The market price of our Common Stock will also be based on our performance and other factors, some of which are unrelated to the number of shares outstanding. If the reverse stock split is effected and the market price of our Common Stock declines, the percentage decline as an absolute number and as a percentage of our overall market capitalization may be greater than would occur in the absence of the reverse stock split. In many cases, the market price of a company’s shares declines after a reverse stock split. Furthermore, the liquidity of our Common Stock could be adversely affected by the reduced number of shares that would be outstanding after the reverse stock split.
If the stockholders approve the reverse stock split proposal and the board of directors decides to implement a reverse stock split, we will file with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware a certificate of amendment to our certificate of incorporation. The reverse stock split will become effective at the time of filing of, or at such later time and date as is specified in, the certificate of amendment, which we refer to as the “effective time.” Beginning at the effective time, each certificate representing shares of our Common Stock will be deemed for all corporate purposes to evidence ownership of the number of whole shares of that class into which the shares previously represented by the certificate were combined pursuant to the reverse stock split.
If approved and effected, the reverse stock split will be realized simultaneously and in the same ratio for all of the outstanding Common Stock. The reverse stock split will affect all holders of our Common Stock uniformly and will not affect any stockholder’s percentage ownership interest in the Company, except to the extent that the reverse stock split would result in any holder of our Common Stock receiving cash in lieu of fractional shares. As described below, holders of our Common Stock otherwise entitled to fractional shares as a result of the reverse stock split will receive a cash payment in lieu of such fractional shares. These cash payments will reduce the number of post-reverse stock split holders of our Common Stock to the extent there are concurrently stockholders who would otherwise receive less than one share of Common Stock after the reverse stock split. In addition, the reverse stock split will not affect any stockholder’s proportionate voting power (subject to the treatment of fractional shares).
After the reverse stock split, the number of authorized shares of Common Stock will be 40,000,000 shares and the number of unissued shares of Common Stock will be approximately 30,158,797 to 37,047,639 shares depending upon the reverse stock split ratio selected by the Board. Our board of directors believes that maintaining the same number of authorized shares of Common Stock, and thereby increasing the number of shares available for future issuance, will provide us with the certainty and flexibility to undertake various types of transactions, including financings, acquisitions of companies or assets, strategic transactions, increases in the shares reserved for issuance pursuant to stock incentive plans, sales of stock or securities convertible into our Common Stock, or other corporate transactions not yet determined. Certain kinds of these transactions may have anti-takeover effects, as described in more detail below, and certain kinds of these transactions may require stockholder approval under Delaware law or applicable Nasdaq or OTC/BB rules, but the board of directors believes that this certainty and flexibility is helpful to Unify Corporation and in the stockholders’ interests. We do not have any current plans, proposals or arrangements (written or otherwise) to issue any additional shares other than pursuant to the ComVest debt financing arrangement, warrants, and equity plans currently in existence.
The principal effects of the reverse stock split would include the following:
The reduction in the number of issued and outstanding shares is expected to increase the trading price of our Common Stock, although there can be no assurance that such price will increase in proportion to the ratio of the reverse stock split. The trading price of our Common Stock depends on many factors, including many which are beyond our control. As discussed above, the higher stock price may increase investor interest and reduce resistance of brokerage firms to recommend the purchase of our Common Stock. On the other hand, to the extent that negative investor sentiment regarding our Common Stock is not based on our underlying business fundamentals, the reverse stock split may not overcome such sentiment enough to increase our stock price.
The liquidity of our Common Stock may be adversely affected by the reduced number of shares outstanding after the reverse stock split. In addition, the reverse stock split will increase the number of stockholders who own “odd lots,” which consist of blocks of fewer than 100 shares. Stockholders who hold odd lots may be required to pay higher brokerage commissions when they sell their shares and may have greater difficulty in making sales.
The shares of Common Stock issued as a result of the reverse stock split will be fully paid and non-assessable. The amendment will not change the terms of our Common Stock. The shares of Common Stock will have the same voting rights and rights to dividends and distributions and will be identical in all other respects to the Common Stock now authorized.
Effect on Certificated Shares and Fractional Shares
As soon as practicable after the effective date of any reverse stock split, we will request that all stockholders holding shares of our Common Stock in certificate form return their stock certificates representing shares of Common Stock outstanding on the effective date in exchange for certificates representing the number of whole shares of Common Stock into which the shares of old Common Stock have been converted as a result of the reverse stock split. Each stockholder will receive a letter of transmittal from our transfer agent containing instructions on how to exchange certificates. Stockholders should not submit their old certificates to the transfer agent until they receive these instructions. In order to receive new certificates, stockholders must surrender their old certificates in accordance with the transfer agent’s instructions, together with the properly executed and completed letter of transmittal.
Beginning with the effective date, each old certificate, until exchanged as described above, will be deemed for all purposes to evidence ownership of the number of whole shares of Common Stock previously represented by the certificate that were combined pursuant to the reverse stock split.
No fractional shares will be issued in connection with the reverse stock split. Stockholders who otherwise would be entitled to receive fractional shares because they hold a number of shares of Common Stock not evenly divisible by the number selected by the board of directors for the reverse stock split ratio will be entitled, upon surrender of any certificate(s) representing such shares, to a cash payment in lieu thereof.
Effect on Beneficial Holders of Common Stock (i.e. Stockholders who hold in “street name”)
Upon the reverse stock split, we intend to treat shares held by stockholders in “street name,” through a bank, broker or other nominee, in the same manner as registered stockholders whose shares are registered in their names. Banks, brokers or other nominees will be instructed to effect the reverse stock split for their beneficial holders holding our Common Stock in “street name”. However, these banks, brokers or other nominees may have different procedures than registered stockholders for processing the reverse stock split and making payment for fractional shares. If a stockholder holds shares of our Common Stock Shares with a bank, broker or other nominee and has any questions in this regard, stockholders are encouraged to contact their bank, broker or other nominee.
Accounting Matters
The reverse stock split will not affect the par value of a share of our Common Stock. As a result, as of the effective date of the reverse stock split, the stated capital attributable to Common Stock on our balance sheet will be reduced proportionately based on the reverse stock split ratio (including a retroactive adjustment of prior periods), and the additional paid-in capital account will be credited with the amount by which the stated capital is reduced. Reported per-share net income or loss will be higher because there will be fewer shares of Common Stock outstanding.
Potential Anti-Takeover Effect
The proportion of unissued authorized shares to issued shares could, under certain circumstances, have an anti-takeover effect. For example, the issuance of a large block of Common Stock could dilute the stock ownership of a person seeking to effect a change in the composition of the board of directors or contemplating a tender offer or other transaction for the
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combination of Unify Corporation with another company. However, the reverse stock split proposal is not being proposed in response to any effort of which we are aware to accumulate shares of Common Stock or obtain control of Unify Corporation, nor is it part of a plan by management to recommend to the board and stockholders a series of amendments to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Other than the proposal for the reverse stock split, the board of directors does not currently contemplate recommending the adoption of any other amendments to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation that could be construed to reduce or interfere with the ability of third parties to take over or change the control of Unify Corporation.
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the proposed reverse stock split is based upon the current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and other legal authorities, all of which could be changed at any time, possibly with retroactive effect. Such a change could alter or modify the statements and conclusions set forth below. No ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) with respect to the matters discussed below has been requested and there is no assurance that the IRS would agree with the conclusions set forth in this discussion. The following discussion assumes that the pre-reverse stock split shares of Common Stock were, and the post-reverse-stock split shares will be, held as a “capital asset” as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. This discussion may not address certain U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to particular stockholders in light of their personal circumstances or to certain types of stockholders (such as dealers in securities, insurance companies, foreign individuals and entities, financial institutions and tax-exempt entities) that may be subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws. This discussion also does not address any tax consequences under state, local or foreign laws.
Subject to the discussion below concerning the treatment of the receipt of cash payments instead of receipt of fractional shares, no gain or loss should be recognized by a stockholder as a result of such stockholder’s exchange of pre-reverse stock split Common Stock for post-reverse stock split Common Stock in connection with the reverse stock split. The tax basis and holding period of each post-reverse stock split share of Common Stock received (including any fraction of a post-reverse stock split share deemed to have been received and then redeemed) should generally be the same as the tax basis and holding period of the pre-reverse stock split shares of Common Stock surrendered in connection with receipt of the post-reverse stock split shares of Common Stock, with the tax basis and holding period determined separately with respect to blocks of pre-reverse split shares of Common Stock that were acquired on the same date and at the same price. The receipt of a cash payment instead of receipt of a fractional share interest will result in recognition of capital gain or capital loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The deductibility of any capital loss is subject to limitations.
STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISERS AS TO THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE REVERSE STOCK SPLIT.
No Appraisal Rights
Stockholders do not have any appraisal rights under Delaware General Corporation Law or under our certificate of incorporation in connection with the reverse stock split.
Reservation of Right to Abandon Reverse Stock Split
The board of directors reserves the right to abandon the reverse stock split without further action by our stockholders at any time before the time the amendment to our certificate of incorporation to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware becomes effective, regardless of whether the reverse stock split has been authorized by our stockholders. Although the board of directors does not currently anticipate exercising its right to abandon the reverse stock split and is not currently aware of specific events that would cause it to abandon the reverse stock split, should the board of directors subsequently determine that the reverse stock split is no longer in the best interests of Unify Corporation or its stockholders, the board of directors will not proceed with the reverse stock split. By voting in favor of the reverse stock split, you are also expressly authorizing the board of directors to determine not to proceed with, and abandon, the reverse stock split if it should so decide.
Vote Required and Recommendation of the Board of Directors
The affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock is required for approval of this proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted as present for purposes of determining if a quorum is present but will have the same effect as a negative vote on this proposal.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” EACH OF THE PROPOSALS TO AMEND THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO EFFECT THE REVERSE STOCK SPLIT OF THE OUTSTANDING SHARES OF COMMON STOCK.
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PROPOSAL NO. 3
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF
GRANT THORNTON LLP AS INDEPENDENT AUDITOR
FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007
The Company’s Audit Committee has appointed Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year 2007. A representative of Grant Thornton is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and available to respond to questions. An affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, at which a quorum is present, will ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton as our independent auditors for the fiscal year 2007.
For a discussion of fees paid to Grant Thornton LLP see “Information About Unify Corporation—Principal Accounting Fees and Services” above.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF GRANT THORNTON LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT AUDITOR.
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STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS TO BE PRESENTED
AT NEXT ANNUAL MEETING
Stockholder proposals may be included in our proxy materials for an annual meeting so long as they are provided to us on a timely basis and satisfy the other conditions set forth in applicable SEC rules. For a stockholder proposal to be included in our proxy materials for the 2007 Annual Meeting, the proposal must be received at our principal executive offices, addressed to the Secretary at 2101 Arena Boulevard, Suite 100, Sacramento, California 95834, not later than April 20, 2007. Stockholder business that is not intended for inclusion in our proxy materials may be brought before the 2007 Annual Meeting so long as we receive notice of the proposal, as specified by our Bylaws, addressed to the Secretary at our principal executive offices, not later than thirty (30) days prior to the date of the Annual Meeting.
Should a stockholder proposal be brought before the 2007 Annual Meeting, our management proxy holders will be authorized by our proxy form to vote for or against the proposal, in their discretion, if we do not receive notice of the proposal, addressed to the Secretary at our principal executive offices, prior to the close of business on July 2, 2007.
TRANSACTION OF OTHER BUSINESS
At the date of this Proxy Statement, the only business which the Board of Directors intends to present or knows that others will present at the meeting is as set forth above. If any other matter or matters are properly brought before the meeting, or any adjournment thereof, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy to vote the proxy on such matters in accordance with their best judgment.
| Sincerely, |
| |
| Todd E. Wille |
Sacramento, California | President and Chief Executive Officer |
December 18, 2006 | |
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APPENDIX A
UNIFY CORPORATION
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF
RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
(Pursuant to Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware)
Unify Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), in accordance with the provisions of Section 103 thereof, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:
1. Paragraph A of Article Fourth of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on April 18, 1996 (the “Restated Certificate of Incorporation”), is amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:
| “A. This Corporation is authorized to issue two classes of stock to be designated, respectively, “Common Stock” and “Preferred Stock.” The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the Corporation will have authority to issue is 47,931,370 shares, 40,000,000 of which shall be Common Stock with a par value of $0.01 each and 7,931,370 shares of which shall be Preferred Stock with a par value of $0.001 each. |
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| Effective at [11:59 p.m.], [Eastern Daylight Time/Eastern Standard Time] on _________, 200_ (the “Effective Time”), every [__________ (______)] shares of the Corporation’s Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (the “Old Common Stock”), will automatically and without any action on the part of the respective holders thereof be combined and converted into one (1) share of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Corporation (the “New Common Stock”). The combination and conversion of the Old Common Stock shall be referred to as the “Reverse Stock Split”. |
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| No fractional shares of New Common Stock shall be issued to the holders of record of Old Common Stock in connection with the Reverse Stock Split and the Corporation shall not recognize on its stock record books any purported transfer of any fractional share of New Common Stock. All shares of Old Common Stock (including fractions thereof) held by a holder immediately prior to the Reverse Stock Split shall be aggregated for purposes of determining whether the Reverse Stock Split would result in the issuance of a fractional share. Any fractional share resulting from such aggregation of Old Common Stock upon the Reverse Stock Split shall be converted into the right to receive a cash payment in an amount equal to the fair value of Old Common Stock that would have been exchanged for fractional shares of New Common Stock in the Reverse Stock Split if fractional shares had been issued in the Reverse Stock Split in an amount equal to the closing price of such Old Common Stock on the OTC/BB Market on ____________, 200__. The Corporation shall not be obligated to issue certificates evidencing the shares of New Common Stock outstanding as a result of the Reverse Stock Split unless and until the certificates evidencing the shares held by a holder prior to the Reverse Stock Split are either delivered to the Corporation or its transfer agent, or the holder notifies the Corporation or its transfer agent that such certificates have been lost, stolen or destroyed and executes an agreement satisfactory to the Corporation to indemnify the Corporation from any loss incurred by it in connection with such certificates. Each stock certificate that, immediately prior to the Effective Time, represented shares of Old Common Stock shall, from and after the Effective Time, automatically and without the necessity of presenting the same for exchange, represent that number of whole shares of New Common Stock into which the shares of Old Common Stock represented by such certificate shall have been reclassified (as well as the right to receive cash in lieu of any fractional shares of New Common Stock as set forth above), provided, however, that each holder of record of a certificate that represented shares of Old Common Stock shall receive, upon surrender of such certificate, a new certificate representing the number of whole shares of New Common Stock into which the shares of Old Common Stock represented by such certificate shall have been reclassified, as well as any cash in lieu of fractional shares of New Common Stock to which such holder may be entitled as set forth above.” |
2. The foregoing amendment of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly approved by the Board of Directors of the Corporation in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
3. The Corporation’s stockholders approved the amendment of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation as required by the Bylaws of the Corporation and in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate of Amendment of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation to be signed by the Corporation’s ______________ this ____ day of ______, 200_.
| UNIFY CORPORATION |
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| By: | |
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| Name: | |
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| Title: | |
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UNIFY CORPORATION
PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints Steven Bonham and Lisa Waddell with full power of substitution to represent the undersigned and to vote all the shares of the common stock of Unify Corporation (the “Company”) which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held at Unify Corporation, 2101 Arena Blvd., Suite 100, Sacramento, California 95834, on January 25, 2007, at 9:00 a.m. Pacific time, and at any adjournment thereof: (1) as hereinafter specified upon the proposals listed below and as more particularly described in the Company’s Proxy Statement, and (2) in their discretion, upon such other matters as may properly come before the meeting.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of: (1) Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company, (2) accompanying Proxy Statement, and (3) Annual Report of the Company for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2006.
CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The shares represented hereby shall be voted as specified. If no specification is made, such shares
shall be voted FOR proposals 1, 2 and 3.
1. | Election of the following directors: | |
| Nominees: | Todd E. Wille | |
| | | Richard M. Brooks | |
| | | Tery R. Larrew | |
| | | Robert J. Majteles | |
| | | Steven D. Whiteman | |
| | | | | |
| o | FOR | o | WITHHELD | |
| | | | | |
| o | | | | |
| |
| |
| | For all nominees except as noted above | |
2. | To consider and vote upon an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation which will effect a reverse stock split of our common stock at a ratio of not less than one-for-three and not more than one-for-ten at any time prior to June 30, 2007, with the exact ratio to be set at a whole number within this range to be determined by our board of directors in its discretion. |
| | | | | | | | |
| | o | FOR | o | AGAINST | o | ABSTAIN | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
3. | To ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2007. |
| | | | | | | | |
| | o | FOR | o | AGAINST | o | ABSTAIN | |
| | | | | | | | |
4. | With discretionary authority, upon such other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting. At this time, the Board knows of no other matters to be presented at the meeting. |
Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting in person, please complete this proxy so that your stock may be represented at the meeting.
o | MARK HERE FOR ADDRESS CHANGE AND NOTE BELOW. |
o | MARK HERE IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING. |
Sign exactly as your name(s) appears on your stock certificate. If shares of stock stand of record in the names of two or more persons or in the name of husband and wife, whether as joint tenants or otherwise, both or all of such persons should sign the Proxy. If shares of stock are held of record by a corporation, the Proxy should be executed by the President or Vice President and the Secretary or Assistant Secretary, and the corporate seal should be affixed thereto. Executors or administrators or other fiduciaries who execute the above Proxy for a deceased stockholder should give their full title. Please date the Proxy.