stratasys_def14a.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the
Registrant x
Filed by a Party other than the
Registrant o
Check the appropriate
box:
o Preliminary Proxy Statement
o Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only
(as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
x Definitive Proxy
Statement
o Definitive Additional
Materials
o Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a -12
STRATASYS, INC. |
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its
Charter) |
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy
Statement, if other than the
Registrant) |
Payment of Filing Fee
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any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2)
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STRATASYS, INC.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS
Time and Date
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3:30 p.m. Central Time, on May 6, 2010 |
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Place
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Stratasys Inc. |
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Corporate Headquarters |
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7665 Commerce Way |
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Eden Prairie, MN 55344 |
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Items of Business
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- To elect six directors to
serve until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their
successors are duly elected and qualified; and
- To vote on an advisory
proposal to ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as our
independent registered public accounting firm for 2010.
- To transact such other
business as may properly come before the meeting or any postponement or
adjournment thereof.
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Our Board of
Directors recommends a vote FOR each nominee named in the proxy statement
and FOR the ratification of the appointment of Grant Thornton as our
independent registered public accounting firm.
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Record
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You are entitled to vote if you were a
stockholder as of the close of business on March 17,
2010.
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Voting |
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We urge you to read this proxy statement
and vote your shares promptly. You may vote your shares in person by
attending the Annual Meeting. You may also vote your shares by proxy by
(i) signing and returning the form of proxy in the enclosed envelope, (ii)
the Internet, or (iii) toll-free telephone call. You may revoke your proxy
at any time before it is voted, and if you wish, you may attend the Annual
Meeting and vote in person even if you have previously signed a proxy.
Specific instructions to be followed in order to vote are set forth on the
enclosed proxy card or voting instruction form provided by your broker,
trustee or nominee.
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By Order of the Board of Directors |
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ROBERT F. GALLAGHER |
Chief Financial Officer and
Secretary |
This Notice of Annual
Meeting of Stockholders, Proxy Statement and form of proxy are first being
distributed on or about April 5, 2010.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of
Materials for the
Annual Meeting to be held on May 6,
2010:
This Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy
Statement, our 2009 Annual Report to Stockholders
and the Form of Proxy are
available at http://materials.proxyvote.com.862685.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Questions and Answers About the Proxy
Materials and the Annual Meeting |
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Proposal 1. Election of
Directors |
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Nominees for Election as Directors |
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Board Independence |
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Availability of Information and Communications
with the Board |
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Meetings of the Board of Directors and
Executive Sessions |
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Board Committees |
8 |
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Board Leadership and the Board’s Role in
Oversight of Risk Management |
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Consideration of Director
Nominees |
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Diversity |
11 |
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Executive Officers |
11 |
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Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial
Owners and Management |
12 |
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Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership
Reporting Compliance |
14 |
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Executive Compensation |
14 |
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Compensation Discussion and
Analysis |
14 |
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Report of the Compensation Committee of
Directors on Executive Compensation |
17 |
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Summary Compensation Table |
18 |
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Grants of Plan-Based Awards |
19 |
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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal
Year-End |
20 |
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Option Exercises and Stock
Vested |
21 |
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Equity Compensation Plan
Information |
21 |
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Director Compensation |
22 |
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Director Compensation Policies |
22 |
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Employee Compensation Policies and Practices as
They Relate to Risk Management |
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Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider
Participation |
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Principal Accountant Fees and
Services |
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Report of the Audit Committee |
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Proposal 2. Ratification of Selection of
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
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Transactions with Related
Persons |
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STRATASYS, INC.
7665 Commerce Way
Eden
Prairie, Minnesota 55344-2020
952.937.3000
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
MAY 6, 2010
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
ABOUT
THE PROXY MATERIALS AND THE ANNUAL
MEETING
Why am I receiving these
materials?
We sent you this
proxy statement and the enclosed form of proxy because our Board of Directors is
soliciting your proxy to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders
to be held at 3:30 p.m., Central Time, on May 6, 2010, at Stratasys Corporate
Headquarters, 7665 Commerce Way, Eden Prairie, Minnesota. This proxy statement
provides information that we are required to provide to you under the rules of
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the purpose of assisting
you in voting your shares.
How can I obtain Stratasys’ Form
10-K?
A copy of our 2009
Annual Report on Form 10-K is enclosed as a part of our 2009 Annual Report to
Stockholders (including beneficial owners of our common stock). Our Form 10-K is
also available via our website at www.stratasys.com, or via the SEC’s website at
www.sec.gov. Stockholders may also obtain a copy of our Form 10-K free of charge
upon written request to Stratasys, Inc., Attention: Secretary, 7665 Commerce
Way, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344. We will furnish any exhibit to the 2009 Form
10-K if specifically requested.
What items of business will be voted on at the
Annual Meeting?
- The election of six directors to
serve until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors
are duly elected and qualified.
- An advisory proposal to ratify the
appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public
accounting firm for 2010.
We will also consider
any other business that is properly brought before the Annual
Meeting.
How does the Board recommend I
vote?
Our Board recommends
that you vote FOR each of the director nominees and FOR the proposal to
ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as our independent registered
public accounting firm for 2010.
What shares can I vote?
Our only class of
stock outstanding is common stock, par value $.01 per share. Each share of
common stock outstanding as of the close of business on the record date, March
17, 2010, is entitled to one vote on all items of business at the Annual
Meeting. You may vote all shares you owned at that time, which may be (1) shares
held directly in your name as the stockholder of record and (2) shares held for
you as beneficial owner through a broker, trustee or other nominee, such as a
bank. On the record date, there were 20,510,787 shares of common stock
outstanding and entitled to vote. There were 92 stockholders of record and
approximately 9,493 beneficial owners on the record date. The closing price of
the common stock for that date, as quoted on the Nasdaq Global Select Market,
was $27.69.
What is the difference between holding shares
as a stockholder of record and as a beneficial owner?
Most stockholders
hold their shares through a broker or other nominee rather than directly in
their own names. As summarized below, there are some distinctions between shares
held of record and those owned beneficially.
Stockholder of Record. If your shares are registered directly in
your name with our transfer agent, Continental Stock Transfer Company, you are
considered to be, with respect to those shares, a stockholder of record, and
these proxy materials are being sent directly to you by Stratasys. You may have
stock certificates for those shares or they may be registered in book-entry form
under the direct registration system. As the stockholder of record, you have the
right to grant your voting proxy directly to our proxy holders or to vote in
person at the Annual Meeting. We have enclosed a proxy card for your
use.
Beneficial Owner. If your shares
are held in a brokerage account or by a trustee or nominee, you are considered
to be the beneficial owner of shares held in street name, and these proxy
materials are being forwarded to you together with a voting instruction form by
the broker, trustee or nominee or an agent hired by the broker, trustee or
nominee. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker,
trustee or nominee how to vote, and you are also invited to attend the Annual
Meeting.
As a beneficial owner
is not the stockholder of record, you may not vote these shares directly at the
Annual Meeting unless you obtain a “legal proxy” from the broker, trustee or
nominee that holds your shares, giving you the right to vote the shares at the
Annual Meeting. Your broker, trustee or nominee has enclosed or provided voting
instructions for you to use in directing the broker, trustee or nominee how to
vote your shares.
How can I vote my shares in person at the
Annual Meeting?
Shares held in your
name as the stockholder of record may be voted on a ballot that we will provide
to you at the Annual Meeting. Shares held beneficially in street name may be
voted on a ballot only if you bring a legal proxy from the broker, trustee or
nominee that holds your shares giving you the right to vote the shares. Even if
you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we recommend that you also submit your
proxy or voting instruction form as described below so that your vote will be
counted if you later decide not to attend the Annual Meeting.
How can I vote my shares without attending the
Annual Meeting?
Whether you hold
shares directly as a stockholder of record or beneficially in street name, you
may direct how your shares are voted without attending the Annual Meeting. If
you are a stockholder of record, you may vote by submitting a proxy. If you hold
shares beneficially in street name, you may vote by submitting voting
instructions to your broker, trustee or nominee. For directions on how to vote,
please refer to the instructions below and those on the proxy card or voting
instruction form you are provided.
You may cast your
vote by proxy as follows:
- By Internet—Stockholders of record may vote using the Internet by voting at the
website listed on the enclosed proxy card. Beneficial owners may vote by
accessing the website specified on the voting instruction form provided by
their brokers, trustees or nominees. Please check the voting instruction form
for Internet voting availability.
- By telephone—Stockholders of record may vote by using the toll-free telephone
number listed on the enclosed proxy card. Beneficial owners may vote by
telephone by calling the number specified on the voting instruction forms
provided by their brokers, trustees or nominees.
- By mail—Stockholders of record may vote by completing, signing, dating and
mailing the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying pre-addressed postage paid
envelope. Beneficial owners may vote by completing, signing and dating the
voting instruction forms provided by their brokers, trustees or nominees and
mailing them in the enclosed pre-addressed envelope.
2
Are the proxy statement and annual report
available electronically?
This proxy statement
and our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K are available on our website at
www.stratasys.com, at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, and at
http://materials.proxyvote.com .862685.
Can I change my vote?
If you are a
stockholder of record and have submitted a proxy card, you can change your vote
by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. Attendance at the Annual
Meeting will not cause your previously granted proxy to be revoked, unless you
vote again. You may also revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted by
sending a written notice of revocation or by submitting a signed proxy bearing a
later date, in either case, to Stratasys, Inc., c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way,
Edgewood, NY 11717. Broadridge must receive any such revocation of proxy by 5:00
p.m., Eastern Time, on May 5, 2010, for it to be effective.
If you voted on the
Internet or by telephone, you may change your vote by voting at the Annual
Meeting or by following the instructions for changing your vote on the enclosed
proxy card.
If your shares are
held in street name or by a broker, trustee or nominee, you may change your vote
by following the instructions provided to you by your broker, trustee or
nominee. If you have obtained a legal proxy from your broker, trustee or nominee
giving you the right to vote your shares, you can change your vote by attending
the Annual Meeting and voting in person.
What is the quorum required in order to
conduct business at the Annual Meeting?
A majority of the
shares outstanding at the record date must be present at the Annual Meeting in
order to establish the quorum necessary to hold the meeting and conduct
business. Shares are counted as “present” at the Annual Meeting if the
stockholder attends the meeting in person or is represented at the meeting by
proxy.
What is the voting requirement to approve the
election of directors and any other proposal and how are votes counted?
- Directors are elected by a
plurality of the votes cast for the election of directors at the Annual
Meeting. In the election of directors, you may vote for all of the nominees or
you may withhold your vote with respect to one or more of the nominees.
- Approval of the proposal to ratify
the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public
accounting firm requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast
at the Annual Meeting. You may
vote for or against this proposal, or you may abstain. An abstention has the
same effect as a vote against this proposal.
If you provide
specific instructions (mark boxes) with regard to certain proposals, your shares
will be voted as you instruct. If you sign and return your proxy card or voting
instruction form without giving specific instructions, your shares will be voted
in accordance with the recommendations of the Board. The proxy holders will vote
in their discretion on any other matters that properly come before the Annual
Meeting.
If you are a
stockholder of record and do not return your proxy card, or do not vote via the
Internet or by telephone, your shares will not be voted. However, if you hold
shares beneficially in street name, the result will be different. If you do not
return the voting instruction form, your broker may vote your shares in certain
circumstances and on certain proposals. Generally, brokers may vote shares they
hold for you in their own discretion on the proposals to ratify the selection of
an independent registered public accounting firm and certain other routine
matters, if you do not give them instructions on how to vote. Brokers may not,
however, vote your shares in their discretion on the election of directors, but
may only vote in accordance with instructions from the beneficial owners.
Where brokers are
prohibited from exercising discretionary authority for beneficial owners who
have not provided voting instructions (commonly referred to as “broker
non-votes”), those shares will be included in determining the presence of a
quorum at the meeting, but are not considered “present” for the purposes of
voting on non-discretionary matters. Such shares have no impact on the outcome
of such proposals.
3
What happens if additional matters are
presented at the Annual Meeting?
Other than the
proposals described in this proxy statement, we are not aware of any other
business to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting. If you grant a proxy, the
persons named as proxy holders, S. Scott Crump and Thomas W. Stenoien, will have
the discretion to vote your shares on any additional matters properly presented
for a vote at the Annual Meeting in accordance with their best judgment. If for
any unforeseen reason any of our nominees is not available as a candidate for
reelection as a director, the proxy holders will vote your proxy for such other
candidate or candidates as may be nominated by the Board.
Who will count the votes?
We will appoint two
individuals to act as inspectors of election to tabulate the votes cast at the
Annual Meeting.
What does it mean if I receive more than one
set of voting materials?
It means you have
multiple accounts with the transfer agent and/or with brokers and banks. Please
complete, sign, date and return to us each proxy card and voting instruction
form you receive.
We used to get multiple copies of these
materials, but now we only get one. Why?
If you and others at
your mailing address hold stock through a bank, broker or other institution, you
were probably notified that your household would start receiving only one annual
report and proxy statement for each company whose stock you hold that way. This
practice is known as “householding.” Its purpose is to reduce the volume of
duplicate information you receive and to reduce associated printing and postage
costs. If you received such a notice, unless you responded that you did not want
to participate in householding, your household will receive a single copy of the
proxy statement and annual report, accompanied by separate voting instruction
forms for each stockholder. If you want to receive multiple household copies in
the future, please contact the bank, broker or other institution through which
you hold your shares.
Who will pay the costs of soliciting votes for
the Annual Meeting?
Stratasys is making
this solicitation and will pay the entire cost of preparing, printing, mailing
and distributing these proxy materials and soliciting votes with respect to the
Annual Meeting. In addition to the mailing of these proxy materials, the
solicitation of proxies may be made in person, by telephone or by electronic
communication by certain of our directors, officers and other employees, who
will not receive any additional compensation for such activities. We will also
reimburse brokerage firms, banks, and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries
for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in forwarding proxy and solicitation
materials to the beneficial owners of our common stock.
Where can I find the voting results of the
Annual Meeting?
We expect to announce
preliminary voting results at the Annual Meeting and publish final results in a
current report on Form 8-K within four business days after our Annual Meeting.
You can access that Form 8-K, and all of our other reports filed with the SEC,
at our website, www.stratasys.com, or at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov.
Is a list of stockholders entitled to vote at
the Annual Meeting available?
The list of
stockholders of record as of the record date will be available at the Annual
Meeting. It will also be available during business hours for ten days prior to
the date of the Annual Meeting, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.,
Central Daylight Time, Monday through Friday, at our principal executive office,
7665 Commerce Way, Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Any Stratasys stockholder may
examine the list for any purpose germane to the Annual Meeting.
4
What is the deadline to propose actions for
consideration at next year’s Annual Meeting?
If a stockholder
intends to present a proposal at our 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, we
must receive it no later than December 7, 2010, in order for it to be included
in the proxy statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting. If the date of the meeting is changed
by more than 30 calendar days from the date on which this year’s meeting is
held, or if the proposal is to be presented at any meeting other than the next
Annual Meeting of Stockholders, we must receive the proposal at our principal
executive office at a reasonable time before the solicitation of such proxies
for such meeting is made.
Stockholder proposals
for business matters to be conducted at the 2011 Annual Meeting, including
nominations of persons to serve as directors of Stratasys, but not to be
considered for inclusion in our proxy statement and form of proxy relating to
our 2011 Annual Meeting, must be received no later than February 19, 2011. Such
proposals should be directed to our Secretary at 7665 Commerce Way, Eden
Prairie, Minnesota 55344.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
Whether or not you plan to attend the 2010 Annual Meeting, please read
this Proxy Statement and promptly
vote your shares on the Internet, by telephone or by completing, signing,
and dating your enclosed proxy or
voting instruction form and returning it in the enclosed
envelope.
5
PROPOSAL 1.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Nominees For Election as Directors
Our Board of
Directors currently has six members. The directors to be elected at the Annual
Meeting will serve until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their
successors are duly elected and qualified. Proxies not marked to the contrary
will be voted FOR the election to the Board of Directors of the
following six persons, all of whom are incumbent directors. All nominees were
elected as directors at the 2009 Annual Meeting. The following information
provides the age and business experience as of March 17, 2010, of the nominees
for election. All nominees have consented to being named as such in this proxy
statement and have agreed to serve if elected. If, as a result of circumstances
not presently known, any of such nominees declines or is unable to serve as a
director, proxies will be voted for the election of such other person as the
Board of Directors may select, or the Board may reduce the number of Directors
constituting the Board of Directors.
S. Scott Crump, age 56, has served as our Chief Executive
Officer, President, Treasurer and a director since our inception in 1988 and as
Chief Financial Officer from February 1990 to May 1997. Mr. Crump is, with Lisa
H. Crump, his wife, a co-founder of Stratasys, and he is the inventor of
Stratasys’ FDM®
technology. During the period from 1982 to 1988, Mr. Crump was a co-founder and
Vice President of Sales of IDEA, Inc., which later changed its name to SI
Technologies, Inc., a leading manufacturer of force, load and pressure
transducers. Mr. Crump continued to be a director and shareholder of that
company until its sale to Vishay Intertechnologies, Inc. (NYSE: VSH) in April
2005. Mr. Crump, a registered professional engineer, is the son of Ralph E.
Crump, a director of Stratasys. Mr. Crump is one of the founders of our company
and as the inventor of our FDM technology, he is intimately familiar with our
products and our business. We have determined that since he has been involved
with the development of our business since its inception, Mr. Crump is well
suited to serve as a director of Stratasys.
Ralph E. Crump, age 86, has been a director of Stratasys
since 1990. Mr. Crump is President of Crump Industrial Group, an investment firm
located in Trumbull, Connecticut. He was a founder and director of Osmonics,
Inc., now GE Osmonics, a manufacturer of reverse osmosis water filtration
devices, until it was acquired by General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) in February
2003. Mr. Crump was chairman of SI Technologies, Inc. until April 1, 2005, when
it was sold to Vishay Intertechnologies, Inc. (NYSE: VSH). In 1962, Mr. Crump
founded Frigitronics, Inc., a manufacturer of ophthalmic goods and medical
instruments, and was its President and Chairman of the Board until it was
acquired by Revlon in 1986. Mr. Crump was also a director of Mity Enterprises,
Inc. (Nasdaq: MITY), a manufacturer of institutional furniture, until July 17,
2007, when it was acquired by a wholly owned subsidiary of MITY Holdings, Inc.,
an affiliate of Sorenson Capital Partners, L.P., and Peterson Partners LP. He is
a Trustee of the Alumni Foundation of UCLA and a member of the Board of
Overseers for the Thayer Engineering School at Dartmouth College. Mr. Crump is
the father of S. Scott Crump. We have determined that, as a founder and director
of several public companies, Mr. Crump has extensive experience with
entrepreneurial technology companies, which makes him well suited to serve as a
director of Stratasys.
John J. McEleney, age 47, has been a director of Stratasys
since 2007. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Cloud Switch, a privately held
software company. He served as a director of SolidWorks Corporation, a wholly
owned subsidiary of Dassault Systemes S.A. (Nasdaq: DASTY), from June 2000 to
May 2008, and also served as its Chief Executive Officer from 2001 until June
2007. Mr. McEleney joined SolidWorks in 1996, serving in several capacities,
including Chief Operating Officer and Vice President, Americas Sales. Prior to
joining SolidWorks, Mr. McEleney held several key management positions at CAD
software pioneer Computervision and at defense contractor Raytheon. Mr. McEleney
also serves as a director of Newforma, a privately held software company. We
have determined that Mr. McEleney’s industry experience in 3D CAD software and
his understanding of the market makes him well suited to serve as a director of
Stratasys.
6
Edward J. Fierko,
age 69, has been a director of Stratasys since February 2002. Since May 2003,
Mr. Fierko has been President of EJF Associates, a consulting firm. From March
2003 to May 2003, Mr. Fierko was Vice President of GE Osmonics, Inc., a
manufacturer of reverse osmosis water filtration devices. From November 1999
through February 2003, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer of
Osmonics, and from November 1998 to September 1999 he served as Executive Vice
President of Osmonics. From September 1987 to August 1998, Mr. Fierko was
President and CEO of Ecowater International, a holding company with operating
companies in the water, waste and special process treatment industry. Prior to
that, Mr. Fierko held several management positions over a 23-year career at
General Electric Company. We have determined that Mr. Fierko’s operational
experience in manufacturing companies as well as experience in overseeing the
accounting function of a division of a public company as its CFO makes him well
suited to serve as a director of Stratasys.
Clifford H. Schwieter, age 62, has been a director of Stratasys
since 1994. Since 2009, Mr. Schwieter has been the President and a Managing
Director of C.H. Schwieter and Associates, LLC, a management and financial
consulting firm; he also served in that capacity from 1994 to 2002. From 2002 to
2009, Mr. Schwieter was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Concise
Logic, Inc., a software development company focused on semiconductor design
tools. From July 1992 to March 1994, he served as President, Chief Executive
Officer and a director of Centric Engineering Systems, Inc., which was engaged
in the development of mechanical design and analysis software for computing
systems ranging from workstations to mainframes and massively parallel networked
computing environments. Mr. Schwieter was Vice President and General Manager of
the Electronic Imaging Systems Division of the DuPont Company from 1986 to 1991.
From 1971 to 1986, Mr. Schwieter was with the General Electric Company, where he
served as Vice President of GE’s Calma Company from 1985 to 1986 and was
responsible for that subsidiary’s worldwide business in the mechanical design
and factory automation arena. He was President and Representative Director of GE
Industrial Automation, Ltd., a joint venture between GE and C. Itoh &
Company located in Tokyo, from 1982 to 1985. We have determined that Mr.
Schwieter’s experience in software development, plastics and mechanical design
makes him well suited to serve as a director of Stratasys.
Gregory L. Wilson, age 62, has been a director of Stratasys
since 1994. Mr. Wilson has been Chairman of the Board of SimTek Fence, a
manufacturer of synthetic fences, since 2007. He was, with his wife Kathy R.
Wilson, a co-founder of Mity Enterprises, Inc., a manufacturer of institutional
furniture, and served as Chairman of the Board of that company from its
inception in 1987 to July 17, 2007 when it was acquired by MITY Holdings, LLC, a
subsidiary of Sorenson Capital Partners, L.P. and Peterson Partners L.P. From
its inception until May 2002, he also served as President of Mity. From 1982
until 1987, Mr. Wilson was President of Church Furnishings, Inc., in Provo,
Utah. Mr. Wilson served as a Financial Analyst at the Ford Motor Company and as
General Manager of the Stereo Optical Company in Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Wilson
also serves on the board of directors of Design Imaging, Inc., Salt Lake City,
Utah, and The Central Utah Advisory Board for Wells Fargo Bank. We have
determined that Mr. Wilson’s experience as a CEO of a small cap public company
makes him well suited to serve as a director of Stratasys.
Board Independence.
Our Board of
Directors has determined that none of our directors, except S. Scott Crump, the
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Ralph E.
Crump, S. Scott Crump’s father, have a relationship with Stratasys, either as an
officer or employee of Stratasys or its subsidiaries or any other relationship
that, in the opinion of our Board of Directors, would interfere with the
exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a
director. Therefore, each non-management director, other than Ralph E. Crump, is
independent within the meaning of SEC regulations and the Nasdaq Stock Market,
Inc. (“Nasdaq”) listing standards for director independence. The Board has three
standing committees, the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, and the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Only independent directors serve
on the standing committees of the Board, and accordingly, all members of those
committees are also independent.
Availability of Information and Communications
with the Board.
We have established a
Corporate Governance section on our website, at www.stratasys.com, which is
accessible by clicking “Investors” and then clicking “Corporate Governance.” The
charters of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, Compensation
Committee and Audit Committee are posted there. Additional materials may be
added in the future. In addition, our Board has adopted our Code of Business
Conduct and Ethics, which applies to all of our directors, officers and
employees. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is filed as Exhibit 14.1 to
our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K and can be accessed at the SEC’s website
www.sec.gov. This proxy statement and our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K are
also available on our website, www.stratasys.com.
7
Stockholders may also
obtain free printed copies of these materials by contacting Investor Relations
as follows:
Stratasys,
Inc.
7665 Commerce Way
Eden Prairie,
Minnesota 55344
Attention:
Shane Glenn – Director of Investor Relations
Email:
shane.glenn@stratasys.com
You may address
written communications to our non-management directors or, if requested, the
full Board of Directors, by mail or courier to Stratasys, Inc., Attention:
Secretary, 7665 Commerce Way, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344, or by email to
Shane Glenn, shane.glenn@stratasys.com.
We have no specific
policy requiring directors to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. To
reduce the expenses of holding the Annual Meeting, we did not pay the costs of
the independent directors to attend the 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, but
one independent director attended at his own expense. However, we anticipate
that all of our directors will attend the 2010 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders.
Meetings of the Board of Directors and
Executive Sessions.
Our Board of
Directors held 10 meetings in 2009, six of which were conducted by telephone
conference call. Each director attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of
Board meetings and Board committee meetings on which that director served during
2009. Independent directors meet separately without management or
non-independent directors present before each scheduled meeting of the Board of
Directors.
Board Committees.
Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is composed of three independent directors. The
current members are Edward J. Fierko (Chairman), Clifford H. Schwieter, and
Gregory L. Wilson, all of whom served on the Committee in 2009. Each member of
the Audit Committee qualifies as “independent” for purposes of membership on the
Audit Committee pursuant to Nasdaq listing requirements and SEC rules and is
“financially literate” as required by Nasdaq listing requirements. In addition,
our Board has determined that Mr. Fierko qualifies as an “audit committee
financial expert” as defined by SEC rules and meets the qualifications of
“financial sophistication” under the Nasdaq listing requirements as a result of
his experience as an officer of a public company. Other members of the Audit
Committee who have served as chief executive officers or chief financial
officers of public companies or have similar experience or understanding with
respect to certain accounting and auditing matters may also be considered audit
committee financial experts. You should understand that these designations
related to our Audit Committee members’ experience and understanding with
respect to certain accounting and auditing matters do not impose upon any of
them any duties, obligations or liabilities that are greater than those
generally imposed on a member of the Audit Committee or of our Board.
The Audit Committee
held five meetings in 2009. The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the
appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of our independent auditors,
who report directly to the Audit Committee. In addition, the Audit Committee is
responsible for addressing complaints received by Stratasys regarding any
accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, as well as
employees’ concerns regarding any questionable accounting or auditing matters.
The duties of the Audit Committee also include reviewing and considering actions
of management in matters relating to audit functions, reviewing reports from
various regulatory authorities, reviewing our system of internal controls and
procedures, and reviewing the effectiveness of procedures intended to prevent
violations of laws and regulations. The Committee’s authority and
responsibilities are set forth in its Charter, which is available on our website
www.stratasys.com.
The report of the
Audit Committee appears on page 24 of this proxy statement.
Compensation Committee. The Compensation
Committee is composed of three independent directors. The current members are
Clifford H. Schwieter (Chairman), Edward J. Fierko, and Gregory L. Wilson, all
of whom served on the Committee in 2009. The Board of Directors has determined
that under applicable SEC regulations, Nasdaq listing standards, and Internal Revenue Code rules, all of the members of
the Compensation Committee are independent, non-employee, outside directors. A
current copy of the Compensation Committee’s Charter is available on our website
at www.stratasys.com.
8
The
Compensation Committee held six meetings in 2009. The Compensation Committee
recommends to the Board policies for executive compensation and approves the
remuneration of all our officers, including our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”).
It also administers our stock option and incentive compensation plans and
recommends the establishment of and monitors the compensation and incentive
program for all Stratasys executives.
The Compensation
Committee acts on elements of executive officer compensation at specified times
during the year. Shortly before the end of each year, the Compensation Committee
comprehensively reviews the total compensation of each executive officer and
relevant peer group comparisons with the Compensation Committee’s independent,
external compensation consultant. Decisions on executive officer salaries for
the following year are made at the same meeting.
In the first quarter
of each year, the Compensation Committee determines the amount of the payments
to be made to officers under the annual incentive compensation plan based on
performance achieved during the preceding year. In the same quarter, the
Compensation Committee sets the performance metrics for the current year’s
incentive compensation plan.
The Compensation
Committee considers stock option grants for executive officers and other
employees at the same time as it establishes the compensation plan for the year.
This may occur during the last quarter of the year preceding the implementation
of the compensation plan or the first quarter of the ensuing year, depending on
the status of the plan at the time. The Compensation Committee generally
delegates authority to the CEO to recommend grants of options to employees other
than executive officers. However, our Board approves all such grants at the
meeting at which stock options are granted to the executive officers.
The Compensation
Committee did not retain a compensation consultant in connection with executive
compensation for 2009 or 2010.
Our senior management
works closely with the Compensation Committee to evaluate and recommend
compensation for our other officers and employees. In addition, the CEO makes
recommendations to the Compensation Committee regarding compensation for our
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer.
The report of the
Compensation Committee appears on page 17 of this proxy statement.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee is composed of three independent directors. The current members are
Gregory L. Wilson (Chairman), Edward J. Fierko and Clifford H. Schweitzer. The
Board of Directors has determined that under applicable Nasdaq listing
standards, all of the members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee are independent. A current copy of the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee’s charter is available on our website at
www.stratasys.com.
The Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee held two meetings in 2009. In connection with its
nominating function, the Committee evaluates and recommends to the Board
director nominees to fill vacancies that may occur on the Board of Directors and
its standing committees. In connection with its corporate governance function,
the Committee reviews and recommends to the Board corporate governance
principles applicable to Stratasys, including the evaluation and recommendation
of criteria for membership on the Board and the composition and structure of the
Board and its committees.
Board Leadership and the Board’s Role in
Oversight of Risk Management.
Board Leadership.
Our Board does not have a specific policy on whether the positions of Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer should be held by different individuals or the same
individual, nor does it have a policy regarding the appointment of a lead
independent director. The Board believes that it should have the flexibility to
determine its leadership from time to time in a manner that will be in the best
interests of our Company and its stockholders.
9
This determination
will be based in part upon the individual who is serving as CEO and the
composition of the Board at that time.
Presently, Scott
Crump, our founder, is serving as both Chairman and CEO, and has served in those
capacities since the inception of our Company. Our Board believes that Mr.
Crump’s experience of more than 20 years in this dual capacity affords him a
unique ability to direct the corporate agenda and to implement Company policies
on a day-today basis. In light of the active involvement of our other Directors
in setting the agenda for Board meetings, our Board has determined that it is
not necessary to appoint a lead independent director. Our Chairman circulates
preliminary meeting agendas in advance of all regular Board meetings and
solicits input from our Directors on matters that should be included in the
agenda for each meeting. As our four independent Directors meet separately in
executive sessions during our regular Board meetings, we believe that this
leadership structure provides independent oversight of management while
facilitating the implementation of corporate policies established by the Board.
Oversight of Risk Management.
Our Chief Executive
Officer and senior management are principally responsible for risk
identification, management and mitigation and have identified operational and
financial risks as the primary risks that face our Company. At regularly
scheduled Board meetings, our management generally provides the Directors with a
review of each key operational component of our business as well as a review of
our financial performance and condition. In these reviews, senior management
identifies the significant operational and financial risks and their plans for
mitigating such risks. Our Directors have the opportunity to evaluate such risks
and mitigation plans, to ask questions of management regarding those risks and
plans, and to offer their ideas and insights to management as to these and other
perceived risks and the implementation of risk mitigation plans.
In addition to
discussions at regular Board meetings, our Audit Committee meets separately with
our internal audit staff and with representatives of our independent registered
public accounting firm to determine whether they have identified any material
financial risks or any deficiencies in our internal controls over financial
reporting, and if so, their plans to rectify or mitigate these risks. Finally,
our Directors discuss risks related to our long-term business strategy at the
Board’s annual strategic planning meeting and at other meetings as appropriate
during the year. We believe that our Board leadership structure enables senior
management to communicate identified risks to the Directors at several levels
and affords a free flow of communication between the Board and management
regarding risk identification and mitigation.
Consideration of Director Nominees.
Although the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has not established minimum
qualifications for director candidates, it will consider, among other factors:
- Judgment
- Skill
- Diversity
- Experience with businesses and
other organizations of comparable size
- The interplay of the candidate’s
experience with the experience of other Board members
- The extent to which the candidate
would be a desirable addition to the Board and any committees of the Board
In
addition, the Committee considers specific qualities needed to fill vacancies,
such as financial sophistication for potential members of the Audit Committee,
and other characteristics desired to achieve a balance of knowledge, experience
and capability on the Board.
The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider all director
candidates recommended by stockholders, if they meet the criteria referred to
above. Recommendations may be made in writing and sent to the Chairman of the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in care of Stratasys, Inc., 7665
Commerce Way, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344. Such recommendations must include
the following information:
- the candidate’s name and
address
- the biographical data of the
candidate
- the candidate’s
qualifications
10
Members
of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will assess potential
candidates on a regular basis. Any stockholder recommendation of a candidate for
election at the 2011 Annual Meeting must be received no later than December 7,
2010 in order for the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to consider
it.
Diversity.
Our
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not have a formal written
policy regarding diversity in the composition of our Board of Directors.
However, as indicated above, diversity is one of the factors that the Committee
considers when evaluating possible nominees to the Board. In determining the
diversity of the Board, we take into consideration factors such as employment
experience, age, skills, and insights. We believe that the mix of these
qualities will afford the Board a diversity of perspectives in its
decision-making process.
Executive Officers.
In
addition to S. Scott Crump, our Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer,
and Treasurer, the following individuals serve as our executive officers:
Thomas W. Stenoien,
age 59, was appointed as our Chief Operating Officer in March 2005. Mr. Stenoien
served as our Chief Financial Officer from May 1997 to March 2005. Mr. Stenoien
also served as our Executive Vice President from 2001 to March 2005 and as our
Secretary from 1999 to May 2006. Mr. Stenoien joined Stratasys in February 1993
as Controller and has also served as Director of Finance.
Robert F. Gallagher, age 54, was appointed as our Chief Financial Officer in March 2005 and
was appointed as our Secretary in May 2006. Before joining Stratasys, Mr.
Gallagher was the Chief Financial Officer of Selas Corporation of America, a
manufacturer of micro-miniature components for the electronics industry, which
is now known as Intricon Corporation. From October 2000 until June 2002, he was
Chief Financial Officer for Visionics Corporation, a provider of biometric
technologies and information systems. From October 1989 until June 2000, Mr.
Gallagher was employed by TSI Incorporated, a diversified precision instrument
company, last holding the position of Chief Financial Officer. From June 2005 to
present, Mr. Gallagher has served on the Board of MOCON, Inc. (Nasdaq: MOCO), a
manufacturer of measurement and analytic devices, where he is also a member of
the audit committee.
11
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL
OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The
following table sets forth the number of shares of our common stock beneficially
owned, directly or indirectly, by (i) each person known by us to be the owner of
more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, (ii) each director,
(iii) each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table on page 18
(the “Named Executive Officers”) and (iv) all of our directors and executive
officers as a group, as of March 17, 2010, unless otherwise noted.
The
number and percentage of shares beneficially owned is determined in accordance
with Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is not necessarily
indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Shares of our common
stock that a person has a right to acquire within 60 days are deemed outstanding
for purposes of computing the percentage ownership of that person, but are not
deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any
other person, except with respect to the percentage ownership of all directors
and executive officers as a group. We based our calculations of the percentage
owned on 20,510,587 shares outstanding on March 17, 2010.
Except
as otherwise indicated, each director and Named Executive Officer (1) has sole
investment and voting power with respect to the securities indicated or (2)
shares investment and/or voting power with that individual’s spouse.
The address of each
director and Named Executive Officer listed in the table below is c/o Stratasys,
Inc., 7665 Commerce Way, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344
|
|
Amount and Nature of |
|
|
Name of Beneficial
Owner |
|
Beneficial Ownership |
|
Percent of Class |
Directors and
Officers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Scott Crump |
|
|
493,360 |
(1)
|
|
|
2.39 |
% |
Thomas W. Stenoien |
|
|
71,240 |
(2) |
|
|
* |
|
Robert F. Gallagher |
|
|
51,200 |
(3) |
|
|
* |
|
Ralph E. Crump |
|
|
589,160 |
(4) |
|
|
2.86 |
% |
Edward J. Fierko |
|
|
157,200 |
(5) |
|
|
* |
|
John J. McEleney |
|
|
11,200 |
(6) |
|
|
* |
|
Clifford H. Schwieter |
|
|
12,062 |
(7) |
|
|
* |
|
Gregory L. Wilson |
|
|
185,600 |
(8) |
|
|
* |
|
All directors and executive officers (8 persons) |
|
|
1,571,022 |
(9) |
|
|
7.53 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beneficial Owners of More Than
5% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. |
|
|
2,053,450 |
(10) |
|
|
10.10 |
% |
BlackRock, Inc. |
|
|
1,595,591 |
(11) |
|
|
7.88 |
% |
Bares Capital Management, Inc. |
|
|
1,444,819 |
(12) |
|
|
7.13 |
% |
Riverbridge Partners LLC |
|
|
1,092,516 |
(13) |
|
|
5.39 |
% |
PRIMECAP Management Company |
|
|
1,039,700 |
(14) |
|
|
5.13 |
% |
Mairs & Power, Inc. |
|
|
1,017,324 |
(15) |
|
|
5.00 |
% |
____________________
* |
|
Represents less than 1% of our outstanding common
stock. |
(1) |
|
Includes 91,200 shares issuable upon the
exercise of stock options that are presently exercisable or exercisable
within 60 days after March 17, 2010. Does not include 46,800 shares
issuable upon the exercise of stock options that are not presently
exercisable and will not be exercisable within 60 days after March 17,
2010. Also includes 192,700 shares owned of record by Mr. Crump’s wife.
Mr. Crump disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares owned by his wife.
In addition, Mr. Crump disclaims beneficial ownership of 278,980 shares
owned of record and 91,200 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock
options presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days after March
17, 2010 held by Ralph E. Crump, Mr. Crump’s father, and 218,980 shares
owned of record by Mr. Crump’s mother. |
12
(2) |
|
Includes 51,200 shares issuable upon the
exercise of stock options that are presently exercisable or exercisable
within 60 days after March 17, 2010. Does not include 44,800 shares
issuable upon the exercise of stock options that are not presently
exercisable and will not be exercisable within 60 days after March 17,
2010. |
(3) |
|
Includes 41,200 shares issuable upon the
exercise of stock options that are presently exercisable or exercisable
within 60 days after March 17, 2010. Does not include 54,800 shares
issuable upon the exercise of stock options that are not presently
exercisable and will not be exercisable within 60 days after March 17,
2010. |
(4) |
|
Includes 91,200 shares issuable upon the
exercise of stock options that are presently exercisable or exercisable
within 60 days after March 17, 2010. Does not include 46,800 shares
issuable upon the exercise of stock options that are not presently
exercisable and will not be exercisable within 60 days after March 17,
2010. Also includes 218,980 shares owned of record by Mr. Crump’s wife.
Mr. Crump disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares owned by his wife.
In addition, Mr. Crump disclaims beneficial ownership of 209,460 shares
owned of record and 91,200 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock
options presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days after March
17, 2010 held by S. Scott Crump, and 192,700 shares owned of record by Mr.
Crump’s daughter-in-law. |
(5) |
|
Includes 61,200 shares issuable upon the
exercise of stock options that are presently exercisable or exercisable
within 60 days after March 17, 2010. Does not include 46,800 shares
issuable upon the exercise of stock options that are not presently
exercisable and will not be exercisable within 60 days after March 17,
2010. |
(6) |
|
Represents 11,200 shares issuable upon
the exercise of stock options that are presently exercisable or
exercisable within 60 days after March 17, 2010. Does not include 46,800
shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options that are not presently
exercisable and will not be exercisable within 60 days after March 17,
2010. |
(7) |
|
Includes 11,200 shares issuable upon the
exercise of stock options that are presently exercisable or exercisable
within 60 days after March 17, 2010. Does not include 46,800 shares
issuable upon the exercise of stock options that are not presently
exercisable and will not be exercisable within 60 days after March 17,
2010. |
(8) |
|
Includes 2,800 shares issuable upon the
exercise of stock options that are presently exercisable or exercisable
within 60 days after March 17, 2010. Does not include 46,800 shares
issuable upon the exercise of stock options that are not presently
exercisable and will not be exercisable within 60 days after March 17,
2010. |
(9) |
|
Includes 361,200 shares issuable upon
the exercise of stock options that are presentably exercisable or
exercisable within 60 days after March 17, 2010. |
(10) |
|
Represents stock beneficially owned as
of December 31, 2009, as indicated on the Report on Schedule 13G filed by
Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc., Waddell & Reed Financial Services,
Inc., Waddell & Reed, Inc., Waddell & Reed Investment Management
Company and Ivy Investment Management Company, 6300 Lamar Avenue, Overland
Park, Kansas 66202. Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company
exercises direct voting and dispositive power with respect to 1,305,075
shares and Ivy Investment Management Company exercises direct voting and
dispositive power with respect to 748,375 shares. The percentage of shares
is based on the number of shares outstanding on December 31, 2009 and
assumes no acquisition or disposition by Waddell & Reed Investment
Management Company or Ivy Investment Company since December 31,
2009. |
(11) |
|
Represents stock beneficially owned as
of December 31, 2009, as indicated on the Report on Schedule 13G filed by
BlackRock, Inc., BlackRock Advisors (UK) Limited, BlackRock Institutional
Trust Company, N.A., BlackRock Fund Advisors and BlackRock Investment
Management, LLC, 40 East 52nd Street, New
York, New York 10022. BlackRock, Inc. exercises sole voting and
dispositive power with respect to 1,595,591 shares. The percentage of
shares is based on the number of shares outstanding on December 31, 2009
and assumes no acquisition or disposition by BlackRock, Inc. since
December 31, 2009. |
(12) |
|
Represents stock beneficially owned as
of December 31, 2009, as indicated on the Report on Schedule 13G filed by
Bares Capital Management, Inc., 221 W. 6th Street, Suite
1225, Austin, Texas 78701. Bares Capital Management, Inc. exercises sole
voting and dispositive power with respect to 14,019 shares and exercises
shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 1,430,800 shares. The
percentage of shares is based on the number of shares outstanding on
December 31, 2009 and assumes no acquisition or disposition by Bares
Capital Management, Inc. since December 31, 2009. |
(13) |
|
Represents stock beneficially owned as
of December 31, 2009, as indicated on the Report on Schedule 13G filed by
Riverbridge Partners LLC, 801 Nicollet Mall, Suite 600, Minneapolis,
Minnesota 55402. Riverbridge Partners LLC exercises sole voting power with
respect to 857,113 shares, exercises shared voting power with respect to
4,075 and exercises sole dispositive power with respect to 1,092,516
shares. The percentage of shares is based on the number of shares
outstanding on December 31, 2009 and assumes no acquisition or disposition
by Riverbridge Partners LLC since December 31,
2009. |
13
(14) |
|
Represents stock beneficially owned as
of December 31, 2009, as indicated on the Report on Schedule 13G filed by
PRIMECAP Management Company, 225 South Lake Avenue, #400, Pasadena,
California 91101. PRIMECAP Management Company exercises sole voting power
with respect to 893,700 shares and sole dispositive power with respect to
1,039,700 shares. The percentage of shares is based on the number of
shares outstanding on December 31, 2009 and assumes no acquisition or
disposition by PRIMECAP Management Company since December 31,
2009. |
(15) |
|
Represents stock beneficially owned as
of December 31, 2009, as indicated on the Report on Schedule 13G filed by
Mairs and Power, Inc., 332 Minnesota Street, W-1520, First National Bank
Building, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101, Mairs and Power, Inc. exercises sole
voting power with respect to 755,300 shares and exercises sole dispositive
power with respect to 1,017,324 shares. The percentage of shares is based
on the number of shares outstanding on December 31, 2009 and assumes no
acquisition or disposition by Mairs and Power, Inc. since December 31,
2009. |
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING
COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the
Exchange Act requires our executive officers and directors, and persons who own
more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities to file reports of
ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. SEC regulations also require us
to identify in this proxy statement any person subject to this requirement who
failed to file any such report on a timely basis.
Based on our review
of the reports we have received and written representations that no other
reports were required for 2009, we believe that all Section 16(a) reporting
requirements applicable to our executive officers and directors and persons who
own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities in 2009 were
satisfied in a timely fashion.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Discussion and
Analysis.
Our Compensation
Committee is principally responsible for developing our company-wide
compensation program. This program is designed to enable all of our employees to
receive an annual cash bonus if Stratasys achieves or exceeds the annual
performance goals that the Committee establishes. In addition, our compensation
program rewards our executives for long-term company performance. The objectives
of our compensation program are:
- To attract, retain, motivate and
incentivize our employees to help us achieve our business objectives
- To encourage and reward superior
individual performance
- To encourage teamwork and reward
group performance within our company
- To align the interests of our
executives with those of our stockholders by incentivizing increases in the
long-term value of our company
Development of Our Compensation Program
In connection with
the development of their annual business and financial plan each November, our
management team establishes annual company and individual goals for the ensuing
year. Consistent with those goals, management makes recommendations for
compensation for our executives for that year. Under the plan, executive
compensation consists of base salary, annual incentive compensation and
long-term incentive compensation. The Committee reviews and evaluates
management’s recommendations and reaches consensus with management on a final
proposal. The Committee then presents the final proposal to the full Board of
Directors, which adopts a final compensation program to be implemented for the
next year.
14
For years prior to
2009, the Committee compared our executives’ compensation with compensation paid
to executives at other similar publicly traded manufacturing companies of
comparable size. In 2006 and 2007, Riley, Dettmann & Kelsey, LLC, an
executive compensation consulting firm in Minnetonka, Minnesota, assisted the
Committee in making this evaluation. The Committee also reviews an annual list
of compensation at comparable companies compiled by the
Minneapolis-based law firm of Dorsey & Whitney. The Committee generally has
targeted our executive compensation within the third quartile of executive
compensation for comparable companies. The companies included in the peer group
for 2007 were:
Aviza Technology, Inc. |
Mobility Electronics, Inc. |
Digi International, Inc. |
Printronx, Inc. |
FSI International, Inc. |
Rimage Corporation |
Hauppauge Digital, Inc. |
Secure Computing Corporation |
Intevac, Inc. |
Ultratech, Inc. |
Key Tronic Corporation |
|
The Committee did not
obtain the assistance of an executive compensation consultant in connection with
establishing executive compensation for 2008 or 2009. For 2008, it believed that
based on the consultants’ studies for 2006 and 2007, the compensation
established for those years aligned our compensation with that of comparable
companies and the Committee’s targets. Since there had been no significant
change in our financial standing in relation to comparable companies in looking
forward to 2008, the Committee did not believe that it was necessary to obtain a
report of an executive compensation consultant for the subsequent year.
In the second half of
2008, it became apparent that the world-wide economic crisis and attendant
reduction in capital spending would adversely impact our financial results. In
its planning for 2009, management recommended that we freeze the salaries of all
of our employees at their current levels. This freeze was also applicable to
senior management, and therefore, their annual base salaries for 2009 remained
the same as they were in 2008.
The Components of Our Compensation Program
Base Salary. Prior to 2009, we have based executives’
annual base salaries on their individual performance in the prior year, job
responsibilities, expected future contributions and salaries paid to executives
with similar responsibilities at comparable companies. As we seek to weigh total
compensation more heavily toward incentives, base salaries for our executives
tend to range near the median salary for executives at comparable companies.
As previously
indicated, in accordance with management’s recommendation, we froze the salaries
of all of our employees, including our executive officers, for 2009.
Accordingly, the Committee maintained Mr. Crump’s annual base salary for 2009 at
$203,252, which was the same as his 2008 base salary.
Normally, our CEO
proposes the base salaries for Thomas W. Stenoien, our Chief Operating Officer,
and Robert F. Gallagher, our Chief Financial Officer. As a result of the salary
freeze, however, the Committee maintained Mr. Stenoien’s base salary at $174,056
and Mr. Gallagher’s base salary at $196,948. The Committee has determined that
Mr. Gallagher’s duties and responsibilities have a less direct impact on
achievement of our performance goals than Mr. Crump’s or Mr. Stenoien’s.
Therefore, it has recommended that Mr. Gallagher’s total cash compensation be
more heavily weighted to his base salary than Messrs. Crump and Stenoien, whose
total cash compensation is more significantly weighted to their annual incentive
compensation plans.
15
Annual Incentive
Compensation. We employ a
“management by objectives” philosophy at Stratasys and align annual incentive
compensation for our executives with their achievement of the objectives that we
establish for them. Executives responsible for internal operating or management
groups, such as research and development, manufacturing, system sales and human
resources, have different management objectives. These objectives may include:
- The number of new products or
product enhancements introduced.
- Development of specific training
programs.
- Implementation of new
manufacturing procedures.
- Development of new or improved
inventory ordering and control procedures.
- Sales of a specific number of
systems.
We base annual
incentive compensation for our CEO, COO and CFO on achieving corporate financial
objectives, including, from time to time, revenue, operating profit, backlog,
net income, earnings per share and other such financial metrics.
For 2009, the
Committee established a target bonus for each executive, which would be paid if
specified objectives were met. An executive could earn from 0% to 130% of the
target bonus depending upon achievement of the objectives. If Stratasys failed
to achieve 85% of a specified objective, no bonus would be paid with respect to
that objective. Our annual plan established both quarterly and annual
performance objectives for our executives. Consistent with our desire to have
our executives achieve the interim plan objectives, we pay bonuses quarterly
based upon achievement of the interim plan goals.
If Stratasys does not
achieve the performance goals that would result in payment under the plan, the
Board will consider payment of a bonus based on actual company performance.
Conversely, if we surpass the performance goals that would result in a payment
of the maximum amount payable under the plan, the Board may award an additional
bonus. In these circumstances the amount of the bonus varies at the discretion
of the Board.
From time to time,
circumstances arise in which an executive achieves some interim plan objectives,
but fails to achieve annual plan objectives, resulting in an overpayment of the
bonus for the year. In that instance, we may negotiate a repayment plan with the
executive. We also have circumstances in which an executive is unable to achieve
his or her management objectives due to circumstances beyond his or her control.
In those instances, our Board of Directors may grant a bonus to the executive
based upon the individual’s performance and the performance of the executive’s
group in light of the adverse circumstances.
In 2009, the
Committee based 50% of annual incentive compensation for Messrs. Crump, Stenoien
and Gallagher on achievement of the 2009 corporate revenue objective of $117.6
million and 50% on achievement of the 2009 corporate operating income objective
of $12.8 million. We had actual revenue for 2009 of $98.4 million, or
approximately 84% of the target amount, and actual operating income for 2009 of
$5.8 million, or approximately 45% of the target amount. As the plan did not
provide for any incentive payment unless we achieved at least 85% of the target
revenue or target operating income, no payments were made to the Named Executive
Officers under the plan.
At its meeting on
February 5, 2010, the Committee evaluated the performance of each of the Named
Executive Officers in 2009 in relation to the adverse national and international
economic conditions during the year. It noted that the failure to achieve the
annual targets was due principally to the world-wide reduction in capital
expenditures in 2009, rather than a failure of management. In awarding the
bonuses for 2009, the Committee also took into consideration the fact that
Stratasys maintained profitability and enhanced its cash flow during a period of
international downturn and that the base salary for each of the Named Executive
officers for 2010 was increased by only 2% above the 2009 level, and there had
been no increase for 2009. Accordingly, the Committee awarded each Named
Executive Officer a discretionary bonus that was one-half of the bonus he
received for 2008. Such bonus was equal to 28% of the bonus he would have
received had we achieved the revenue and operating income targets. This bonus
amounted to $29,870 in the case of Mr. Crump, $26,974 in the case of Mr.
Stenoien and $12,905 in the case of Mr. Gallagher. The Committee awarded Mr.
Gallagher an additional bonus of $20,000 in recognition of his outstanding
performance in negotiating and concluding our Agreement with Hewlett-Packard
Company.
Stock Option Awards. Since the inception of Stratasys, we have
granted stock options as the principal long-term equity incentive for our
executives and employees. Stock options enable recipients to derive a financial
gain from the appreciation in our stock price from the date that the option is
granted to the date of exercise, which we believe aligns the interests of our
executives and employees with the long-term interests of our
stockholders.
16
The Committee
recommends all stock option awards to the full Board of Directors, which makes
all awards. We set the exercise price of our stock options at the closing price
of our common stock on Nasdaq on the date of grant. Options generally vest in
equal annual installments over a minimum of four years and generally have a term
of between five and ten years. The Board generally awards stock options when it
approves the annual compensation plan, which may range between October and
February, depending on when the final plan is approved. The Board has
delegated authority to our CEO to make interim awards of stock options to new
hires as those employees join our company. Awards to new executive hires above
the CEO’s delegated authority require Board approval. The Committee has
determined the number of options to be granted on the basis of, among other
things, the overall annual compensation plan for executives, the number of
options granted to executives at peer group companies, and the Black-Scholes
estimate of the value of the options granted.
The Board made stock
option awards to our executives on May 4, 2009. The Board granted 14,000 options
to each Named Executive Officer at an exercise price of $9.90 per share. The
options vest in five equal annual installments commencing on the first
anniversary of the date of grant and expire six years and one month after the
date of grant. The Committee and the Board have determined that the vesting and
term of these options will serve as a long-term incentive and retention vehicle.
Benefits. Our executives, including the Named Executive
Officers, receive the same benefits as all of our other employees. This includes
health insurance, paid vacation and matching contributions to our 401(k) plan of
up to $3,000 per year. Due to the weak economy, we suspended making
discretionary 401(k) matching contributions in February 2009 for all of our
employees, including the Named Executive Officers. Our executives do not receive
any additional benefits, nor are they entitled to any specific perquisites as a
part of our compensation program. We believe that our benefits are competitive
with comparable peer group companies.
Report of the Compensation Committee of the
Board of Directors on Executive Compensation
The Compensation
Committee establishes and oversees the design and functioning of the Company’s
executive compensation program. We have reviewed and discussed the foregoing
Compensation Discussion and Analysis with the management of the Company. Based
on this review and discussion, we recommended to the Board of Directors that the
Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Company’s Proxy
Statement for the 2010 Annual Meeting.
Compensation Committee:
Clifford H. Schwieter,
Chairman
Edward J. Fierko
Gregory L. Wilson
17
Summary Compensation Table
The following table
summarizes the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating
Officer, and Chief Financial Officer for the last three completed fiscal years
(the “Named Executive Officers”). We did not have any other executive officers
during 2009.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option |
|
Incentive Plan |
|
All Other |
|
|
Name and |
|
|
|
Salary |
|
Bonus(1) |
|
Awards(2) |
|
Compensation(3) |
|
Compensation(4) |
|
Total |
Principal
Position |
|
Year |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
S. Scott |
|
2009 |
|
203,252 |
|
29,870 |
|
49,736 |
|
- |
|
946 |
|
283,804 |
Crump, |
|
2008 |
|
203,252 |
|
59,740 |
|
228,526 |
|
- |
|
6,592 |
|
498,110 |
Chairman, |
|
2007 |
|
195,700 |
|
- |
|
202,702 |
|
59,740 |
|
8,211 |
|
466,353 |
President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and
Chief |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas W. |
|
2009 |
|
174,056 |
|
26,974 |
|
49,052 |
|
- |
|
801 |
|
250,883 |
Stenoien |
|
2008 |
|
174,056 |
|
53,948 |
|
129,126 |
|
- |
|
6,592 |
|
363,722 |
Chief |
|
2007 |
|
164,800 |
|
- |
|
103,302 |
|
53,948 |
|
8,211 |
|
330,261 |
Operating |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert F. |
|
2009 |
|
196,948 |
|
32,905 |
|
48,367 |
|
- |
|
906 |
|
279,126 |
Gallagher |
|
2008 |
|
196,948 |
|
25,809 |
|
29,726 |
|
- |
|
3,000 |
|
255,483 |
Chief |
|
2007 |
|
187,460 |
|
- |
|
3,902 |
|
25,809 |
|
3,000 |
|
220,171 |
Financial |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
____________________
(1) |
|
The amounts in this column reflect
discretionary bonuses awarded to the Named Executive Officers for 2008 and
2009 and paid in the subsequent year. |
(2) |
|
The amounts in this column reflect the
expense recognized for financial statement reporting purposes for the
years ended December 31, 2009, December 31, 2008, and December 31, 2007,
in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 178. These amounts include options
granted in 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2009 for stock option awards as
described in footnote 17 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. The assumptions made in the
valuation of such options are set forth in footnote 17. |
(3) |
|
The amounts in this column are payments
of annual incentive awards for 2007. |
(4) |
|
The amounts in this column reflect
matching contributions of $946 paid in 2009 in connection with Mr. Crump’s
401(k) plan, $801 paid in 2009 in connection with Mr. Stenoien’s 401(k)
plan, $906 paid in 2009 in connection with Mr. Gallagher’s 401(k) plan,
and $3,000 paid in 2008 and 2007 in connection with each Named Executive
Officer’s 401(k) plan; $3,592 paid to Mr. Crump in 2008 and $5,211 paid to
Mr. Crump in 2007 for travel costs associated with his spouse accompanying
him on a company business trip; and $3,592 paid to Mr. Stenoien in 2008
and $5,211 paid to Mr. Stenoien in 2007 for costs associated with his
spouse accompanying him on a company business
trip. |
18
Grants of Plan-Based Awards
The following table
provides information regarding 2009 grants of annual awards for the Named
Executive Officers, including the range of estimated possible payouts under our
annual management incentive compensation plan and the exercise price and grant
date fair value of stock options. These award opportunities align executives’
interests with stockholders by providing an incentive to increase stock price
and improve our long-term financial performance.
|
|
|
|
Estimated Possible |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payout Under |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Equity
Incentive |
|
All Other Option |
|
Exercise or Base |
|
Closing Price |
|
Grant Date Fair |
|
|
|
|
Plan Awards
(1) |
|
Awards: Number of |
|
Price of Option |
|
on Grant |
|
Value of Stock and |
|
|
Grant |
|
Targer |
|
Maximum |
|
Securities Underlying |
|
Awards(2) |
|
Date |
|
Option Awards(3) |
Name |
|
Date |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
Options |
|
($/Sh) |
|
($/Sh) |
|
($) |
S. Scott |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Crump |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive |
|
|
|
107,120 |
|
139,256 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option |
|
05/04/09 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,000 |
|
|
|
9.90 |
|
|
|
9.90 |
|
|
|
48,711 |
|
|
|
Thomas W. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stenoien |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive |
|
|
|
96,870 |
|
125,931 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option |
|
05/04/09 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,000 |
|
|
|
9.90 |
|
|
|
9.90 |
|
|
|
48,711 |
|
|
|
Robert F. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gallagher |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive |
|
|
|
46,278 |
|
60,161 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option |
|
05/04/09 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,000 |
|
|
|
9.90 |
|
|
|
9.90 |
|
|
|
48,711 |
|
____________________
(1) |
|
Represents the target and maximum
potential payouts pursuant to the management incentive compensation plan,
which is a cash incentive plan. The Compensation Committee established a
target payment for each Named Executive Officer based on achievement of
revenue and operating profit goals. Because the lowest payout under the
plan is zero, we have not included a column for threshold payments. The
annual incentive plan is described under “Compensation Discussion and
Analysis—The Components of our Compensation Program, Annual Incentive
Compensation,” above. |
(2) |
|
The stock option program is described in
“Compensation Discussion and Analysis—The Components of our Compensation
Program, Stock Option Awards,” above. Our equity compensation plans
provide that the exercise price will be not less than the “Fair Market
Value” on the date of grant, and define Fair Market Value as the closing
price of our common stock on Nasdaq on the date of grant. |
(3) |
|
Refer to note 17, “Stock options and
warrants,” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in
the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 9, 2010, for the relevant
assumptions used to determine the FASB ASC Topic 718 grant date fair value
of our stock option awards. |
19
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following table
provides information concerning shares of our common stock covered by
exercisable and unexercisable options and unvested or unearned stock awards held
by the Named Executive Officers on December 31, 2009.
|
|
Option Awards |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities |
|
Securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying |
|
Underlying |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unexercised |
|
Unexercised |
|
Option |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options |
|
Options |
|
Exercise |
|
Option |
|
|
(#) |
|
(#) |
|
Price |
|
Expiration |
Name |
|
Exercisable |
|
Unexercisable |
|
($) |
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Scott |
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
14.43 |
|
|
|
01/06/2010 |
|
Crump |
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
14.48 |
|
|
|
02/27/2011 |
|
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
12.49 |
|
|
|
11/16/2011 |
|
|
|
|
5,600 |
|
|
|
8,400 |
(2) |
|
|
23.04 |
|
|
|
11/07/2013 |
|
|
|
|
2,800 |
|
|
|
11,200 |
(2) |
|
|
13.22 |
|
|
|
11/22/2014 |
|
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
14,000 |
(2) |
|
|
9.90 |
|
|
|
06/04/2015 |
|
|
|
Thomas W. |
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
14.43 |
|
|
|
01/06/2010 |
|
Stenoien |
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
14.48 |
|
|
|
02/27/2011 |
|
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
12.49 |
|
|
|
11/16/2011 |
|
|
|
|
5,600 |
|
|
|
8,400 |
(3) |
|
|
23.04 |
|
|
|
11/07/2013 |
|
|
|
|
2,800 |
|
|
|
11,200 |
(3) |
|
|
13.22 |
|
|
|
11/22/2014 |
|
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
14,000 |
(3) |
|
|
9.90 |
|
|
|
06/04/2015 |
|
|
|
Robert F. |
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
14.17 |
|
|
|
03/30/2010 |
|
Gallagher |
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
12.49 |
|
|
|
11/16/2011 |
|
|
|
|
5,600 |
|
|
|
8,400 |
(4) |
|
|
23.04 |
|
|
|
11/07/2013 |
|
|
|
|
2,800 |
|
|
|
11,200 |
(4) |
|
|
13.22 |
|
|
|
11/22/2014 |
|
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
14,000 |
(4) |
|
|
9.90 |
|
|
|
06/04/2015 |
|
____________________
(1) |
|
Options granted in 2004, 2007 and 2008
vest in five equal annual installments commencing on the first anniversary
of the date of grant; options granted in 2004, 2005, and 2007 expire six
years after the date of grant; options granted in 2008 expire six years
and one month after the date of grant. Options granted in 2005 vested
immediately. The amount that vests in any one year is further divided
between incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options, to the
extent permissible in accordance with federal income tax
regulations. |
(2) |
|
The vesting dates of Mr. Crump’s
unvested options awards are further detailed in the following
table. |
Grant Date |
|
|
2010 |
|
2011 |
|
2012 |
|
2013 |
|
2014 |
11/08/2007 |
|
2,800 |
|
2,800 |
|
2,800 |
|
– |
|
– |
10/23/2008 |
|
2,800 |
|
2,800 |
|
2,800 |
|
2,800 |
|
– |
05/04/2009 |
|
2,800 |
|
2,800 |
|
2,800 |
|
2,800 |
|
2,800 |
20
(3) |
|
The vesting dates
of Mr. Stenoien’s unvested options awards are further detailed in the
following table. |
Grant Date |
|
|
2010 |
|
2011 |
|
2012 |
|
2013 |
|
2014 |
11/08/2007 |
|
2,800 |
|
2,800 |
|
2,800 |
|
– |
|
– |
10/23/2008 |
|
2,800 |
|
2,800 |
|
2,800 |
|
2,800 |
|
– |
05/04/2009 |
|
2,800 |
|
2,800 |
|
2,800 |
|
2,800 |
|
2,800 |
(4) |
|
The vesting dates
of Mr. Gallagher’s unvested options awards are further detailed in the
following table. |
Grant Date |
|
|
2010 |
|
2011 |
|
2012 |
|
2013 |
|
2014 |
11/08/2007 |
|
2,800 |
|
2,800 |
|
2,800 |
|
– |
|
– |
10/23/2008 |
|
2,800 |
|
2,800 |
|
2,800 |
|
2,800 |
|
– |
05/04/2009 |
|
2,800 |
|
2,800 |
|
2,800 |
|
2,800 |
|
2,800 |
Option Exercises and Stock Vested
Set forth below for
each of our Named Executive Officers is the number of shares of common stock for
which options were exercised during the year ended December 31, 2009, and the
aggregate dollar value realized upon exercise of such options. We have not
granted any equity awards other than stock options to our Named Executive
Officers or other employees.
|
|
Option Awards |
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares Acquired |
|
Value Realized |
|
|
on Exercise |
|
on Exercise |
Name |
|
(#) |
|
($) |
S. Scott Crump |
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
90,000 |
|
Thomas W. Stenoien |
|
|
44,000 |
|
|
|
66,980 |
|
Robert F. Gallagher |
|
|
– |
|
|
|
– |
|
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table sets forth the
number of securities to be issued upon the exercise of, and the weighted average
exercise price of, outstanding options, warrants and rights, and the number of
securities remaining available for future issuance, under our equity
compensation plans as of December 31, 2009:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
remaining |
|
|
|
|
|
|
available for |
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
future issuance |
|
|
securities |
|
Weighted |
|
under equity |
|
|
to be issued upon |
|
exercise price of |
|
compensation |
|
|
exercise of |
|
outstanding |
|
plans (excluding |
|
|
outstanding |
|
options, |
|
securities |
|
|
options, warrants |
|
warrants |
|
reflected in |
|
|
and rights |
|
and rights |
|
column (a)) |
|
|
(a) |
|
(b) |
|
(c) |
Equity compensation plans approved by
security holders* |
|
735,478 |
|
$14.49 |
|
1,112,366 |
____________________
* |
|
We do not have
any equity compensation plans that have not been approved by security
holders. |
21
Director Compensation
As more fully
described below, the following table summarizes the compensation during 2009 for
each of our non-employee directors:
|
|
Fees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earned or |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pain in(1) |
|
Option |
|
|
|
|
Cash |
|
Awards(2) |
|
Total |
Name |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
Ralph E. Crump |
|
|
21,000 |
|
|
|
48,367 |
|
|
|
69,367 |
|
Edward J. Fierko |
|
|
32,750 |
|
|
|
48,367 |
|
|
|
81,117 |
|
John J. McEleney |
|
|
21,000 |
|
|
|
48,367 |
|
|
|
69,367 |
|
Clifford H. Schwieter |
|
|
27,750 |
|
|
|
48,367 |
|
|
|
76,117 |
|
Gregory L. Wilson |
|
|
28,000 |
|
|
|
48.367 |
|
|
|
76,367 |
|
____________________
(1) |
|
Represents the total amount of annual
fees and meeting fees paid for 2009, which are denominated and payable in
cash. |
(2) |
|
Represents the compensation expense that
we recognized during the year ended December 31, 2009, in accordance with
the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 718 with respect to stock options granted
in 2009. The exercise price of each option is the fair market value on the
date of grant, which is the closing price per share of common stock as
reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on that date. The options
granted in 2007, 2008 and 2009 vest in five equal annual installments
commencing on the first anniversary of the date of grant. The options
granted in 2007 expire six years after the date of grant, and the options
granted in 2008 and 2009 expire six years and one month after the date of
grant. Each director received a grant of 14,000 options on May 4, 2009.
The exercise price of the options granted in 2009 is $9.90 per share,
which is the same as the underlying stock price on the date of the grant.
The grant date fair value of options is $3.48 per share. Refer to note 17,
“Stock options and warrants,” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 9,
2010, for the relevant assumptions used to determine the FASB ASC Topic
718 grant date fair value of our stock option
awards. |
The following table
sets forth for each director the aggregate number of stock options outstanding
as of December 31, 2009.
Name |
Number of Options |
Ralph E. Crump |
122,000 |
Edward J Fierko |
122,000 |
John J. McEleney |
42,000 |
Clifford H. Schwieter |
74,578 |
Gregory L. Wilson |
39,200
|
Director Compensation Policies.
S. Scott Crump, the
Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer and Treasurer, is the
only director who is also an employee of Stratasys. He is not paid any fee or
additional remuneration for service as a member of the Board, and he is not a
member of any Board committee.
Directors who are not
employees of Stratasys (“non-management directors”) received an annual fee for
Board service of $12,000 as compensation as well as attendance fees of $1,500
for each meeting of the Board attended in person and $250 for each meeting
attended by telephone. Each independent director will receive $2,500 per year
for committee service and $250 for attendance at each committee meeting not held
in conjunction with a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board. The Chairman of
the Audit Committee receives an additional $5,000 per year. Directors are
reimbursed for travel and other reasonable expenses incurred for the purpose of
attending meetings of the Board and its committees.
22
Employee Compensation Policies and Practices
as They Relate to Risk Management.
Our compensation
policies for all employees are designed to provide them with a reasonable base
cash compensation along with both short-term and long-term incentive
compensation, with a view to reducing the risk that any single employee or group
of employees with take risks that will result in a material adverse effect on
our financial condition. Cash compensation consists of a salary and an annual
incentive bonus. We set employees’ salaries at a level that we believe will
provide them with a steady income regardless of our performance so that
executives do not have to focus on short-term Company performance criteria to
the detriment of other important business metrics.
For executives and
most other employees, we have generally set the target cash incentive bonus at
between 15% and 50% of the executive’s or employee’s annual salary,
with a cap of approximately 65% of annual salary. We believe that capping the
annual incentive compensation in this way mitigates short-term risk taking, as
bonus payouts are limited even if we dramatically exceed the targets.
Furthermore, the performance measures are Company measures, rather than
individual measures. Thus, we believe that this encourages our executives and
other employees to take a balanced approach that focuses on overall corporate
performance. Certain sales positions have the majority of their targeted
compensation as incentive compensation tied to the sales they can generate. As
all sales orders are approved at the corporate level, we do not believe this
encourages taking risks that may have a material adverse effect on the Company.
For our long-term
performance incentive, we grant stock options, which generally vest over five
years and expire six years and one month after the grant date. Accordingly,
these options are valuable only if our stock price increases over the long term.
Accordingly, we believe that the short-term and long-term variable components of
our compensation program motivates our executives and other employees to produce
superior short- and long-term corporate results, without excessive
risk.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider
Participation.
Directors who were
members of our Compensation Committee in 2009 are Mr. Schwieter, Mr. Fierko, and
Mr. Wilson. During 2009, there were no compensation committee interlocks or
other relationships to be reported under this item.
RECOMMENDATION:
The Board of Directors Unanimously Recommends
That You Vote FOR
the Election of the Nominees Listed in Proposal 1.
23
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The aggregate fees we
paid to Grant Thornton, LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm,
for the years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 were as
follows:
|
|
2009 |
|
2008 |
Audit Fees |
|
|
$ |
188,494 |
|
|
|
$ |
193,177 |
|
Audit-Related Fees(a) |
|
|
|
18,950 |
|
|
|
|
22,825 |
|
Total Audit and Audit-Related
Fees |
|
|
$ |
207,444 |
|
|
|
$ |
216,002 |
|
Tax Fees |
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
All Other Fees |
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
____________________
(a) |
|
Audit-Related Fees
consisted of fees paid for the audit of our 401(k) plan and use of an
electronic accounting research site. |
The Audit Committee’s
policy is that all audit and non-audit services to be performed by our
independent registered public accounting firm must be approved in advance. The
policy permits the Audit Committee to delegate pre-approval authority to one or
more of its members and requires any member who pre-approves such services
pursuant to that authority to report his decision to the Committee. The Audit
Committee has delegated such authority to its Chair, Edward J.
Fierko.
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Stratasys Board
of Directors adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee, which was
amended on March 26, 2004, and is posted on our website, www.stratasys.com. Both
this Audit Committee and the Board of Directors have determined that the Amended
and Restated Audit Committee Charter states appropriate guiding principles for
the Audit Committee. In addition, after evaluating the qualifications of the
members of the Audit Committee, the Board of Directors determined that its
members continue to have the independence and expertise to serve on the Audit
Committee as required by all applicable rules and regulations.
In accordance with
the provisions of our charter, we have (i) reviewed Stratasys’ 2009 audited
financial statements with management, (ii) discussed with Stratasys’ independent
auditors, Grant Thornton LLP (“Grant Thornton”), the matters required to be
discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (“Codification of Statements
on Auditing Standards, AU §380”) as modified or supplemented, (iii) received the
written disclosures and the letter from Grant Thornton required by applicable
requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the
independent accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning
independence. We have also discussed with Grant Thornton and received its
written confirmation that it remains independent accountants with respect to
Stratasys, and discussed with Grant Thornton its independence from the
Company.
As part of our
responsibilities under our charter, we also reviewed Stratasys’ compliance with
its Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and the effectiveness of procedures
intended to prevent violation of laws and regulations.
In addition, we met
with Grant Thornton prior to the filing of Stratasys’ quarterly reports on Form
10-Q for the first, second and third quarters of 2009 to discuss the results of
its review of the financial information included in those reports.
Management has
represented to us, and Grant Thornton has confirmed, that Stratasys’ audited
financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States.
24
In performing our
oversight function, we relied upon advice and information received in our
discussions with Stratasys’ management, internal accountants, and Grant
Thornton. This advice and information was obtained at the Committee meetings
held during the year, during which we engaged both management and Grant Thornton
in current discussions. Each quarter of the fiscal year ended 2009, we met
separately with Grant Thornton. Based on the review and discussions referred to above, we have recommended to the
Board of Directors that Stratasys’ audited consolidated financial statements for
the year ended December 31, 2009 be included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K
for that year.
Audit Committee:
Edward J. Fierko,
Chairman
Clifford H. Schwieter
Gregory L. Wilson
PROPOSAL 2.
RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee
has reappointed the firm of Grant Thornton LLP to serve as our independent
registered public accounting firm for 2010. Grant Thornton has served as our
independent auditors since 2007 and is familiar with our business and
operations. In making this appointment, the Audit Committee considered whether
the provision of the services other than the services described under “Audit
Fees” and “Audit-Related Fees” is compatible with maintaining the independence
of Grant Thornton, and has concluded that the provision of such services is
compatible with maintaining independence.
As a matter of good
corporate governance, the Audit Committee has determined to submit its selection
of the independent registered public accounting firm to our stockholders for
ratification. In the event that this selection of Grant Thornton is not ratified
by a majority of the shares present or represented at the Annual Meeting and
entitled to vote on the matter, the Audit Committee will review its future
selection of an independent registered public accounting firm.
Representatives of
Grant Thornton are not expected to be present at our Annual
Meeting.
RECOMMENDATION
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote FOR Proposal
2.
TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS
There were no related
party transactions during the two-year period ended December 31, 2009, based on
the definition of “related person” provided in the SEC rules. Each of our
nominees for director was a director at the time of his nomination, and there
were no related party transactions with any director. In addition, during our
last two fiscal years, each security holder identified in the Beneficial
Ownership Table on page 12 was a financial institution and, accordingly, had no
immediate family members that could be related persons. Finally, our Chief
Financial Officer monitors reports filed with the SEC on Schedule 13D or
Schedule 13G to determine the owners of more than 5% of our common stock from
time to time. In connection with his monitoring of such holders as well as our
payables, receivables and other third-party transactions, he would become aware
of any transaction with such holders that would be required to be reported
hereunder. There were no such transactions during the applicable
period.
25
In light of their
experience as long-time directors or executive officers of our Company and other
public companies, we believe that all of our directors and executive officers
are fully aware of the rules relating to the reporting of related party
transactions and highly sensitive to the possibility that our Company might
engage in a related party transaction. Accordingly, we expect each of our
directors and executive officers to report the existence of any potential
related party transaction to our Board of Directors as soon as he becomes aware
of such a transaction. Upon disclosure of any such potential transaction, our
Board will review such transaction and determine whether it is a related party transaction required to be
disclosed in this proxy statement. If our Board determines that it is a related
party transaction, then it will evaluate whether the terms and conditions of the
transaction are the same as those that would pertain to an arm’s-length
transaction between unrelated parties or is otherwise in the best interests of
our Company. Based on those criteria and our Board’s evaluation, our Board will
vote on whether to approve the transaction.
We believe that our
Board of Directors and our Company is small enough at this time that our
directors and executive officers will be able to identify all potential related
party transactions and bring them to the attention of the Board. However, as we
grow, our Board is considering adopting a formal policy with respect to related
party transactions.
26
|
STRATASYS,
INC. 7665 COMMERCE WAY EDEN PRAIRIE, MN
55344-2020
|
VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com Use the Internet to transmit your voting
instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59
P.M. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have
your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the
instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting
instruction form.
ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY
MATERIALS If you
would like to reduce the costs incurred by Stratasys Inc. in mailing proxy
materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy
cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To
sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to
vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to
receive or access proxy materials electronically in future
years.
VOTE BY PHONE -
1-800-690-6903 Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions
up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or
meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow
the instructions.
VOTE BY MAIL Mark, sign and date your proxy card and
return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to
Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY
11717.
|
TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS
BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: |
M23076-P93641 |
|
KEEP THIS PORTION FOR
YOUR RECORDS |
|
DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY |
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN
SIGNED AND DATED. |
|
STRATASYS, INC.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Board of Directors recommends a VOTE
|
|
|
FOR all nominees listed. |
|
|
Vote on Directors
|
|
|
|
1. |
The election of six directors of the
Company to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until
their successors are duly elected and qualified. |
For All |
|
Withhold All |
|
For
All Except |
|
To withhold authority to vote for any
individual nominee(s), mark “For All Except” and write the number(s) of
the nominee(s) on the line below. |
|
|
|
O
|
|
O
|
|
O
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nominees:
|
|
1.) |
|
S. Scott Crump |
|
4.) |
|
John J. McEleney |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.) |
|
Ralph E. Crump |
|
5.) |
|
Clifford H. Schwieter |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.) |
|
Edward J. Fierko |
|
6.) |
|
Gregory L. Wilson |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Board of Directors recommends a VOTE FOR the ratification of
Grant Thorton LLP as the Company's Independent Registered Public
Accounting Firm.
|
|
For |
Against |
Abstain |
|
|
|
2. |
Ratification of Independent Registered Public
Accounting Firm. |
|
O
|
O
|
O
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The undersigned signatory hereby revokes any other proxy to vote at such
Annual Meeting, and hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys
and proxies, and each of them, may lawfully do by virtue hereof. With
respect to matters not known at the time of the solicitations hereby, said
proxies are authorized to vote in accordance with their best judgment. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The undersigned signatory acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Notice of
Annual Meeting, dated April 5, 2010, relating to the Annual Meeting. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For address changes and/or comments, please check this
box and write them on the back where indicated.
|
|
O
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yes |
|
No |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please indicate if you plan to attend this
meeting.
|
|
O
|
|
O
|
|
|
|
The signature(s) hereon should correspond exactly with
the name(s) of the Stockholder(s) appearing hereon. If stock is jointly
held, all joint owners should sign. When signing as attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the
signatory is a corporation, please sign the full corporate name and give
title of signing officer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MATERIALS
ELECTION As of July 1, 2007, SEC rules permit companies to send
you a notice that proxy information is available on the Internet, instead
of mailing you a complete set of materials. Check the box to the right if
you want to receive a complete set of future proxy materials by mail, at
no cost to you. If you do not take action you may receive only a
Notice.
|
|
O
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Signature [PLEASE SIGN
WITHIN BOX] |
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signature (Joint Owners) |
Date |
|
|
STRATASYS, INC.
Annual Meeting of
Stockholders
3:30 p.m. CDT
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Stratasys Corporate
Headquarters
7665 Commerce Way
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
To obtain directions to
our Corporate Headquarters, the location of our Annual Meeting of Stockholders,
and a map you can visit our website, www.stratasys.com, click on "Stratasys"
under "Contacts" and click on "Download Map" or contact Investor Relations
at:
Stratasys,
Inc.
7665 Commerce
Way
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
55344
Attn: Shane Glenn -
Director of Investor Relations
Email: shane.glenn@stratasys.com
Important Notice
Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:
The
Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement and 2009 Annual Report to
Stockholders are
available at
http://materials.proxyvote.com/862685
|
|
STRATASYS, INC. 7665 Commerce
Way Eden Prairie, MN 55344-2020 |
|
|
PROXY
The undersigned, a holder of common
stock of Stratasys, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby
appoints S. Scott Crump and Thomas W. Stenoien, and each of them, the proxy of
the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to attend, represent and vote
for the undersigned, all of the shares of the Company which the undersigned
would be entitled to vote, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company
to be held on May 6, 2010 and any adjournments thereof, as indicated on the
reverse side.
THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
INSTRUCTIONS ON THE OTHER SIDE HEREOF. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL
BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE SIX DIRECTORS NAMED IN PROPOSAL 1, FOR THE
RATIFICATION OF GRANT THORNTON LLP AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM, AND AS SAID PROXIES SHALL DEEM ADVISABLE ON SUCH OTHER
BUSINESS AS MAY COME BEFORE THE MEETING.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS OF STRATASYS, INC.
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE
PROXY
PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
Address Changes/Comments: |
|
|
|
(If you noted any Address Changes/Comments above, please
mark corresponding box on the reverse side.)