DEF 14A
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO.
)
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[ ] |
|
Preliminary Proxy Statement
|
|
|
|
|
[ ] |
|
Confidential, for Use of the
Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
|
|
|
|
[X] |
|
Definitive Proxy Statement |
|
|
|
|
[ ] |
|
Definitive Additional Materials |
|
|
|
|
[ ] |
|
Soliciting Material Pursuant to
Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-2. |
EMERSON RADIO CORP.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its
Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if
other than Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[ ] |
|
Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-12. |
|
(1) |
Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
|
(2) |
Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
|
(3) |
Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): |
|
(4) |
Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
[ ] |
|
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
|
[ ] |
|
Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
|
(1) |
Amount Previously Paid: |
|
(2) |
Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
EMERSON RADIO CORP.
NINE ENTIN ROAD
P.O. BOX 430
PARSIPPANY, NEW JERSEY 07054-0430
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD DECEMBER 13, 2007
Dear Stockholder:
As a stockholder of Emerson Radio Corp., you are hereby given notice of and invited to attend
in person or by proxy our 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at the offices of our
counsel, Lowenstein Sandler PC, located at 65 Livingston Avenue, Roseland, New Jersey 07068 on
Thursday, December 13, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. (local time).
At this years stockholders meeting, you will be asked to (i) elect ten directors to serve
for a one-year term, (ii) ratify the appointment of Moore Stephens, P.C. as our independent
registered public accountants for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008 and (iii) transact such
other business as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournment(s) thereof. Our Board of
Directors unanimously recommends that you vote FOR the directors nominated and the ratification of
Moore Stephens, P.C. Accordingly, please give careful attention to these proxy materials.
Only holders of record of our common stock as of the close of business on November 9, 2007,
are entitled to notice of and to vote at such meeting and any adjournment(s) thereof. Our transfer
books will not be closed.
You are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting. Whether you expect to attend the
annual meeting or not, please vote, sign, date and return in the self-addressed envelope provided
the enclosed proxy card as promptly as possible. If you attend the annual meeting, you may vote
your shares in person, even though you have previously signed and returned your proxy.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Andrew L. Davis
Secretary
Parsippany, New Jersey
November 21, 2007
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT.
PLEASE EXECUTE AND RETURN PROMPTLY THE
ENCLOSED PROXY CARD IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED HEREIN.
EMERSON RADIO CORP.
Nine Entin Road
P.O. Box 430
Parsippany, New Jersey 07054-0430
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD DECEMBER 13, 2007
To Our Stockholders:
This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board
of Directors of Emerson Radio Corp., a Delaware corporation, to be used at our Annual Meeting of
Stockholders to be held at the offices of our counsel, Lowenstein Sandler PC, located at 65
Livingston Avenue, Roseland, New Jersey 07068 on Thursday, December 13, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. (local
time), or at any adjournment or adjournments thereof. Our stockholders of record as of the close of
business on November 9, 2007, are entitled to vote at our annual meeting. We expect to begin
mailing this proxy statement and the enclosed proxy card to our stockholders on or about November
21, 2007.
VOTING PROCEDURES AND REVOCABILITY OF PROXIES
The accompanying proxy card is designed to permit each of our stockholders as of the record
date to vote on each of the proposals properly brought before the annual meeting. As of the record
date, there were 27,129,832 shares of our common stock, par value $.01 per share, issued and
outstanding and entitled to vote at the annual meeting. Each outstanding share of our common stock
is entitled to one vote.
The holders of a majority of our outstanding shares of common stock, present in person or by
proxy, will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the annual meeting. If a quorum
is not present, the annual meeting may be adjourned from time to time until a quorum is obtained.
Assuming that a quorum is present, directors will be elected by a plurality vote and the ten
nominees who receive the most votes will be elected. There is no right to cumulate votes in the
election of directors. The ratification of the appointment of Moore Stephens, P.C. as our
independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008 will
require the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present and entitled to vote with respect
to such proposal.
Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted for the purpose of determining whether a
quorum is present and do not have an effect on the election of directors. Abstentions,
1
but not broker non-votes, are treated as shares present and entitled to vote, and will be counted
as a no vote on all other matters. Broker non-votes are treated as not entitled to vote, and so
reduce the absolute number, but not the percentage of votes needed for approval of a matter. As of
the record date, The Grande Holdings Limited (Grande Holdings) had the indirect power to vote
approximately 57.6% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, and Grande Holdings has advised
us that they intend to attend the annual meeting and intend to vote in favor of each of the
proposals. As a result, we expect that we will have a quorum present at the annual meeting and that
each of the proposals will be approved. Holders of our common stock will not have any dissenters
rights of appraisal in connection with any of the matters to be voted on at the annual meeting.
The accompanying proxy card provides space for you to vote in favor of, or to withhold voting
for: (i) the nominees for the Board of Directors and (ii) the ratification of the appointment of
Moore Stephens, P.C. as independent registered public accountants of Emerson for the fiscal year
ending March 31, 2008. Our Board of Directors urges you to complete, sign, date and return the
proxy card in the accompanying envelope, which is postage prepaid for mailing in the United States.
When a signed proxy card is returned with choices specified with respect to voting matters,
the proxies designated on the proxy card will vote the shares in accordance with the stockholders
instructions. The proxies we have designated for the stockholders are Greenfield Pitts and John D.
Florian. If you desire to name another person as your proxy, you may do so by crossing out the
names of the designated proxies and inserting the names of the other persons to act as your
proxies. In that case, it will be necessary for you to sign the proxy card and deliver it to the
person named as your proxy and for the named proxy to be present and vote at the annual meeting.
Proxy cards so marked should not be mailed to us.
If you sign your proxy card and return it to us and you have made no specifications with
respect to voting matters, your shares will be voted FOR: (i) the election of the nominees for
director and (ii) the ratification of the appointment of Moore Stephens, P.C. as our independent
registered public accountants for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008 and, at the discretion of
the proxies designated by us, on any other matter that may properly come before the annual meeting
or any adjournment(s).
You have the unconditional right to revoke your proxy at any time prior to the voting of the
proxy by taking any act inconsistent with the proxy. Acts inconsistent with the proxy include
notifying our Secretary in writing of your revocation, executing a subsequent proxy, or personally
appearing at the annual meeting and casting a contrary vote. However, no revocation shall be
effective unless at or prior to the annual meeting we have received notice of such revocation.
At least ten (10) days before the annual meeting, we will make a complete list of the
stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting open to the examination of any stockholder for any
purpose germane to the meeting. The list will be open for inspection during ordinary business hours
at our offices located at Nine Entin Road, Parsippany, New Jersey 07054, and will also be made
available to stockholders present at the meeting.
2
PROPOSAL I: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Ten directors are proposed to be elected at the annual meeting. If elected, each director will
hold office until the next annual meeting of our stockholders or until his successor is elected and
qualified. The election of directors will be decided by a plurality vote.
The ten nominees for election as directors to serve until our next annual meeting of
shareholders and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified are Christopher Ho,
Adrian Ma, Greenfield Pitts, Michael A.B. Binney, Eduard Will, W. Michael Driscoll, Mirzan
Mahathir, David R. Peterson, Kareem E. Sethi and Norbert R. Wirsching. Seven of the nominees named
in this proxy statement are members of our current Board of Directors. All nominees have consented
to serve if elected and we have no reason to believe that any of the nominees named will be unable
to serve. If any nominee becomes unable to serve, (i) the shares represented by the designated
proxies will be voted for the election of a substitute as our Board of Directors may recommend,
(ii) our Board of Directors may reduce the number of directors eliminate the vacancy or (iii) our
Board of Directors may fill the vacancy at a later date after selecting an appropriate nominee.
The current Board of Directors nominated the individuals named below for election to our Board
of Directors, and background information on each of the nominees is set forth below See Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management for additional information about the
nominees, including their ownership of securities issued by Emerson.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Became |
|
|
Name |
|
Age |
|
Director |
|
Principal Occupation or Employment |
Christopher Ho
|
|
|
57 |
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
Christopher Ho has served as our Chairman since July
2006. Mr. Ho is presently the Chairman of Grande
Holdings, a Hong Kong based group of companies engaged
in a number of businesses including the manufacture, sale
and distribution of audio, video and other consumer
electronics and video products. Grande Holdings
beneficially holds approximately 57.6% of our outstanding
shares of common stock. Christopher Ho graduated with a
Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of
Toronto in 1974. He is a member of the Canadian Institute
of Chartered Accountants as well as a member of the
Institute of Management Accountants of Canada. He is also
a certified public accountant (Hong Kong) and a member of
the Hong Kong Society of Accountants. He was a partner in
international accounting firms before joining Grande
Holdings and has extensive experience in corporate finance,
international trade and manufacturing. |
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Became |
|
|
Name |
|
Age |
|
Director |
|
Principal Occupation or Employment |
Adrian Ma
|
|
|
62 |
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
Adrian Ma has served as our Chief Executive Officer since
March 30, 2006 and served as our Chairman from March
30, 2006 through July 26, 2006. Mr. Ma continues to serve
as a Director. Mr. Ma is presently a director of Grande
Holdings. Mr. Ma has served as a director of Grande
Holdings since January 15, 1999 and has more than 30
years experience as an Executive Chairman, Executive
Director and Managing Director of various organizations
focused primarily in the consumer electronics industry. Mr.
Ma is also Director of Lafe Technology Ltd., Vice
Chairman and Managing Director of Ross Group Inc. and
Deputy Chairman of Sansui Electronics Co., Ltd. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greenfield Pitts
|
|
|
57 |
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
Greenfield Pitts has served as our Chief Financial Officer
since February 2007 and a director since March 2006. Mr.
Pitts has a 30-year background in international banking and
was associated with Wachovia Bank, our present lender, for
more than 25 years, with assignments in London, Atlanta
and Hong Kong. From 1997 to 2006, he was in Hong Kong
managing a joint venture between Wachovia and HSBC,
then in Corporate Finance for Wachovia Securities. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael A.B.
Binney
|
|
|
48 |
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
Michael A.B. Binney has served as our Acting Group
Controller since February 2007, President-International
Sales since July 2006 and as a Director since December
2005. He is a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered
Accountants in England and Wales and a fellow member
of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public
Accountants. He was a professional accountant for
several years before joining the computer and electronics
industry. He is currently also a Director of Grande
Holdings, a Director of Lafe Technologies, Ltd., a
company listed on the Singapore Exchange, as well as a
Director of several other companies in Malaysia, Japan,
Singapore and the United Kingdom. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eduard Will
|
|
|
66 |
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
Eduard Will has served as our Vice Chairman since
October 2007 and a Director since July 2006. From July
2006 until October 2007, Mr. Will served as our President-
North American Operations. Prior to becoming President-
North American Operations, Mr. Will served as the
Chairman of our Audit Committee from January 2006
through July 2006. Mr. Will has more than 37 years
experience as a merchant banker, senior advisor and
director of various public and private companies. Presently, |
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year First |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Became |
|
|
Name |
|
Age |
|
Director |
|
Principal Occupation or Employment |
Eduard Will
(continued)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Will is serving on the Board of Directors or acting as
Senior Adviser to: Grande Holdings, KoolConnect
Technologies Inc. and Integrated Data Corporation. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. Michael
Driscoll (1)
|
|
|
61 |
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
W. Michael Driscoll has served as a Director since March
2006. Mr. Driscoll has more than 36 years experience as a
director and executive officer of various public and private
companies. Presently, Mr. Driscoll is CEO of Ithaca
Technologies, LLC and serves on the Boards of Directors
of IPC Corporation Ltd., Singapore, and Music Gear
Incorporated, USA. Mr. Driscoll has also served as the
Chairman of the Board of ThinSoft (Holdings) Ltd., Hong
Kong and President and Chief Executive Officer of Dazzle
Multimedia Corporation, Smith Corona Corporation,
Austin Computer Systems, Inc. and Technology
Applications, Ltd., Thailand. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mirzan Mahathir
|
|
|
49 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mirzan Mahathir currently manages his investments in
Malaysia and overseas while facilitating business
collaboration in the region. Previously, Mr. Mahathir
worked for IBM Corporation and Salomon Brothers.
Since 1992, Mr. Mahathir has served as the Executive
Chairman and President of Konsortium Logistik Berhad,
a Malaysian logistic solutions provider listed on the
Kuala Lumpar Stock Exchange. He is also the Chairman
and CEO of Crescent Capital Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian investment
holding and independent strategic and financial advisory firm
which he founded. He is also the President of the Asian Strategy
and Leadership Institute (ASLI), a leading organizer of business
conferences, secretariat for business councils and public
policy research centre. Currently, Mr. Mahathir holds
directorships in Worldwide Holdings Berhad and AHB
Holdings Berhad, companies listed on the Bursa Malaysia,
and Lafe Technology Ltd., a company listed on the
Singapore Exchange. He is also a member of the
UN/ESCAP Business Advisory Council, the American
Bureau of Shipping Southeast Asia Committee and the
Wharton Business School Asian Executive Board. |
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Member of the Audit Committee |
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year First |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Became |
|
|
Name |
|
Age |
|
Director |
|
Principal Occupation or Employment |
David R.
Peterson
|
|
|
63 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Peterson serves as a senior partner and Chairman of
the Toronto law firm of Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP,
where he practices corporate/commercial law. Mr.
Peterson also serves as Chancellor of the University of
Toronto and a director of St. Michaels Hospital, the Shaw
Festival and the Toronto Community Foundation. He is a
director of a number of public and private companies
including Rogers Communications Inc., Ivanhoe
Cambridge Inc., Industrielle-Alliance Life Assurance
Company and Shoppers Drug Mart and was the Founding
Chairman of the Toronto Raptors Basketball Club Inc. and
Chapters Inc. Mr. Peterson is or was director or otherwise
active with a number of charitable, educational and
environmental organizations. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kareem E. Sethi
|
|
|
30 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kareem E. Sethi has served as Managing Director of
Streetwise Capital Partners, Inc. since 2003. From 1999
until 2003, Mr. Sethi served as Manager, Business
Recovery Services of PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Norbert R.
Wirsching (1)
|
|
|
70 |
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
Norbert R. Wirsching has served as a Director since
July 2006. Mr. Wirsching is a consumer electronics
industry veteran of 48 years. He has managed international
public and private companies including; Director and CEO
of Capetronic Group Ltd. Global, CEO of Polly Peck
International PLC, Electronics Division, and Director of
Polly Peck International PLC, London, Director Sansui
Electric Company Ltd., Tokyo, Director of BSR
International, Hong Kong/London and Chairman of BSR
USA. Since retiring from the Capetronic Group Ltd. in
1994, he served as principal of N.R. Wirsching Enterprise,
a consulting firm focussing on international public and
private companies, as well as merger and acquisition
services. He is involved in numerous philanthropic
organizations and currently serves as Trustee of Wooster
School, an independent private school in Connecticut. |
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Member of the Audit Committee |
6
Two
of our current directors, Peter G. Bünger and Jerome Farnum, are
not included on the nominee
slate for election at our annual meeting. Background information with
respect to these directors is
set forth below. See Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial
Owners and Management for additional
information about such directors, including their ownership of securities issued by Emerson.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Became |
|
|
Name |
|
Age |
|
Director |
|
Principal Occupation or Employment |
Peter G. Bünger (1)
|
|
|
66 |
|
|
|
1992 |
|
|
Peter G. Bünger has served as a consultant with Savarina
AG, an entity engaged in the business of portfolio
management monitoring in Zurich, Switzerland since 1990.
Since October 1992, Mr. Bünger has served as a Director of
Savarina AG. From 2002 to September 2006, he served as
an independent consultant for Emersons manufacturing
efforts in Europe, and from December 1996 through July
2005, Mr. Bünger served as a Director of Sport Supply
Group, Inc. (SSG), which is quoted on the over the
counter bulletin board (OTC: SSPY). Following the sale of
Emersons issued and outstanding shares of common stock
of SSG (approximately 53.2% ownership) in July 2005, Mr.
Bünger resigned as a Director of SSG. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jerome Farnum (2)
|
|
|
72 |
|
|
|
1992 |
|
|
Jerome H. Farnum has served as a Director since July 1992.
Since July 1994, Mr. Farnum has been an independent
consultant. For at least five years prior to July 1994, Mr.
Farnum was a senior executive (in charge of legal and tax
affairs, accounting, asset and investment management,
foreign exchange relations and financial affairs) with several
entities comprising the Fidenas group of companies, whose
activities encompassed merchant banking, investment
banking, investment management and corporate development. |
|
|
|
(1) |
|
As previously disclosed in our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on October 31, 2007, Mr. Bünger resigned as a director, effective as of the
date of our annual meeting, and advised us that he would not stand for reelection as a director at
such meeting. |
|
(2) |
|
Mr. Farnum currently serves as a member of the Audit Committee. Mr. Farnum has
retired as a director, effective as of the expiration of his term at our annual meeting. |
Vote Required
Directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of our common stock
voting in person or by proxy at the annual meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will each be
counted as present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum, but will have no effect on
the vote for election of directors.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS URGES YOU TO VOTE FOR
EACH OF THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR SET FORTH ABOVE.
7
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL
OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth, as of November 9, 2007, the beneficial ownership of (i) each
current director; (ii) each nominee for director at our annual meeting; (iii) each of our executive
officers named in the Summary Compensation Table (executive officers); (iv) our current directors
and executive officers as a group; and (v) each stockholder known by us to own beneficially more
than 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock. Common stock beneficially owned and percentage
ownership as of November 9, 2007 were based on 27,129,832 shares outstanding. Except as otherwise
noted, the address of each of the following beneficial owners is c/o Emerson Radio Corp., Nine
Entin Road, Parsippany, New Jersey 07054.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount and Nature of |
|
|
Name and Address of Beneficial Owners |
|
Beneficial Ownership (1) |
|
Percent of Class (1) |
Christopher Ho (2) |
|
|
15,634,482 |
|
|
|
57.6 |
% |
Adrian Ma |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Michael A. B. Binney (3) |
|
|
16,667 |
|
|
|
|
* |
Eduard Will (4) |
|
|
16,667 |
|
|
|
|
* |
John J. Raab (5) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
* |
John D. Florian |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Peter G. Bünger (6) |
|
|
58,871 |
|
|
|
|
* |
W. Michael Driscoll (7) |
|
|
16,667 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Jerome H. Farnum (8) |
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
|
* |
Greenfield Pitts (9) |
|
|
23,333 |
|
|
|
|
* |
Norbert R. Wirsching (10) |
|
|
9,333 |
|
|
|
|
* |
Guy A. Paglinco (11) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Mirzan Mahathir (12) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
David R. Peterson (12) |
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Kareem E. Sethi (12) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (9 persons) (13) |
|
|
15,826,020 |
|
|
|
58.3 |
% |
|
|
|
(*) |
|
Less than one percent. |
|
(1) |
|
Based on 27,129,832 shares of common stock outstanding as of November 9, 2007. Each beneficial
owners percentage ownership of common stock is determined by assuming that options that are held
by such person (but not those held by any other person) and that are exercisable or convertible
within 60 days of November 9, 2007 have been exercised. Except as otherwise indicated, the
beneficial ownership table does not include common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding
options, which are not currently exercisable within 60 days of November 9, 2007. Except as
otherwise indicated and based upon our review of information as filed with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC), we believe that the beneficial owners of the securities listed have
sole investment and voting power with respect to such shares, subject to community property laws
where applicable. |
|
(2) |
|
S&T International Distribution Ltd. (S&T) is the record owner of 15,634,482 shares of common
stock (the Shares). As the sole stockholder of S&T, Grande N.A.K.S. Ltd. (N.A.K.S.) may be
deemed to own beneficially the Shares. As the sole stockholder of N.A.K.S., Grande Holdings may be
deemed to own beneficially the Shares. Mr. Ho has a beneficial interest in approximately 67% of the
capital stock of Grande Holdings. By virtue of such interest and his position with Grande Holdings,
Mr. Ho may be deemed to have power to vote and power to dispose of the Shares beneficially held by
Grande Holdings. Information with respect to the ownership of these shares was obtained from a
Schedule 13D/A filed on November 5, 2007. |
8
|
|
|
(3) |
|
Mr. Binneys ownership consists of options to purchase 16,667 shares of our common stock issued
pursuant to Emersons 2004 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan that are exercisable within 60
days of November 9, 2007. Mr. Binney also has options to purchase 8,333 shares of our common stock
issued pursuant to Emersons 2004 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan that are not exercisable
within 60 days of November 9, 2007. |
|
(4) |
|
Mr. Wills ownership consists of options to purchase 16,667 shares of our common stock pursuant
to Emersons 2004 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan that are exercisable within 60 days of
November 9, 2007. Mr. Will also has options to purchase 33,333 shares of our common stock issued
pursuant to
Emersons 2004 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan that are not exercisable within 60 days
of November 9, 2007. Mr. Will resigned from his position as our President-North American
Operations and began to serve as our Vice Chairman, effective as of October 29, 2007. |
|
(5) |
|
Mr. Raab resigned as our Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, effective August
31, 2007. |
|
(6) |
|
Mr. Büngers ownership consists of 33,871 shares of common stock directly owned by
him and options to purchase 25,000 shares of our common stock issued pursuant to Emersons 2004
Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan that are exercisable within 60 days of November 9, 2007. |
|
(7) |
|
Mr. Driscolls ownership consists of options to purchase 16,667 shares of our common stock
issued pursuant to Emersons 2004 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan that are exercisable
within 60 days of November 9, 2007. Mr. Driscoll also has options to purchase 33,333 shares of our
common stock issued pursuant to Emersons 2004 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan that are not
exercisable within 60 days of November 9, 2007. |
|
(8) |
|
Mr. Farnum has options to purchase 50,000 shares of our common stock issued pursuant to
Emersons 2004 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan that are exercisable within 60 days of
November 9, 2007. Mr.
Farnum also has options to purchase 25,000 shares of our common stock issued pursuant to
Emersons 2004 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan that are not exercisable within 60 days
of November 9, 2007. |
|
(9) |
|
Mr. Pitts ownership consists of 15,000 shares of common stock directly owned by him and
options to purchase 8,333 shares of our common stock issued pursuant to Emersons 2004 Non-Employee
Director Stock Option Plan that are exercisable within 60 days of November 9, 2007. Mr. Pitts also
has options to purchase 16,667 shares of our common stock issued pursuant to Emersons 2004
Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan that are not exercisable within 60 days of November 9,
2007. |
|
(10) |
|
Mr. Wirschings ownership consists of 1,000 shares of common stock directly owned by him and
options to purchase 8,333 shares of our common stock issued pursuant to Emersons 2004 Non-Employee
Director Stock Option Plan that are exercisable within 60 days of November 9, 2007. Mr. Wirsching
also has options to purchase 16,667 shares of our common stock issued pursuant to Emersons 2004
Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan that are not exercisable within 60 days of November 9,
2007. |
|
(11) |
|
Mr. Paglinco resigned as our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective as of April
14, 2006. |
|
(12) |
|
Each of Messrs. Mahathir, Peterson and Sethi is a nominee for election as a director
at our annual meeting. |
|
(13) |
|
See footnotes (2) through (11). |
9
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEES
Board of Directors and Committees
Our business is managed under the direction of our Board of Directors. The Board of Directors
meets periodically during our fiscal year to review significant developments affecting Emerson and
to act on matters requiring Board of Director approval. The Board of Directors held 10 formal
meetings during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007 (Fiscal 2007) and also acted by unanimous
written consent. During Fiscal 2007, each member of the Board of Directors participated in at least
75% of the aggregate of all meetings of the Board of Directors and the aggregate of all meetings of
committees on which such member served, that were held during the period in which such director
served during Fiscal 2007.
During the period from the beginning of Fiscal 2007 until July 2006, the Board of Directors
had three standing committees, the Audit Committee, the Compensation and Personnel Committee and
the Nominating Committee. As of November 9, 2007, Grande Holdings beneficially owned an aggregate
of 15,634,482 shares of our common stock, which represents approximately 57.6% of the shares of
common stock currently outstanding. Accordingly, Emerson is a controlled company, as such term is
defined in Section 801(a) of The American Stock Exchange Company Guide (the Company Guide). As a
controlled company, Emerson is not required to comply with Sections 802(a), 804 or 805 of the
Company Guide relating to independent directors, Board nominations and executive compensation,
respectively.
Under Section 802(a) of the Company Guide, we are exempt from the requirement that at least a
majority of the directors on our Board of Directors be independent directors as defined in Section
121A of the Company Guide because we are a controlled company, as such term is defined in Section
801(a) of the Company Guide, and we do not maintain a board of directors comprised of a majority of
independent directors that meet the definition of independence as set forth in the American Stock
Exchange and SEC rules. Four of our nine current directors meet the definition of independence as
established by the American Stock Exchange and SEC rules, and we expect that immediately following
our annual meeting, three of our ten directors will meet such definition. As a result of its status
as a controlled company, since July 2006, the Board of Directors has had only one standing
committee, the Audit Committee. The functions of the Compensation and Personnel Committee and the
Nominating Committee during the period from the beginning of Fiscal 2007 until July 2006, and the
functions of the Audit Committee during Fiscal 2007 are described below. No member of any of any of
such committees was an employee of Emerson while serving on such committee.
The Board of Directors is responsible for the management and direction of Emerson and for
establishing broad corporate policies. It has initiated actions consistent with the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) and the American Stock Exchange.
The Board of Directors has determined that from the beginning of Fiscal 2007 through July 26, 2006,
Messrs. Bünger, Driscoll, Farnum, Pitts and Will satisfied the independence standards of the
American Stock Exchange and the SECs Rule 10A-3. The Board of Directors has determined that
Messrs. Bünger, Driscoll, Farnum, Sethi and Wirsching currently satisfy all such definitions of
independence. The Board of Directors has also determined that during the period from the beginning
of Fiscal 2007 through July 26, 2006, Eduard Will constituted our audit committee financial
expert, as such term is defined by the
10
SEC. As a result of the appointment of Mr. Will as our President-North American Operations in
July 2006, the Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Driscoll currently constitutes our audit
committee financial expert as such term is defined by the SEC. Emerson has a policy of
encouraging, but not requiring, its Board members to attend annual meetings of stockholders. Last
year, each of our directors, at such time, attended the annual meeting of stockholders.
Audit Committee. Our Audit Committee, which is a separately-designated standing audit
committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act, is presently
comprised of Messrs. Driscoll (Chairman), Farnum and Wirsching. Since Mr. Farnum is not standing
for reelection at our annual meeting, we expect that following our annual meeting, the Board will
appoint Kareem E. Sethi to fill the vacancy created thereby. The Audit Committee is empowered by
the Board of Directors to, among other things: (i) serve as an independent and objective party to
monitor our financial reporting process, internal control system and disclosure control system;
(ii) review and appraise the audit efforts of our independent accountants; (iii) assume direct
responsibility for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the
outside auditors and for the resolution of disputes between the outside auditors and our management
regarding financial reporting issues; and (iv) provide the opportunity for direct communication
among the independent accountants, financial and senior management and the Board of Directors.
During Fiscal 2007, the Audit Committee performed its duties under a written charter approved by
the Board of Directors and formally met ten times. A copy of our Audit Committee Charter is posted
on our website: www.emersonradio.com on the Investor Relations page.
Report of the Audit Committee
This report shall not be deemed soliciting material or incorporated by reference in any
filing by us under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act except to the extent that we specifically
incorporate this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under either
act.
Through July 2006, the Audit Committee was comprised of Messrs. Will (Chairman), Farnum and
Driscoll. Following Mr. Wills appointment as our President-North American Operations in July 2006,
Mr. Will resigned as Chairman and a member of the Audit Committee, and the Board of Directors
appointed Mr. Driscoll as Chairman of the Audit Committee and appointed Mr. Greenfield Pitts as
member of the Audit Committee. Following Mr. Pitts resignation as member of the Audit Committee in
October 2006, the Board of Directors appointed Mr. Wirsching to the Audit Committee. All members of
the Audit Committee have been determined to be independent as defined by the listing standards of
the American Stock Exchange.
In this context, the Audit Committee has reviewed the audited consolidated financial
statements and has met and held discussions with management and Moore Stephens, P.C., Emersons
independent registered accounting firm. Management has represented to the Audit Committee that
Emersons consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles. Emersons independent auditors are responsible for performing an independent
audit of Emersons financial statements in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in
the United States and for issuing a report on those financial statements.
The Audit Committee is responsible for monitoring and overseeing these processes. The Audit
11
Committee also discussed with the independent auditors matters required to be discussed by
Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, which includes, among other items, matters related to the
conduct of the audit of Emersons financial statements:
|
|
|
methods to account for significant unusual transactions; |
|
|
|
|
the effect of significant accounting policies in
controversial or emerging areas for which there is a lack of authoritative guidance or consensus; |
|
|
|
|
the process used by management in formulating particularly
sensitive accounting estimates and the basis for the auditors
conclusions regarding the reasonableness of those estimates; and |
|
|
|
|
disagreements, if any, with management over the application
of accounting principles, the basis for managements accounting
estimates and the disclosures in the financial statements (there were no such disagreements). |
The independent auditors also provided the Audit Committee with written disclosures and the
letter required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, which relates to the auditors
independence, and the Audit Committee discussed with the independent auditors their independence.
This standard further requires the auditors to disclose annually in writing all relationships that,
in the auditors professional opinion, may reasonably be thought to bear on their independence,
confirm their perceived independence and engage in the discussion of independence.
Based on the Audit Committees discussions with management and the independent registered
accounting firm, as well as the Audit Committees review of the representations of management and
the report of the independent auditors to the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee recommendedto
the Board of Directors that Emersons audited consolidated financial statements be included in our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, for filing with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.
The Audit Committee has selected Moore Stephens, P.C. to be retained as Emersons independent
registered accounting firm to conduct the annual audit and to report on, as may be required, the
consolidated financial statements that may be filed by Emerson with the SEC during the ensuing
year.
Members of the Audit Committee
W. Michael Driscoll (Chairman)
Jerome H. Farnum
Norbert R.
Wirsching
12
Compensation and Personnel Committee. The Compensation and Personnel Committee was comprised
of Messrs. Bünger and Farnum and (i) made recommendations to the Board of Directors concerning
remuneration arrangements for senior executive management; (ii) administered our stock option plans
and (iii) made such reports and recommendations, from time to time, to the Board of Directors upon
such matters as the Compensation and Personnel Committee may deem appropriate or as may be
requested by the Board of Directors. The Compensation and Personnel Committee did not formally meet
during Fiscal 2007. Under Section 805 of the Company Guide, we are exempt from the requirement to
have the compensation of our executives determined by a compensation committee comprised solely of
independent directors or by a majority of the boards independent directors because we are a
controlled company, as such term is defined in Section 801(a) of the Company Guide. As a result,
in July 2006, we disbanded the Compensation and Personnel Committee.
Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee was comprised of Messrs. Bünger and Farnum and
was empowered by the Board of Directors to, among other functions: (i) recommend to the Board of
Directors qualified individuals to serve on our Board of Directors and (ii) identify the manner in
which the Nominating Committee evaluates nominees recommended for the Board of Directors. Our
Nominating Committee did not formally meet during Fiscal 2007. Under Section 804 of the Company
Guide, we are exempt from the requirement to have director nominees selected by a nominating
committee comprised entirely of independent directors or by a majority of the independent directors
because we are a controlled company, as such term is defined in Section 801(a) of the Company
Guide. As a result, in July 2006, we disbanded the Nominating Committee and the full Board of
Directors will participate in the consideration of director nominees in the future.
Procedures for Considering Nominations Made by Stockholders. Nominations for election to the
Board of Directors may be made by our Board of Directors or by any stockholder of any outstanding
class of our capital stock entitled to vote for the election of directors. The following procedures
shall be utilized in considering any candidate for election to the Board of Directors at an annual
meeting, other than candidates who have previously served on the Board of Directors or who are
recommended by the Board of Directors. A nomination must be delivered to our Secretary at our
principal executive offices not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day nor
earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the first
anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting; provided, however, that if the date of the
annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after such
anniversary date, notice to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business
on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close
of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the close of
business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such
meeting is first made by us. The public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual
meeting will not commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a notice
as described above. A nomination notice must set forth as to each person whom the proponent
proposes to nominate for election as a director: (a) all information relating to such person that
is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election
contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (including
13
such persons written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as
a director if elected) and (b) information that will enable our Board of Directors to determine
whether the candidate satisfies the minimum criteria and any additional criteria established by our
Board of Directors.
Qualifications. Our Board of Directors has adopted guidelines describing the minimum
qualifications for nominees and the qualities or skills that are necessary for directors to
possess. Each nominee (i) must satisfy any legal requirements applicable to members of the Board of
Directors; (ii) must have business, professional or other experience that will enable such nominee
to provide useful input to the Board of Directors in its deliberations; and (iii) must have
knowledge of the types of responsibilities expected of members of the board of directors of a
public company.
Identification and Evaluation of Candidates for the Board. Candidates to serve on the Board of
Directors will be identified from all available sources, including recommendations made by
stockholders, members of our management and members of our Board of Directors. Our Board of
Directors has a policy that there will be no differences in the manner in which our Board of
Directors evaluates nominees recommended by stockholders and nominees recommended by it or
management, except that no specific process shall be mandated with respect to the nomination of any
individuals who have previously served on the Board of Directors. The evaluation process for
individuals other than existing members of the Board of Directors will include a review of the
information provided to the Board of Directors by the proponent and a review of such other
information as the Board of Directors shall determine to be relevant.
Third Party Recommendations. In connection with the Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors did
not receive any nominations from any stockholder or group of stockholders which owned more than 5%
of our common stock for at least one year.
Process for Sending Communications to the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors has established a procedure that enables stockholders to communicate in
writing with members of the Board of Directors. Any such communication should be addressed to the
Companys Secretary and should be sent to such individual at c/o Emerson Radio Corp., Nine Entin
Road, Parsippany, New Jersey 07054. Any such communication must state, in a conspicuous manner,
that it is intended for distribution to the entire Board of Directors. Under the procedures
established by the Board of Directors, upon the Secretarys receipt of such a communication, the
Companys Secretary will send a copy of such communication to each member of the Board of
Directors, identifying it as a communication received from a stockholder. Absent unusual
circumstances, at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors held more than two
days after such communication has been distributed, the Board of Directors will consider the
substance of any such communication.
Codes of Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers (Code of Ethics) that applies
to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer,
14
Controller and Treasurer. This Code of Ethics was established with the intention of focusing Senior
Financial Officers on areas of ethical risk, providing guidance to help them recognize and deal
with ethical issues, providing mechanisms to report unethical conduct, fostering a culture of
honesty and accountability, deterring wrongdoing and promoting fair and accurate disclosure and
financial reporting.
We have also adopted a Code of Conduct for Officers, Directors and Employees of Emerson Radio
Corp. and Its Subsidiaries (Code of Conduct). We prepared this Code of Conduct to help all
officers, directors and employees understand and comply with our policies and procedures. Overall,
the purpose of our Code of Conduct is to deter wrongdoing and promote (i) honest and ethical
conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between
personal and professional relationships; (ii) full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable
disclosure in reports and documents that we file with, or submit to, the SEC and in other public
communications made by us; (iii) compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and
regulations; (iv) prompt internal reporting of code violations to an appropriate person or persons
identified in this Code of Conduct; and (v) accountability for adherence to the Code of Conduct.
The Code of Ethics and the Code of Conduct are posted on our website: www.emersonradio.com on
the Investor Relations page. If we make any substantive amendments to, or grant any waiver
(including any implicit waiver) from a provision of the Code of Ethics or the Code of Conduct, and
that relates to any element of the Code of Ethics definition enumerated in Item 406 (b) of
Regulation S-K, we will disclose the nature of such amendment or waiver on our website or in a
current report on Form 8-K.
15
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the current executive officers of
Emerson:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Year |
Name |
|
Age |
|
Position |
|
Became Officer |
Christopher Ho |
|
57 |
|
Chairman and Director |
|
2006 |
Adrian Ma |
|
63 |
|
Chief Executive Officer and Director |
|
2006 |
Eduard Will |
|
65 |
|
Vice Chairman and Director |
|
2006 |
Greenfield Pitts |
|
57 |
|
Chief Financial Officer and Director |
|
2007 |
Michael A.B. Binney |
|
47 |
|
President-International Sales and Director |
|
2005 |
John Spielberger |
|
44 |
|
President-North American Operations |
|
2007 |
Christopher Ho has served as our Chairman since July 2006. See Mr. Hos biographical information
above.
Adrian Ma has served as our Chief Executive Officer since March 30, 2006 and served as our Chairman
from March 30, 2006 through July 26, 2006. Mr. Ma continues to serve as a director. See Mr. Mas
biographical information above.
Eduard Will has served as our Vice Chairman since October 29, 2007, when he resigned from his
position as President-North American Operations, a position which he had held since July 2006. Mr.
Will has served as Director since January 2006. See Mr. Wills biographical information above.
Greenfield Pitts has served as our Chief Financial Officer since February 2007 and a director since
March 2006. See Mr. Pitts biographical information above.
Michael A.B. Binney has served as our President-International Sales since July 2006 and as a
Director since December 2005. See Mr. Binneys biographical information above.
John Spielberger has served as our President-North American Operations since October 29, 2007. From
1995 until 2007, Mr. Spielberger held a variety of positions with Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Sales Co., an entertainment software sales and marketing distribution company Most recently, Mr.
Spielberger served as Chief Financial and Operating Officer, and he also held the positions of
Senior Vice PresidentBusiness Operations and Customer Relations Management from 2004 until 2007,
Senior Vice PresidentFinance and Administration from 2003 to 2004, Senior Vice PresidentFinance
from 2000 until 2003 and Vice PresidentFinance from 1995 until 2000. Prior to his tenure with Sony
BMG Music Entertainment Sales Co., Mr. Spielberger served as Senior DirectorFinance and
Administration of Columbia Records Group, a recording company, and held several positions with RCA
Records Label, a music company. Mr. Spielberger holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business
Management and Marketing from Cornell University and a Masters of Business Administration from the
University of Michigan.
16
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Committee Report
Under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, this report is not deemed to be
incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating this proxy statement by reference
into any filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Our entire Board of Directors performs equivalent functions of a compensation committee since
we are a controlled company and do not have a compensation committee. The Board of Directors has
reviewed and discussed with management the following Compensation Discussion and Analysis. Based on
such review and discussions, the Board of Directors recommends that the following Compensation
Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement.
Submitted by the Board of Directors
Christopher Ho
Adrian Ma
Eduard Will
Greenfield Pitts
Michael A. B. Binney
Peter G. Bünger
W. Michael Driscoll
Jerome H. Farnum
Norbert R. Wirsching
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Introduction
This discussion presents the principles underlying our executive officer compensation program.
Our goal in this discussion is to provide the reasons why we award compensation as we do and to
place in perspective the data presented in the tables that follow this discussion. The focus is
primarily on compensation of our executive compensation for Fiscal 2007, but some historical and
forward-looking information is also provided to put such years compensation information in
context. The information presented herein relates to Christopher Ho, our Chairman, Adrian Ma, our
Chief Executive Officer, Greenfield Pitts, our Chief Financial Officer and our three other most
highly compensated executive officers, who are sometimes referred to in this proxy statement as our
named executive officers. Messrs. Ho, Ma and Binney, however, did not receive any salary or other
compensation from us in Fiscal 2007.
Compensation Philosophy and Objectives
We attempt to apply a consistent philosophy to compensation for all employees, including
senior management. This philosophy is based on the premises that our success is dependent upon the
efforts of each employee and that a cooperative, team-oriented environment is an essential part of
our culture.
17
Our compensation programs for our named executive officers are designed to achieve a variety
of goals, including:
|
|
|
attracting and retaining talented and experienced executives; |
|
|
|
|
motivating and rewarding executives whose knowledge, skills and performance are
critical to our success; |
|
|
|
|
aligning the interests of our executives and stockholders by motivating executives to
increase stockholder value in a sustained manner; and |
|
|
|
|
provide a competitive compensation package which rewards achievement of our goals. |
Elements of Executive Officer Compensation
Overview. Total compensation paid to our executive officers is influenced significantly by the
need to attract and retain management employees with a high level of expertise and to motivate and
retain key executives for our long-term success. Some of the components of compensation, such as
salary, are generally fixed and do not vary based on our financial and other performance. Some
components, such as bonus, stock options and stock award grants, are discretionary and are
dependent upon the achievement of certain goals jointly agreed upon by our management and our Board
of Directors. Furthermore, the value of certain of these components, such as stock options and
stock awards, is dependent upon our future stock price. Our Board of Directors has indicated that
it does not currently intend to grant new stock awards to our executive officer and employees.
However, the Board of Directors does intend to grant stock awards to non-employee directors and may
in the future change its current policy with respect to stock awards to executive officers and
employees.
We compensate our executive officers in these different ways in order to achieve different
goals. Cash compensation, for example, provides executive officers a minimum base salary. Incentive
bonus compensation is generally linked to the achievement of financial and business goals, and is
intended to reward executive officers for our overall performance in reaching annual goals that
would be agreed to by management and the Board of Directors; provided, however, that the bonus paid
to Eduard Will, our former President North American Operations and current Vice Chairman, in
Fiscal 2007 was approved by our Chairman of the Board. Although we may utilize, stock options and
grants of restricted stock in the future, we did not grant any stock options or restricted stock
during Fiscal 2007 to any of our executive officers; provided, however, that Messrs. Pitts and Will
did receive stock options during Fiscal 2007 in their capacities as non-employee directors prior to
being named as executive officers. See Cash and Other Compensation.
We view the three components of our executive officer compensation as related but distinct. We
do not believe that compensation derived from one component of compensation necessarily should
negate or reduce compensation from other components. We determine the appropriate level for each
compensation component based in part, but not exclusively, on its historical practices with the
individual and our view of individual performance and other information we deem relevant. Our Board
of Directors has not engaged an outside consultant to
18
assist the Board in the compensation process. Our management does review publicly available data
with respect to executive compensation at peer group companies. The Board of Directors realizes
that benchmarking our compensation against the compensation earned at comparable companies may not
always be appropriate, but believes that engaging in a comparative analysis of compensation
practices is useful. The Board of Directors has not adopted any formal policies or guidelines for
allocating compensation between long-term and currently paid out compensation, between cash and
non-cash compensation, or among different forms of compensation. We have not reviewed wealth and
retirement accumulation as a result of employment with us, and have only focused on compensation
for the year in question.
Base Salary. We pay our executive officers other than Messrs. Ho, Ma and Binney, a base
salary, which we review and determine annually. We believe that a competitive base salary is a
necessary element of any compensation program. We believe that attractive base salaries can
motivate and reward executives for their overall performance. Base salaries are established in part
based on the individual position, responsibility, experience, skills and expected contributions
during the coming year of the executive and their performance during the prior year. We also have
sought to align base compensation levels comparable to our competitors and other companies in
similar stages of development. We do not view base salaries as primarily serving our objective of
paying for performance, but in attracting and retaining the most qualified executives necessary to
run our business.
Cash Incentive Bonuses. Consistent with our emphasis on pay-for-performance incentive
compensation programs, our executives are eligible to receive annual performance bonuses or
discretionary bonuses that must be approved by our Board of Directors; provided, however, that the
bonus paid to Eduard Will, our former President North American Operations and current Vice
Chairman, in Fiscal 2007 was approved by our Chairman of the Board. The primary objective of our
annual cash incentive bonuses is to motivate and reward our employees, including our named
executive officers, for meeting our short-term objectives using a pay-for-performance program with
objectively determinable performance goals. For Fiscal 2007, none of our named executive officers,
except for Mr. Will, our former President-North American Operations and current Vice Chairman,
received a cash bonus. We do not have a formal policy on the effect on bonuses of a subsequent
restatement or other adjustment to the financial statements, other than the penalties provided by
law.
Equity Compensation. We review our equity compensation plans annually. Under our plans,
employees are eligible for annual stock option and restricted stock award grants based on targeted
levels and we have in the past granted stock options to our executive officers and employees. These
options and grants are intended to produce value for each executive officer if (i) our stockholders
derive significant sustained value; and (ii) the executive officer remains with us. We do not have
any program, plan or obligation that requires us to grant equity compensation to any executive
officer on specified dates. The authority to make equity grants to executive officers rests with
the Board of Directors, although, as noted above, the Board of Directors does not currently intend
to grant any new stock awards to our executive officers or employees. We did not grant any stock
options or restricted stock awards during Fiscal 2007; provided, however, that Messrs. Pitts and
Will did receive stock options during Fiscal 2007 in their capacities as non-employee directors
prior to being named as executive officers. See Cash and Other Compensation.
19
Severance and Change-in-Control Benefits.
We do not provide to any of our executive officers any severance or change in control benefits
in the event of termination or retirement, whether following a change-in-control or otherwise.
Employment Agreements.
During Fiscal 2007, we had employment agreements with certain of our executive officers, each
of which is described below.
John J. Raab, who served as our Chief Operating Officer and Senior Executive Vice President
from 1995 until August 2007, entered into a three-year employment agreement with us, effective
September 1, 2001, which provided for an annual base salary of $250,000, which was increased to
$257,500, effective April 1, 2002, and $275,000, effective April 1, 2003. By letter agreement,
effective as of September 1, 2004, the term of the areement was extended through and including
August 31, 2007 and Mr. Raabs annual compensation was increased to $286,000, effective April 1,
2005. In addition to his base salary, Mr. Raab was entitled to receive an additional annual
performance bonus, subject to the final approval of our Board of Directors. If Mr. Raab were to
have been terminated due to permanent disability, without cause or as a result of constructive
discharge, the estimated dollar amount payable after March 31, 2007, to Mr. Raab, based on the
terms of his contract, would have been $119,117. Mr. Raabs contract was not extended and expired
on August 31, 2007, at which time Mr. Raab retired as our Chief Operating Officer and Senior
Executive Vice President.
Eduard Will, who has served as our Vice Chairman since October 2007 and our President North
American Operations from July 2006 until October 2007, entered into an employment agreement with us
on July 27, 2006, which provides for an annual base salary of $250,000, which was increased to
$300,000, effective as of March 30, 2007. In addition to his base salary, Mr. Will may receive an
additional annual performance bonus recommended by the Board of Directors. The initial term of the
agreement expired on June 30, 2007. Following the end of the initial term of the agreement (June
30, 2007), we have the right to terminate the agreement upon 90 days prior written notice and Mr.
Will has the right to terminate the agreement upon 30 days prior written notice. In addition,
during the initial term, Mr. Will had the right to terminate the agreement upon 90 days prior
written notice. We are currently preparing an amendment to the agreement to reflect Mr. Wills
change in title and duties as Vice Chairman.
Greenfield Pitts, our Chief Financial Officer, entered into an employment agreement with us on
April 3, 2007, which provides that Mr. Pitts shall serve as our Chief Financial Officer through
March 31, 2008. Following the end of the initial term of the agreement (March 31, 2008), we have
the right to terminate the agreement upon 90 days prior written notice and Mr. Pitts has the right
to terminate the agreement upon 30 days prior written notice. In addition, during the initial term,
Mr. Pitts has the right to terminate the agreement upon 90 days prior written notice. The agreement
provides for an annual base salary of $250,000. In addition to his base salary, Mr. Pitts may
receive a discretionary bonus at the end of our fiscal year recommended by the Board of Directors.
20
In October 2007, we entered into an employment agreement with John Spielberger, our
President-North American Operations, which provides that Mr. Spielberger shall serve as our
President-North American Operations from October 29, 2007 through October 31, 2008. Following the
end of the initial term of the agreement (October 31, 2008), we have the right to terminate the
agreement upon 90 days prior written notice and Mr. Spielberger has the right to terminate the
agreement upon 30 days prior written notice. In addition, during the initial term, Mr. Spielberger
has the right to terminate the agreement upon 90 days prior written notice. The agreement provides
for annual compensation of $250,000. In addition to his base salary, Mr. Spielberger may receive a
discretionary bonus at the end of our fiscal year recommended by the Board of Directors.
Benefits. The executive officers participate in all of our employee benefit plans, such as
medical and 401(k) plan, on the same basis as our other employees.
Perquisites. Our use of perquisites as an element of compensation is very limited. We do not
view perquisites as a significant element of our comprehensive compensation structure.
The Process
Employment terms, including compensation, are typically proposed to the Board of Directors by
our Chairman and our Chief Executive Officer, and then considered and approved by the Board of
Directors. For compensation decisions, including decisions regarding the grant of bonuses relating
to executive officers (other than our Chairman and our Chief Executive Officer), the Board of
Directors considers the recommendations of our Chairman and our Chief Executive Officer and
includes them in their discussions, although no executive employees was granted a bonus in Fiscal
2007; provided, however, that the bonus paid to Eduard Will, our former President North American
Operations and current Vice Chairman, in Fiscal 2007 was approved by our Chairman of the Board.
Regulatory Considerations
We account for the equity compensation expense for our employees under the rules of SFAS
123(R), which requires us to estimate and record an expense for each award of equity compensation
over the service period of the award. Accounting rules also require us to record cash compensation
as an expense at the time the obligation is accrued.
21
Cash and Other Compensation
The following table, which should be read in conjunction with the explanations provided above,
provides certain compensation information concerning our named executive officers for Fiscal 2007.
Summary Compensation Table
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive Plan |
|
All Other |
|
|
Name and |
|
Fiscal |
|
|
|
|
|
Option |
|
Compensation |
|
Compensation |
|
|
Principal Position |
|
Year |
|
Salary($) |
|
Awards($)(1) |
|
($)(2) |
|
($)(3) |
|
Total ($) |
Christopher Ho (4)
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chairman of the Board |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adrian Ma (5)
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eduard Will (6)
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
182,692 |
|
|
|
16,944 |
|
|
|
37,500 |
|
|
|
4,704 |
|
|
|
241,840 |
|
President
-North
American Operations and Vice
Chairman |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greenfield Pitts (7)
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
19,231 |
|
|
|
3,430 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22,661 |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John D. Florian (8)
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
146,492 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,020 |
|
|
|
161,512 |
|
Deputy Chief Financial Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guy Paglinco (9)
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
33,250 |
|
|
|
58,669 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,647 |
|
|
|
93,566 |
|
Vice President
and Chief
Financial Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael A. B. Binney (10)
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,996 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,996 |
|
President,
-International
Operations, Acting Group Controller |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John J. Raab
(11) Senior Executive
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
291,500 |
|
|
|
59,328 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,141 |
|
|
|
370,969 |
|
Vice
President and Chief
Operating Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Represents the expense to us pursuant to FAS 123(R) for the respective year for stock
options granted as long-term incentives pursuant to our 2004 Non-Employee Outside Director Stock
Option Plan or our 2004 Employee Stock Option Plan. All options received by each of Messrs. Binney,
Pitts and Will in the table above were received by such person as a non-employee director and prior
to being named as an executive officer. The amount of option expense shown in the Summary
Compensation Table for these three individuals is also included in Directors Compensation on page
17. Immediately following the adoption by our stockholders of an amendment to our 2004 Non-Employee
Outside Director Stock Option Plan to increase the number of shares available for issuance
thereunder from 250,000 to 500,000 shares in November 2006, each of Messrs. Pitts and Will received
an option to purchase up to 25,000 shares of our common stock, each of whom began to serve as a
director at a time when he was not an employee of ours and no additional shares were available
under such plan. See notes to our financial statements for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2007,
2006 and 2005 for the assumptions used for valuing the expense under FAS 123(R). |
|
(2) |
|
Represents bonus paid for such fiscal year. |
|
(3) |
|
The dollar amounts shown under the heading All other compensation represent the incremental
cost of all |
22
|
|
|
|
|
perquisites and other personal benefits to our named executive officers. |
|
(4) |
|
Mr. Ho was appointed as our Chairman in July 2006. Mr. Ho did not receive any salary or other
compensation from us in Fiscal 2007. |
|
(5) |
|
Mr. Ma was appointed as our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer on March 30, 2006 upon the
resignation of Geoffrey Jurick. Mr. Ma was replaced as our Chairman upon the appointment of Mr. Ho
in July 2006.
Mr. Ma did not receive any salary or other compensation from us in Fiscal 2007. |
|
(6) |
|
Mr. Will was appointed to serve as our President-North American Operations in July 2006 upon
Mr. Juricks resignation from his position as our President. On March 30, 2007, Mr. Wills annual
base salary was increased to $300,000. Mr. Will resigned from his position as our President-North
American Operations and began to serve as our Vice Chairman on October 29, 2007, at which time Mr.
Spielberger began to serve as our President-North American Operations. Mr. Spielberger is entitled
to annual base salary of $250,000. |
|
(7) |
|
Mr. Pitts was appointed as our Chief Financial Officer in
February 2007. |
|
(8) |
|
Mr. Florian was appointed as our Deputy Chief Financial Officer upon the resignation of Mr.
Paglinco from his position as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in April 2006, and was
appointed as our Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer in June 2006. Mr.
Florian ceased to serve as our Deputy Financial Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal
Accounting Officer upon the appointment of Mr. Pitts as our Chief Financial Officer in February
2007, at which time Mr. Florian became our Chief Financial Officer, Emerson North American
Operations. |
|
(9) |
|
Mr. Paglinco resigned as our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective April 14,
2006. |
|
(10) |
|
Mr. Binney was appointed to serve as our Acting Group Controller in February 2007, and
as our President-International Operations in July 2006 upon Mr. Juricks resignation from his
position as our President.
Mr. Binney did not receive any salary or other compensation from us in Fiscal 2007. |
|
(11) |
|
Mr. Raab retired as our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective August 31, 2007. |
Plan-Based Awards
Option and Stock Award Grants in Fiscal 2007
We did not grant any awards under any plan to any named executive officers during Fiscal 2007,
other than our grant to each of Messrs. Pitts and Will of an option to purchase 25,000 shares of
our common stock under our 2004 Non-Employee Outside Director Stock Option Plan in his capacity as
a non-employee director and prior to being named an executive officer. See Cash and Other
Compensation.
Stock Option Exercises and Stock Vested
The following table provides certain information with respect to option exercises for each of
the our named executive officers during Fiscal 2007. We do not have any outstanding stock
appreciation rights.
23
Option Exercises and Stock Vested
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards |
|
|
Number of Shares |
|
|
|
|
Acquired on |
|
Value Realized on |
Name |
|
Exercise (#) |
|
Exercise($)(1) |
Christopher Ho (2) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adrian Ma (3) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eduard Will (4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greenfield Pitts (5) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John Florian (6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guy A Paglinco (7) |
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
$ |
97,650 |
|
Michael A.B. Binney (8) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John J. Raab (9) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Represents the difference between the market price of the underlying securities at exercise of
the option and the exercise price of the option. |
|
(2) |
|
Mr. Ho was appointed as our Chairman in July 2006. |
|
(3) |
|
Mr. Ma was appointed as our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer on March 30, 2006 upon the
resignation of Mr. Jurick. Mr. Ma was replaced as our Chairman upon the appointment of Mr. Ho in
July 2006. |
|
(4) |
|
Mr. Will was appointed to serve as our President-North American Operations in July 2006 upon
Mr. Juricks resignation from his position as our President. Mr. Will resigned from his position as
our President-North
American Operations and began to serve as our Vice Chairman on October 29, 2007, at which time
Mr. Spielberger began to serve as our President-North American Operations. |
|
(5) |
|
Mr. Pitts was appointed as our Chief Financial Officer in February 2007. |
|
(6) |
|
Mr. Florian was appointed as our Deputy Chief Financial Officer upon the resignation of Mr.
Paglinco from his position as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in April 2006 and as our
Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer in June 2006. Mr. Florian ceased to
serve as our Deputy Financial Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer
upon the appointment of Mr. Pitts as our Chief Financial Officer in February 2007, at which time
Mr. Florian became our Chief Financial Officer, Emerson North American Operations. |
|
(7) |
|
Mr. Paglinco resigned as our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective April 14,
2006. |
|
(8) |
|
Mr. Binney was appointed to serve as our Acting Group Controller in February 2007, and as
our President -International Operations in July 2006 upon Mr. Juricks resignation from his
position as our President. |
|
(9) |
|
Mr. Raab retired as our Senior Vice President and Chief Operating
Officer effective August 31, 2007. |
24
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
The following table provides certain information concerning outstanding equity awards held by
each of our named executive officers at March 31, 2007.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards |
|
|
Number of |
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities |
|
Securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying |
|
Underlying |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unexercised |
|
Unexercised |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options (#) |
|
Options (#) |
|
Option Exercise |
|
Option Expiration |
Name |
|
Exercisable |
|
Unexercisable |
|
Price ($) |
|
Date |
|
Christopher Ho (1) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adrian Ma (2) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eduard Will (3) |
|
|
8,333 |
|
|
|
16,667 |
|
|
|
3.07 |
|
|
|
1/31/16 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
3.19 |
|
|
|
11/21/16 |
|
Greenfield Pitts (4) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
3.19 |
|
|
|
11/21/16 |
|
John Florian (5) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guy A Paglinco (6) |
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
2.62 |
|
|
|
6/13/07 |
|
Michael A.B. Binney (7) |
|
|
8,333 |
|
|
|
16,667 |
|
|
|
3.23 |
|
|
|
12/9/15 |
|
John J. Raab (8) |
|
|
66,667 |
|
|
|
33,333 |
|
|
|
2.96 |
|
|
|
10/19/14 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Mr. Ho was appointed as our Chairman in July 2006. |
|
(2) |
|
Mr. Ma was appointed as our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer on March 30, 2006 upon the
resignation of Mr. Jurick. Mr. Ma was replaced as our Chairman upon the appointment of Mr. Ho in
July 2006. |
|
(3) |
|
Mr. Will was appointed to serve as our President-North American Operations in July 2006 upon
Mr. Juricks resignation from his position as our President. Mr. Will resigned from his position as
our President-North
American Operations and began to serve as our Vice Chairman on October 29, 2007, at which time
Mr. Spielberger began to serve as our President-North American Operations. |
|
(4) |
|
Mr. Pitts was appointed as our Chief Financial Officer in February 2007. |
|
(5) |
|
Mr. Florian was appointed as our Deputy Chief Financial Officer upon the resignation of Mr.
Paglinco from his position as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in April 2006 and as our
Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer in June 2006. Mr. Florian ceased to
serve as our Deputy Financial Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer
upon the appointment of Mr. Pitts as our Chief Financial Officer in February 2007, at which time
Mr. Florian became our Chief Financial Officer, Emerson North American Operations. |
|
(6) |
|
Mr. Paglinco resigned as our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective April 14,
2006. |
|
(7) |
|
Mr. Binney was appointed to serve as our Acting Group Controller in February 2007, and as
our President -International Operations in July 2006 upon Mr. Juricks resignation from his
position as our President. |
|
(8) |
|
Mr. Raab retired as our Senior Vice President and Chief Operating
Officer effective August 31, 2007. |
25
Compensation of Directors
During Fiscal 2007, our directors who were not employees (Outside Directors), specifically
Messrs. Binney, Pitts and Will (until their employment with us in July 2006, February 2007 and July
2006, respectively) and Messrs. Bünger, Farnum, Driscoll and Wirsching were paid $45,000, $42,500,
$18,333, $45,000, $50,000, $53,334 and $32,083 respectively, for serving on the Board of Directors
and on our various committees during the period. Outside Directors are each paid an annual
directors fee of $45,000. During Fiscal 2007, members of the Audit Committee were each paid an
additional fee of $5,000 per annum, and as of the date of our annual meeting, will each be paid an
additional fee of $10,000 per annum. The Chairman of the Audit Committee is paid an additional fee
of $5,000 per annum. All directors fees are paid in four equal quarterly installments per annum.
Directors who are our employees were not paid for their services as a director while an employee of
ours during Fiscal 2007. Additionally, each director, who is not an employee, is eligible to
participate in our 2004 Non-Employee Outside Director Stock Option Plan. Directors of Emerson are
reimbursed their expenses for attendance at meetings. Further, we offer to provide health care
insurance to each of our directors who is not an employee.
In Fiscal 2007, Messrs. Driscoll, Farnum, Pitts, Will and Wirsching were granted stock
options, pursuant to the 2004 Non-Employee Outside Director Stock Option Plan, to purchase 50,000,
25,000, 25,000, 25,000 and 25,000 shares of our common stock, respectively, at an exercise price of
$3.19 per share. These options vest in equal installments over three years, commencing one year
from the date of grant, and their exercise is contingent upon continued service as a member of our
Board of Directors.
During Fiscal 2007, Messrs. Driscoll, Farnum and Wirsching earned fees of $42,350, $16,100 and
$19,600 respectively, for their services as members of a special committee of independent directors
formed in November 2006 to evaluate a proposal by The Grande (Nominees) Limited, a subsidiary of
Grande Holdings, to sell to us a 51% interest in Capetronic Group, Ltd., a consumer electronics
manufacturer. Such fees are included in the Director Compensation table below. The special
committee was disbanded in January 2007 after we were advised by The Grande (Nominees) Limited that
it determined not to pursue, at such time, its proposal.
In addition, our Board of Directors has agreed to pay Messrs. Driscoll, Farnum and Wirsching
fees of $20,000 each for their services through December 31, 2007 in connection with the Audit
Committees continuing independent review of certain related party transactions entered into by us,
including our subsidiaries, with affiliates of Grande Holdings from December 2005 to the present,
and internal controls related to such transactions. Such fees are not included in the Director
Compensation table below.
26
The following table provides certain information with respect to the compensation earned or
paid to our Outside Directors during Fiscal 2007.
Directors Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fees earned |
|
|
|
|
|
|
or paid in |
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
cash ($) |
|
Option Awards ($)(1) |
|
Total ($) |
Michael A.B. Binney |
|
$ |
45,000 |
|
|
$ |
12,996 |
|
|
$ |
57,996 |
|
Eduard Will |
|
$ |
18,333 |
|
|
$ |
16,944 |
|
|
$ |
35,277 |
|
Greenfield Pitts |
|
$ |
42,500 |
|
|
$ |
3,430 |
|
|
$ |
45,930 |
|
Peter Bünger (3) |
|
$ |
45,000 |
|
|
$ |
15,250 |
|
|
$ |
60,250 |
|
Jerome Farnum (4)(5) |
|
$ |
66,100 |
|
|
$ |
30,798 |
|
|
$ |
96,898 |
|
Mike Driscoll (5) |
|
$ |
95,684 |
|
|
$ |
5,985 |
|
|
$ |
101,669 |
|
Norbert Wirsching (5) |
|
$ |
51,683 |
|
|
$ |
3,430 |
|
|
$ |
55,113 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Represents the expense to us pursuant to FAS 123(R) for the respective year for stock options
granted as long-term incentives pursuant to our 2004 Non-Employee Outside Director Stock Option
Plan. See notes to our financial statements for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2007, 2006 and
2005 for the assumptions used for valuing the expense under FAS 123(R). |
|
(2) |
|
At March 31, 2007, Messrs. Binney, Will, Pitts, Bünger, Farnum, Driscoll and Wirsching had
options to purchase 25,000, 50,000, 25,000, 25,000, 75,000, 50,000 and 25,000, shares of our common
stock, respectively. |
|
(3) |
|
On October 25, 2007, Mr. Bünger resigned as a director, effective as of
the date of our annual meeting, and advised us that he would not stand for reelection as a director
at such meeting. |
|
(4) |
|
In connection with the expiration of Mr. Farnums term as a director as of the date of our
annual meeting, we have agreed to pay for Mr. Farnums medical benefits for a period of two years
following the date of our annual meeting at a rate of approximately $12,000 per year. |
|
(5) |
|
Does not include fees of $20,000 payable to each of Messrs. Farnum, Driscoll and Wirsching for
services through December 31, 2007 in connection with the Audit Committees continuing independent
review of certain related party transactions. |
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table gives information about our common stock that may be issued upon the
exercise of options and rights under our 1994 Stock Compensation Program, 1994 Non-Employee
Director Stock Option Plan, Emerson Radio Corp. 2004 Employee Stock Incentive Plan and 2004
Non-Employee Outside Director Stock Option Plan and exercise of warrants, as of March 31, 2007 (the
Plans). The 1994 Plans expired in July 2004 and the remaining Plans are the only equity
compensation plans in existence as of March 31, 2007.
27
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of securities to be |
|
Weighted average exercise |
|
Number of securities |
|
|
issued upon exercise of |
|
price of outstanding |
|
remaining available for |
|
|
outstanding options, |
|
options, warrants and |
|
future issuance under |
|
|
warrants and rights |
|
rights |
|
equity compensation plans |
|
|
(a) |
|
(b) |
|
(c) |
Equity compensation plans
approved by security holders |
|
|
632,334 |
|
|
$ |
3.09 |
|
|
|
2,380,000 |
|
Equity compensation plans not
approved by security holders |
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
4.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
732,334 |
|
|
$ |
3.21 |
|
|
|
2,380,000 |
|
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
During Fiscal 2007, Christopher Ho, our Chairman, and Adrian Ma, our Chief Executive Officer
participated in deliberations of our Board of Directors concerning executive officer compensation.
None of our executive officers served as a director or a member of a compensation committee
(or other committee serving an equivalent function) of any other entity, the executive officers of
which served as a director or member of our Board of Directors during the Fiscal 2007.
Change in Control
As disclosed in our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on September 5, 2006, a change in control of Emerson occurred on August 29, 2006, upon
the acquisition (the Share Acquisition) by The Grande Group Limited, a Singapore corporation
(GGL), of 13,700 shares (the Shares) of our common stock. As a result of the Share Acquisition,
as of August 29, 2006, Grande Holdings, may be deemed to have beneficially owned an aggregate of
13,537,500 shares of common stock, which represented approximately 50.02% of the shares of common
stock outstanding as of such date. As of November 9, 2007, Grande Holdings, may be deemed to have
beneficially owned an aggregate of 15,634,482 shares of common stock, which represented
approximately 57.6% of the shares of common stock outstanding as of such date.
The Share Acquisition is one of a series of acquisitions of shares of our common stock by GGL
and S&T International Disribution Ltd., a British Virgin Islands corporation (S&T), since
December 5, 2005. Grande Holdings is (i) the sole parent of GGL and (ii) the sole parent of Grande
N.A.K.S. Ltd (N.A.K.S.), a British Virgin Islands corporation and sole parent of S&T.
On December 5, 2005, pursuant to an Agreement for the Sale and Purchase of Certain Shares in
Emerson (the Acquisition Agreement), between Mr. Guttfried Ludwig Prentice Jurick, the former
President and a former director of the Company, and S&T, S&T purchased from Mr. Jurick 10,000,000
shares of our common stock (the S&T Shares) in exchange for $26
28
million in cash and a convertible debenture issued by Grande Holdings with a face value of $26
million. The source of the funds that S&T used to pay the cash component of the purchase price was
(i) Grande Holdings working capital/cash on hand and (ii) a term loan facility provided by ABN
AMRO Bank N.V. (ABN AMRO), Hong Kong Branch in the amount of $26 million, under a facility
agreement entered into by S&T, Grande Holdings and ABN AMRO, Hong Kong Branch. Grande Holdings
guaranteed all of S&Ts obligations under the facility agreement. As additional security for its
obligations, S&T (i) pledged and granted to ABN AMRO a security interest in the S&T Shares and (ii)
assigned to ABN AMRO, by way of fixed security with first-ranking priority, enforceable upon an
event of default, all of its rights under the Acquisition Agreement.
From December 6, 2005 through August 28, 2006, Grande Holdings acquired an aggregate of
3,352,800 shares of our common stock (collectively, the Additional Shares and together with the
Recent Shares, the GGL Shares), through open market purchases or privately-negotiated
transactions. The total purchase price for the Additional Shares was approximately $11,494,275. The
source of funds for the Additional Shares was the working capital of Grande Holdings.
On August 29, 2006, GGL acquired the Shares through an open market purchase. The total
purchase price for the Shares was approximately $41,957. The source of funds for the Shares was
working capital of Grande Holdings.
Since August 29, 2006, GGL transferred all of its shares of our common stock to S&T and S&T
acquired an additional 2,096,982 shares of our common stock.
S&T has the direct power to vote and direct the disposition of the S&T Shares. GGL has the
direct power to vote and direct the disposition of the GGL Shares. As the sole parent of S&T,
N.A.K.S. has the indirect power to vote and dispose of the S&T Shares held for the account of S&T.
As the sole parent of N.A.K.S. and the sole parent of GGL, Grande Holdings has the indirect power
to vote and dispose of the S&T Shares and the GGL Shares (collectively, the Shares) held for the
account of S&T and GGL. As the owner of approximately 64% of the share capital of Grande Holdings,
Barrican Investments Corporation (Barrican) has the indirect power to vote and dispose of the
Shares held for the account of S&T and GGL. As the sole parent of Barrican, The Grande
International Holdings Ltd (Grande International) has the indirect power to vote and dispose of
the Shares held for the account of S&T and GGL. As the sole owner of Grande International, the Ho
Family Trust has the indirect power to vote and dispose of the Shares held for the account of S&T
and GGL. As the sole beneficiary of the Ho Family Trust, Christopher Ho Wing On has the indirect
power to vote and dispose of the Shares held for the account of S&T and GGL. In such capacities,
Grande Holdings, N.A.K.S. and Mr. Ho may be deemed to be the beneficial owners of the Shares held
for the account of S&T and GGL.
The information regarding the acquisition of the Shares and the beneficial holders of the
Shares was derived from (i) the Statement on Schedule 13D, dated December 12, 2005, filed on behalf
of S&T, N.A.K.S., Grande Holdings and Mr. Ho with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as
amended, (ii) the Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership of Securities on
29
Form 3, dated December 5, 2005, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on behalf of S&T,
N.A.K.S., Grande Holdings, Grande International, Barrican, the Ho Family Trust and Mr. Ho and (iii)
the Statements of Changes in Beneficial Ownership of Securities on Form 4 filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on behalf of Grande Holdings, Grande International, Barrican, the Ho Family
Trust and Mr. Ho from time to time since December 5, 2005.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
On December 5, 2005, Grande Holdings purchased approximately 37% (10,000,000 shares) of our
outstanding common stock from our former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Geoffrey P. Jurick.
Since the initial purchase of common stock, Grande Holdings has increased its holdings of our
common stock through open market and private purchases to approximately 57.6% of our outstanding
common shares, as of November 9, 2007. On September 21, 2007, Grande Holdings acquired 1,853,882
shares pursuant to a stock purchase agreement with a stockholder who was formerly a beneficial
owner of more than 5% of our outstanding common shares.
In December 2005, Emerson sold to Sansui Electronics (UK), an affiliate of Grande (Sansui),
the Companys controlling stockholder, aging inventory then located in a warehouse in the United
Kingdom. The purchase price was approximately $900,000 and represented the estimated net realizable
value (after write downs) of the inventory. After further market price declines Sansui sold the
inventory in 2006 and remitted payment owed to Emerson in the amount of $454,822.
In the quarter ended December 31, 2006, Emerson recorded $33.1 million of net revenues and
$50,000 of operating profit as a consequence of its participation in a Black Friday promotion of
42 plasma television sets by a major retailer. In this transaction, Emerson played several
different roles. It assisted in the manufacturing of the product by providing financial assistance
to the manufacturer of the television sets, Capetronic Display Limited (Capetronic), a subsidiary
of Grande. This working capital support, which was provided on an unsecured basis, included (i) the
deposit with Capetronic of approximately $6.7 million in order to assist Capetronic in purchases
from its parts suppliers, (ii) the opening of approximately $22.1 million of letters of credit
under its credit line with Wachovia Bank, for the benefit of Capetronic, which enabled Capetronic
to purchase additional parts from its suppliers and (iii) the borrowing of monies under its credit
line when the letters of credit were drawn down upon the delivery of the parts to Capetronic. In
addition, Emerson purchased the television sets from Capetronic and resold them to a distributor.
All amounts owed by Capetronic to Emerson relating to this transaction have been paid in full.
In October 2006, Emerson entered into an agreement with a consumer electronics distributor
(the Licensee), pursuant to which, among other things, Emerson agreed to grant the Licensee a
license to distribute and sell LCD televisions (LCD sets) in North America under Emersons H.H.
Scott brand name. The licensee has a distributor relationship with Grande Holdings. In the fiscal
quarter ended December 31, 2006, the Licensee began selling 32 and 37 LCD sets to a major United
States based retailer. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement with the licensee, Emerson was paid a
royalty of $110,000 as a result of such sales through March 31,
30
2007. No sales of LCD televisions pursuant to this agreement occurred and no royalty was paid to
Emerson under this agreement during the six month period ended September 30, 2007.
During the third quarter of Fiscal 2007, Emerson provided unsecured financial assistance to
Capetronic, Nakamichi Corporation (Nakamichi), Akai Electric (China) Co. Ltd. (Akai), and
Sansui, each of which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Grande Holdings, in the form of letters of
credit and loans which aggregated approximately $22.0 million at December 31, 2006. In reviewing
the documentation for certain of the letters of credit referred to above, Emerson determined that
some of the parts for which letters of credit were opened were to be used for the manufacture of
27 and 42 television sets to be sold to the Licensee by Akai. Emerson had no direct or indirect
interest in such sales, and Capetronic paid Emerson $57,000 as a fee for facilitating such
transaction. As a result of such transaction, Emerson may have been deemed to be in breach of
certain covenants contained in Emersons credit facility. The lender under the credit facility
agreed to waive such breaches and Emerson and the lender negotiated an amendment to the credit
facility. Emerson was required to pay $125,000 to the lender in connection with the amendment.
Emerson has charged this amount back to Capetronic and $125,000 was paid to one of Emersons
foreign subsidiaries on August 14, 2007 by Capetronic.
On February 21, 2007, Capetronic, Nakamichi, Akai, and Sansui (collectively, the Borrowers),
each of which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Grande Holdings, jointly and severally, issued a
promissory note (the Note) in favor of the Company in the principal amount of $23,501,514. The
principal amount of the Note represented the outstanding amount owed to the Company as of February
21, 2007, as a result of certain related party transactions entered into between the Company and
the Borrowers described above, including interest that had accrued from the date of such related
party transactions until the date of the Note. Simultaneously with the execution of the Note,
Grande Holdings executed a guaranty (the Guaranty) in favor of the Company pursuant to which
Grande Holdings guaranteed payment of all of the obligations of the Borrowers under the Note in
accordance with the terms thereof.
Interest on the unpaid principal balance of the Note accrued at a rate of 8.25% per annum,
commencing on February 21, 2007, until all obligations under the Note were paid in full, subject to
an automatic increase of 2% per annum in the event of default under the Note in accordance with the
terms thereof. Payments of principal and interest under the Note were to be made in nine
installments from April 1, 2007 through June 3, 2007 in such amounts and on such dates as set forth
in the Note, with all amounts of interest due under the Note scheduled to be paid with the final
installment. As of June 3, 2007, all amounts due under the Note have been repaid.
Since August 2006, Emerson has been providing to Sansui Sales PTE Ltd (Sansui Sales) and
Akai Sales PTE Ltd (Akai Sales), both of which are subsidiaries of Grande Holdings, assistance
with acquiring their product. Emerson issues purchase orders to third-party suppliers who
manufacture this product, and Emerson issues sales invoices to Sansui Sales and Akai Sales at
gross amounts for this product. Financing for this product is provided by Sansui Sales and Akai
Sales customers in the form of transfer letters of credit to the suppliers, and goods are shipped
directly from the suppliers to Sansui Sales and Akai Sales customers. Emerson recorded income
totaling $95,000 for providing this service in the six months ended September 30, 2007. As of
September 30, 2007, Akai Sales and Sansui Sales collectively owed Emerson $398,000 as a result of
these transactions.
31
In January 2006, we entered into an agreement with Grande Holdings pursuant to which we rent
office space in Hong Kong and receive related office services from Grande Holding. The agreement
expires in December 31, 2008, unless terminated earlier by either party upon three months prior
written notice of termination by either party. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, we
incurred expenses to Grande Holdings of approximately $429,000. For the six month period ended
September 30, 2007, we incurred expenses to Grande Holdings of approximately $193,000, including
rent expense of approximately $78,000 and related office services expense of approximately
$115,000.
In May 2007, Emerson paid a $10,000 commission to Vigers Hong Kong Ltd (Vigers), a property
agent and a subsidiary of Grande Holdings, related to the sale of a building owned by Emerson to an
unaffiliated buyer for approximately $2,000,000. Upon the closing of the sale in September 2007,
Emerson paid an additional $10,000 commission to Vigers.
In June 2007 Emerson paid a one-time sales commission in the amount of $14,000 to an Executive
Director of Grande Holdings, who is also Emersons President-International Sales and also a
Director of Emerson. The commission was 50% of the net margin on a sale by Emerson to an
unaffiliated customer.
In May 2007, we entered into an agreement with Goldmen Electronic Co. Ltd. (Goldmen),
pursuant to which we agreed to pay $1,682,220 in exchange for Goldmens manufacture and delivery to
us of musical instruments in order for us to meet our delivery requirements of these instruments in
the first week of September 2007. In July 2007, we learned that Goldmen had filed for bankruptcy
and was unable to manufacture the musical instruments we had ordered. Promptly after we learned of
Goldmens bankruptcy, Capetronic agreed to manufacture the musical instruments on substantially the
same terms and conditions, including the price, as Goldmen had agreed to manufacture them. On July
12, 2007, we paid Tomei Shoji Limited, an affiliate of Grande Holdings, $125,000 to acquire from
Goldmen and deliver to Capetronic the molds and equipment necessary for Capetronic to manufacture
the musical instruments. On or about July 16, 2007, we made two upfront payments totaling $546,000
to Capetronic. On July 20, 2007, Capetronic advised us that it was unable to manufacture the
musical instruments for us because it did not have the requisite governmental licenses to do so.
Capetronic currently physically possesses the musical instrument molds owned by Emerson and owes
Emerson $546,000 for the upfront advances made in anticipation of Capetronics manufacture of the
instruments. In accordance with a Board resolution in February 2007 requiring review of related
party transactions in excess of $500,000, the management Related Party Transaction Committee
reviewed and approved this transaction. The transaction was also approved by the Audit Committee in
July 2007.
In June 2007, Emerson and Capetronic entered into an agreement pursuant to which Emerson has
agreed to provide freight forwarding services to Capetronic. Pursuant to the agreement, Emerson has
agreed to pay the costs of importation of Capetronics inventory on Capetronics behalf, arrange
for the inventory to be received at a port of entry, cleared through the United States Customs
Service using Emersons regularly engaged broker, and transfer the inventory to a common carrier as
arranged by Capetronics customer. Pursuant to the agreement, if Capetronics customer fails to
make such arrangements with a common carrier, Emerson is
32
required to transfer the inventory to Emersons warehouse for storage or make other arrangements
with a public warehouse. Following the transfer of Capetronics inventory, Emerson is required to
provide next day delivery of all importation documents and bills of lading to Capetronics
customer. In consideration for the foregoing, Capetronic has agreed to reimburse Emerson for all
costs incurred by Emerson within thirty days of demand by Emerson, after which interest will
accrue, and to pay Emerson a service fee of 12% of the importation costs. For the three months
ended September 30, 2007, Emerson has billed Capetronic for the reimbursement of importation costs
totaling $246,000 and a commission of $29,000. As of September 30, 2007, Capetronics owed $275,000
to Emerson under this agreement.
The Companys Audit Committee has received from an independent investigator a report with
respect to certain of the related party transactions entered into by the Company, including its
subsidiaries, with affiliates of Grande Holdings from December 2005 to the present, and is
continuing its independent review into such transactions.
Future Transactions
We have adopted a policy that all future affiliated transactions will be made or entered into
on terms no less favorable to us than those that can be obtained from unaffiliated third parties.
In addition, all future affiliated transactions, must be approved by a majority of the independent
outside members of our Board of Directors who do not have an interest in the transactions.
Director Independence
We currently have nine directors, Christopher Ho, Adrian Ma, Greenfield Pitts, Michael A.B.
Binney, Eduard Will, Peter G. Bünger, W. Michael Driscoll, Jerome H. Farnum and Norbert R.
Wirsching. If all of the director nominees are elected at our annual meeting, immediately following
our annual meeting, we will have ten directors, Christopher Ho, Adrian Ma, Greenfield Pitts,
Michael A.B. Binney, Eduard Will, W. Michael Driscoll, Mirzan Mahathir, David R. Peterson, Kareem
Sethi and Norbert R. Wirsching. Our Board of Directors has determined that each of that Messrs.
Bünger, Driscoll, Farnum, Sethi and Wirsching are independent as defined under the American Stock
Exchange listing standards.
33
COMPARISON OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
Performance Graph
The following graph shows a comparison of cumulative total returns on our common stock for the
period April 1, 2002 to March 31, 2007, with the cumulative total return over the same period for
the American Stock Exchange and a peer group of companies. Companies used for the peer group are
Boston Acoustics, Inc., Cobra Electronics Corp., Concord Camera Corp., Koss Corp. and Pioneer
Corporation. Boston Acoustics, Inc. merged with D&M Holdings in August 2005, and as a result was
only included in the peer group index through 2005. In selecting companies to be part of the
peer group, we focus on publicly traded companies that design and/or distribute consumer electronic
products that have characteristics similar to ours in terms of one or more of the following: (i)
type of product, (ii) distribution channels, (iii) sourcing or (iv) sales volume. The comparison
assumes the investment of $100 in our common stock on April 1, 2002, and reinvestment of all
dividends. The information in the graph was provided by Hemscott, Inc.
COMPARE 5-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
AMONG EMERSON RADIO CORP.,
AMEX MARKET INDEX AND PEER GROUP INDEX
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Year Ending |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Index Market |
|
|
3/28/2002 |
|
|
3/31/2003 |
|
|
3/31/2004 |
|
|
3/31/2005 |
|
|
3/31/2006 |
|
|
3/30/2007 |
|
|
Emerson Radio Corp. |
|
|
100.00 |
|
|
|
533.33 |
|
|
|
|
296.12 |
|
|
|
|
272.87 |
|
|
|
|
289.92 |
|
|
|
|
248.06 |
|
|
|
Peer Group Index |
|
|
|
100.00 |
|
|
|
|
107.42 |
|
|
|
|
152.16 |
|
|
|
|
94.73 |
|
|
|
|
74.64 |
|
|
|
|
62.86 |
|
|
|
AMEX Market Index |
|
|
|
100.00 |
|
|
|
|
95.50 |
|
|
|
|
134.97 |
|
|
|
|
141.40 |
|
|
|
|
173.54 |
|
|
|
|
186.62 |
|
|
|
The stock price performance depicted in the above graph is not necessarily indicative of future
price performance. The performance graph will not be deemed soliciting material or be
incorporated by reference in any filing by us under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act except
to the extent that we specifically incorporate the graph by reference.
34
PROPOSAL 2: RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF MOORE STEPHENS, P.C.
AS THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED ACCOUNTING FIRM OF EMERSON
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING 2008
The Audit Committee has appointed Moore Stephens, P.C. as our independent registered
accounting firm to audit our financial statements for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008, and
has further directed that management submit the selection of an independent registered accounting
firm for ratification by our stockholders at the annual meeting. Stockholder ratification of the
selection of Moore Stephens, P.C. is not required by our by-laws or otherwise. However, we are
submitting the selection of Moore Stephens, P.C. to the stockholders for ratification as a matter
of good corporate practice. If the stockholders fail to ratify the selection, the Audit Committee
will reconsider whether or not to retain Moore Stephens, P.C. Even if the selection is ratified,
the Audit Committee in its discretion may direct the appointment of a different independent
registered accounting firm at any time during the year if it is determined that such a change would
be in the best interests of Emerson and its stockholders.
Representatives of the firm of Moore Stephens, P.C. are expected to be present at our annual
meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement, if they so desire, and will be available
to respond to appropriate questions.
In accordance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the Audit
Committees charter, all audit and audit-related work and all non-audit work performed by our
independent registered accounting firm, Moore Stephens, P.C., is approved in advance by the Audit
Committee, including the proposed fees for such work. The Audit Committee is informed of each
service actually rendered.
|
|
|
Ø |
|
Audit Fees. Audit fees billed to us by Moore Stephens for the audit of the financial
statements included in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, and reviews by Moore Stephens of
the financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, for the fiscal
years ended March 31, 2006 and 2007 totaled approximately $233,000 and $344,000,
respectively. |
|
|
|
Ø |
|
Audit-Related Fees. We were billed $0 and $2,900 by Moore Stephens for the fiscal years
ended March 31, 2006 and 2007, respectively, for assurance and related services that are
reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements
and are not reported under the caption Audit Fees above. |
|
|
|
Ø |
|
Tax Fees. Moore Stephens billed us an aggregate of $64,000 and $0, for the fiscal years
ended March 31, 2006 and 2007, respectively, for tax services, principally related to the
preparation of income tax returns and related consultation. |
|
|
|
Ø |
|
All Other Fees. We were billed $0 and $0 by Moore Stephens for the fiscal years ended March
31, 2006 and 2007, respectively, for permitted non-audit services, principally procedures
in connection with the audit of our parent companys consolidated financial statements for
its fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, a portion of which will be credited to our audit
fees for the audit of our financial statements for our fiscal year ended March 31, 2007. |
35
Applicable law and regulations provide an exemption that permits certain services to be
provided by our outside auditors even if they are not pre-approved. We have not relied on this
exemption at any time since the Sarbanes-Oxley Act was enacted.
Change in Accountants
As previously reported in a Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 23, 2006, on May 17, 2006, we
retained the services of Moore Stephens as our independent registered accounting firm to replace
our former independent auditors, BDO Seidman, LLP (BDO), who resigned as our independent
registered public accounting firm on March 7, 2006. BDO served as our independent registered public
accounting firm since March 31, 2004.
The engagement of Moore Stephens, P.C. and the replacement of BDO was approved by our Board of
Directors on the recommendation of our Audit Committee. During our two most recent fiscal years
ended March 31, 2007 and March 31, 2006, respectively, and any subsequent interim period to May 17,
2006, we did not consult with Moore Stephens regarding any matters noted in Item 304(a) of
Regulation S-K. BDO provided tax services to us during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2005, 2006
and 2007 and is expected to continue to provide such services to us.
There were no disagreements within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K, or
any events of the type listed in Item 304(a)(1)(v)(A) through (D) of Regulation S-K, involving BDO
that occurred within our most recent fiscal year ended March 31, 2005. BDOs report on our
financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005 did not contain any adverse opinion
or disclaimer of opinion, and was not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or
accounting principles.
During the year ended March 31, 2005 and through March 7, 2006, there had been no
disagreements with BDO on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement
disclosures, or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreements, if not resolved to the
satisfaction of BDO, would have caused BDO to make reference to the subject matter of the
disagreement in connection with its reports on the financial statements for such periods.
36
During the year ended March 31, 2005 and through March 7, 2006, there had been no reportable
events as described in Item 304(a)(1)(v)(A) through (D) of Regulation S-K.
We provided BDO with a copy of the disclosures made pursuant to the Form 8-K (which
disclosures are consistent with the disclosures noted above) and BDO furnished us with a letter
addressed to the SEC stating that it agrees with the statements made by us in the Form 8-K filing,
a copy of which was filed as an exhibit to the Form 8-K.
Vote Required
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the meeting at which a quorum
representing a majority of all outstanding shares of our common stock is present and voting, either
in person or by proxy, is required for the ratification of our independent registered accountants.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE RATIFICATION
OF THE APPOINTMENT OF MOORE STEPHENS, P.C. AS INDEPENDENT
AUDITORS OF EMERSON FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2008.
37
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act),
requires our directors, officers, and stockholders who beneficially own more than 10% of any class
of our equity securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, to file initial
reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership with respect to our equity securities with
the Securities and Exchange Commission and the American Stock Exchange. All reporting persons are
required to furnish us with copies of all reports that such reporting persons file with the SEC
pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.
Based solely on our review of the copies of such forms received by us, the following reports
were not filed on a timely basis during Fiscal 2007: Grande Holdings, Ltd., a beneficial owner or
more than 10% of our outstanding shares of common stock, filed late nine Form 4s with respect to
nine transactions pursuant to which Grande Holdings, Ltd. purchased shares of our common stock
during the period from April 13, 2006 through August 8, 2006; and John Florian, our former
Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer, filed late a Form 3 reporting that he
became a reporting person within the meaning of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act on June 6,
2006. Mr. Florian ceased to serve as our Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial
Officer upon Mr. Pitts appointment as our Chief Financial Officer on February 19, 2007.
STOCKHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS AND PROPOSALS
Our Board of Directors has established a procedure that enables stockholders to communicate in
writing with members of our Board of Directors. Any such communication should be addressed to our
Secretary and should be sent to such individual c/o Emerson Radio Corp., 9 Entin Road, Parsippany,
New Jersey 07054. Any such communication must state, in a conspicuous manner, that it is intended
for distribution to the entire Board of Directors. Under the procedures established by the Board,
upon the Secretarys receipt of such a communication, our Secretary will send a copy of such
communication to each member of the Board of Directors, identifying it as a communication received
from a stockholder. Absent unusual circumstances, at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the
Board of Directors held more than two days after such communication has been distributed, the Board
of Directors will consider the substance of any such communication.
Stockholder proposals to be presented at our Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in
2008, for inclusion in our proxy statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting, must be
received by us at our offices located at 9 Entin Road, Parsippany, New Jersey 07054, addressed to
the Secretary, on or before July 24, 2008. If, however, our 2008
Annual Meeting of Stockholders is changed by more than thirty (30) days from the date of the Annual Meeting, the
deadline is a reasonable time before we begin to print and mail our proxy materials for the 2008
Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Such stockholder proposals must comply with our bylaws and the
requirements of Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act. See Election of Directors for information on
stockholder submissions of nominations for election to the Board of Directors.
38
Rule 14a-4 of the Exchange Act governs our use of discretionary proxy voting authority with
respect to a stockholder proposal that is not addressed in the proxy statement. With respect to our
2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, if we are not provided notice of a stockholder proposal prior
to October 7, 2008, we will be permitted to use our discretionary voting authority when the
proposal is raised at the meeting, without any discussion of the matter in the proxy statement.
PERSONS MAKING THE SOLICITATION
The enclosed proxy is solicited on behalf of our Board of Directors. We will pay the cost of
soliciting proxies in the accompanying form. Our officers may solicit proxies by mail, telephone,
telegraph or fax. Upon request, we will reimburse brokers, dealers, banks and trustees, or their
nominees, for reasonable expenses incurred by them in forwarding proxy material to beneficial
owners of our shares of common stock. We have retained the services of American Stock Transfer &
Trust Company to solicit proxies by mail, telephone, telegraph or personal contact.
OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors is not aware of any matter to be presented for action at the meeting
other than the matters set forth herein. Should any other matter requiring a vote of stockholders
arise, the proxies in the enclosed form confer upon the person or persons entitled to vote the
shares represented by such proxies discretionary authority to vote the same in accordance with
their best judgment in the interest of Emerson.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
A copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, including
financial statements, accompanies this proxy statement. The Annual Report is not to be regarded as
proxy soliciting material or as a communication by means of which any solicitation is to be made.
We filed an amendment to our Annual Report on Form 10-K in July 2007 in order to include certain
information regarding our management, compensation and other matters. All of the information
included in such amendment has been updated and is included in this proxy statement. A copy of our
Annual Report on Form 10-K and Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, filed with the
SEC, is available (excluding exhibits) without cost to stockholders upon written request made to
Investor Relations, Emerson Radio Corp., Nine Entin Road, Parsippany, New Jersey 07054-0430 or
on-line at our web site: www.emersonradio.com.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Andrew L. Davis
Secretary
November 21, 2007
39
PROXY SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING
OF STOCKHOLDERS |
TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 13, 2007 |
The undersigned hereby appoints Greenfield Pitts and John Florian, and each of them, as
attorneys and proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to vote all of the
shares of stock of Emerson Radio Corp. which the undersigned may be entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders of Emerson Radio Corp. to be held at the offices of our counsel, Lowenstein
Sandler PC, located at 65 Livingston Avenue, Roseland, New Jersey 07068 on Thursday, December 13,
2007, at 10:00 a.m. (local time), and at any and all postponements, continuations and adjournments
thereof, with all powers that the undersigned would possess if personally present, upon and in
respect of the following matters and in accordance with the following instructions, with
discretionary authority as to any and all other matters that may properly come before the meeting. |
UNLESS A CONTRARY DIRECTION IS INDICATED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR ALL NOMINEES LISTED IN
PROPOSAL NO. 1 AND FOR PROPOSAL NO. 2, AS MORE SPECIFICALLY DESCRIBED IN THE PROXY STATEMENT. IF
SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS ARE INDICATED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE THEREWITH. |
(Continued on reverse side) |
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF |
Please date, sign and mail your proxy card in the envelope provided as soon as possible. |
Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided. |
21030000000000000000 0 121307 |
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE NOMINEES LISTED BELOW AND A VOTE FOR
PROPOSAL NO.2. |
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR
BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE x |
1. To elect ten directors:
NOMINEES:
FOR ALL NOMINEES O Christopher Ho
O Adrian Ma
WITHHOLD AUTHORITY O Michael A.B. Binney
FOR ALL NOMINEES O W. Michael Driscoll
O Mirzan Mahathir
FOR ALL EXCEPT O David R. Peterson
(See instructions below) |
INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any
individual nominee(s), mark FOR ALL EXCEPT and fill in
the circle next to each nominee you wish to withhold, as
shown here: |
2. To ratify the appointment of Moore Stephens,
P.C. as the independent registered public
accounting firm of Emerson Radio Corp. for the
fiscal year ending March 31, 2008. |
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. IT
MAY BE REVOKED PRIOR TO ITS EXERCISE.
RECEIPT OF NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL MEETING AND PROXY STATEMENT IS
HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGED, AND THE TERMS OF THE NOTICE AND PROXY
STATEMENT ARE HEREBY INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS PROXY.
THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY REVOKES ALL PROXIES HERETOFORE GIVEN FOR
SAID MEETING OR ANY AND ALL ADJOURNMENTS, POSTPONEMENTS AND
CONTINUATIONS THEREOF.
PLEASE VOTE, DATE, SIGN AND PROMPTLY RETURN THIS PROXY IN THE
ENCLOSED RETURN ENVELOPE WHICH IS POSTAGE PREPAID IF MAILED IN
THE UNITED STATES. |