliate, unless such other plan specifically provides for the inclusion of such Award, payment or amount received. Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to limit the right of the Company to establish other plans or to pay compensation to its employees, in cash or property, in a manner which is not expressly authorized under the Plan.
Section 17.12 Limits of Liability. Any liability of the Company with respect to an Award shall be based solely upon the contractual obligations created under the Plan and the Award Agreement. None of the Company, any member of the Board nor any member of the Committee shall have any liability to any party for any action taken or not taken, in good faith, in connection with or under the Plan.
Section 17.13 Governing Law. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Plan shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflicts of law.
Section 17.14 Severability of Provisions. If any provision of the Plan is held invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if such invalid or unenforceable provision had not been included in the Plan.
Section 17.15 No Funding. The Plan shall be unfunded. The Company shall not be required to establish any special or separate fund or to make any other segregation of funds or assets to ensure the payment of any Award.
Section 17.16 Headings. Headings used throughout the Plan are for convenience only and shall not be given legal significance.
Section 17.17 Terms of Award Agreements. Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement, which Award Agreement, if it provides for the issuance of Common Stock, shall require the Holder to enter into and be bound by the terms of the Company’s Stockholders’ Agreement, if any. The terms of the Award Agreements utilized under the Plan need not be the same.
Section 17.18 Effect of a Change of Control. In the event of a Change of Control, all then outstanding Awards shall automatically become full vested and, as applicable, immediately exercisable.
NEULION INC. 2012 OMNIBUS SECURITIES AND INCENTIVE PLAN
APPENDIX A
PROVISION APPLICABLE TO CANADIAN PERSONS
Notwithstanding the definition of “Consultant” contained in Section 1.1 of the NeuLion, Inc. 2012 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), for the purposes of determining whether a person or company that is resident in any province of territory of Canada or is otherwise subject to the laws of any province or territory of Canada or the federal laws of Canada applicable therein qualifies as a “Consultant” under the Plan, reference shall be had to the following definition of “Consultant”:
“Consultant” shall mean any non-Employee (individual or entity) advisor to the Company or an Affiliate who or which has a written contract directly with the Company or an Affiliate to render bona fide consulting or advisory services thereto, other than services provided in relation to a distribution of securities of the Company, and who spends or will spend a significant amount of time and attention on the affairs and business of Company or an Affiliate.
All capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Appendix A will have the meaning ascribed to such capitalized term in the Plan.
APPENDIX B
2012 OMNIBUS SECURITIES AND INCENTIVE PLAN RESOLUTION
WHEREAS it is considered to be in the best interests of NeuLion, Inc. (“NeuLion”) that NeuLion adopt the 2012 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), as more particularly described in the proxy statement of NeuLion, dated April 19, 2012 (the “Proxy Statement”), prepared by management in respect of its Annual Meeting of Stockholders on June 5, 2012;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED as a resolution of the stockholders of NeuLion that:
1. | subject to the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange and all other applicable regulatory authorities, the 2012 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan be and is hereby adopted, in the form attached to the Proxy Statement; |
2. | notwithstanding that this resolution has been passed by the stockholders of NeuLion, the Board of Directors of NeuLion may revoke such resolution at any time before it has been effected without further action by the stockholders; and |
3. | any one director or officer of NeuLion be and is hereby authorized for and on behalf of NeuLion to execute and deliver all such documents and to do all such other acts and things as such director or officer may determine to be necessary or advisable in connection with such Plan, the execution of any such document or the doing of any such other act or thing by any one director or officer of NeuLion being conclusive evidence of such determination. |
APPENDIX C
DIRECTORS’ COMPENSATION PLAN AMENDMENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS it is considered to be in the best interests of NeuLion, Inc. (“NeuLion”) that NeuLion adopt an amendment to the Amended and Restated Directors’ Compensation Plan, as amended, to increase the number of shares of Common Stock issuable thereunder from 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock to 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Directors’ Compensation Plan Amendment”) as more particularly described in the proxy statement of NeuLion, dated April 19, 2012 (the “Proxy Statement”), prepared by management in respect of its Annual Meeting of Stockholders on June 5, 2012;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED as a resolution of the stockholders of NeuLion that:
1. | subject to the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange and all other applicable regulatory authorities, the Directors’ Compensation Plan Amendment as described in the Proxy Statement is hereby approved, ratified and confirmed; and |
2. | any one director or officer of NeuLion be and is hereby authorized for and on behalf of NeuLion to execute and deliver all such documents and to do all such other acts and things as such director or officer may determine to be necessary or advisable in connection with such Directors’ Compensation Plan Amendment, the execution of any such document or the doing of any such other act or thing by any one director or officer of NeuLion being conclusive evidence of such determination. |
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IMPORTANT ANNUAL MEETING INFORMATION | | |
| Electronic Voting Instructions |
| Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! |
| Instead of mailing your proxy, you may choose one of the voting methods outlined below to vote your proxy. |
| VALIDATION DETAILS ARE LOCATED BELOW IN THE TITLE BAR. |
| Proxies submitted by the Internet or telephone must be received by 11:59 pm, ET, June 4, 2012. |
| | Vote by Internet • Go to www.investorvote.com/NEUL • Or scan the QR code with your smartphone • Follow the steps outlined on the secure website |
| Vote by telephone • Call toll free 1-800-652-VOTE (8683) within the USA, US territories & Canada on a touch tone telephone • Follow the instructions provided by the recorded message |
Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas. | X | | |
|
Annual Meeting Proxy Card |
|
IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. |
|
A Proposals — The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR Proposals 1, 2, 3 and 4. |
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS: | | For | Against | Abstain | | | | For | Against | Abstain | | | | For | Against | Abstain |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
01 - John R. Anderson | | o | o | o | | 02 - Gabriel A. Battista | | o | o | o | | 03 - Shirley Strum Kenny | | o | o | o |
04 - David Kronfeld | | o | o | o | | 05 - Nancy Li | | o | o | o | | 06 - G. Scott Paterson | | o | o | o |
07 - Roy E. Reichbach | | o | o | o | | 08 - Charles B. Wang | | o | o | o | | | | | | |
| For | Against | Abstain | | | For | Against | Abstain |
2. RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS. | o | o | o | | 3. APPROVAL OF ADOPTION OF OMNIBUS PLAN. | o | o | o |
| For | Against | Abstain | | | | | |
4. APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO DIRECTORS’ COMPENSATION PLAN. | o | o | o | | | | | |
B Non-Voting Items | | | | | | |
Change of Address — Please print new address below. | | Comments — Please print your comments below. | | Meeting Attendance | | o |
| | | | Mark the box to the right if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting. | |
C | Authorized Signatures — This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. — Date and Sign Below |
Please sign exactly as your name appears below. When shares are held by joint tenants, each should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, corporate officer, or partner, please give full title as such. |
Date (mm/dd/yyyy) — Please print date below. | | Signature 1 — Please keep signature within the box. | | Signature 2 — Please keep signature within the box. |
/ / | | | | |
IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/DEF 14A/0001214659-12-001755/logo.jpg)
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF NEULION, INC.
PROXY FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF NEULION, INC. TO BE HELD ON JUNE 5, 2012
Roy E. Reichbach and Arthur J. McCarthy, and each of them, each with full power of substitution, hereby are authorized to vote as specified below or, with respect to any matter not set forth below, as they or their substitutes present and acting at the meeting shall unanimously determine, all of the shares of capital stock of NeuLion, Inc. that the undersigned would be entitled to vote, if personally present, at the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of NeuLion, Inc. and any adjournment thereof.
Unless otherwise specified, this proxy will be voted FOR Proposals 1, 2, 3 and 4. The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR Proposals 1, 2, 3 and 4.
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE SO THAT IT ARRIVES BY 5:00 P.M. EASTERN TIME ON JUNE 4, 2012.