SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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|_| Preliminary Proxy Statement |_| Confidential, for Use of the Commission
|X| Definitive Proxy Statement Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
|_| Definitive Additional Materials
|_| Soliciting Material Pursuant toss.240.14a-12
FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
-------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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[Logo]
FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
125 Technology Park
Lake Mary, Florida 32746
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NOTICE OF 2005 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MAY 17, 2005
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To our shareholders:
You are cordially invited to attend the 2005 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders of FARO Technologies, Inc. on Tuesday, May 17, 2005, at 10:00 a.m.
Eastern time at our headquarters, 125 Technology Park, Lake Mary, Florida. At
the meeting, the shareholders will vote on the following matters:
1. The election of two directors, each to serve for a term of three
years.
2. Any other business that may properly come before the meeting.
Holders of record of FARO common stock at the close of business on April
18, 2005, are entitled to vote at the meeting.
Your vote is important, no matter how many shares you own, and we urge you
to submit your proxy as soon as possible. Even if you plan to attend the annual
meeting, please complete, date and sign the proxy card and mail it as soon as
you can in the envelope we have provided. If you attend the annual meeting, then
you may revoke your proxy and vote your shares in person if you would like.
Thank you for your continued support.
By Order of the Board of Directors
April 21, 2005 GREGORY A. FRASER, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President and Secretary
[Logo]
FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
125 Technology Park
Lake Mary, Florida 32746
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PROXY STATEMENT FOR
2005 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
----------
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of
the accompanying proxy on behalf of the Board of Directors of FARO Technologies,
Inc. (the "Company") for use at the 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be
held on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 at 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, at the Company's
headquarters, 125 Technology Park, Lake Mary, Florida, and at any adjournment or
postponement of Annual Meeting. The Company's telephone number at that address
is (407) 333-9911.
This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy, together with the
Company's Annual Report to Shareholders, were first sent to shareholders
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting on or about April 21, 2005.
ABOUT THE MEETING
What is the purpose of the Annual Meeting?
At the Annual Meeting, shareholders will act upon matters described in the
notice of meeting contained in this Proxy Statement, including the election of
directors. In addition, members of management will report on the Company's 2004
performance and, once the business of the Annual Meeting is concluded, respond
to questions raised by shareholders as time permits.
Who is entitled to vote?
Only holders of the Company's Common Stock outstanding as of the close of
business on April 18, 2005 (the "Record Date") will be entitled to vote at the
Annual Meeting. Each shareholder is entitled to one vote for each share of
Common Stock he or she held on the Record Date.
Who can attend the Annual Meeting?
All shareholders, or individuals holding their duly appointed proxies, may
attend the Annual Meeting. Appointing a proxy in response to this solicitation
will not affect a shareholder's right to attend the Annual Meeting and to vote
in person. Please note that if you hold your shares in "street name" (in other
words, through a broker, bank, or other nominee), you will need to bring a copy
of a brokerage statement reflecting your stock ownership as of the Record Date
to gain admittance to the Annual Meeting.
What constitutes a quorum?
A majority of the 14,407,277 shares of Common Stock outstanding on the
Record Date must be represented, in person or by proxy, to provide a quorum at
the Annual Meeting. If you vote, your shares will be part of the quorum. Shares
represented by proxy cards either marked "ABSTAIN" or returned without voting
instructions are counted as present for the purpose of determining whether the
quorum requirement is satisfied. Also, in those instances where shares are held
by brokers who have returned a proxy but are prohibited from exercising
discretionary authority for beneficial owners who have not given voting
instructions ("broker nonvotes"), those shares will be counted as present for
quorum purposes. Broker nonvotes will not be counted as votes for or against any
proposal.
What is the effect of not voting?
It will depend on how your share ownership is registered. If you own
shares as a registered holder and do not vote, your unvoted shares will not be
represented at the meeting and will not count toward the quorum requirement. If
a quorum is obtained, your unvoted shares will not affect whether a proposal is
approved or rejected.
If you own shares in street name and do not vote, your broker may
represent your shares at the meeting for purposes of obtaining a quorum. In the
absence of your voting instructions, your broker may or may not vote your shares
in its discretion depending on the proposals before the meeting. Your broker may
vote your shares in its discretion on routine matters such as proposal 1, the
election of directors. Any shares not voted, whether due to abstentions or
because they constitute broker nonvotes, will not affect the election of
directors. Once a share is represented at the Annual Meeting, it will be deemed
present for quorum purposes throughout the Annual Meeting (including any
adjournment or postponement of that meeting unless a new record date is or must
be set for such adjournment or postponement).
How do I vote?
Shareholders who own shares registered directly with the Company's
transfer agent on the close of business on April 18, 2005 can appoint a proxy by
mailing their signed proxy card in the enclosed envelope. Street name holders
may vote by telephone or the Internet if their bank or broker makes those
methods available, in which case the bank or broker will enclose the
instructions with the Proxy Statement. The telephone and Internet voting
procedures are designed to authenticate shareholders' identities, to allow
shareholders to give their voting instructions and to confirm that the
shareholders' instructions have been properly recorded.
Can I change my vote after I return my proxy card?
Yes. Even after you have submitted your proxy, you can change your vote at
any time before the proxy is exercised by appointing a new proxy or by providing
written notice to the Secretary of the Company and voting in person at the
Annual Meeting. Presence at the Annual Meeting of a Shareholder who has
appointed a proxy does not in itself revoke a proxy. Unless so revoked, the
shares represented by proxies received by the Board will be voted at the Annual
Meeting. When a shareholder specifies a choice by means of the proxy, then the
shares will be voted in accordance with such specifications.
What am I voting on?
You are voting on one proposal:
1. Election of two directors for a term of three years, with the
following as the Board's nominees:
o Gregory A. Fraser
o Stephen R. Cole
What are the Board's recommendations?
The Board recommends a vote:
o For election of the nominated slate of directors (see Item 1)
If you sign and return your proxy card, unless you give other instructions
on your proxy card, the persons named as proxy holders on the proxy card will
vote in accordance with the recommendations of the Board
What vote is required to approve the proposal?
The two nominees for director receiving the greatest number of votes will
be elected.
Are there any other items that are to be discussed during the Annual Meeting?
No. The Company is not aware of any other matters that you will be asked
to vote on at the Annual Meeting. If other matters are properly brought before
the Annual Meeting, the Board or proxy holders will use their discretion on
these matters as they may arise.
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Who will count the vote?
American Stock Transfer & Trust Co. will count the vote and will serve as
the inspector of the election.
Who pays to prepare, mail, and solicit the proxies?
Proxies may be solicited by personal meeting, Internet, advertisement,
telephone, and facsimile machine, as well as by use of the mails. Solicitations
may be made by directors, officers, and other employees of the Company, as well
as the Company's investor relations firm, none of whom will receive additional
compensation for such solicitations. The cost of soliciting proxies will be
borne by the Company. It is anticipated that banks, brokerage houses, and other
custodians, nominees or fiduciaries will be requested to forward soliciting
materials to their principals and to obtain authorization for the execution of
proxies and that they will be reimbursed by the Company for their out-of-pocket
expenses incurred in providing those services. All expenses of solicitation of
proxies will be borne by the Company.
Delivery of Proxy Materials to Households
Pursuant to SEC rules, services that deliver the Company's communications
to shareholders that hold their stock through a bank, broker, or other holder of
record may deliver to multiple shareholders sharing the same address a single
copy of the Company's annual report to shareholders and this proxy statement.
Upon written or oral request, the Company will promptly deliver a separate copy
of the annual report to shareholders and this proxy statement to any shareholder
at a shared address to which a single copy of each document was delivered.
Shareholders may notify the Company of their requests by calling or by sending a
written request addressed to the Company, Attention: Secretary, 125 Technology
Park, Lake Mary, Florida, 32746.
Where can I find Corporate Governance materials for FARO Technologies?
The Code of Ethics and the Charters for the Audit, Operational Audit, and
Compensation Committees of the Company's Board of Directors are published on the
Corporate Governance page of the Company's website at www.faro.com. The Company
is not including the information contained on or available through its website
as a part of, or incorporating such information by reference into, this proxy
statement.
How Can I Contact the Members of the Board?
Shareholders may communicate with the full Board or individual directors,
by submitting such communications in writing to FARO Technologies, Inc.,
Attention: Board of Directors (or the individual director(s)), 125 Technology
Park, Lake Mary, Florida 32746. Such communications will be delivered directly
to the directors.
3
PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors recommends the following nominees for election as
directors and recommends that each shareholder vote "FOR" the nominees.
The Board of Directors is divided into three classes, with one class of
directors elected each year for a three-year term. The Board currently consists
of seven members: two with terms that expire at the Annual Meeting, three with
terms that expire at the 2006 annual meeting of shareholders, and two with terms
that expire at the 2007 annual meeting of shareholders. Accordingly, two
directors will be elected at the Annual Meeting to serve until their terms
expire at the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (in each case, until their
respective successors are elected and qualified).
The nominees named below have advised the Company that they will serve if
elected. In the event any such nominee is unable or unwilling to serve as a
director if elected, the persons designated as proxies will cast votes for such
other person in their discretion as a substitute nominee. The Board of Directors
has no reason to believe that any of the nominees named below will be unable, or
if elected, will decline to serve.
The two nominees for director named below currently are directors of the
Company and are proposed to be elected at the Annual Meeting to serve until the
2008 annual meeting of shareholders. The remaining five directors will continue
to serve as members of the Board for terms as set forth below. Directors are
elected by a plurality of the votes cast (assuming a quorum is present at the
Annual Meeting), meaning that the two nominees receiving the highest number of
affirmative votes of the votes represented at the Annual Meeting will be elected
as directors. Proxies solicited by the Board will be voted "FOR" the following
nominees unless a shareholder specifies otherwise.
The names, ages, and principal occupations for at least the past five
years of each of the directors and nominees and the names of any other public
companies of which each is presently serving as a director are set forth below:
Nominees for Election at the Annual Meeting
Director Term
Name Age Since Expires
------------------------------------------ --- -------- -------
Gregory A. Fraser, Ph.D. 49 1982 2005
Stephen R. Cole
Audit and Compensation Committees 52 2002 2005
Gregory A. Fraser, Ph.D. is a co-founder of the Company and has served as
a director and the Secretary and Treasurer of the Company since its inception in
1982. Mr. Fraser has been an Executive Vice President of the Company since 1997
and serves as the Company's principal financial officer. Mr. Fraser holds a
Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from McGill University, Montreal, Canada, a
Masters of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from Northwestern University and a
Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern
University.
Stephen R. Cole has been a director of the company since 2002. Mr. Cole is
a Fellow of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario, Canada. Since 1975,
Mr. Cole has been President and Founding Partner of Cole & Partners, a Toronto,
Canada based mergers and acquisition and corporate finance advisory service
company.
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Directors Whose Terms Will Continue After the Annual Meeting
Director Term
Name Age Since Expires
------------------------------------------ --- -------- -------
Simon Raab, Ph.D. 52 1982 2006
Hubert d'Amours
Audit and Compensation Committees 66 1990 2006
Andre Julien
Operational Audit and Compensation Committees 61 1986 2006
Norman Schipper, Q.C.
Compensation Committees 74 1982 2007
John Caldwell Audit (Chair),
Compensation, and Operational Audit Committees 55 2002 2007
Simon Raab, Ph.D is a co-founder of the Company and has served as the
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since its
inception in 1982, and as President of the Company from 1986 until 2004. Mr.
Raab holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from McGill University, Montreal,
Canada, a Masters of Engineering Physics from Cornell University and a Bachelor
of Science in Physics with a minor in Biophysics from the University of
Waterloo, Canada.
Hubert d'Amours has been a director of the Company since 1990. Since 1990,
Mr. D'Amours has served as President of Montroyal Capital, Inc. and Capimont,
Inc., two venture capital investment firms in Montreal, Canada. Mr. d'Amours
also serves as a director of a number of privately held companies.
Andre Julien has been a director of the Company since 1986.Mr. Julie
retired in 2004. Previously Mr. Julien served as President of Chemirco
Chemicals, Inc., a privately held company in Toronto, Canada and as President of
LAB Pharmacological Research International, a privately held company in Montreal
Canada. From 1969 until 1994, Mr. Julien was President and owner of Chateau
Paints, Inc., a privately held coatings and paint manufacturer in Montreal,
Canada. Mr. Julien is also a director of Eterna Trust, a privately held company
in Quebec City, Canada, and Goodfellow Lumber, Inc., a public company in
Montreal, Canada.
Norman Schipper, Q.C. has been a director of the Company since its
inception in 1982. From 1962 until his mandatory retirement as Partner on
December 31, 1997, Mr. Schipper was a Partner in the Toronto office of the law
firm of Goodmans, LLP. Since 1998, Mr. Schipper has been Of Counsel to the firm.
John E. Caldwell has been a director of the Company since 2002. Mr.
Caldwell is Chairman of the Board and Interim President and Chief Executive
Officer of SMTC Corporation, a publicly held electronics manufacturing services
company whose shares are traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol
SMTX and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol SMX. Mr. Caldwell has
served as a director of SMTC since March 2003 and as Interim President and Chief
Executive Officer of SMTC since October 2003. Mr. Caldwell previously was the
Chairman of the Restructuring Committee of the Board of Mosaic Group Inc., a
marketing services provider, from October 2002 to September 2003. Mr. Caldwell
was a consultant to Geac Computer Corporation Limited, a computer software
company, from December 2001 to October 2002 and was President and Chief
Executive Officer of GEAC from October 2000 to December 2001. Mr. Caldwell
served in several roles with CAE Inc., a flight simulation and training services
company, from January 1988 to October 1999, including President and Chief
Executive Officer from June 1993 to October 1999. He was also a past Executive
Vice President with Carling O'Keefe Breweries of Canada Limited and Audit Senior
with PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP. Currently, he also serves on the board of
directors of ATI Technologies Inc., Cognos Inc., Sleeman Breweries SMTC
Corporation and Stelco Inc.
5
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Board Meetings and Independence
Eleven meetings of the Board were held during 2004. In all the meetings,
more than 75% of the members attended the meetings of the Board and the
committees thereof of which they are a member during the periods in which they
served. The Board of Directors also took certain actions by unanimous written
consent in lieu of a meeting. The Company requires its non-employee directors to
meet in executive session at the end of each regularly scheduled Board of
Directors meeting, not including routine telephonic meetings, and at such other
times as any of the non-employee directors determine necessary or appropriate.
The Board has determined that Norman Schipper, John Caldwell, Hubert d'Amours,
and Andre Julien are independent directors under Nasdaq rules. The Board also
has determined that John Caldwell and Hubert d'Amours meet the additional
independence and qualification standards for Audit Committee members under
Nasdaq rules.
In connection with the Company's acquisition in January 2002 of
SpatialMetrix, Inc., the Company engaged Cole and Partners to serve as the
Company's financial advisor. Stephen Cole, one of the Company's directors, is
the founding Partner and President of Cole and Partners. The Company paid Cole &
Partners total fees of $450,000 for its services, of which $302,000 was paid in
January 2002. No fees were paid to Cole & Partners in 2003 or 2004. As a result
of the fees paid to Cole and Partners in January 2002, Mr. Cole may not qualify
as independent under Nasdaq's new independence rules, which have been applicable
to the Company since the 2004 annual shareholders meeting. However, Nasdaq
permits a non-independent director to serve on the Audit Committee under
exceptional and limited circumstances if such service is in the best interest of
the Company and its shareholders. The Board determined that Mr. Cole's continued
service on the audit committee is in the best interests of the Company and its
shareholders as a result of the following factors:
o Mr. Cole's experience in understanding and evaluating financial
statements;
o Mr. Cole's understanding of the Company's business and his
long-standing role on the Audit Committee;
o The fact that the circumanstances that make Mr. Cole not
"independent" are more than three years old.
Committees
The Board of Directors has three standing committees: an Audit Committee,
an Operational Audit Committee, and a Compensation Committee.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee consists of Messrs. d'Amours, Caldwell, and Cole. Mr.
Caldwell is the Chairman of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee held four
meetings during 2004 and all members were in attendance at each meeting.
The Audit Committee reviews the independence and qualifications of the
Company's independent public accountants and the Company's financial policies,
control procedures and accounting staff. The Audit Committee recommends to the
Board the appointment of the independent public accountants and reviews and
approves the Company's financial statements. The Audit Committee also reviews
transactions between the Company and any officer or director or any entity in
which an officer or director of the Company has a material interest. The Audit
Committee is governed by a written charter approved by the Board of Directors. A
copy of this charter is included in this Proxy Statement as Appendix A.
The independent public accountants have access to the Audit Committee
without any other members of management being present. In addition to its formal
meetings, members of the Audit Committee met with management and the independent
accountants before each of the quarterly earnings announcements during 2004. The
Audit Committee reviewed the Company's annual financial results and the
Company's periodic reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission before
filing.
The Board has determined that John Caldwell and Stephen Cole each
qualifies as an "audit committee financial expert," as defined in the rules of
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Operational Audit Committee
In December 2002, the Board of Directors created an Operational Audit
Committee, and appointed Messrs' Caldwell and Julien as the members of this
committee. The Operational Audit Committee met three times in 2004 and each
member was in attendance. The Operational Audit Committee is responsible for
reviewing the operational metrics of the Company. The operational audit
committee meets with department directors to review progress against goals.
6
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee consists of Simon Raab, Gregory Fraser, Norman
Schipper, John Caldwell, Stephen Cole, Hubert d'Amours, and Andre Julien. Mr.
Julien currently serves as Chairman of the Compensation Committee. The
Compensation Committee held one meeting during 2004 and all members were in
attendance. The Compensation Committee is responsible for establishing the
compensation of the Company's directors, officers and other managerial
personnel, including salaries, bonuses, termination arrangements and other
benefits. In addition, the Compensation Committee administers the Company's 1993
Stock Option Plan, 1997 Employee Stock Option Plan, 1997 Non-employee Director
Stock Option Plan, 1997 Non-employee Directors' Fee Plan and 2004 Equity
Compensation Plan.
Each of these committees has the responsibilities set forth in written
charters adopted by the Board. The Company makes available on its website
located at www.faro.com copies of each of these charters free of charge. The
Company is not including the information contained on or available through its
website as a part of, or incorporating such information by reference into, this
proxy statement. The Company's Audit Committee charter is attached to this proxy
statement as Appendix A.
Report of the Audit Committee
Under the guidance of a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors,
the Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the company's financial
reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors. Management has the
primary responsibility for the system of internal controls and the financial
reporting process. The independent accountants have the responsibility to
express an opinion on the financial statements based on an audit conducted in
accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. The Audit Committee has
among other things the responsibility to monitor and oversee these processes.
The Audit Committee selected Grant Thornton LLP to serve as Company's
independent auditors for the current fiscal year. Prior to the engagement of
Grant Thornton LLP, Ernst & Young LLP had served as the principal accountant to
audit the Company's financial statements for a period including the Company's
two most recent fiscal years. The reason for the change in the Company's
principal accountant to audit financial statements was a desire, in the spirit
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to ensure a more clear separation between tax
consulting and audit assistance for the Company. Ernst & Young LLP is still
being retained by the Company as its principal accountant for tax purposes.
Grant Thornton LLP has discussed with the Committee and provided written
disclosures to the Committee on (1) that firm's independence as required by the
Independence Standards Board and (2) the matters required to be communicated
under auditing standards generally accepted in the United States. The Audit
Committee also considered the compatibility of non-audit services with the
auditors' independence.
The Committee reviewed with the independent accountants the overall scope
and specific plans for its audit. Without management present, the Committee met
separately with the independent accountants to review the results of their
examinations, their evaluation of the company's internal controls, and the
overall quality of the Company's accounting and financial reporting. The
Committee reviewed and discussed with management and the independent accountants
the Company's audited financial statements.
Following these actions, the Committee recommended to the Board that the
audited financial statements be included in the company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 for filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
Hubert d'Amours, Audit Committee Member
Stephen Cole, Audit Committee Member
John Caldwell, Audit Committee Member (Chair)
Report of the Operational Audit Committee
The Operational Audit Committee is responsible for monitoring the internal
operational metrics of the Company.
In 2004 the Committee met with all department managers and directors from
the Company's worldwide headquarters, the Company's European headquarters, and
the Company's manufacturing plant in Pennsylvania. The primary basis for the
review was the Company's SPC Library, a proprietary reporting system used by the
Company which tracks the progress of five key goals in each department. These
goals are chosen by department directors as most representative and important in
tracking their progress against goals.
7
Following these meetings, the Committee recommended to the Board that the
Committee receive the SPC Library reports and meet with management each quarter,
compared to semi-annually in 2004.
John Caldwell, Operational Audit Committee Member (Chair)
Andre Julien, Operational Audit Committee Member
Nominations of Directors
The Board selects the director nominees to stand for election at the
Company's annual meetings of shareholders and to fill vacancies occurring on the
Board. Currently, the entire Board fulfills the role of the nominating
committee, as the Board has not established a separate nominating committee.
Each director participates in the nomination process. The Board does not have a
nominating committee charter.
In selecting nominees to serve as directors, the Board will examine each
director nominee on a case-by-case basis regardless of who recommended the
nominee and take into account all factors it considers appropriate. However, the
Board believes the following minimum qualifications must be met by a director
nominee to be recommended by the Board:
o Each director must display high personal and professional ethics,
integrity and values.
o Each director must have the ability to exercise sound business
judgment.
o Each director must be highly accomplished in his or her respective
field, with broad experience at the administrative and/or
policy-making level in business, government, education, technology
or public interest.
o Each director must have relevant expertise and experience, and be
able to offer advice and guidance based on that expertise and
experience.
o Each director must be independent of any particular constituency, be
able to represent all shareholders of the Company and be committed
to enhancing long-term shareholder value.
o Each director must have sufficient time available to devote to
activities of the Board and to enhance his or her knowledge of the
Company's business. The Board also believes the following qualities
or skills are necessary for one or more directors to possess:
o One or more of the directors generally should be active or
former chief executive officers of public or private companies
or leaders of major organizations, including commercial,
scientific, government, educational and other similar
institutions.
o Directors should be selected so that the Board is a diverse
body.
Shareholders may recommend director nominees for consideration by the
Board by writing to the Chairman of the Board, care of the Secretary of Company,
125 Technology Park, Lake Mary, Florida, 32746, together with appropriate
biographical information concerning each proposed nominee.
Communications with Board of Directors
Shareholders may communicate with the full Board or individual directors,
by submitting such communications in writing to FARO Technologies, Inc.,
Attention: Board of Directors (or the individual director(s)), 125 Technology
Park, Lake Mary, Florida 32746. Such communications will be delivered directly
to the directors.
Director Compensation
In the 2002 meeting of the Compensation Committee the Committee amended
the Non-employee Directors' Fee Plan. The amended plan took effect in 2004.
Under the amended Plan, directors of the Company who are not executive officers
were entitled to receive an annual retainer of $10,000, and fees of $1,200 per
board or committee meeting. Chairpersons of sub-committees received an
additional annual retainer of $3,000.
In 2005, non-employee directors earned the following directors' fees:
Messrs. d'Amours ($26,800), Caldwell ($32,800), Cole, ($26,800), Julien
($23,200), and Schipper ($20,800).
Generally, upon election to the Board, and then annually on the day
following the annual meeting of shareholders, each director who is not an
executive officer is granted a stock option to acquire 3,000 shares of Common
Stock. The exercise price for such shares is equal to the closing sale price of
the Common Stock as reported on The Nasdaq Stock Market on the date the director
is elected or reelected to the Board, or on the date of the day following the
annual meeting of shareholders for directors whose term will continue after the
annual meeting. Options granted to Directors generally are
8
granted upon the same terms and conditions as options granted to executive
officers and employees. Additionally, the Company's 1997 Non-employee Directors'
Fee Plan permits non-employee directors to elect to receive directors' fees in
the form of Common Stock rather than cash. Common Stock issued in lieu of cash
directors' fees are issued at the end of the quarter in which the fees are
earned, with the number of shares being based on the fair market value of the
Common Stock for the five trading days immediately preceding the last business
day of the quarter. Directors may defer the receipt of fees for federal income
tax purposes, whether payable in cash or in Common Stock.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
The Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Ethics that is applicable to
its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal
accounting officer or controller, and persons performing similar functions. The
Code of Ethics is available on the Internet web site at www.faro.com. The
Company is not including the information contained on or available through its
website as a part of, or incorporating such information by reference into, this
proxy statement.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
During 2004, the named executive officers and directors of the Company
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on a timely
basis all required Forms 3, 4 and 5 pursuant to Section 16 (a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 except as follows: Option grants received by Hubert
d'Amour, Andre Julien, Norman Schipper, John Caldwell and Stephen Cole pursuant
to the 1997 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan in May 2004; Notional shares
received by Hubert d'Amour, Andre Julien, John Caldwell and Stephen Cole
pursuant to the 1997 Non-Employee Directors' Fee Plan in December 2004 and;
Norman Schipper's Form 4 reporting the exercise of 17,100 options at an average
price of $2.63 and the sale of 2,500 at an average price of $23.66 in April
2004, a Form 4 reporting the sale of 1,000 shares at $24.25 in November 2004, a
Form 4 reporting the sale of 800 shares at $26.22 in December 2004. Each of
these forms subsequently were filed. The Company has relied on the written
representation of its executive officers and directors and copies of the reports
they have filed with the Commission in providing this information.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the
beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock as of March 9, 2005 (except
as noted) by each person known to the Company to own beneficially more than five
percent of the Company's Common Stock, each director, each nominee for election
as a director, the named executive officers (which are Simon Raab and Greg
Fraser), and all executive officers and directors as a group.
Beneficial Ownership Table
Number of
Name of Beneficial Owner Shares Percent
----------------------------------------------------------- --------- -------
Simon Raab, Ph.D.(1) 2,513,840 17.83%
Gregory A. Fraser, Ph.D.(2) 280,852 1.99%
Hubert d'Amours (3) 26,035 *
Andre Julien (4) 48,640 *
Norman H. Schipper, Q.C.(5) 8,800 *
Stephen R. Cole (6) 10,582 *
John Caldwell (7) 5,174 *
All directors and executive officers as a group (10 persons) 2,893,923 20.33%
________
* Represents less than one percent of the Company's outstanding Common
Stock. Except as otherwise noted, all persons have sole voting and
investment power of the shares listed.
(1) Includes 2,115,598 shares held by Xenon Research, Inc. ("Xenon"),
and includes options to purchase 45,000 shares at $2.23 per share
that are exercisable currently or within 60 days. Does not include
options to purchase 45,000 shares at $2.23 per share that are not
exercisable. Simon Raab and Diana Raab, his spouse, own all of the
outstanding capital stock of Xenon.
9
(2) Includes options to purchase 30,000 shares at $2.16 per share that
are exercisable currently or within 60 days. Does not include
options to purchase 30,000 shares at $2.16 per share that are not
exercisable within 60 days.
(3) Includes 960 notional shares subject to the terms of 1997
Non-Employee Directors' Fee Plan, and options to purchase (i) 3,000
shares at 3.13 per share, (ii) 3,000 shares at $2.57 per share,
(iii) 3,000 shares at $2.46 per share, and (iv) 2,000 shares at
$4.42 per share that are exercisable currently or within 60 days.
Does not include options to purchase (i) 1,000 shares at $4.42 per
share or (ii) 3,000 shares at $21.56 per share that are not
exercisable within 60 days.
(4) Includes 10,130 notional shares subject to the terms of the 1997
Non-Employee Directors' Fee Plan, and includes options to purchase
(i) 3,000 shares at $4.88 per share, (ii) 3,000 shares at $3.13 per
share, (iii) 3,000 shares at $2.57 per share, (iv) 24,000 shares at
$2.49 per share, and (v) 1,000 shares at $4.42 per share that are
exercisable currently or within 60 days. Does not include options to
purchase (i) 2,000 shares at $4.42 per share or (ii) 3,000 shares at
$21.56 per share that are not exercisable within 60 days.
(5) Includes options to purchase (i) 3,000 shares at $4.88 per share,
(ii) 1,000 shares at $2.57 per share, (iii) 2,000 shares at $2.21
per share, (iv) 2,000 shares at $4.42 per share that are exercisable
currently or within 60 days. Does not include options to purchase
(i) 1,000 shares at $4.42 per share or (ii) 3,000 shares at $21.56
per share that are not exercisable within 60 days.
(6) Includes 960 notional shares subject to the terms of the 1997
Non-Employee Directors' Fee Plan and includes options to purchase
(i) 3,000 shares at $2.57 per share and (ii) 2,000 shares at $4.42
per share that are exercisable currently or within 60 days. Does not
include options to purchase (i) 1,000 shares at $4.42 per share or
(ii) 3,000 shares at $21.56 per share that are not exercisable
within 60 days.
(7) Includes options to purchase (i) 2,000 shares at $1.61 per share and
(ii) 2,000 shares at $4.42 per share. Does not include options to
purchase (i) 1,000 shares at $1.61 per share, (ii) 1,000 shares at
$4.42 per share, and (iii) 3,000 shares at $21.56 per share that are
not exercisable within 60 days.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table describes the compensation paid during the last fiscal
year to our Chief Executive Officer and our named executive officers (who are
Simon Raab and Greg Fraser), and our three other most highly compensated
officers that are not executive officers (none of which constitute a "named
executive officer"):
Long-Term
Annual Compensation Compensation
----------------------------------------------- ---------------
Shares
Other Annual Underlying All Other
Name and Positions Year Salary Bonus Compensation Options Granted Compensation
- ---------------------------------- ---- --------- ---------- ------------ --------------- ------------
Simon Raab 2004 $ 347,644 $ 200,000 -- -- --
Chief Executive Officer, 2003 $ 288,000 $ 42,250 -- -- --
Chairman, and President 2002 $ 275,000 -- -- 180,000 --
Gregory A. Fraser, Ph.D. 2004 $ 218,969 $ 125,000 -- -- --
Executive Vice President, 2003 $ 193,000 $ 27,600 -- -- --
Secretary, and Treasurer 2002 $ 184,000 -- -- 120,000 --
Allen Sajedi 2004 $ 191,121 $ 46,472 -- 28,800 --
Vice President, Research 2003 $ 184,800 $ 16,210 -- -- --
& Development 2002 $ 162,200 -- -- -- --
Jim West 2004 $ 185,431 $ 47,524 -- 28,800 --
Vice President, 2003 $ 176,800 $ 21,652 -- -- --
Product Development, Laser 2002 $ 170,000 -- -- -- --
Robert P. Large 2004 $ 172,445 $ 79,721 -- 28,800 --
Vice President, 2003 $ 161,956 $ 44,652 -- -- --
Sales, America and Asia 2002 $ 150,388 $ 19,860 -- -- --
10
Option Grants in 2004
Neither Simon Raab nor Greg Fraser (our named executive officers) received
stock option grants in 2004.
Aggregated Option Exercises in 2004 and Option Values at December 31, 2004
The following table sets forth information with respect to aggregate stock
option exercises by the named executive officers (who are Simon Raab nor Greg
Fraser) and the year-end value of unexercised options held by such executive
officers.
Value of
Number of Unexercised
Unexercised In-the-Money
Number of Options/ Options/SARs at
Shares SARs FY-End ($)(1)
Acquired Value Realized At FY-End ----------------------------------
Name on Exercise ($) (#) Exercisable Unexercisable
- --------------------- ----------- -------------- ----------- --------------- ----------------
Simon Raab (2) 148,500 $3,094,418.50 90,000 $1,302,750.00 $1,302,750.00
Gregory A. Fraser (3) 78,500 $1,650,526.50 60,000 $ 868,500.00 $ 868,500.00
- ----------
(1) Based on the closing price of $31.18 per share of the Company's Common
Stock on December 31, 2004 as quoted on The Nasdaq Stock Market.
(2) The 90,000 stock options held by Mr. Raab were granted on May 29, 2002,
expire on May 29, 2012, and are exercisable as to 45,000 shares
immediately and 45,000 on May 29, 2005.
(3) The 60,000 stock options held by Mr. Fraser were granted on May 27, 2002,
expire on May 27, 2012, and are exercisable as to 30,000 shares
immediately and 30,000 on May 27, 2005.
Report by the Compensation Committee Report
on Executive Compensation
The Company's executive compensation program is administered by the
Compensation Committee of the Board, which has responsibility for all aspects of
the compensation program for the executive officers of the Company. A component
of overall compensation is the granting of stock options, the award of which is
made by the Compensation Committee and is discussed in "Long-Term Stock
Incentives," below. The Compensation Committee consists of Norman Schipper, John
Caldwell, Stephen Cole, Hubert d'Amours, and Andre Julien.
The Compensation Committee's primary objective with respect to executive
compensation is to establish programs that attract and retain key managers and
align their compensation with the Company's overall business strategies, values,
and performance. To this end, the Compensation Committee established and the
Board endorsed an executive compensation philosophy for 2004, which included the
following considerations:
o a "pay-for-performance" feature that differentiates compensation
results based upon organizational results and overall performance
against plan; and
o stock incentives, in certain cases, as a component of total
compensation in order to closely align the interests of the
Company's executives with the long-term interests of shareholders
which facilitates retention of talented executives and encourages
Company stock ownership and capital accumulation; and emphasis on
total compensation vs. cash compensation, under which base salaries
are generally set competitive levels in order to motivate and reward
Company executives with total compensation (including incentive
programs) at or above competitive levels, if the financial
performance of the Company meets or exceeds goals established for
the year.
11
For 2004, the Company's executive compensation program was comprised of
the following primary components: (a) base salaries; (b) annual cash incentive
opportunities; and (C) long-term incentive opportunities in the form of
previously granted stock options. Each primary component of pay is discussed
below.
Base Salaries. Base salaries paid to its executive officers are subject to
annual review and adjustment on the basis of individual and Company performance,
level of responsibility, individual experience, and competitive, inflationary,
and internal equity considerations. The base salary for Simon Raab, the
Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, was increased $60,000, or 20.7%
in 2004 compared to 2003 based upon such factors as the Company's profitability,
competition in the market, and overall economic conditions in 2004. The
Compensation Committee generally attempts to set base salaries of executive
officers at levels that are competitive in order to attract, motivate, and
retain Company executives. In addition, both short-term and long-term incentives
are used to focus and motivate Company executives and are also tied to both
individual and overall company performance. Compensation is based on information
contained in Compensation surveys and reflects pay levels, mixes and practices
in other companies of similar make-up relative to industry, number of employees
and revenues.
Annual Cash Incentives. Company executives are eligible to receive annual
cash bonus awards to focus attention on achieving key goals pursuant to bonus
plans designed to provide competitive incentive pay only in the event such
objectives are met or exceeded. The objectives include specific targets for
earnings as reflected in the Company's financial plan submitted by management
and approved by the Compensation Committee and the Board based on a variety of
factors, including viability of the target growth rate and amount of earnings
appropriate to satisfy shareholder expectations.
During the year ended December 31, 2004, the Compensation Committee
awarded up to 50% of the annual cash incentive potential to its executives.
Long-Term Stock Incentives. Long-term stock incentives, which are a
component of compensation, are awarded by the Compensation Committee of the
Board. The Compensation Committee administers the 2005 Plan as well as the
Company's other stock-based plans (collectively referred to as the "Plans"), and
determines the recipients of the nonqualified and incentive Plans and non-Plan
stock options and the exercise price of such stock options on the date of grant.
Grants to executives under the plans are determined by the Compensation
Committee and are designed to align a portion of the executive compensation
package with the long-term interests of the Company's shareholders by providing
an incentive that focuses attention on managing the Company from the perspective
of an owner with an equity stake in the business.
Incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options are granted for
terms up to ten years, and are designed to reward exceptional performance with a
long-term benefit, facilitate stock ownership, and deter recruitment of key
Company personnel by competitors and others. In evaluating annual compensation
of executive officers, the Compensation Committee takes into consideration the
stock options as a percentage of total compensation, consistent with its
philosophy that stock incentives more closely align the interests of company
managers with the long-term interests of shareholders, and takes the number of
options granted to an executive officer into consideration in determining base
salaries of executive officers. In granting stock options to executive officers,
the Compensation Committee considers the number and size of stock options
already held by an executive officer when determining the size of stock option
awards to be made to the officer in a given fiscal year.
At April 18, 2004 the executive officers appearing in the Summary
Compensation Table held stock or currently held the right to acquire stock
representing 22.6% of the Company's outstanding Common Stock.
Section 162(m). Section 162(m) to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), which prohibits a deduction to any publicly held
corporation for compensation paid to a "covered employee" in excess of $1
million per year (the "Dollar Limitation"). A covered employee is any employee
who appears in the Summary Compensation Table who is also employed by the
Company on the last day of the Company's calendar year. The Compensation
Committee may consider alternatives to its existing compensation programs in the
future with respect to qualifying executive compensation for deductibility.
As described above, the Company's executive compensation program provides
a link between total compensation and the Company's performance and long-term
stock price appreciation consistent with the compensation philosophies set forth
above. This program has been established since the Company's establishment of
its first stock option plan in 1993, and has been a significant factor in the
Company's growth and profitability and the resulting gains achieved by the
Company's shareholders.
12
April 18, 2005 Compensation Committee
Hubert d'Amours
Andre Julien
Norman Schipper
Stephen Cole
John Caldwell
Simon Raab
Gregory Fraser
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
The Compensation Committee currently consists of Messrs. Hubert d'Amours,
Andre Julien, Norman Schipper, Stephen Cole, John Caldwell, Simon Raab, and
Gregory Fraser. Currently, Mr. Julien serves as Chairman of the Committee. There
were no transactions during the year ended December 31, 2004 between the Company
and members of the Compensation Committee or entities in which they own an
interest, other than as disclosed in CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED
TRANSACTIONS, below.
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The following table sets forth information regarding compensation plans
under which equity securities of the Company are authorized for issuance as of
December 31, 2004.
Number of
Securities Weighted
To be Average
Issued upon Exercise Number of
Exercise of Price of Securities
Outstanding Outstanding Remaining
Options, Options, Available
Warrants, Warrants, for Future
Plan Category and Rights and Rights Issuance
------------- ----------- ----------- ----------
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders 1,215,240 $ 13.69 1,148,781
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders -- -- --
---------- --------- ----------
Total 1,215,240 $ 13.69 1,148,781
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
The Company leases its headquarters from Xenon Research, Inc. ("Xenon"),
all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of which is owned by Simon Raab,
the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, and Diana Raab, his spouse.
The term of the lease expires on February 28, 2006, and the Company has two
five-year renewal options. Base rent under the lease was $398,000 for 2004. Base
rent during renewal periods will reflect changes in the U.S. Bureau of Labor
statistics consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers. The terms of the lease
were approved by an independent committee of the Company's Board of Directors
upon review of an independent market study of comparable rental rates and such
terms are, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, no less favorable than
those that could be obtained on an arm's-length basis.
In connection with the Company's acquisition in January 2002 of
SpatialMetrix, Inc., the Company engaged Cole and Partners, a mergers and
acquisition and corporate finance advisory service firm, to serve as the
Company's financial advisor. Stephen Cole, one of the Company's directors, is
the founding Partner and President of Cole and Partners. For its services, Cole
and Partners charged the Company fees of $450,000, of which $302,000 were paid
in 2002.
13
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following line graph compares the cumulative five-year Common Stock returns
with the cumulative returns of the Dow Jones Equity Market Index and the S&P
500 Index.
COMPARSION OF THE FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
AMONG FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC., THE DOW JONES US TOTAL MARKET INDEX
AND THE S&P 500 INDEX
* Assumes $100 Invested on December 31, 1999
[LINE GRAPH OMITTED]
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Ernst & Young LLP, independent public accountants, audited the Company's
consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003
and reviewed the financial statements included in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.
On November 15, 2004 the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Faro
Technologies, Inc. participated in, recommended and approved the engagement of
Grant Thornton LLP as the Company's principal accountant to audit the financial
statements of the Company. Grant Thornton LLP was engaged by the Company on
November 15, 2004. The Company dismissed Ernst & Young LLP on November 16, 2004
as its principal accountant to audit the Company's financial statements. The
reason for the change in the Company's principal accountant to audit financial
statements was a desire, in the spirit of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to
ensure a more clear separation between tax consulting and audit assistance for
the Company. Ernst & Young LLP is still being retained by the Company as its
principal accountant for tax purposes. Prior to the engagement of Grant Thornton
LLP, Ernst & Young LLP had served as the principal accountant to audit the
Company's financial statements for a period including the Company's two most
recent fiscal years.
Ernst & Young LLP audited the Company's financial statements for the years
ended December 31, 2002, and 2003, and issued its audit report dated February
20, 2004. During the two most recent fiscal years and the subsequent interim
period preceding November 16, 2004 (date of dismissal), no report of Ernst &
Young LLP on the Company's financial statements contained an adverse opinion or
a disclaimer of opinion, nor was one qualified as to uncertainty, audit scope,
or accounting principles.
14
During the two most recent fiscal years and the subsequent interim period
preceding November 16, 2004 (date of dismissal), there were no disagreements
with Ernst & Young LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices,
financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which
disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Ernst & Young LLP would
have caused Ernst & Young LLP to make a reference to the subject matter of the
disagreements in connection with its report on the Company's financial
statements for any such periods. The Company requested that Ernst & Young LLP
furnish it with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission
stating whether or not it agrees with the above statements. The letter is
attached as Exhibit 16 to the Company's Form 8-K filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on November 18, 2004.
Grant Thornton LLP, independent public accountants, audited the Company's
consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.
Grant Thornton LLP has been selected by the Audit Committee to serve as the
Company's independent auditors for the current fiscal year. Representatives of
Grant Thornton LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting to respond to
appropriate questions and to make a statement, if they so desire.
Fees Paid to Ernst & Young LLP ("EY") and Grant Thornton LLP ("GT"):
2004 2003
----------------------------------- ------------------------------------
EY GT Total EY GT Total
Audit fees (1) 491,626 108,900 600,526 464,245 - 464,245
Audit related fees (2) 16,000 - 16,000 19,000 - 19,000
Tax fees-preparation and compliance 124,765 - 124,765 80,068 - 80,068
----------------------------------- ------------------------------------
Total audit, audit related and tax preparation and
compliance fees 632,391 108,900 741,291 563,313 - 563,313
Other non-audit fees
Tax fees-other (3) 227,675 - 227,675 539,684 - 539,684
All other fees - - - - - -
----------------------------------- ------------------------------------
Total other fees 227,675 - 227,675 539,684 - 539,684
----------------------------------- ------------------------------------
Total fees 860,066 108,900 968,966 1,102,997 - 1,102,997
=================================== ====================================
(1) Audit of financial statements, review of financial statements included in
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and fees in connection with the Company's
Form S-3 registration statement (File No.333-110670)
(2) Primarily due diligence work and employee benefit plan audits.
(3) Tax consulting
The Audit Committee has concluded that provision of the audit and
permitted non-audit services described above by Grant Thornton LLP and Ernst &
Young LLP is compatible with maintaining independence of Grant Thornton LLP and
Ernst & Young LLP.
Pursuant to the Audit Committee Charter, the Audit Committee pre-approved
all of such services. The Audit Committee has established pre-approval policies
and procedures with respect to audit and permitted non-audit services to be
provided by its independent auditors. Pursuant to these policies and procedures,
the Audit Committee may form, and delegate authority to, subcommittees
consisting of one or more members when appropriate to grant such pre-approvals,
provided that decisions of such subcommittee to grant pre-approvals are
presented to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. The Audit
Committee's pre-approval policies do not permit the delegation of the Audit
Committee's responsibilities to management.
DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
The deadline for submission of shareholder proposals pursuant to Rule
14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Rule 14a-8") for inclusion in
the Company's proxy statement for its 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders is
December 10, 2004. Notice to the Company of a shareholder proposal submitted
otherwise than pursuant to Rule 14a-8 will be considered untimely, and the
persons named in proxies solicited by the Board of Directors of the Company for
its 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders may exercise discretionary voting power
with respect to any such proposal if received by the Company after March 15,
2005 (assuming a May 17, 2005 meeting date).
15
OTHER MATTERS
If any other matters shall come before the Annual Meeting, the persons
named in the proxy, or their substitutes, will vote thereon in accordance with
their judgment. The Board does not know of any other matters which will be
presented for action at the meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors
GREGORY A. FRASER, Ph.D.
April 21, 2005 Secretary
16
APPENDIX A
Faro Technologies Inc.
Audit Committee Charter
MISSION STATEMENT
The Audit Committee will assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its
oversight responsibilities. The Committee's primary purpose is to provide
oversight regarding the accounting and financial reporting process, the system
of internal control, the audit process, and the Company's process for monitoring
compliance with laws and regulations.
ORGANIZATION
o The Committee shall be comprised of three or more directors as
determined by the Board
o All members of the Committee shall meet the general independence,
experience and financial understanding requirements of the Nasdaq
Stock Market, Inc. ("Nasdaq"), Section 10A(m)(3) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and the rules
and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC")
o At least one member of the Committee shall be an "audit committee
financial expert" as defined by the SEC
o Committee members shall not simultaneously serve on the audit
committees of more than two other public companies
o The Committee shall meet as frequently as circumstances dictate (but
not less frequently than quarterly).
o The Committee shall meet periodically in executive session with
management (including the chief financial officer and chief
accounting officer), the internal audit staff and the independent
auditor and shall have such other direct and independent interaction
with such persons from time to time as the members of the Committee
deem appropriate.
o The Committee may request any officer or employee of the Company or
the Company's outside counsel or independent auditor to attend a
meeting of the Committee or to meet with any members of, or
consultants to, the Committee.
o The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board
annually or as necessary to fill vacancies on the recommendation of
the Company's Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (or, in
the absence of such a committee, the full Board).
o The Chairperson of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board
upon recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee and in consultation with the Chairman of the Board (or, in
the absence of such a committee, the full Board).
o The Chairperson will chair all regular sessions of the Committee
and, in consultation with the Company's management, set the agenda
for Committee meetings; provided that in the Chairperson's absence,
the Chairperson's responsibilities may be undertaken by another
member of the Committee.
o Any member of the Committee may call meetings of the Committee.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Internal Control
o Review and reassess the adequacy of this Charter annually, with the
assistance of counsel, if appropriate, with an emphasis on
compliance with any new SEC or Nasdaq rules and considering other
developments as appropriate.
o Submit the Charter to the Board for approval annually and have the
Charter published in the Company's proxy statement at least every
three years or as otherwise appropriate in accordance with the SEC's
rules and regulations.
o Discuss with management its efforts to communicate the importance of
internal control.
o Discuss annually with management and the external auditors the
extent to which the external auditors review computer systems and
applications, the security of such systems and applications, and the
contingency plan for processing financial information in the event
of a systems breakdown; advise the Board of, or otherwise address,
any significant issues or recommendations.
o Determine by discussion with management whether internal control
recommendations made by the external auditors have been implemented
by management; request that, in connection with the Company's next
financial statement audit, the external auditors advise the
Committee of whether the recommendations were implemented to the
satisfaction of the external auditors.
o Review disclosures made to the Committee by the Company's Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer during their
certification process for the Form 10-K and Form 10-Q about any
significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal
controls or material weaknesses therein and any fraud involving
management or other employees who have a significant role in the
Company's internal controls.
A-1
Financial Reporting
General
o Request that management and/or the Company's or the Committee's
outside experts periodically update the Committee about significant
accounting and reporting issues, including recent professional and
regulatory pronouncements.
o At least annually, ask management and the external auditors about
significant risks and exposures and the plans to minimize such
risks; request that management and the external auditors provide
updates to the Committee as appropriate.
o Review major changes to the Company's accounting principles as
suggested by the external auditors or management.
o Review and discuss with management and the external auditors the
quarterly and annual earnings press releases; provided that the
responsibility for such review may be delegated to one or more
members of the Committee.
Annual Financial Statements
o Review and discuss with management and the external auditors the
annual audited financial statements to be included in the Company's
annual report on Form 10-K; and, based on the foregoing review and
discussion, recommend to the Board whether the audited financial
statements should be included in the Company's Form 10-K.
o Review and discuss with management and the external auditors the
management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A") and other sections of
the annual report before its release.
Interim Financial Statements
o Consult with management and the external auditors, as appropriate,
regarding matters related to the preparation of quarterly financial
information.
o Review and discuss with management the interim financial statements
and MD&A included in each quarterly Form 10-Q prior to filing
thereof with the SEC; provided that the responsibility for such
review may be delegated to one or more members of the Committee.
Compliance with Laws and Regulations
o Periodically obtain updates from management, general counsel, and
tax director regarding compliance with applicable laws and
regulations and applicable internal conflict of interest policies
and procedures
o Periodically receive updates from management and the external
auditors regarding regulatory compliance matters
o Periodically receive updates from management regarding the findings
of any examinations by regulatory agencies that may have a material
impact on the financial statements, such as the SEC
o Approve all related-party transactions to the extent required by the
rules and regulations of Nasdaq.
External Audit
o Appoint, retain and, as appropriate, terminate the Company's
external auditors (such actions shall be taken in the Committee's
sole discretion); the external auditors shall report directly to the
Committee.
o Approve in its sole discretion the compensation to be paid to and
oversee the work of the external auditors (including resolution of
disagreements between management and the external auditors regarding
financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an
audit report or related work.
o Pre-approve (which pre-approval may be pursuant to pre-approval
policies and procedures established by the Committee) all auditing
services, internal control-related services and permitted non-audit
services (including the fees and terms thereof) to be performed for
the Company by its external auditors, subject to the de minimis
exceptions for non-audit services described in Section 10A(i)(1)(B)
of the Exchange Act; provided that the Committee may delegate
authority to grant pre-approvals of audit and permitted non-audit
services to one or more of its members, provided that decisions of
such member or members to grant pre-approvals shall be presented to
the full Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
o Meet with the external auditors prior to the audit and review the
external auditors' proposed audit scope, staffing and approach.
o Ensure the receipt of formal written reports from the external
auditors regarding the auditors' independence, and delineating all
relationships between the auditors and the Company, consistent with
Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, and discuss such
reports with the auditors; it is the responsibility of the Committee
to take such action as may be necessary to ensure the independence
of the external auditors.
A-2
o Ensure the rotation of the lead (or coordinating) audit partner
having primary responsibility for the audit and the audit partner
responsible for reviewing the audit as required by law.
o Set clear policies for the hiring by the Company of employees or
former employees of the external auditors who participated in any
capacity in the audit of the Company.
o Discuss with the external auditors the matters required to be
discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 relating to the
conduct of the audit.
o Review and discuss reports from the external auditors on:
o All critical accounting policies and practices to be used;
o All alternative treatments of financial information within generally
accepted accounting principles that have been discussed with
management, ramifications of the use of such alternative disclosures
and treatments, and the treatment preferred by the external
auditors;
o Other material written communications between the external auditors
and management, such as any management letter or schedule of
unadjusted differences.
Other Responsibilities
o Establish procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of
complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal
accounting controls or auditing matters, and the confidential,
anonymous submission by employees of the Company of concerns
regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
o Maintain minutes or other records of meetings and activities of the
Committee.
REPORTING RESPONSIBILITIES
o Report regularly to the Board with respect to matters as are
relevant to the Committee's discharge of its responsibilities and
such recommendations as the Committee may deem appropriate, which
report may take the form of an oral report by the Committee's
Chairperson or any other member of the Committee designated by the
Committee to make such report.
o Prepare, with the assistance of counsel if appropriate, the report
required by the rules and regulations of the SEC to be included in
the Company's annual proxy statements.
OTHER AUTHORITY AND RESOURCES
The Committee shall have the authority, to the extent it deems necessary
or appropriate, to retain independent legal, accounting or other advisors. The
Company shall provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the Committee,
for payment of compensation to the external auditors for the purpose of
rendering or issuing an audit report or performing related services and to any
advisors employed by the Committee. The Company shall also provide appropriate
funding, as determined by the Committee, for ordinary administrative expenses
incurred by the Committee in carrying out its duties. The Committee shall not
delegate any of its responsibilities to a subcommittee or member of the
Committee, except as set forth in this Charter.
LIMITATION OF THE COMMITTEE'S ROLE
While the Committee has the responsibilities and powers set forth in this
Charter, it is not the duty of the Committee to plan or conduct audits or to
determine that the Company's financial statements and disclosures are complete
and accurate and are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
and applicable rules and regulations. These are the responsibilities of
management and the external auditors.
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