SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. ) Filed by the Registrant /X/ Filed by a Party other than the Registrant / / Check the appropriate box: / / Preliminary Proxy Statement / / Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) /X/ Definitive Proxy Statement / / Definitive Additional Materials / / Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12 COINSTAR, INC. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if Other Than the Registrant) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box) /X/ No fee required. / / Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11. 1. Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Total fee paid: ----------------------------------------------------------------------- / / Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. / / Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. 6. Amount Previously Paid: ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 8. Filing Party: ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. Date Filed: ----------------------------------------------------------------------- COINSTAR, INC. 1800 114TH AVENUE S.E. BELLEVUE, WA 98004 ------------------------ NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON JUNE 4, 1998 ------------------------ TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF COINSTAR, INC.: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of COINSTAR, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), will be held on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. local time at the Company's offices located at 1800 114th Avenue S.E., Bellevue, Washington 98004. For the following purposes: 1. To elect two directors to hold office until the 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. 2. To ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as independent auditors of the Company for its fiscal year ending December 31, 1998. 3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice. The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on April 27, 1998, as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at this Annual Meeting and at any adjournment or postponement thereof. By Order of the Board of Directors /s/ MARK P. TANOURY MARK P. TANOURY SECRETARY Menlo Park, California April 30, 1998 ALL STOCKHOLDERS ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON. WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO ENSURE YOUR REPRESENTATION AT THE MEETING. A RETURN ENVELOPE (WHICH IS POSTAGE PREPAID IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES) IS ENCLOSED FOR THAT PURPOSE. EVEN IF YOU HAVE GIVEN YOUR PROXY, YOU MAY STILL VOTE IN PERSON IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING. PLEASE NOTE, HOWEVER, THAT IF YOUR SHARES ARE HELD OF RECORD BY A BROKER, BANK OR OTHER NOMINEE AND YOU WISH TO VOTE AT THE MEETING, YOU MUST OBTAIN FROM THE RECORD HOLDER A PROXY ISSUED IN YOUR NAME. COINSTAR, INC. 1800 114TH AVENUE S.E. BELLEVUE, WA 98004 ------------------------ PROXY STATEMENT FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS JUNE 4, 1998 ------------------------ INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING GENERAL The enclosed proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of Coinstar, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on June 4, 1998, at 10:00 a.m. local time (the "Annual Meeting"), or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, for the purposes set forth herein and in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting will be held at the Company's offices located at 1800 114th Avenue S.E., Bellevue, Washington 98004. The Company intends to mail this proxy statement and accompanying proxy card on or about April 30, 1998, to all stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. SOLICITATION The Company will bear the entire cost of solicitation of proxies, including preparation, assembly, printing and mailing of this proxy statement, the proxy and any additional information furnished to stockholders. Copies of solicitation materials will be furnished to banks, brokerage houses, fiduciaries and custodians holding in their names shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by others to forward to such beneficial owners. The Company may reimburse persons representing beneficial owners of Common Stock for their costs of forwarding solicitation materials to such beneficial owners. Original solicitation of proxies by mail may be supplemented by telephone, telegram or personal solicitation by directors, officers or other regular employees of the Company. No additional compensation will be paid to directors, officers or other regular employees for such services. VOTING RIGHTS AND OUTSTANDING SHARES Only holders of record of Common Stock at the close of business on April 27, 1998 will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. At the close of business on April 27, 1998 the Company had outstanding and entitled to vote 15,108,931 shares of Common Stock. Each holder of record of Common Stock on such date will be entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting. All votes will be tabulated by the inspector of election appointed for the meeting, who will separately tabulate affirmative and negative votes, abstentions and broker non-votes. Abstentions will be counted towards the tabulation of votes cast on proposals presented to the stockholders and will have the same effect as negative votes. Broker non-votes are counted towards a quorum, but are not counted for any purpose in determining whether a matter has been approved. 1 REVOCABILITY OF PROXIES Any person giving a proxy pursuant to this solicitation has the power to revoke it at any time before it is voted. It may be revoked by filing with the Secretary of the Company at the Company's principal executive office, 1800 114th Avenue S.E., Bellevue, Washington 98004, a written notice of revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, or it may be revoked by attending the meeting and voting in person. Attendance at the meeting will not, by itself, revoke a proxy. STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS Proposals of stockholders that are intended to be presented at the Company's 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be received by the Company not later than December 22, 1998 in order to be included in the proxy statement and proxy relating to that Annual Meeting. PROPOSAL 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE IN FAVOR OF EACH NAMED NOMINEE. The Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws provide that the Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes, each class consisting, as nearly as possible, of one-third of the total number of directors, with each class having a three-year term. Vacancies on the Board may be filled only by persons elected by a majority of the remaining directors. A director elected by the Board to fill a vacancy (including a vacancy created by an increase in the Board of Directors) shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred and until such director's successor is elected and qualified. The Board of Directors is presently composed of six members. There are two directors in the class whose term of office expires in 1998. One of the nominees for election to this class, Mr. Molbak, is currently a director of the Company who was previously elected by the stockholders. Mr. Ruckelshaus is currently a director of the Company and was appointed to that position by the Board of Directors in November 1997 to fill a vacancy created when the Board increased the authorized size of the Board to six members. If elected at the Annual Meeting, each of the nominees would serve until the 2001 annual meeting and until his successor is elected and has qualified, or until such director's earlier death, resignation or removal. Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting. Shares represented by executed proxies will be voted, if authority to do so is not withheld, for the election of the two nominees named below. In the event that any nominee should be unavailable for election as a result of an unexpected occurrence, such shares will be voted for the election of such substitute nominee as management may propose. Each person nominated for election has agreed to serve if elected, and management has no reason to believe that any nominee will be unable to serve. Set forth below is biographical information for each person nominated and each person whose term of office as a director will continue after the Annual Meeting. NOMINEES FOR ELECTION FOR A THREE-YEAR TERM EXPIRING AT THE 2001 ANNUAL MEETING JENS H. MOLBAK Jens H. Molbak, age 35, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, founded the Company in 1990. Prior to that he served two years as an analyst at Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc., an investment bank. Mr. Molbak earned his M.B.A. from Stanford University Graduate School of Business and his B.A. from Yale University. 2 WILLIAM D. RUCKELSHAUS William D. Ruckelshaus, age 65, has been a director of the Company since November 1997. He also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Browning-Ferris Industries, Inc., a national disposal company. Currently he is the U.S. Envoy to the Pacific Salmon Treaty appointed by President Clinton. Since January 1996 he has been a principal of Madrona Investment Group, L.L.C., a private investment company. From 1985 to 1988, he was a partner at Perkins Coie LLP, a law firm. Prior to that, he was appointed by former President Reagan and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate in May 1983 as the fifth Environmental Protection Agency (the "EPA") Administrator. In 1976, he joined Weyerhaeuser Company, a timber company, where he served as Senior Vice President for Law and Corporate affairs until 1983. Mr. Ruckelshaus earned his J.D. from Harvard University and his B.A. in Business Administration from Princeton University. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE IN FAVOR OF EACH NAMED NOMINEE. DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE UNTIL THE 1999 ANNUAL MEETING DAVID E. STITT David E. Stitt, age 41, has been a director of the Company since 1995. He has served as Managing Partner, Banyan Private Equity Management, a private investment firm, since February 1998. From 1985 to February 1998, he was an employee of Vencap, Inc. (formerly, Vencap Equities Alberta Ltd.), a venture capital firm, most recently as a Vice President. Previously for seven years, he was Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Westmills Carpet Ltd., a regional carpet manufacturer located in western Canada. RONALD A. WEINSTEIN Ronald A. Weinstein, age 57, has been a director of the Company since 1992. From 1984 to July 1991, he was a principal of Sloan Capital Companies, a private investment firm. From February 1989 until April 1991, Mr. Weinstein served as Executive Vice President of Merchandising at Egghead, Inc. Mr. Weinstein serves as Chairman of B&B Auto Parts, Inc., an auto parts retailer. DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE UNTIL THE 2000 ANNUAL MEETING GEORGE H. CLUTE George H. Clute, age 48, has been a director of the Company since 1995. Mr. Clute, a founding general partner of Rainier Venture Partners and Olympic Venture Partners, has been a general partner of those venture capital funds since 1982. Mr. Clute serves on the boards of Nth Degree Software Corp., a privately held software development company, Sequel Technology Corp., a privately held internet software development company, the Western Association of Venture Capitalists and the Washington Software & Digital Media Alliance. He also sits on the Executive Industry Board for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. He earned his M.B.A. and A.B. from the University of California, Los Angeles. LARRY A. HODGES Larry A. Hodges, age 49, has been a director of the Company since December 1995. Mr. Hodges has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mrs. Field's Cookies, a retail cookie/bakery chain, since April 1994. Mr. Hodges also serves as a director of Ameristar Casinos, Inc., a casino gaming company. Prior to that Mr. Hodges was hired in 1992 by Prudential Insurance Company ("Prudential") to manage a distressed asset of Prudential, Food Barn Stores, Inc., a supermarket chain ("Food Barn"). In 1993, Food Barn filed for bankruptcy protection in federal court and was subsequently sold. Prior to that, Mr. Hodges served in various capacities at American Stores Company, a food and drug retailer, for 25 3 years, including serving as President of two subsidiaries. Mr. Hodges earned his B.A. from California State University, San Bernardino. BOARD COMMITTEES AND MEETINGS During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 the Board of Directors held eleven meetings. The Board has an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee. The Audit Committee meets with the Company's independent auditors at least annually to review the results of the annual audit and discuss the financial statements; recommends to the Board the independent auditors to be retained; and receives and considers the accountants' comments as to controls, adequacy of staff and management performance and procedures in connection with the audit and financial controls. The Audit Committee is composed of three non-employee directors: Messrs. Clute, Stitt and Weinstein. It met two times during such fiscal year. The Compensation Committee makes recommendations concerning salaries and incentive compensation, awards stock options to employees and consultants under the Company's stock option plans and otherwise determines compensation levels and performs such other functions regarding compensation as the Board may delegate. The Compensation Committee is composed of three non-employee directors: Messrs. Hodges, Stitt and Weinstein. The Compensation Committee did not meet separately during the year as compensation issues were dealt with during regularly scheduled Board meetings. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, all directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate of the meetings of the Board and of the committees on which he served, held during the period for which they were a director or committee member, respectively. PROPOSAL 2 RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS The Board of Directors has selected Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company's independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1998 and has further directed that management submit the selection of independent auditors for ratification by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting. Deloitte & Touche LLP has audited the Company's financial statements since its inception in 1991. Representatives of Deloitte & Touche LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and will be available to respond to appropriate questions. Stockholder ratification of the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company's independent auditors is not required by the Company's Bylaws or otherwise. However, the Board is submitting the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the stockholders fail to ratify the selection, the Audit Committee and the Board will reconsider whether or not to retain that firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee and the Board in their discretion may direct the appointment of different independent auditors at any time during the year if they determine that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be required to ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE IN FAVOR OF PROPOSAL 2. 4 SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT The following table sets forth certain information regarding the ownership of the Company's Common Stock as of December 31, 1997 by: (i) each director and nominee for director; (ii) each of the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table; (iii) all executive officers and directors of the Company as a group; and (iv) all those known by the Company to be beneficial owners of more than five percent of its Common Stock. BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP(1) ------------------------------ NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY PERCENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNER OWNED TOTAL - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------- ----------- Benaroya Capital Company, L.L.C.................................................... 1,051,260 7.0% 1001 Fourth Avenue, Suite 4700 Seattle, WA 98154 Vencap, Inc.(2).................................................................... 1,053,231 7.0 1980 Manulife Place 10180-101 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5J3S4 CIBC Wood Gundy Ventures, Inc...................................................... 971,132 6.5 425 Lexington Avenue, 2nd Floor New York, NY 10017 Acorn Ventures, Inc.(3)............................................................ 1,000,000 6.3 11400 SE 6th Street, Suite 120 Bellevue, WA 98004 EOS Partners SBIC, L.P............................................................. 784,470 5.2 320 Park Avenue New York, NY 10022 Entities affiliated with Olympic Venture Partners(4)............................... 775,540 5.1 2420 Carillon Point Kirkland, WA 98033 Jens H. Molbak(5).................................................................. 744,082 4.9 Rod W. Brooks(6)................................................................... 137,300 * Kirk A. Collamer(7)................................................................ 50,000 * Aaron R. Finch(8).................................................................. 186,960 1.2 Daniel A. Gerrity(9)............................................................... 120,000 * George H. Clute(10)................................................................ 785,540 5.2 Larry A. Hodges(11)................................................................ 18,127 * David E. Stitt(12)................................................................. 1,063,232 7.1 William D. Ruckelshaus(13)......................................................... 15,000 * Ronald A. Weinstein(14)............................................................ 258,379 1.7 All directors and executive officers as a group (10 persons)(15)................... 3,378,620 21.8 - ------------------------ * Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1%. (1) Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage of ownership of that person, shares of Common Stock subject to options or warrants held by that person that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 1997 are deemed 5 outstanding. Such shares, however, are not deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person (unless such shares are otherwise assumed to be outstanding). Except as indicated by footnote, and subject to community property laws where applicable, the persons named in the table above have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock shown as beneficially owned by them. Percentage of beneficial ownership is based on 15,034,629 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of December 31, 1997. (2) Mr. Stitt, a director of the Company, was a Vice President of Vencap, Inc. (formerly, Vencap Equities Alberta Ltd.) until February 1998. Mr. Stitt disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares except to the extent of his pro rata ownership therein. (3) Includes 900,000 shares that may be acquired upon the exercise of certain warrants issued in connection with a prior Preferred Stock financing. Fifty percent (50%) of the shares issued upon the exercise of such warrants are subject to a repurchase option in favor of the Company in the event that the Company has not attained a specified valuation on certain dates. (4) Includes 738,498 shares beneficially owned by Olympic Venture Partners III, L.P. ("OVP III"). Also includes 37,042 shares beneficially owned by OVP III. Mr. Clute, a director of the Company, is a general partner of the General Partner of OVP III and OVP III Entrepreneurs Fund. Mr. Clute disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares except to the extent of his pro rata ownership therein. (5) Includes 75,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 1997, but a portion of such shares are subject to repurchase by the Company through April 2000 or February 2001. Also includes 75,000 shares held by Mt. Shuksan Investments LLC ("Shuksan") and 73,000 shares held by Penny Partners L.P. ("Penny"). Mr. Molbak shares voting and investment power over the shares held by Shuksan and Penny and disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his ownership interest therein. (6) Includes 110,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 1997, but a portion of such shares are subject to repurchase by the Company through June 1999, April 2000 or February 2001. (7) Includes 50,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 1997, but such shares are subject to repurchase by the Company through February 2001. (8) Includes 46,250 shares issuable upon the exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 1997, but a portion of such shares are subject to repurchase by the Company through March 1999, April 2000 or February 2001. (9) Includes 96,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 1997, but a portion of such shares are subject to repurchase by the Company through March 1999, April 2000 or February 2001. (10) Includes 738,498 shares beneficially owned by OVP III. Also includes 37,042 shares beneficially owned by OVP III Entrepreneurs Fund, an affiliate of OVP III. Mr. Clute, a director of the Company, is a general partner of the General Partner of OVP III and OVP III Entrepreneurs Fund. Mr. Clute disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares except to the extent of his pro rata ownership therein. Also includes 10,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 1997. (11) Includes 18,127 shares issuable upon the exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 1997. (12) Mr. Stitt, a director of the Company, was a Vice President of Vencap, Inc. until February 1998. Mr. Stitt disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares except to the extent of his pro rata ownership 6 therein. Also includes 10,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 1997. (13) Includes 10,000 shares issuable upon exercise of an option exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 1997. (14) Includes 21,428 shares issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 1997. Includes 90,400 shares beneficially owned by the Weinstein Family Partnership. Mr. Weinstein is a general partner of the Weinstein Family Partnership. (15) Includes 446,805 shares subject to stock options exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 1997. SECTION 16((a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act") requires the Company's directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of the Company's equity securities, to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of Common Stock and other equity securities of the Company. Officers, directors and greater than ten percent stockholders are required by SEC regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. To the Company's knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of such reports furnished to the Company and written representations that no other reports were required, during the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners were complied with; except that an initial report of ownership was filed late by Mr. Ruckelshaus. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS The Company's directors do not currently receive any cash compensation for service on the Board of Directors or any committee thereof. The members of the Board of Directors are, however, eligible for reimbursement for their expenses incurred in connection with attendance at Board meetings in accordance with Company policy. Each non-employee director of the Company also receives stock option grants under the 1997 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan (the "Directors' Plan"). The Directors' Plan provides for automatic grants of options to purchase shares of Common Stock to eligible non-employee directors of the Company. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to options granted under the Directors' Plan is 100,000. Options granted under the Directors' Plan are intended by the Company not to qualify as incentive stock options under the Internal Revenue Code as amended (the "Code"). See "1997 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan." During the last fiscal year and prior to the Company's adoption of the Directors' Plan, the Company granted, under the Company's 1997 Equity Incentive Plan, options to purchase 10,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock to each of Messrs. Clute, Hodges, Stitt and Weinstein, each at exercise price of $10.00, determined in good faith by Board to be the fair market value of such stock on the date of grant. See "1997 Equity Incentive Plan." During the last fiscal year, the Company granted options covering 10,000 shares to Mr. Ruckelshaus, at an exercise price per share of $8.50 under the Directors' Plan. The fair market value of such Common Stock on the date of grant was $8.50 per share (based on the closing sales price reported on the Nasdaq National Market System for the date of grant). As of December 31, 1997, no options had been exercised under the Directors' Plan. 7 COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION No member of the Compensation Committee of the Company serves as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving as a member of the Company's Board of Directors or Compensation Committee. See "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions" for a description of transactions between the Company and entities affiliated with members of the Compensation Committee. SUMMARY OF COMPENSATION The following table shows for the fiscal years ended December 31, 1996 and 1997, compensation awarded or paid to, or earned by, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and its other four most highly compensated executive officers at December 31, 1997 (the "Named Executive Officers"): SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE LONG-TERM COMPENSATION AWARDS ANNUAL ------------------- COMPENSATION(1) SECURITIES ----------------------- UNDERLYING ALL OTHER NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY($) BONUS($) OPTIONS(#) COMPENSATION($) - ------------------------------------------- --------- ---------- ----------- ------------------- --------------------- Jens H. Molbak(2).......................... 1997 $ 129,166 -- 50,000 -- President, Chief Executive 1996 97,081 -- 25,000 -- Officer and Director Rod W. Brooks.............................. 1997 193,170 -- 30,000 -- Vice President of Sales 1996 153,730 -- 25,000 -- and Marketing Kirk A. Collamer(3)........................ 1997 120,961 -- 50,000 -- Vice President and 1996 -- -- -- -- Chief Financial Officer Aaron R. Finch(4).......................... 1997 130,000 -- 30,000 -- Vice President of Operations 1996 100,636 -- 15,000 -- Daniel A. Gerrity(2)....................... 1997 149,166 -- 30,000 -- Vice President 1996 126,309 15,000 30,000 -- and Chief Technical Officer - ------------------------ (1) As permitted by rules established by the Commission, no amounts are shown with respect to certain perquisites where such amounts do not exceed the lesser of 10% of the sum of the amount in the salary and bonus columns or $50,000. (2) On April 15, 1998, the Company announced the appointment of Mr. Gerrity as President and Chief Operating Officer. In connection with this appointment, Mr. Molbak will serve as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. (3) Mr. Collamer was hired as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in February 1997. (4) Mr. Finch informed the Company that he will resign his position as Vice President of Operations in April 1998. 8 STOCK OPTION GRANTS AND EXERCISES The Company grants options to its executive officers under its 1997 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Equity Incentive Plan"). As of December 31, 1997, options to purchase a total of 838,504 shares were outstanding under the Equity Incentive Plan and options to purchase 1,795,584 shares remained available for grant thereunder. The following tables show for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, certain information regarding options granted to, exercised by, and held at year end by, the Named Executive Officers: OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR POTENTIAL REALIZABLE NUMBER OF PERCENTAGE VALUE AT ASSUMED SECURITIES OF TOTAL ANNUAL RATES OF STOCK UNDERLYING OPTIONS PRICE APPRECIATION FOR OPTIONS GRANTED IN EXERCISE OPTION TERM($)(3) GRANTED FISCAL 1997 PRICE EXPIRATION ---------------------- NAME (#)(1) (%)(#)(2) ($/SH) DATE 5% 10% - ------------------------------------------ ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ---------- ---------- Jens H. Molbak............................ 50,000 11.26% $ 10.00 2/26/07 $ 315,000 $ 796,500 Rod W. Brooks............................. 30,000 6.75 10.00 2/26/07 189,000 447,900 Kirk A. Collamer.......................... 50,000 11.26 10.00 2/26/07 315,000 796,500 Aaron R. Finch............................ 30,000 6.75 10.00 2/26/07 189,000 447,900 Daniel A. Gerrity......................... 30,000 6.75 10.00 2/26/07 189,000 447,900 - ------------------------ (1) Options generally have a term of 10 years and are immediately exercisable but shares purchased thereunder are subject to repurchase by the Company in the event service is terminated at the rate of 100% until the first anniversary of the date of grant, 50% upon the second anniversary of the date of grant, decreasing by 2.08333% of the shares upon completion of each full month thereafter; such that the shares are released from such repurchase option in February 2001. (2) Based on an aggregate of 444,000 shares subject to options granted to employees of the Company in the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, including the Named Executive Officers. (3) The potential realizable value calculated based on the term of the option at the time of grant (10 years). Stock price appreciation of 5% and 10% is assumed pursuant to rules promulgated by the Commission and does not represent the Company's prediction of its stock price performance. Actual gains, if any, are dependent on the actual future performance of the Company's Common Stock and no gain to the optionee is possible unless the stock price increases over the option term, which will benefit all stockholders. 9 AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR, AND YEAR-END OPTION VALUES NUMBER OF SECURITIES UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED OPTIONS VALUE OF UNEXERCISED SHARES AT IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS AT ACQUIRED ON VALUE DECEMBER 31, 1997(#) DECEMBER 31, 1997($)(2) EXERCISE REALIZED ------------------------------ ------------------------------ (#) ($)(1) EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE ----------- --------- ----------- ----------------- ----------- ----------------- Jens H. Molbak...................... -- -- 75,000 -- $ 210,625 -- Rod W. Brooks....................... 20,000 $ 22,000 110,000 -- 690,500 -- Kirk A. Collamer.................... -- -- 50,000 -- -- -- Aaron R. Finch...................... 80,250 91,275 46,250 -- 139,531 -- Daniel A. Gerrity................... 24,000 28,275 96,000 -- 566,850 -- - ------------------------ (1) Based on the difference between the deemed fair market value on the date of exercise and the exercise price. (2) Based on the difference of the fair market value as of December 31, 1997 ($9.125 per share) and the exercise price. 1997 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN GENERAL The Equity Incentive Plan provides for the grant of (i) incentive and nonstatutory stock options (ii) stock bonuses, and (iii) rights to purchase restricted stock (collectively, "Stock Awards"). Incentive stock options granted under the Equity Incentive Plan are intended to qualify as "incentive stock options" within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code. Nonstatutory stock options granted under the Equity Incentive Plan are intended not to qualify as incentive stock options under the Code. See "Federal Income Tax Information" for a discussion of the tax treatment of incentive and nonstatutory stock options. PURPOSE In March 1997, the Board of Directors adopted, and the stockholders subsequently approved, the Equity Incentive Plan as an amendment and restatement of the Company's 1992 Stock Option Plan, as amended. The Equity Incentive Plan provides a means by which selected officers and employees of and consultants to the Company and its affiliates could be given an opportunity to purchase stock in the Company, to assist in retaining the services of employees holding key positions, to secure and retain the services of persons capable of filling such positions and to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company. ADMINISTRATION The Equity Incentive Plan is administered by the Board of Directors of the Company. The Board has the power to construe and interpret the Equity Incentive Plan and, subject to the provisions of the Equity Incentive Plan, to determine the persons to whom and the dates on which Stock Awards will be granted; whether a Stock Award will be an incentive stock option, a nonstatutory stock option, a stock bonus, a right to purchase restricted stock or a combination of the foregoing; the provisions of each Stock Award granted (which need not be identical), including the number of shares to be subject to each Stock Award, the time or times and when a person shall be permitted to receive stock pursuant to the Stock Award. The Board of Directors is authorized to delegate administration of the Equity Incentive Plan to a committee composed of one or more members of the Board. The Board has delegated administration of the Equity Incentive Plan to the Compensation Committee of the Board. As used herein with respect to the Equity Incentive Plan, the "Board" refers to the Compensation Committee as well as to the Board of Directors itself. 10 ELIGIBILITY Incentive stock options may be granted under the Equity Incentive Plan only to selected key employees (including officers and directors who are employees) of the Company and its affiliates. Selected employees (including officers), directors and consultants are eligible to receive Stock Awards other than incentive stock options under the Equity Incentive Plan. No incentive stock option may be granted under the Equity Incentive Plan to any person who, at the time of the grant, owns (or is deemed to own) stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of the Company or any affiliate of the Company, unless the incentive stock option exercise price is at least 110% of the fair market value of the stock subject to the incentive stock option on the date of grant, and the term of the incentive stock option does not exceed five years from the date of grant. For incentive stock options granted under the Equity Incentive Plan after 1986, the aggregate fair market value, determined at the time of grant, of the shares of Common Stock with respect to which such options are exercisable for the first time by an optionee during any calendar year (under all such plans of the Company and its affiliates) may not exceed $100,000. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN The Company has reserved a total of 2,900,000 shares of Common Stock for issuance under the Equity Incentive Plan. As of December 31, 1997, 265,912 shares of Common Stock have been issued upon exercise of options granted under the Equity Incentive Plan, options to purchase 838,504 shares of Common Stock at a weighted average exercise price of $5.38 per share were outstanding and 1,795,584 shares remained available for future grants of Stock Awards. If any Stock Award granted under the Equity Incentive Plan expires or otherwise terminates without being exercised, the Common Stock not purchased pursuant to such Stock Awards again becomes available for issuance under the Equity Incentive Plan. TERMS OF OPTIONS The following is a description of the permissible terms of options under the Equity Incentive Plan. Individual option grants may be more restrictive as to any or all of the permissible terms described below. EXERCISE PRICE; PAYMENT. The exercise price of incentive stock options under the Equity Incentive Plan may not be less than the fair market value of the Common Stock subject to the option on the date of the option grant, and in some cases (see "Eligibility" above), may not be less than 110% of such fair market value. The exercise price of nonstatutory options under the Equity Incentive Plan may not be less than 85% of the fair market value of the Common Stock subject to the option on the date of the option grant. However, if options were granted with exercise prices below market value, deductions for compensation attributable to the exercise of such options could be limited by Section 162(m). See "Federal Income Tax Information." At December 31, 1997, the closing price of the Company's Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq National Market System was $9.125 per share. In the event of a decline in the value of the Company' s Common Stock, the Board has the authority to offer employees the opportunity to replace outstanding higher priced options, whether incentive or nonstatutory, with new lower priced options. To the extent required by Section 162(m), an option repriced under the Equity Incentive Plan is deemed to be canceled and a new option granted. Both the option deemed to be canceled and the new option deemed to be granted will be counted against the Equity Incentive Plan share limitation. The exercise price of options granted under the Equity Incentive Plan must be paid either: (a) in cash at the time the option is exercised; or (b) at the discretion of the Board, (i) by delivery of other Common Stock of the Company, (ii) pursuant to a deferred payment arrangement or (c) in any other form of legal consideration acceptable to the Board. 11 OPTION EXERCISE. Options granted under the Equity Incentive Plan may become exercisable ("vest") in cumulative increments as determined by the Board. Shares covered by options granted in the future under the Equity Incentive Plan may be subject to different vesting terms. The Board has the power to accelerate the time during which an option may be exercised. In addition, options granted under the Equity Incentive Plan may permit exercise prior to vesting, but in such event the optionee may be required to enter into an early exercise stock purchase agreement that allows the Company to repurchase shares not yet vested at their exercise price should the optionee leave the employ of or discontinue service to the Company before vesting. To the extent provided by the terms of an option, an optionee may satisfy any federal, state or local tax withholding obligation relating to the exercise of such option by a cash payment upon exercise, by authorizing the Company to withhold a portion of the stock otherwise issuable to the optionee, by delivering already-owned stock of the Company or by a combination of these means. TERM. The maximum term of options under the Equity Incentive Plan is 10 years, except that in certain cases (see "Eligibility") the maximum term is five years. Options under the Equity Incentive Plan terminate three months after termination of the optionee's employment or relationship as a consultant or director of the Company or any affiliate of the Company, unless (a) such termination is due to such person's permanent and total disability (as defined in the Code), in which case the option may, but need not, provided that it may be exercised at any time within one year of such termination; (b) the optionee dies while employed by or serving as a consultant or director of the Company or any affiliate of the Company, or within three months after termination of such relationship, in which case the option may, but need not, provided that it may be exercised (to the extent the option was exercisable at the time of the optionee's death) within twelve months of the optionee's death by the person or persons to whom the rights to such option pass by will or by the laws of descent and distribution; or (c) the option by its terms specifically provides otherwise. Individual options by their terms may provide for exercise within a longer period of time following termination of employment or the consulting relationship. The option term may also be extended in the event that exercise of the option within these periods is prohibited for specified reasons. TERMS OF STOCK BONUSES AND PURCHASES OF RESTRICTED STOCK The following is a description of the permissible terms of stock bonuses and restricted stock purchase agreements under the Equity Incentive Plan. The terms and conditions of stock bonus or restricted stock purchase agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate agreements need not be identical, but each stock bonus or restricted stock purchase agreement includes the substance of each of the following provisions as appropriate: PURCHASE PRICE. The purchase price under each restricted stock purchase agreement is such amount as the Board may determine and designate in such agreement, but in no event may the purchase price be less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the stock's fair market value on the date such award is made. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may determine that eligible participants in the Equity Incentive Plan may be awarded stock pursuant to a stock bonus agreement in consideration for past services actually rendered to the Company for its benefit. CONSIDERATION. The purchase price of stock acquired pursuant to a stock purchase agreement must be paid either: (i) in cash at the time of purchase; (ii) at the discretion of the Board or the Committee, according to a deferred payment or other arrangement with the person to whom the stock is sold; or (iii) in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board in its discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may award stock pursuant to a stock bonus agreement in consideration for past services actually rendered to the Company or for its benefit. VESTING. Shares of stock sold or awarded under the Plan may, but need not, be subject to a repurchase option in favor of the Company in accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the Board. 12 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR RELATIONSHIP AS A DIRECTOR OR CONSULTANT. In the event a participant's continuous status as an employee, director or consultant terminates, the Company may repurchase or other re-acquire any or all of the shares of stock held by that person which have not vested as of the date of termination under the terms of the stock bonus or restricted stock purchase agreement between the Company and such person. ADJUSTMENT PROVISIONS If there is any change in the stock subject to the Equity Incentive Plan or subject to any Stock Award granted under the Equity Incentive Plan (through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend, dividend in property other than cash, stock split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change in corporate structure or otherwise), the Equity Incentive Plan and Stock Awards outstanding thereunder will be appropriately adjusted as to the class and the maximum number of shares subject to such plan, the maximum number of shares which may be granted to an employee during a calendar year, and the class, number of shares and price per share of stock subject to such outstanding Stock Awards. EFFECT OF CERTAIN CORPORATE EVENTS The Equity Incentive Plan provides that, in the event of a dissolution, liquidation or sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company, specified type of merger or other corporate reorganization, to the extent permitted by law, any surviving corporation will be required to either assume Stock Awards outstanding under the Equity Incentive Plan or substitute similar Stock Awards for those outstanding under such plan, or such outstanding Stock Awards will continue in full force and effect. In the event that any surviving corporation declines to assume or continue Stock Awards outstanding under the Equity Incentive Plan, or to substitute similar Stock Awards, then, with respect to Stock Awards held by persons then performing services as employees, directors or consultants, the time during which such Stock Awards may be exercised will be accelerated if so determined by the Board and the Stock Awards terminated if not exercised during such time. The acceleration of a Stock Award in the event of an acquisition or similar corporate event may be viewed as an anti-takeover, with respect to Stock Awards held by persons then performing services as employees, directors or consultants, provision, which may have the effect of discouraging a proposal to acquire or otherwise obtain control of the Company. DURATION, AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION The Board may suspend or terminate the Equity Incentive Plan without stockholder approval or ratification at any time or from time to time. Unless sooner terminated, the Equity Incentive Plan will terminate on March 27, 2007. The Board may also amend the Equity Incentive Plan at any time or from time to time. However, no amendment will be effective unless approved by the stockholders of the Company within twelve months before or after its adoption by the Board if the amendment would: (a) modify the requirements as to eligibility for participation (to the extent such modification requires stockholder approval in order for the Plan to satisfy Section 422 of the Code, if applicable, or Rule 16b-3 ("Rule 16b-3") of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")); (b) increase the number of shares reserved for issuance upon exercise of options; or (c) change any other provision of the Plan in any other way if such modification requires stockholder approval in order to comply with Rule 16b-3 or satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. The Board may submit any other amendment to the Equity Incentive Plan for stockholder approval, including, but not limited to, amendments intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code regarding the exclusion of performance-based compensation from the limitation on the deductibility of compensation paid to certain employees. 13 RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER Under the Equity Incentive Plan, an incentive stock option may not be transferred by the optionee otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and during the lifetime of the optionee, may be exercised only by the optionee. A nonstatutory stock option may not be transferred except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a "qualified domestic relations order," unless otherwise specified in the option agreement. In any case, the optionee may designate in writing a third party who may exercise the option in the event of the optionee's death. In addition, shares subject to repurchase by the Company under an early exercise stock purchase agreement may be subject to restrictions on transfer which the Board deems appropriate. FEDERAL INCOME TAX INFORMATION INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS. Incentive stock options under the Equity Incentive Plan are intended to be eligible for the favorable federal income tax treatment accorded "incentive stock options" under the Code. There generally are no federal income tax consequences to the optionee or the Company by reason of the grant or exercise of an incentive stock option. However, the exercise of an incentive stock option may increase the optionee's alternative minimum tax liability, if any. If an optionee holds stock acquired through exercise of an incentive stock option for at least two years from the date on which the option is granted and at least one year from the date on which the shares are transferred to the optionee upon exercise of the option, any gain or loss on a disposition of such stock will be long-term capital gain or loss. Generally, if the optionee disposes of the stock before the expiration of either of these holding periods (a "disqualifying disposition"), at the time of disposition, the optionee will realize taxable ordinary income equal to the lesser of (a) the excess of the stock's fair market value on the date of exercise over the exercise price, or (b) the optionee's actual gain, if any, on the purchase and sale. The optionee's additional gain, or any loss, upon the disqualifying disposition will be a capital gain or loss, which will be long-term, mid-term or short-term depending on how long the stock was held. Long-term and mid-term capital gains currently are generally subject to lower tax rates than ordinary income. The maximum capital gains rate for federal income tax purposes is currently 20% while the maximum ordinary income rate is effectively 39.6% at the present time. Slightly different rules may apply to optionees who acquire stock subject to certain repurchase options or who are subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. To the extent the optionee recognizes ordinary income by reason of a disqualifying disposition, the Company will generally be entitled (subject to the requirement of reasonableness, the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code and the satisfaction of a tax reporting obligation) to a corresponding business expense deduction in the tax year in which the disqualifying disposition occurs. NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTIONS. Nonstatutory stock options granted under the Equity Incentive Plan generally have the following federal income tax consequences: There are no tax consequences to the optionee or the Company by reason of the grant of a nonstatutory stock option. Upon exercise of a nonstatutory stock option, the optionee normally will recognize taxable ordinary income equal to the excess of the stock's fair market value on the date of exercise over the option exercise price. Generally, with respect to employees, the Company is required to withhold from regular wages or supplemental wage payments an amount based on the ordinary income recognized. Subject to the requirement of reasonableness, the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code and the satisfaction of a tax reporting obligation, the Company will generally be entitled to a business expense deduction equal to the taxable ordinary income realized by the optionee. Upon disposition of the stock, the optionee will recognize a capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the selling price and the sum of the amount paid for such stock plus any amount recognized as ordinary income upon exercise of the option. Such gain or loss will be long, mid or short-term depending on how long the stock 14 was held. Slightly different rules may apply to optionees who acquire stock subject to certain repurchase options or who are subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. RESTRICTED STOCK AND STOCK BONUSES. Restricted stock and stock bonuses granted under the Equity Incentive Plan generally have the following federal income tax consequences: Upon acquisition of stock under a restricted stock or stock bonus award, the recipient normally will recognize taxable ordinary income equal to the excess of the stock's fair market value over the purchase price, if any. However, to the extent the stock is subject to certain types of vesting restrictions, the taxable event will be delayed until the vesting restrictions lapse unless the recipient elects to be taxed on receipt of the stock. Generally, with respect to employees, the Company is required to withhold from regular wages or supplemental wage payments an amount based on the ordinary income recognized. Subject to the requirement of reasonableness, Section 162(m) of the Code and the satisfaction of a tax reporting obligation, the Company will generally be entitled to a business expense deduction equal to the taxable ordinary income realized by the recipient. Upon disposition of the stock, the recipient will recognize a capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the selling price and the sum of the amount paid for such stock, if any, plus any amount recognized as ordinary income upon acquisition (or vesting) of the stock. Such gain or loss will be long, mid or short-term depending on how long the stock was held from the date ordinary income is measured. Slightly different rules may apply to persons who acquire stock subject to forfeiture. POTENTIAL LIMITATION ON COMPANY DEDUCTIONS. As part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, the U.S. Congress amended the Code to add Section 162(m), which denies a deduction to any publicly held corporation for compensation paid to certain employees in a taxable year to the extent that compensation exceeds $1,000,000 for a covered employee. It is possible that compensation attributable to Stock Awards, when combined with all other types of compensation received by a covered employee from the Company, may cause this limitation to be exceeded in any particular year. Certain kinds of compensation, including qualified "performance-based compensation," are disregarded for purposes of the deduction limitation. In accordance with proposed Treasury regulations issued under Section 162(m), compensation attributable to stock awards will qualify as performance-based compensation, provided that (i) the stock award contains a per-employee limitation on the number of shares for which options may be granted during a specified period, (ii) the per-employee limitation is approved by the stockholders, (iii) the award is granted by a compensation committee composed solely of "outside directors"; and (iv) the exercise price of the award is no less than the fair market value of the stock on the date of grant. Stock bonuses qualify as performance-based compensation under the Treasury regulations only if: (i) the award is granted by a compensation committee comprised solely of "outside directors"; (ii) the award is granted (or exercisable) only upon the achievement of an objective performance goal established in writing by the compensation committee while the outcome is substantially uncertain; (iii) the compensation committee certifies in writing prior to the granting (or exercisability) of the award that the performance goal has been satisfied; and (iv) prior to the granting (or exercisability) of the award, stockholders have approved the material terms of the award (including the class of employees eligible for such award, the business criteria on which the performance goal is based, and the maximum amount (or formula used to calculate the amount) payable upon attainment of the performance goal). EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN GENERAL In March 1997, the Board of Directors adopted, and the stockholders subsequently approved, the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Purchase Plan"). The Purchase Plan provides a means by which employees of the Company (and any parent or subsidiary of the Company) may purchase Common Stock of the Company at a discount through accumulated payroll deductions. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Purchase Plan is 200,000. 15 PURPOSE The purpose of the Purchase Plan is to provide incentives for such persons eligible to participate thereunder to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company. As of December 31, 1997, approximately 207 of the Company's approximately 273 employees are eligible to participate in the Purchase Plan. The rights to purchase Common Stock granted under the Purchase Plan are intended to qualify as options issued under an "employee stock purchase plan" as that term is defined in Section 423(b) of the Code. ADMINISTRATION The Purchase Plan is administered by the Board of Directors, which has the final power to construe and interpret the Purchase Plan and the rights granted under it. The Board has the power, subject to the provisions of the Purchase Plan, to determine when and how rights to purchase Common Stock of the Company will be granted, the provisions of each offering of such rights (which need not be identical), and whether any parent or subsidiary of the Company shall be eligible to participate in such plan. The Board has the power to delegate administration of such plan to a committee of not less than two Board members. The Board may abolish any such committee at any time and revest in the Board the administration of the Purchase Plan. OFFERINGS The Purchase Plan is implemented by offerings of rights to all eligible employees from time to time by the Board. The offering period for any offering may be no more than 27 months. The initial offering period commenced on the date of effectiveness of the Company's initial public offering and shall end on July 31, 1999. Thereafter, an offering shall begin on August 1 every two (2) years, beginning with calendar year 1999, and shall end on the day prior to the second anniversary of its offering date. ELIGIBILITY Any person who is customarily employed at least 20 hours per week and five months per calendar year by the Company (or by any parent or subsidiary of the Company designated from time to time by the Board) on the first day of an offering period is eligible to participate in that offering under the Purchase Plan, provided such employee has been in the continuous employ of the Company for such period preceding the first day of the offering period as determined by the Board (which period shall not equal or exceed two years). The Board may provide in any offering that officers of the Company who are "highly compensated" as defined in the Code are not eligible to be granted rights under the Purchase Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no employee is eligible for the grant of any rights under the Purchase Plan if, immediately after such grant, the employee would own, directly or indirectly, stock possessing 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or of any parent or subsidiary of the Company (including any stock which such employee may purchase under all outstanding rights and options), nor will any employee be granted rights that would permit him to buy more than $25,000 worth of stock (determined at the fair market value of the shares at the time such rights are granted) under all employee stock purchase plans of the Company in any calendar year. PARTICIPATION IN THE PLAN Eligible employees become participants in the Purchase Plan by delivering to the Company, prior to the date selected by the Board as the offering date for the offering, an agreement authorizing payroll deductions of up to 15% of such employees' earnings during the purchase period. 16 PURCHASE PRICE The purchase price per share at which shares are sold in an offering under the Purchase Plan shall not be less than the lower of (a) 85% of the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of commencement of the offering or on the first date of eligibility or (b) 85% of the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the purchase date. PAYMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE; PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS The purchase price of the shares is accumulated by payroll deductions over the offering period. At any time during the purchase period, a participant may reduce or terminate his or her payroll deductions. A participant may not increase or begin such payroll deductions after the beginning of any purchase period, except, if the Board provides, in the case of an employee who first becomes eligible to participate as of a date specified during the purchase period. All payroll deductions made for a participant are credited to his or her account under the Purchase Plan and deposited with the general funds of the Company. A participant may not make any additional payments into such account. PURCHASE OF STOCK By executing an agreement to participate in the Purchase Plan, the employee is entitled to purchase shares under such plan. In connection with offerings made under the Purchase Plan, the Board specifies a maximum number of shares any employee may be granted the right to purchase and the maximum aggregate number of shares which may be purchased pursuant to such offering by all participants. If the aggregate number of shares to be purchased upon exercise of rights granted in the offering would exceed the maximum aggregate number, the Board would make a pro rata allocation of shares available in a uniform and equitable manner. Unless the employee's participation is discontinued, his right to purchase shares is exercised automatically at the end of the purchase period at the applicable price. See "Withdrawal" below. WITHDRAWAL While each participant in the Purchase Plan is required to sign an agreement authorizing payroll deductions, the participant may withdraw from a given offering by terminating his or her payroll deductions and by delivering to the Company a notice of withdrawal from the Purchase Plan. Such withdrawal may be elected at any time prior to the end of the applicable offering period, subject to any specified limitations in the offering. Upon any withdrawal from an offering by the employee, the Company will distribute to the employee his or her accumulated payroll deductions without interest, less any accumulated deductions previously applied to the purchase of stock on the employee's behalf during such offering, and such employee's interest in the offering will be automatically terminated. The employee is not entitled to again participate in such offering. An employee's withdrawal from an offering will not have any effect upon such employee's eligibility to participate in subsequent offerings under the Purchase Plan. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT Rights granted pursuant to any offering under the Purchase Plan terminate immediately upon cessation of an employee's employment for any reason, and the Company will distribute to such employee all of his or her accumulated payroll deductions, without interest. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER Rights granted under the Purchase Plan are not transferable and may be exercised only by the person to whom such rights are granted. 17 DURATION, AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION The Board may suspend or terminate the Purchase Plan at any time in its discretion. Unless terminated earlier, the Purchase Plan will terminate at such time that all of the shares subject to the Purchase Plan's reserve has been issued under the terms of the Purchase Plan. The Board may amend the Purchase Plan at any time in its discretion. Any amendment of the Purchase Plan must be approved by the stockholders within 12 months of its adoption by the Board if the amendment would (i) increase the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Purchase Plan, (ii) modify the requirements relating to eligibility for participation in the Purchase Plan, or (iii) modify any other provision of the Purchase Plan in a manner that would materially increase the benefits accruing to participants under the Purchase Plan, if such approval is required in order to comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. Rights granted before amendment or termination of the Purchase Plan will not be altered or impaired by any amendment or termination of such plan without consent of the person to whom such rights were granted. EFFECT OF CERTAIN CORPORATE EVENTS In the event of a dissolution, liquidation or specified type of merger of the Company, the surviving corporation either will assume the rights under the Purchase Plan or substitute similar rights, or the exercise date of any ongoing offering will be accelerated such that the outstanding rights may be exercised immediately prior to, or concurrent with, any such event. Stock Subject to Purchase Plan STOCK SUBJECT TO PURCHASE PLAN If rights granted under the Purchase Plan expire, lapse or otherwise terminate without being exercised, the Common Stock not purchased under such rights again becomes available for issuance under such plan. FEDERAL INCOME TAX INFORMATION Rights granted under the Purchase Plan are intended to qualify for favorable federal income tax treatment associated with rights granted under an employee stock purchase plan which qualifies under provisions of Section 423 of the Code. A participant will be taxed on amounts withheld for the purchase of shares as if such amounts were actually received. Other than this, no income will be taxable to a participant until disposition of the shares acquired, and the method of taxation will depend upon the holding period of the purchase shares. If the stock is disposed of at least two years after the beginning of the offering period and at least one year after the stock is transferred to the participant, then the lesser of (i) the excess of the fair market value of the stock at the time of such disposition over the exercise price or (ii) the excess of the fair market value of the stock as of the beginning of the offering period over the exercise price (determined as of the beginning of the offering period) will be treated as ordinary income. Any further gain or any loss will be taxed as a long-term, mid-term or short-term capital gain or loss depending on how long the stock was held. Capital gains currently are generally subject to lower tax rates than ordinary income. The maximum capital gains rate for federal income tax purposes is 20% while the maximum ordinary rate is effectively 39.6% at the present time. If the stock is sold or disposed of before the expiration of either of the holding periods described above, then the excess of the fair market value of the stock on the exercise date over the exercise price will be treated as ordinary income at the time of such disposition, and the Company may, in the future, be required to withhold income taxes relating to such ordinary income from other payments made to the 18 participant. The balance of any gain will be treated as capital gain. Even if the stock is later disposed of for less than its fair market value on the exercise date, the same amount of ordinary income is attributed to the participant, and a capital loss is recognized equal to the difference between the sales price and the fair market value of the stock on such exercise date. Any capital gain or loss will be long, mid or short-term depending on how long the stock has been held. There are no federal income tax consequences to the Company by reason of the grant or exercise of rights under the Purchase Plan. The Company is entitled to a deduction to the extent amounts are taxed as ordinary income to a participant (subject to the requirement of reasonableness, the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code and the satisfaction of a tax reporting obligation). 1997 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN GENERAL In March 1997, the Board of Directors adopted, and the stockholders subsequently approved, the Directors' Plan. The Directors' Plan provides for the automatic grant of nonstatutory stock options to purchase shares of Common Stock to Non-Employee Directors (as defined below) of the Company. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to options granted under the Directors' Plan is 100,000. As of December 31, 1997, 50,000 options to purchase shares were granted under the Directors' Plan. Options granted under the Directors' Plan are not intended to qualify as incentive stock options, as defined under Section 422 of the Code. PURPOSE The purpose of the Directors' Plan is to attract and retain the services of persons capable of serving as Non-Employee Directors on the Board of Directors and to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts to promote the success of the Company. ADMINISTRATION The Directors' Plan is administered by the Board of Directors of the Company. The Board of Directors has the final power to construe and interpret the Directors' Plan and options granted under it, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for its administration. The Board of Directors is authorized to delegate administration of the Directors' Plan to a committee composed of one or more two members of the Board. The Board of Directors does not presently contemplate delegating administration of the Directors' Plan to any committee of the Board of Directors. ELIGIBILITY The Directors' Plan provides that options may be granted only to Non-Employee Directors of the Company. A "Non-Employee Director" is defined in the Directors' Plan as a director of the Company who is not otherwise an employee of the Company or any affiliate. Option grants under the Directors' Plan are non-discretionary. Each person who, after the effectiveness of the Company's Registration Statement filed in connection with the Company's initial public offering, for the first time becomes a Non-Employee Director shall be automatically granted upon the date of his or her initial election to be a Non-Employee Director by the Board or stockholders of the Company, an option to purchase 10,000 shares of Common Stock. In addition, on the date of the annual meeting of stockholders each year, each Non-Employee Eligible Director shall be automatically granted an option to purchase 5,000 shares of Common Stock If, however, the Non-Employee Director has not served for 12 months prior to such date, then the number of shares subject to that Non-Employee Director's option shall be pro rated based on the number of days such Non-Employee Director served as such during the preceding 12 months. 19 TERMS OF OPTIONS Each option under the Directors' Plan is subject to the following terms and conditions: FULLY VESTED. The option shall be fully vested and exercisable at all times. EXERCISE PRICE; PAYMENT. The exercise price of options granted under the Directors' Plan shall be equal to 100% of the fair market value of the Common Stock subject to such options on the date of grant. The exercise price of options granted under the Directors' Plan may be paid in cash or by delivery of shares of Common Stock of the Company that have been held for the period required to avoid a charge to the earnings of the Company. Any shares so surrendered shall be valued at their fair market value on the date of exercise. TRANSFERABILITY; TERM. Under the Directors' Plan, an option may not be transferred by the optionee, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a "qualified domestic relations order." During the lifetime of an optionee, an option may be exercised only by the optionee or transferee pursuant to such order. No option granted under the Directors' Plan is exercisable by any person after the expiration of ten years from the date the option is granted. OTHER PROVISIONS. The option agreement may contain such other terms, provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the Directors' Plan as may be determined by the Board of Directors. ADJUSTMENT PROVISIONS If there is any change in the stock subject to the Directors' Plan or subject to any option granted under the Directors' Plan (through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend, dividend in property other than cash, stock split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change in corporate structure or otherwise), the Directors' Plan and options outstanding thereunder will be appropriately adjusted as to the class and the maximum number of shares subject to such plan and the class, number of shares and price per share of stock subject to such outstanding options. In the event of a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or a reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving corporation but the shares of the Company's Common Stock outstanding immediately preceding the merger were converted by virtue of the merger into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise, or any other capital reorganization after which less than 50% of the outstanding voting shares of the new or continuing corporation are owned by stockholders of the Company immediately before such transactions, then to the extent permitted by applicable law, the time during which such options may be exercised shall be accelerated, and the options terminated if not exercised prior to such event. DURATION, AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION The Board of Directors may amend, suspend or terminate the Directors' Plan at any time or from time to time; provided, however, that the Board may not amend the Directors' Plan with respect to the amount, price or timing of grants more often than once every six months. No amendment will be effective unless approved by the stockholders of the Company within twelve months before or after its adoption by the Board if the amendment would: (i) increase the number of shares reserved for options under the Directors' Plan; (ii) modify the requirements as to eligibility for participation in the Directors' Plan (to the extent such modification requires stockholder approval in order for the Directors' Plan to comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3; or (iii) modify the Directors' Plan in any other way if such modification requires stockholder approval in order for the Directors' Plan to meet the requirements of Rule 16b-3. Unless sooner terminated, the Directors' Plan will terminate on March 27, 1997. 20 FEDERAL INCOME TAX INFORMATION Stock options granted under the Directors' Plan are subject to federal income tax treatment pursuant to rules governing options that are not incentive stock options. The following is only a summary of the effect of federal income taxation upon the optionee and the Company with respect to the grant and exercise of options under the Directors' Plan, does not purport to be complete and does not discuss the income tax laws of any state or foreign country in which an optionee may reside. Options granted under the Directors' Plan are nonstatutory options. There are no tax consequences to the optionee or the Company by reason of the grant of a nonstatutory stock option. Upon exercise of a nonstatutory stock option, the optionee normally will recognize taxable ordinary income equal to the excess of the stock's fair market value on the date of exercise over the option exercise price. Because the optionee is a director of the Company, under existing laws, the date of taxation (and the date of measurement of taxable ordinary income) may in some instances be deferred unless the optionee files an election under Section 83(b) of the Code. The filing of Section 83(b) election with respect to the exercise of an option may affect the time of taxation and the amount of income recognized at each such time. Upon disposition of the stock, the optionee will recognize a capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the selling price and the sum of the amount paid for such stock plus any amount recognized as ordinary income upon exercise of such option. Such gain or loss will be long-term, mid-term or short-term depending on how long the stock was held. REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT(1) The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Committee") is composed of three non-employee directors. The Committee is responsible for setting and administering the policies which govern executive compensation. COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY The Board's executive compensation program strongly links management pay with the Company's annual and long-term performance. The program is intended to attract, motivate and retain senior management by providing compensation opportunities that are consistent with Company performance. The program provides for (i) base salaries which reflect such factors as level of responsibility, individual performance, internal fairness and external competitiveness, (ii) annual incentive bonus awards which are payable upon the Company's achievement of annual financial and strategic objectives approved by the Board, and (iii) long-term incentive opportunities, generally in the form of stock options which strengthen the mutuality of interest between management and the Company's stockholders. The following is a discussion of each of the elements of the Company's executive compensation program including a description of the decisions and actions taken by the Committee with respect to compensation in fiscal 1997 for the Chief Executive Officer and all executive officers as a group. - ------------------------ (1) The material in this report and under the caption "Performance Measurement Comparison" are not "soliciting material," are not deemed filed with the SEC and are not to be incorporated by reference in in any filing of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act whether made before or after the date of this Proxy Statement and irrespective of any general incorporation language herein. 21 MANAGEMENT COMPENSATION PROGRAM Compensation paid to the Company's executive officers for fiscal year 1997 (as reflected in the foregoing tables with respect to the Named Executive Officers) consisted of the following elements: base salary and stock options granted under the Equity Incentive Plan. BASE SALARY. The Committee annually reviews each executive officer's base salary. When reviewing base salaries, the Committee considers individual and corporate performance, levels of responsibility, prior experience, breadth of knowledge and competitive pay practices. Annual adjustments in base salaries typically are made effective at the beginning of the calendar year for which they are intended to apply and therefore reflect in large part the prior year's business performance and individual achievements. ANNUAL BONUS. The Compensation Committee annually recommends the payment of bonuses, in cash or stock, to the Company's employees, including its executive officers, to provide an incentive to these persons to be productive over the course of each fiscal year. These bonuses are based upon a plan approved by the Board of Directors and includes certain corporate performance objectives relating to the Company's earnings and individual performance objectives. The size of the bonus to each executive officer is a percentage of base salary and determined solely on the Company achieving or exceeding its earnings objectives. LONG-TERM INCENTIVES. The Company believes that a key component to the compensation of its executive officers should be through stock options. Stock options utilized by the Company for this purpose have been designed to provide an incentive to these employees by allowing them to directly participate in any increase in the long-term value of the Company. This incentive is intended to reward, motivate and retain the services of executive employees. The Company has historically rewarded its executive employees through the grant of Incentive Stock Options and Nonstatutory Stock Options. Incentive Stock Options and Nonstatutory Stock Options are allocated to both executive and non-executive employees on an annual basis by either the Compensation Committee or the Board of Directors. The Company's Equity Incentive Plan provides for the grant of up to 2,900,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, of which as of December 31, 1997, 265,912 shares have been issued upon exercise of options, options to purchase 838,504 shares were outstanding and 1,795,584 shares remained available for future grant. Stock options are typically granted with exercise prices equal to the prevailing market value of the Company's Common Stock on the date of grant, have 10-year terms and are subject to vesting periods established from time to time by the Committee. The Compensation Committee employs no particular set of mechanical criteria in awarding stock options. Rather, it evaluates a series of factors including: (i) the overall performance of the Company for the fiscal year in question; (ii) the performance of the individual in question; (iii) the anticipated contribution by the individual to the Company on an overall basis; (iv) the historical level of compensation of the individual; (v) the level of compensation of similarly situated executives in the Company's industry; and (vi) that level of combination of cash compensation and stock options that would be required from a competitive point of view to retain the services of a valued executive officer. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION During fiscal 1997, Mr. Jens H. Molbak, served as President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company and, as such, was eligible to participate in the same executive compensation plans as were available to other executive officers of the Company. Based on the performance of the Company in the prior fiscal year and the Committee's assessment of Mr. Molbak's ongoing personal performance in the position of Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Molbak received a salary increase during fiscal 1997. Among the factors considered by the Committee in its consideration of Mr. Molbak's performance were the continued expansion of the Company's Coinstar network, the continued success of the Company's sales and marketing efforts and the successful completion of the Company's initial public offering. 22 Mr. Molbak was granted stock options under the Equity Incentive Plan for 50,000 shares of Common Stock on February 27, 1997, at the option price of $10.00 per share. This option was based on the continuing success through internally generated growth of the Company. He is eligible to receive additional option grants in the future at the discretion of the Committee. CONCLUSION Through the plans described above, a significant portion of the Company's compensation program and Mr. Molbak's compensation are contingent on Company performance, and realization of benefits is closely linked to increases in long-term stockholder value. The Company remains committed to this philosophy of pay for performance, recognizing that the competitive market for talented executives and the volatility of the Company's business may result in highly variable compensation for a particular time period. COMPENSATION COMMITTEE Larry A. Hodges David E. Stitt Ronald A. Weinstein 23 PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT COMPARISON(1) The following graph shows the total stockholder return of an investment of $100 in cash on July 3, 1997 (the date on which the Company's Common Stock was first traded as the Nasdaq National Market) for (i) the Company's Common Stock, (ii) the Nasdaq Stock Market Index and (iii) the Russell 2000 Index ("Russell 2000"). All values assume reinvestment of the full amount of all dividends and are calculated as of December 31, of 1997: COMPARISON OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN* AMONG COINSTAR, INC., THE NASDAQ STOCK MARKET (U.S.) INDEX AND THE RUSSELL 2000 INDEX EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC COINSTAR, INC. NASDAQ STOCK MARKET (U.S.) RUSSELL 2000 7/03/97 100 100 100 7/31/97 95 111 105 8/31/97 113 100 107 9/30/97 124 117 115 10/31/97 96 111 110 11/30/97 92 111 109 12/31/97 87 111 110 7/3/97 7/31/97 8/31/97 9/30/97 10/31/97 11/30/97 12/31/97 Coinstar, Inc. $ 100.00 $ 95.24 $ 113.10 $ 123.81 $ 95.83 $ 91.67 $ 86.90 NASDAQ STOCK MARKET (U.S.) 100.00 110.56 100.39 116.92 110.87 111.42 109.67 RUSSELL 2000 100.00 104.65 107.05 114.88 109.84 109.13 111.04 * $100 invested on 7/03/97 in stock or on 8/30/97 in index--including reinvestment of dividends. Fiscal year ending December 31. - ------------------------ (1) This Section is not "soliciting material," is not deemed "filed" with the SEC and is not to be incorporated by reference in any filing of the Company under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any such filing. 24 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS Since the Company's inception in February 1991, the Company issued, in private placement transactions, shares of its Preferred Stock as follows: (i) 649,775 shares of Series A Preferred Stock at $1.00 per share in March and November 1992, (ii) 895,506 shares of Series B Preferred Stock at $4.00 per share along with warrants to purchase 43,752 shares of Series B Preferred Stock for $4.00 per share in the June and September 1993, (iii) 4,567,016 shares of Series C Preferred Stock at $3.25 per share along with warrants to purchase 1,419,369 shares of Series C Preferred Stock for $3.00 to $4.00 per share in February 1995, (iv) 2,500,000 shares of Series D Preferred Stock for $4.00 per share along with warrants to purchase 705,891 shares of Series D Preferred Stock for $4.25 per share in December 1995, and (v) 100,000 shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock for $6.00 per share along with warrants to purchase 350,000 shares of Series E-2 Preferred Stock for $0.60 per share and warrants to purchase 550,000 shares of Series E-3 Preferred Stock for $0.39 per share in August 1996. The warrants provide that the purchase price paid for each warrant be credited toward the exercise price for that warrant, resulting in effective exercise prices for the warrants to purchase the Series E-2 Preferred Stock and Series E-3 Preferred Stock or $11.40 and $15.61 per share, respectively. The connection with the Company's initial public offering, the Preferred Stock converted into Common Stock on a one-to-one basis, except for the Series B Preferred Stock, which converted at a rate of 1.142857 to one. The following table sets forth the shares of Preferred Stock purchased by each of the Company's directors, executive officers and key employees, five percent stockholders and their respective affiliates: SERIES A SERIES B SERIES C SERIES D SERIES E PREFERRED PREFERRED PREFERRED PREFERRED PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCK AND STOCK AND STOCK AND STOCK AND INVESTOR WARRANTS WARRANTS WARRANTS WARRANTS WARRANTS - ----------------------------------------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ---------- ---------- Benaroya Capital Company, L.L.C...................... -- -- -- 1,154,118 -- Vencap, Inc.(1)...................................... -- -- 900,000 192,353 -- CIBC Woody Gundy Ventures, Inc....................... -- -- 800,001 265,087 -- Eos Partners SBIC, L.P............................... -- -- 700,001 160,294 -- Entities affiliated with Olympic Venture Partners III, L.P.(2)........................................ -- -- 630,000 168,309 -- Roanoke Investors, L.P............................... -- -- 400,000 256,471 -- Acorn Ventures, Inc.................................. -- -- -- -- 1,000,000 Rod W. Brooks(3)..................................... -- -- -- 8,015 -- Aaron R. Finch(4).................................... -- 50,000 -- 9,618 -- Ronald Weinstein(5).................................. 60,000 53,907 100,278 36,833 -- - ------------------------ (1) Mr. Stitt, a director of the Company, was a Vice President of Vencap, Inc. until February 1998. Mr. Stitt disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his pro rata ownership interest therein. (2) Mr. Clute, a director of the Company, is a general partner of the general partner of the entities affiliated with Olympic Venture Partners III, L.P. Mr. Clute disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his pro rata ownership interest therein. (3) Mr. Brooks is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing of the Company. (4) Mr. Finch informed the Company that he will resign his position as Vice President of Operations of the Company in April 1998. (5) Mr. Weinstein is a director of the Company. Includes shares beneficially owned by the Weinstein Family Partnership, of which Mr. Weinstein is a general partner. In January 1994, the Board of Directors granted to each of Gary Hudson, Stephen Sander and Ronald Weinstein an option to purchase 10,000 shares of the Company's Series B Preferred Stock and granted to 25 Victor Alhadeff an option to purchase 5,000 shares of the Company's Series B Preferred Stock. Each such option has an exercise price of $4.00 per share and was fully vested on the date of grant. At that time, such individuals were members of the Company's Board of Directors. In connection with the Company's initial public offering, the Series B Preferred Stock converted into Common Stock at the rate of 1.142857 to one. As of December 31, 1997, the Company had approximately 145 Coinstar units installed in QFC, including Hughes Markets, Inc., its subsidiary ("QFC-Hughes"), grocery stores. During 1997, the Coinstar units installed in QFC-Hughes were responsible for approximately 6.8% of the Company's revenue. Mr. Weinstein, a director of the Company, was also a director of QFC. The Company believes that the foregoing transactions were on terms no less favorable to the Company than could be obtained from unaffiliated third parties. 26 OTHER MATTERS The Board of Directors knows of no other matters that will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting. If any other matters are properly brought before the meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy to vote on such matters in accordance with their best judgment. By Order of the Board of Directors /s/ MARK P. TANOURY MARK P. TANOURY Secretary April 30, 1998 A COPY OF THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT TO THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 IS AVAILABLE WITHOUT CHARGE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO: CORPORATE SECRETARY, COINSTAR, INC., 1800 114TH AVENUE S.E., BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON 98004. 27 COINSTAR, INC. PROXY SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON JUNE 4, 1998 The undersigned hereby appoints JENS H. MOLBAK and KIRK A. COLLAMER, and each of them, as attorneys and proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to vote all of the shares of stock of Coinstar, Inc. which the undersigned may be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Coinstar, Inc. to be held at the Company's offices located at 1800 114th Avenue, S.E., Bellevue, Washington 98004 on Thursday, June 4, 1998 at 10:00 a.m., (local time), and at any and all postponements, continuations and adjournments thereof, with all powers that the undersigned would possess if personally present, upon and in respect of the following matters and in accordance with the following instructions, with discretionary authority as to any and all other matters that may properly come before the meeting. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR LISTED BELOW. PROPOSAL 1: To elect two directors to hold office until the 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. FOR all nominees listed below WITHHOLD AUTHORITY (EXCEPT AS MARKED TO THE CONTRARY BELOW)./ / TO VOTE FOR ALL NOMINEES LISTED BELOW./ / NOMINEES: JENS H. MOLBAK AND WILLIAM D. RUCKELSHAUS TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY NOMINEE(S) WRITE SUCH NOMINEE(S)' NAME(S) BELOW: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR PROPOSAL 2. PROPOSAL 2: To ratify selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as independent auditors of the Company for its fiscal year ending December 31, 1998. / / FOR / / AGAINST / / ABSTAIN UNLESS A CONTRARY DIRECTION IS INDICATED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR ALL NOMINEES LISTED IN PROPOSAL 1 AND FOR PROPOSAL 2, AS MORE SPECIFICALLY DESCRIBED IN THE PROXY STATEMENT. IF SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS ARE INDICATED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE THEREWITH. Please vote, date and promptly return this proxy in the enclosed return envelope which is postage prepaid if mailed in the United States. Dated _______________________, 1998 ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Signature(s) Please sign exactly as your name appears hereon. If the stock is registered in the names of two or more persons, each should sign. Executors, administrators, trustees, guardians and attorneys-in-fact should add their titles. If signer is a corporation, please give full corporate name and have a duly authorized officer sign, stating title. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.