There have been no significant changes to the regulatory matters disclosed in our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
We want to caution readers that any forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in this Form 10-K, other reports or press releases or made by our management involve risks and uncertainties which may change based on various important factors. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. These forward-looking statements are those which talk about our current expectations as to the future and include, but are not limited to, statements about the amounts, timing and results of possible restructuring charges and future earnings. Words such as “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” and similar expressions may identify such forward-looking statements. Some of the factors which could cause future financial performance to differ materially from the expectations as expressed in any forward-looking statement made by or on our behalf include:
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| • | changes in international or national political conditions, including any terrorist attacks |
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| • | negative developments in economic conditions, including adverse impacts on customer demand |
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| • | changes in postal or banking regulations |
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| • | timely development and acceptance of new products |
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| • | success in gaining product approval in new markets where regulatory approval is required |
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| • | successful entry into new markets |
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| • | mailers’ utilization of alternative means of communication or competitors’ products |
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| • | our success at managing customer credit risk |
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| • | our success at managing costs associated with our strategy of outsourcing functions and operations not central to our business |
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| • | changes in interest rates |
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| • | foreign currency fluctuations |
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| • | cost, timing and execution of our transition plans including any potential asset impairments |
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| • | regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other conditions to consummation of any acquisitions and integration of recent acquisitions |
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| • | interrupted use of key information systems |
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| • | changes in privacy laws |
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| • | intellectual property infringement claims |
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| • | impact on mail volume resulting from current concerns over the use of the mail for transmitting harmful biological agents |
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| • | third-party suppliers’ ability to provide product components, assemblies or inventories |
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| • | negative income tax adjustments for prior audit years and changes in tax laws or regulations |
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| • | changes in pension and retiree medical costs |
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| • | acts of nature |
Item 3: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
There were no material changes to the disclosures made in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 regarding this matter.
Item 4: Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to reasonably assure that information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures are also designed to reasonably assure that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Under the direction of our CEO and CFO, we evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. The CEO and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2009. In addition, no change in internal control over financial reporting occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2009, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, such internal control over financial reporting. It should be noted that any system of controls is based in part upon certain assumptions designed to obtain reasonable (and not absolute) assurance as to its effectiveness, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals. Notwithstanding this caution, the disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their stated objectives, and the CEO and CFO have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective at that reasonable assurance level.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1: Legal Proceedings
In the ordinary course of business, we are routinely defendants in or party to a number of pending and threatened legal actions. These may involve litigation by or against us relating to, among other things, contractual rights under vendor, insurance or other contracts; intellectual property or patent rights; equipment, service, payment or other disputes with customers; or disputes with employees. Some of these actions may be brought as a purported class action on behalf of a purported class of employees, customers or others.
Our wholly-owned subsidiary, Imagitas, Inc., is a defendant in ten purported class actions filed in six different states. These lawsuits have been coordinated in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida,In re: Imagitas, Driver’s Privacy Protection Act Litigation (Coordinated, May 28, 2007). Each of these lawsuits alleges that the Imagitas DriverSource program violated the federal Drivers Privacy Protection Act (DPPA). Under the DriverSource program, Imagitas entered into contracts with state governments to mail out automobile registration renewal materials along with third party advertisements, without revealing the personal information of any state resident to any advertiser. The DriverSource program assisted the state in performing its governmental function of delivering these mailings and funding the costs of them. Imagitas has discontinued its DriverSource program. The plaintiffs in these actions are seeking statutory damages under the DPPA. On April 9, 2008, the District Court granted Imagitas’ motion for summary judgment in one of the coordinated cases,Rine, et al. v. Imagitas, Inc. (United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, filed August 1, 2006). On July 30, 2008, the District Court issued a final judgment in theRine lawsuit and stayed all of the other cases filed against Imagitas pending an appellate decision inRine. On August 27, 2008, theRine plaintiffs filed an appeal of the District Court’s decision in the United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Judicial Circuit. The appellate process in this case is proceeding.
We expect to prevail in the lawsuits against Imagitas; however, as litigation is inherently unpredictable, there can be no assurance in this regard. If the plaintiffs do prevail, the results may have a material effect on our financial position, future results of operations or cash flows, including, for example, our ability to offer certain types of goods or services in the future.
On October 28, 2009, the Company and certain of our current and former officers, were named as defendants inNECA-IBEW Health & Welfare Fund v. Pitney Bowes Inc. et al., a class action lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. The complaint asserts claims under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of those who purchased the common stock of the Company during the period between July 30, 2007 and October 29, 2007. We believe this case is without merit and intend to defend it vigorously.
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Item 1A: Risk Factors
There were no material changes to the risk factors identified in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.
Item 2: Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Repurchases of Equity Securities
We repurchase shares of our common stock under a systematic program to manage the dilution created by shares issued under employee stock plans and for other purposes. This program authorizes repurchases in the open market. We have not repurchased or acquired any other shares of our common stock during 2009 in any other manner.
No shares were purchased during the third quarter of 2009, leaving approximately $73.4 million available for future repurchases under this program at September 30, 2009.
Item 3: Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None
Item 4: Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
None
Item 5: Other Information
Attached hereto as Exhibit 10 is the form of Notice of Cash Incentive Unit Award, Nonqualified Stock Option and Restricted Stock Unit Award (the “Notice”), to be used to set forth the terms of grants, including grants to the Company’s named executive officers, of cash incentive units (“CIUs”), nonqualified stock options (“Options”) and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) pursuant to the Pitney Bowes 2007 Stock Plan (the “2007 Plan”), in the case of Options and RSUs and pursuant to the Pitney Bowes Inc. Key Employees Incentive Plan (the “KEIP,” and together with the 2007 Plan, the “Plans”) in the case of CIUs. The form of Notice of Cash Incentive Unit Award and Nonqualified Stock Option were previously filed as Exhibit (10)(n) to Form 10-Q, filed May 4, 2006. The terms of this Notice were approved by the Executive Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Company at the time of the grant of each applicable award.
The Notice contemplates that awards will vest pursuant to the vesting schedules set forth in the Notice, subject to the continued employment of the participant, the terms and conditions of the Notice and the Plans. Pursuant to the Notice, a participant will forfeit any unvested portion of their awards upon a voluntary resignation or a termination by the Company due to Gross Misconduct (as defined in the applicable Plan). CIUs will be prorated upon a termination due to death, Disability (as defined in the KEIP), Retirement (as defined in the KEIP) or upon an involuntary termination, provided that a prorated payment upon an involuntary termination will only be available if the termination is pursuant to the terms of a written severance agreement, the recipient is not Retirement eligible and if the award has been outstanding for at least one year as of the last day the employee actually worked. Pursuant to the terms of the Notice, Options and RSUs will be subject to immediate vesting upon a termination due to death, Disability (as defined in the 2007 Plan) or Retirement (as defined in the 2007 Plan). Options and RSUs will continue to vest upon an involuntary termination, if a written severance agreement is entered into in connection with such termination, according to the terms of such written severance agreement. Upon the settlement of RSUs, the Company will withhold the number of RSUs having the fair market value sufficient to satisfy the statutory minimum withholding tax.
The foregoing description of the terms of the Notice is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual terms of the Notice, which are attached hereto as Exhibits 10.
Item 6: Exhibits
See Index of Exhibits.
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Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
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| PITNEY BOWES INC. |
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November 6, 2009 | |
| /s/ Michael Monahan |
|
|
| Michael Monahan |
| Executive Vice President and |
| Chief Financial Officer |
| (Principal Financial Officer) |
| |
| /s/ S. J. Green |
|
|
| S. J. Green |
| Vice President – Finance and |
| Chief Accounting Officer |
| (Principal Accounting Officer) |
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Exhibit Index
| | | | |
Exhibit Number | Description | | Page Number |
|
|
|
|
(3)(i)(a)* | | Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3) to Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on August 14, 1996. (Commission file number 1-3579) | | Not applicable |
| | | | |
(3)(i)(b)* | | Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as amended May 29, 1996), incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a.1) to Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on March 27, 1998. (Commission file number 1-3579) | | Not applicable |
| | | | |
(3)(ii)* | | Pitney Bowes Inc. Amended and Restated By-laws, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3)(ii) to Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on August 6, 2007. (Commission file number 1-3579) | | Not applicable |
| | | | |
(10) | | Form of Long-Term Incentive Award | | Page 43 |
| | | | |
(12) | | Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges | | Page 48 |
| | | | |
(31.1) | | Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended | | Page 49 |
| | | | |
(31.2) | | Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended | | Page 50 |
| | | | |
(32.1) | | Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 | | Page 51 |
| | | | |
(32.2) | | Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 | | Page 52 |
| | | | |
101.INS | | XBRL Report Instance Document | | |
| | | | |
101.SCH | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document | | |
| | | | |
101.CAL | | XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document | | |
| | | | |
101.LAB | | XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document | | |
| | | | |
101.PRE | | XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document | | |
| | | | |
* | | Incorporated by reference | | |
42