Schedule 14C/A
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14C
(RULE 14C-101)
Amendment No. 1
INFORMATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(c)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Information Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14c-5(d)(2)) |
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Definitive Information Statement |
BIOLARGO, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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No fee required |
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14c-5(g) and 0-11. |
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Title of each class of securities to which investment applies: |
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Aggregate number of securities to which investment applies: |
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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): |
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
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Total fee paid: |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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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. |
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
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Natures Best Solution
BioLargo, Inc.
INFORMATION STATEMENT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 14
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
AND REGULATION 14C AND SCHEDULE 14C THEREUNDER
To Our Stockholders:
This Information Statement is being furnished to the stockholders of BioLargo, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the Company), in connection with the election of the directors of the
Company by the written consent of holders of in excess of 50% of the voting rights of the Company.
WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY AND YOU ARE NOT REQUESTED TO
SEND US A PROXY.
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on May 15, 2009 shall be provided a copy
of this Information Statement.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Dennis Calvert
President and Chief Executive Officer
May 15, 2009
Irvine, California
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TO
INFORMATION STATEMENT
IN LIEU OF
2009 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
OF
BIOLARGO, INC.
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INFORMATION STATEMENT
IN LIEU OF
2009 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
OF BIOLARGO, INC.
NO VOTE OR OTHER ACTION OF THE COMPANYS STOCKHOLDERS IS REQUIRED IN
CONNECTION WITH THIS INFORMATION STATEMENT.
WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY AND YOU ARE REQUESTED
NOT TO SEND US A PROXY
We are distributing this Information Statement (the Information Statement) to our
stockholders in full satisfaction of any notice requirements the Company may have under Securities
and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and applicable Delaware law. No additional action will be
undertaken by the Company with respect to the receipt of written consents, and no dissenters
rights with respect to the receipt of the written consents, and no dissenters rights under the
Delaware General Corporation Law, are afforded to the Companys stockholders as a result of the
adoption of the resolutions contemplated herein.
The Information Statement is being mailed or made available on the Internet on or about May
20, 2009 to the holders of record at the close of business on May 15, 2009 (the Record Date), of
the common stock of BioLargo, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), in connection with
action by written consent in lieu of an annual meeting to elect directors to the Board of Directors
(the Board).
The vote required to elect directors is the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of
the Companys common stock. Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share of
common stock held. The date for purposes of determining the number of outstanding shares of common
stock and for determining stockholders entitled to vote, is the close of business on the Record
Date. As of the Record Date, the Company had outstanding
42,423,845 shares of common stock.
Members of the Board who collectively own or have voting authority for an aggregate 26,186,805
shares of the Companys outstanding common stock (the Consenting Stockholders) intend to vote in
favor of each of managements nominees for directors. These stockholdings represent approximately
61.8% of the total outstanding common stock of the Company, as of the date of filing of this
Information Statement, which the Company believes will be sufficient as of the Record Date to take
the proposed action to elect the directors. Even though the Consenting Stockholders are themselves
the nominees for directorship, they have the authority under Delaware law to vote in favor of
themselves and to elect the nominees to the Board. The Company does not intend to solicit any
proxies or consents from any other stockholders in connection with this action.
Section 141(f) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the Delaware Law) provides that any
action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be taken without a
meeting and without prior notice if a consent in writing setting forth the action taken is signed
by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be
necessary to take such action. In order to eliminate the costs and management time involved in
obtaining proxies and in order to effect the above actions as early as possible in order to
accomplish the purposes hereafter described, the Board voted to utilize, and has obtained, the
written consent of the Consenting Stockholders who own shares representing a majority of our common
stock. The resolutions adopted in that written consent will not become effective before the date
which is 20 days after this Information Statement is first mailed to stockholders. You are urged to
read this Information Statement in its entirety for a description of the action taken by the
Consenting Stockholders.
Pursuant to Section 228(c) of the Delaware Law, we are required to provide prompt notice of
the taking of the corporate action without a meeting to the stockholders of record who have not
consented in
writing to such action. This Information Statement is intended to provide such notice. No
dissenters or appraisal rights under the Delaware Law are afforded to the Companys stockholders
as a result of the approval of the resolutions.
- 1 -
This Information Statement is being distributed pursuant to the requirements of Section 14(c)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act).
The entire cost of furnishing this Information Statement will be borne by the Company. We will
request brokerage houses, nominees, custodians, fiduciaries and other like parties to forward this
Information Statement to the beneficial owners of our common stock held of record by them and will
reimburse such persons for their reasonable charges and expenses in connection therewith.
Our Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2008, on Form 10-K (the 10-K) is being
mailed or made available on the Internet to stockholders concurrently with this information
statement. The 10-K is not to be regarded as proxy soliciting material or as a communication by
means of which any solicitation of proxies is to be made.
Our executive offices are located at 2603 Main Street, Suite 1155, Irvine, California 92614
and our telephone number at that location is (949) 643-9540.
- 2 -
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Composition of Board of Directors
Our bylaws provide that the Board shall consist of not less than two and not more than seven
directors. The Board currently consists of five members. The Board has fixed the size of the Board
to be elected in 2009 at five members. There are no family relationships among any of our current
directors, the nominees for directors and our executive officers.
The Consenting Stockholders, consisting of (i) Kenneth Reay Code, who collectively
beneficially owns more than a sufficient number of votes to cause the election of the entire Board
himself and (ii) other members of the Board, intend to vote all shares of their common stock
beneficially owned by them FOR the election of the nominees listed below. These nominees have been
selected by the Board. All of the nominees are currently members of the Board. If elected, each
nominee will serve until the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2010 (or action by
written consent of stockholders in lieu thereof) or until his successor has been duly elected and
qualified.
In the event that a nominee is unable or declines to serve as a director at the time of the
Annual Meeting, the present Board will fill any such vacancy. In the event that additional persons
are nominated for election as directors, the Consenting Stockholders intend to vote all of their
shares for the nominees listed below and against any such additional nominees. As of the date of
this information statement, the Board is not aware of any nominee who is unable or will decline to
serve as a director.
The Board does not have a Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee primarily because capital
constraints, the Companys early operational state and the size of the current Board make
constituting and administering such a committee excessively burdensome and costly. With respect to
the nominees for election in 2009, every director of the Company participated in the decisions
relating to the nomination of directors.
Nominees for Election as Directors
The following is certain information as of April 1, 2009 regarding the nominees for election
as directors:
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Name |
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Director Since |
Dennis P. Calvert
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President, Chief Executive Officer
and Chairman
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46 |
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June 2002 |
Joseph L. Provenzano
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Executive Vice President of
Operations, Corporate Secretary
and Director
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June 2002 |
Gary A. Cox(1)(2)
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Director
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May 2003 |
Dennis E. Marshall(1)(2)(3)
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Director
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April 2006 |
Kenneth R. Code
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Director
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April 2007 |
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Member of Audit Committee |
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Member of Compensation Committee |
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Chairman of Audit and Compensation committees |
- 3 -
Biographical Information Regarding Directors and Nominees
Dennis P. Calvert is our President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. Mr.
Calvert was appointed a director in June 2002, and has served as President and Chief Executive
Officer since June
2002, Corporate Secretary from September 2002 until March 2003, and Chief Financial Officer
from
March 2003 through January 2008. Mr. Calvert holds a B.A. in Economics from Wake Forest
University, where he was a varsity basketball player on full scholarship. Mr. Calvert also studied
at Columbia University and Harding University. He was an honor student in high school with numerous
leadership awards. He is also an Eagle Scout. Mr. Calvert has an extensive entrepreneurial
background as an operator, investor and consultant. From June 2002 to September 2002 he served as
president of Med Wireless, Inc. In 1998 he was a founder, president and board member of Utelecom
Communications, Inc. where he led the acquisition of four companies and secured a line of credit
for $7.5 million. He was an investor and served as a manager of Beep for Free.com, LLC beginning in
the year 2000, a consumer products and technology related company. Mr. Calvert resigned as the
manager of Beep For Free.com, LLC in June 2002 and the company ceased operations in December 2002.
Mr. Calvert was a founder and chairman of ZZYZX Technologies, Inc., a company that designed and
produced high tech equipment. ZZYZX was sold in 2001. From 1990 to 1996 Calvert served as head of
mergers and acquisitions for Medical Asset Management, Inc., a company that acquired and managed
medical-related businesses. During his tenure he participated in more than 50 acquisitions and
served in numerous positions with the company. Prior, he was a founder and officer of a medical
recruiting and consulting firm named Merritt Hawkins and Associates from 1987 to 1990. Earlier, he
was a top producing sales associate for a leading physician recruitment firm, Jackson and Coker,
Inc. and served as a sales associate for Diamond Shamrock Chemicals Company from 1985 to 1986.
Joseph L Provenzano has been a director since June 2002, assumed the role of Corporate
Secretary in March 2003 and was appointed Executive Vice President of Operations in January 2008.
Mr. Provenzano began his corporate career in April 1988 as a Personnel Manager and Recruiter for
First American Travel, a marketing company in Southern California. From June 1991 to September 1995
he worked as a technician within the Commercial and Residential security industry. From September
1995 to September 1996 he was employed by two major Southern California moving and storage
companies as head of marketing. From September 1996 to April 2001 he owned a marketing company
called Pre-Move Marketing Services (PMSA), offering advertising and direct marketing products for
the moving and storage industry. From April 2001 to March 2003 he worked with an investment holding
company to manage their mergers and acquisitions department, participating in more than 50
corporate mergers and acquisitions.
Gary A. Cox has been a director since May 2003. Mr. Cox has more than 14 years in the
healthcare field as consultant to hospitals and medical groups. Since March 2008, Mr. Cox has
worked as the Director of Physician Recruitment for The Fortus Group, an executive search firm
specializing in the dialysis industry. From January 2007 to March 2008, Mr. Cox worked as a
corporate recruiter and recruitment manager for United PamAm Financial Corporation, a specialty
finance company focused on the automobile industry. From December 2005 to January 2007, Mr. Cox was
an executive search consultant with Management Recruiters International, an executive search firm
specializing in the biotechnology industry. In addition, since 1995, he has also been providing
search and consulting services to hospitals and clinics throughout the United States. Previously,
Mr. Cox served for more than 10 years with firms in the United Kingdom in various executive
recruiting, sales and marketing positions. He holds a technical degree in engineering from
Leicester University in England. He was also a competitive athlete and played for a number of
professional soccer (football) clubs in England in his early career.
Dennis E. Marshall has been a director since April 2006. Mr. Marshall has over 35 years of
experience in real estate, asset management, management level finance, and operations-oriented
management. Since 1981, Mr. Marshall has been a real estate investment broker in Orange County,
California, representing buyers and sellers in investment acquisitions and dispositions. From March
1977 to January 1981, Mr. Marshall was a real estate syndicator at McCombs Corporation as well as
the assistant to the Chairman of the Board. While at McCombs Corporation, Mr. Marshall became the
Vice President of Finance, where he financially monitored numerous public real estate syndications.
From June 1973 to September 1976, Mr. Marshall served as an equity controller for the Don Koll
Company, an investment builder and general contractor firm, at which Mr. Marshall worked closely
with institutional equity partners and lenders. Before he began is career in real estate,
Mr. Marshall worked at Arthur Young & Co. (now Ernst & Young) from June 1969 to June 1973, where he
served as Supervising Senior Auditor and was responsible for numerous independent audits of
publicly held corporations. During this period, he obtained Certified Public Accountant
certification. Mr. Marshall earned a degree in Accounting from the University of Texas, Austin in
1966 and earned a Master of Science Business Administration from the University of
California, Los Angeles in 1969. Mr. Marshall serves as Chairman of the Audit and Compensation
Committees.
- 4 -
Kenneth R. Code is the founder of IOWC Technologies, Inc. (IOWC). Mr. Code has been a
director since April 2007 and also serves as our Chief Technology Officer. Mr. Code is our single
largest stockholder. From December 2000 to present, Mr. Code has been the President of IOWC, a
company which is engaged in the research and development of advanced disinfection technology, and
from which the Company acquired the BioLargo technology in April 2007. From December 2000 through
October 2003, Mr. Code also served as a director and Vice Chairman of BioLargo Technologies Inc.,
where he was engaged in pre-commercial efforts to seat inorganic disinfection technologies into the
non-woven air-laid industry. Mr. Code has authored several publications concerning, and has filed
several patent applications applying, disinfection technology. Mr. Code graduated from the
University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
- 5 -
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Our corporate website, www.biolargo.com, contains the charters for our Audit and Compensation
Committees and certain other corporate governance documents and policies including our Code of
Ethics. Any changes to these documents and any waivers granted with respect to our code of ethics
will be posted on our website. In addition, we will provide a copy of any of these documents
without charge to any stockholder upon written request made to Corporate Secretary, BioLargo, Inc.,
2603 Main Street, Suite 1155, Irvine, California 92614. The information on our website is not, and
shall not be deemed to be, a part of this proxy statement or incorporated by reference into this or
any other filing we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Director Independence
The Board has determined that each of Messrs. Cox and Marshall is independent as defined under
NASDAQ Marketplace rules. The Board has determined that none of Messrs. Calvert, Code or Provenzano
is independent as defined under NASDAQ Marketplace rules. None of Messrs. Calvert, Code or
Provenzano serves on any committees of the Board.
Meetings of the Board
The Board held five meetings and acted by written consent six times during 2008. Each of the
incumbent directors attended 75% or more of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and
committees on which the director served in 2008. Each of our directors is encouraged to attend our
annual meeting of Stockholders, when these are held, and to be available to answer any questions
posed by stockholders to such director.
Communications with the Board
The following procedures have been established by the Board in order to facilitate
communications between our stockholders and the Board:
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Stockholders may send correspondence, which should indicate that the
sender is a stockholder, to the Board or to any individual director,
by mail to Corporate Secretary, BioLargo, Inc., 2603 Main Street,
Suite 1155, Irvine, California 92614. |
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Our Corporate Secretary will be responsible for the first review and
logging of this correspondence and will forward the communication to
the director or directors to whom it is addressed unless it is a type
of correspondence which the Board has identified as correspondence
which may be retained in our files and not sent to directors. The
Board has authorized the Secretary to retain and not send to directors
communications that: (a) are advertising or promotional in nature
(offering goods or services), (b) solely relate to complaints by
clients with respect to ordinary course of business customer service
and satisfaction issues or (c) clearly are unrelated to our business,
industry, management or Board or committee matters. These types of
communications will be logged and filed but not circulated to
directors. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, the
Secretary will not screen communications sent to directors. |
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The log of stockholder correspondence will be available to members of
the Board for inspection. At least once each year, the Corporate
Secretary will provide to the Board a summary of the communications
received from stockholders, including the communications not sent to
directors in accordance with the procedures set forth above. |
Our stockholders may also communicate directly with the non-management directors as a group,
by mail addressed to Dennis E. Marshall, c/o Corporate Secretary, BioLargo, Inc., 2603 Main Street,
Suite 1155, Irvine, California 92614.
Our Audit Committee has established procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of
complaints regarding questionable accounting, internal controls, and financial improprieties or
auditing
matters. Any of our employees may confidentially communicate concerns about any of these
matters by mail addressed to Audit Committee, c/o Corporate Secretary, BioLargo, Inc., 2603 Main
Street, Suite 1155, Irvine, California 92614.
- 6 -
All of the reporting mechanisms are also posted on our website. Upon receipt of a complaint or
concern, a determination will be made whether it pertains to accounting, internal controls or
auditing matters and, if it does, it will be handled in accordance with the procedures established
by the Audit Committee.
Committees of the Board of Directors
The Board has established an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee.
The Audit Committee meets with management and our independent public accountants to review the
adequacy of internal controls and other financial reporting matters. Dennis E. Marshall served as
Chairman of the Audit Committee during 2008 and continues to serve in that capacity. Gary A. Cox
also serves on the Audit Committee. The Board has determined that Mr. Marshall qualifies as an
audit committee financial expert as defined in Item 401(h) of Regulation S-K of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Audit Committee met six times during 2008.
The Compensation Committee reviews the compensation for all of our officers and directors and
affiliates. The Committee also administers our equity incentive option plan. Mr. Marshall served as
Chairman of the Compensation Committee during 2008 and continues to serve in that capacity. Mr. Cox
also serves on the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee met once and acted by written
consent once during 2008.
The Board did not modify any action or recommendation made by the Compensation Committee with
respect to executive compensation for the 2008 fiscal year. It is the opinion of the Compensation
Committee that the executive compensation policies and plans provide the necessary total
remuneration program to properly align their performance and the interests of our stockholders
through the use of competitive and equitable executive compensation in a balanced and reasonable
manner, for both the short and long term.
We do not have a Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee primarily because of capital
constraints, our early operational state and the size of our current Board make constituting and
administering such a committee excessively burdensome and costly. The traditional responsibilities
of such a committee are handled by the Board as a whole. With respect to the nominees for election
in 2009, each of our directors participated in the decisions relating to the nomination of
directors.
The Board follows the written code of ethics that applies to its principal executive officers,
principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing
similar functions.
Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our directors, certain officers
and persons holding 10% or more of the Companys common stock to file reports regarding their
ownership and regarding their acquisitions and dispositions of our common stock with the SEC. Such
persons are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a)
forms they file.
To our knowledge, based solely upon review of Forms 3, 4, and 5 (and amendments thereto) and
written representations provided to us by executive officers, directors and stockholders
beneficially owning 10% or greater of the outstanding shares, we believe that such persons filed
pursuant to the requirements of the SEC on a timely basis, except that (i) Mr. Calvert did not
timely make one filing on Form 4 with respect to gifts of shares of common stock; (ii) Mr. Cox did
not timely make one filing on Form 4 with respect to an option to purchase common stock granted to
him pursuant to the stock option plan approved by our stockholders in 2007 (the 2007 Plan; see
Equity Compensation Plans 2007 Equity Incentive Plan below); and (iii) Mr. Marshall did not
timely make one filing on Form 4 with respect to an option to purchase common stock granted to him
pursuant to the Companys 2007 Equity Incentive Plan. Mr.
Calvert has since filed one Form 4 to report his transaction. Mr. Cox has since filed one Form
4 to report his transaction. Mr. Marshall has since filed one Form 4 to report his transaction.
- 7 -
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table
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Non-Equity |
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Stock or |
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Plan Based |
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Name and |
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Option |
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Incentive |
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All other |
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Principal Position |
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Year |
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Salary |
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Awards |
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Compensation |
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Compensation |
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Total |
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Dennis P. Calvert, |
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2007 |
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184,800 |
(1) |
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3,046,346 |
(2) |
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10,100 |
(3) |
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$ |
3,241,246 |
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President and Chief |
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2008 |
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$ |
197,200 |
(1) |
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12,600 |
(3) |
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$ |
209,800 |
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Executive Officer |
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Joseph L. Provenzano, |
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2007 |
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$ |
70,166 |
(4) |
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92,520 |
(5) |
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$ |
162,686 |
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Corporate Secretary
and VP of
Operations |
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2008 |
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$ |
79,200 |
(4) |
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2,400 |
(6) |
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$ |
81,600 |
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Kenneth R. Code, |
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2007 |
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$ |
184,800 |
(7) |
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184,900 |
(8) |
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8,000 |
(9) |
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$ |
316,100 |
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Chief Technology |
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2008 |
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$ |
197,200 |
(7) |
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12,600 |
(9) |
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$ |
209,800 |
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Officer |
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(1) |
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In 2007 the employment agreement for Mr. Calvert provided for a base salary of
$184,800. During 2007, we made payments totaling $184,800. In 2008 the employment
agreement for Mr. Calvert provided for a base salary of $197,200. During 2008, we
made payments totaling $169,971 and the remaining balance of $27,229 was accrued and
unpaid as of December 31, 2008. See Employment AgreementsDennis P. Calvert below
for more details. |
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On April 30, 2007, we issued an option to Mr. Calvert to purchase 7,733,259 shares of
our common stock at $0.18 per share, a discount to the $0.37 closing price on the
date of issuance, pursuant to Mr. Calverts employment agreement. This option vests
over three years in equal amounts on the anniversary date, and expires 10 years from
the date of issuance. The fair value of this option was $2,861,306, and will be
recorded as compensation expense ratably over the vesting period. |
|
|
|
On December 28, 2007 we issued an option to Mr. Calvert to purchase 200,000 shares of
our common stock. The option was issued under the 2007 Plan, is exercisable at $0.94
per share, vests in equal installments on the first, second and third anniversary
date of the grant and expire ten years from the date of grant. The fair value of this
option was $185,040, and will be recorded as compensation expense ratably over the
vesting period. |
|
(3) |
|
Consists of health insurance premium reimbursements and automobile allowance payments. |
|
(4) |
|
At December 31, 2006 the Company had accrued salary for Mr. Provenzano in the amount
of $99,000 related to services performed in 2006 and 2005. On March 15, 2007, the
$99,000 balance was converted into 264,001 shares of the Companys common stock. In
2007 Mr. Provenzano continued to work for the Company on an as needed basis and
earned salary totaling $70,166. We made payments totaling $33,299 to Mr. Provenzano
during 2007, and the remaining $36,867 was accrued and unpaid as of December 31, 2007
and December 31, 2008. In 2008 the employment agreement for Mr. Provenzano provided
for a base salary of $79,200, all of which was paid in cash during 2008. See
Employment Agreements Joseph L. Provenzano below for more details. |
|
(5) |
|
On December 28, 2007 we issued an option to Mr. Provenzano to purchase 100,000 shares
of our common stock. The option was issued under our 2007 Plan, is exercisable at
$0.94 per share, expires ten years from the date of grant, and vests in equal
installments on the first, second and third anniversary date of the grant. The fair
value of this option was $92,520 and will be recorded as compensation expense ratably
over the vesting period. |
- 8 -
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(6) |
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Consists of health insurance premiums reimbursements. |
|
(7) |
|
On April 30, 2007, Kenneth R. Code was appointed Chief Technology Officer and his
employment agreement provided for a pro-rated base salary of $123,200 for the
remainder of 2007. We made payments totaling $123,200 in 2007. In 2008 the employment
agreement for Mr. Code provided for a base salary of $197,200, of which $186,365 was
paid in cash and the remaining 10,835 was accrued and unpaid as of December 31, 2008. |
|
(8) |
|
On December 28, 2007 we issued an option to Mr. Code to purchase 200,000 shares of
our common stock. The option was issued under our 2007 Plan and is exercisable at
$1.03 per share, expires ten years from the date of grant, and vests in equal
installments on the first, second, and third anniversary date of the grant. The fair
value of this option was $185,040 and will be recorded as compensation expense
ratably over the vesting period. |
|
(9) |
|
Consists of health insurance premium reimbursements and automobile allowance. |
- 9 -
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
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Equity |
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Incentive |
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Plan |
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Awards: |
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Number of |
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Number of |
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Number of |
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Securities |
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Securities |
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Securities |
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Underlying |
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Underlying |
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Underlying |
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Share |
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Unexercised |
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Unexercised |
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Unexercised |
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Option |
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Price on |
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Option |
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Options (#) |
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Options (#) |
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Unearned |
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Exercise |
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Grant |
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Expiration |
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Name |
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Exercisable |
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Unexercisable |
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Options |
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Price |
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Date |
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Date |
Dennis Calvert |
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2,577,753 |
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5,155,506 |
(1) |
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$ |
0.18 |
(2) |
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$ |
0.37 |
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April 30, 2017 |
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66,667 |
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133,333 |
(3) |
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$ |
0.94 |
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$ |
0.94 |
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December 28, 2017 |
Joseph Provenzano |
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33,334 |
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66,666 |
(3) |
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$ |
0.94 |
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$ |
0.94 |
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December 28, 2017 |
Kenneth R. Code |
|
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66,667 |
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|
|
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133,333 |
(3) |
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$ |
1.03 |
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$ |
0.94 |
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December 28, 2017 |
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(1) |
|
Mr. Calvert was granted an option to purchase 7,733,259 shares of our common stock pursuant
to his employment agreement entered into on April 30, 2007. The options granted to Mr. Calvert
vest over three years in equal amounts on the anniversary of the option grant date. |
|
(2) |
|
The option exercise price of $0.18 was below the $0.37 closing price of our common stock on
the date of the employment agreement. In arriving at the option price, the Compensation
Committee of our Board (the Compensation Committee) determined the pricing was appropriate
based on a number of factors, including (i) that the initial tranche of options does not vest
until one year of the date of grant, (ii) with the quantity of the shares that would be
issued, a block of shares that size could not be liquidated without affecting the market price
of the shares, and (iii) the shares would be restricted shares and thereafter would be
subject to the volume and manner of sale limitations applicable to affiliates under Rule 144
under the Securities Act of 1933. |
|
(3) |
|
On December 28, 2007, the Compensation Committee granted options to Messrs. Calvert,
Provenzano and Code under the 2007 Plan, which options vest over three years in equal amounts
on the anniversary of the option grant date. |
Employment Agreements
Dennis P. Calvert
We entered into a new employment agreement dated as of April 30, 2007 with Mr. Calvert (the
2007 Calvert Employment Agreement). The previous employment agreement with Mr. Calvert, dated
December 11, 2002, was terminated.
The 2007 Calvert Employment Agreement provides that Mr. Calvert will serve as our President
and Chief Executive Officer, and receive (i) base compensation of $184,800 annually (with an
automatic 10% annual increase); and (ii) a bonus in such amount as the Compensation Committee may
determine from time to time. In addition, Mr. Calvert will be eligible to participate in incentive
plans, stock option plans, and similar arrangements as determined by our Board. When such benefits
are made available to our senior employees, Mr. Calvert is also eligible to receive heath insurance
premium payments for himself and his
immediate family, a car allowance of $800 per month, paid
vacation of four weeks per year plus an additional two weeks per year for each full year of service
during the term of the agreement up to a maximum of ten weeks per year, life insurance equal to
three times his base salary and disability insurance.
- 10 -
The 2007 Calvert Employment Agreement provides that Mr. Calvert will be granted an option (the
Option) to purchase 7,733,259 shares of our common stock. The Option shall be a non-qualified
stock option, shall be exercisable at $0.18 per share, shall be exercisable for ten years from the
date of grant and shall vest over time as follows:
|
|
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|
First anniversary of the date of the Agreement |
|
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2,577,753 |
|
Second anniversary of the date of the Agreement |
|
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2,577,753 |
|
Third anniversary of the date of the Agreement |
|
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2,577,753 |
|
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any portion of the Option which has not yet vested shall be
immediately vested in the event of, and prior to, a change of control, as defined in the 2007
Calvert Employment Agreement. Consistent with the foregoing, the precise terms and conditions of
the agreement evidencing the Option shall be as determined by the Board and/or the Compensation
Committee.
The 2007 Calvert Employment Agreement has a term of five years, unless earlier terminated in
accordance with its terms. The 2007 Calvert Employment Agreement provides that Mr. Calverts
employment may be terminated by the Company due to disability, for cause or without cause.
Disability as used in the 2007 Calvert Employment Agreement means physical or mental incapacity
or illness rendering Mr. Calvert unable to perform his duties on a long-term basis (i) as evidenced
by his failure or inability to perform his duties for a total of 120 days in any 360 day period, or
(ii) as determined by an independent and licensed physician whom Company selects, or (iii) as
determined without recourse by the Companys disability insurance carrier. If Mr. Calverts
employment is terminated for cause he will be eligible to receive his accrued base compensation and
vacation compensation through the date of termination. If Mr. Calverts employment is terminated
without cause, then he will be eligible to receive the greater of (i) one years compensation plus
an additional one half year for each year of service since the effective date of the employment
agreement or (ii) one years compensation plus an additional one half year for each year remaining
in the term of the agreement.
The 2007 Calvert Employment Agreement requires Mr. Calvert to keep certain information
confidential, not to solicit customers or employees of the Company or interfere with any business
relationship of the Company, and to assign all inventions made or created during the term of the
2007 Calvert Employment Agreement as work made for hire.
Kenneth R. Code
As part of the completion of the acquisition of the BioLargo technology from IOWC, we entered
into an Employment Agreement dated as of April 30, 2007 with Mr. Code (the Code Employment
Agreement).
The Code Employment Agreement provides that Mr. Code will serve as our Chief Technology
Officer, and receive (i) base compensation of $184,800 annually (with an automatic 10% annual
increase); and (ii) a bonus in such amount as the Compensation Committee may determine from time to
time. In addition, Mr. Code will be eligible to participate in incentive plans, stock option plans,
and similar arrangements as determined by the Board. When such benefits are made available to our
senior employees, Mr. Code is also eligible to receive heath insurance premium payments for himself
and his immediate family, a car allowance of $800 per month, paid vacation of four weeks per year
plus an additional two weeks per year for each full year of service during the term of the
agreement up to a maximum of ten weeks per year, life insurance equal to three times his base
salary and disability insurance. The Code Employment Agreement has a term of five years, unless
earlier terminated in accordance with its terms.
- 11 -
The Code Employment Agreement also provides that Mr. Codes employment may be terminated by
the Company due to disability, for cause or without cause. Disability as used in the Employment
Agreement means physical or mental incapacity or illness rendering Mr. Code unable to perform his
duties on a long-term basis (i) as evidenced by his failure or inability to perform his duties for
a total of 120 days in any 360 day period, or (ii) as determined by an independent and licensed
physician whom Company selects, or (iii) as determined without recourse by the Companys disability
insurance carrier. If Mr. Codes employment is terminated for cause he will be eligible to receive
his accrued base compensation and vacation compensation through the date of termination. If
Mr. Codes employment is terminated without cause, then he will be eligible to receive the greater
of (i) one years compensation plus an additional one
half year for each year of service since the effective date of the employment agreement or
(ii) one years compensation plus an additional one half year for each year remaining in the term
of the agreement.
The Code Employment Agreement requires Mr. Code to keep certain information confidential, not
to solicit customers or employees of the Company or interfere with any business relationship of the
Company, and to assign all inventions made or created during the term of the Code Employment
Agreement as work made for hire.
In connection with the closing of the acquisition of the BioLargo technology and the execution
of the Code Employment Agreement, Mr. Code was also elected to the Board of both BioLargo and our
wholly-owned subsidiary, BioLargo Life Technologies, Inc. (BLTI).
Joseph L. Provenzano
We entered into an employment agreement on March 1, 2003 (the 2003 Provenzano Agreement)
with Joseph L. Provenzano, our Corporate Secretary. The 2003 Provenzano Agreement provides for Mr.
Provenzano to be employed for five years at an annual base salary of $130,800. The 2003 Provenzano
Agreement provides that, at our discretion, we may choose to pay up to $4,900 of Mr. Provenzanos
monthly salary in the form of stock in lieu of cash. Mr. Provenzano is also eligible to receive
incentive bonuses, stock ownership participation and employee related benefits. The 2003 agreement
further provides that bonuses will be payable based on the greater of a performance scale
established by the Compensation Committee, assigned by the Board, or 1.5% of the annual increase in
market capitalization value. The compensation plan includes those benefits of car allowance and
insurance benefits and a standard vacation package. The 2003 Provenzano Agreement has certain
minimum performance standards and calls for a severance package equal to one years base
compensation, plus an additional one half years compensation for each year of service beginning in
2003. Standard confidentiality, company ownership rights to property and assets and arbitration
clauses are included in the 2003 Provenzano Agreement.
In 2005, as a result of our reduced needs, the Company and Mr. Provenzano agreed that he would
work for the Company on an as needed basis. In 2006, we accrued salary for Mr. Provenzano in the
amount of $101,200. Of this amount, $61,200 related to services performed in 2006 and $40,000
related to services performed in 2005 but which was not accrued in 2005. Of the total $101,200,
$2,100 was paid in cash. On March 15, 2007, we converted $99,000 of accrued and unpaid compensation
to Mr. Provenzano into 264,001 shares of our common stock at $0.375 per share, the closing price of
our common stock on such date.
On January 10, 2008, we entered into a new employment agreement with Mr. Provenzano (the 2008
Provenzano Agreement), pursuant to which Mr. Provenzano agreed to serve as Vice President of
Operations effective January 1, 2008, in addition to continuing to serve as Corporate Secretary.
The 2008 Provenzano Agreement replaces the 2003 Provenzano Agreement.
The 2008 Provenzano Agreement provides that Mr. Provenzano will receive base compensation of
$79,200 annually (with automatic 10% annual increases). Mr. Provenzano is also entitled to
reimbursement for authorized expenses he incurs in the course of his employment. In addition,
Mr. Provenzano is eligible to receive discretionary bonuses, participate in benefits made generally
available to our employees and receive grants under our 2007 Plan.
The initial term of the 2008 Provenzano Agreement is one year and is automatically renewable
for additional one-year periods unless we have given at least 90 days notice of non-renewal. The
2008 Provenzano Agreement also contains additional provisions typical of an agreement of this
nature.
- 12 -
In connection with the execution of the 2008 Provenzano Agreement, Mr. Provenzano also
executed a non-disclosure agreement requiring him to keep certain Company information confidential,
assigning creations and inventions during the term of his employment to the Company and prohibiting
him from soliciting business during the term of his employment and for a period of time thereafter.
Effective January 1, 2009, the 2008 Provenzano Agreement was automatically extended for a
period of one year.
Director Compensation
Each director who is not an officer or employee of the Company receives an annual retainer of
$40,000, paid in cash or shares of our common stock, in our sole discretion. In addition, the
chairman of each board committee receives an additional $10,000, paid in cash or shares of common
stock, in our sole discretion.
Director Compensation for Fiscal Year 2008
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Fees Earned or |
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Stock |
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Non-Equity |
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Fees Paid |
|
|
or Option |
|
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Incentive Plan |
|
|
All Other |
|
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|
|
Name |
|
in Cash |
|
|
Awards |
|
|
Compensation |
|
|
Compensation |
|
|
Total |
|
Dennis E. Marshall |
|
$ |
60,000 |
(1) |
|
$ |
14,500 |
(3) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
74,500 |
|
Gary A. Cox |
|
$ |
40,000 |
(2) |
|
$ |
14,500 |
(3) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
54,500 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
In 2008 the retainer for Mr. Marshall provided for a base amount of
$60,000, which included two Chairmanship positions on our Board of
Directors. During 2008, we made one payment of $10,000 to Mr.
Marshall, consisting of 16,950 shares of our common stock, issued at a
conversion price of $0.59 per share, the stock price at the date of
grant. The remaining balance of $50,000 was accrued and unpaid as of
December 31, 2008. |
|
(2) |
|
In 2008 the retainer for Mr. Cox provided for a base amount of
$40,000. In 2008 we made payments totaling $12,000 and the remaining
balance of $28,000 was accrued and unpaid as of December 31, 2008. |
|
(3) |
|
On May 29, 2008, each of Mr. Marshall and Mr. Cox were granted an
option to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock under the terms of
the 2007 Plan. |
Equity Compensation Plans
On August 7, 2007, our Board adopted the BioLargo, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan (2007
Plan) as a means of providing our directors, key employees and consultants additional incentive to
provide services. Both stock options and stock grants may be made under this plan. The Compensation
Committee administers this plan. The plan allows grants of common shares or options to purchase
common shares. As plan administrator, the Compensation Committee has sole discretion to set the
price of the options. The Compensation Committee may at any time amend or terminate the plan.
Under this plan, 6,000,000 shares of our common stock are reserved for issuance under awards.
Any shares that are represented by awards under the 2007 Plan that are forfeited, expire, or are
canceled or settled in cash without delivery of shares, or that are forfeited back to us or
reacquired by us after delivery for any reason, or that are tendered to us or withheld to pay the
exercise price or related tax withholding obligations in connection with any award under the 2007
Plan, will again be available for awards under the 2007 Plan. Only shares actually issued under the
2007 Plan will reduce the share reserve. If we acquire another entity through a merger or similar
transaction and issue replacement awards under the 2007 Plan to employees, officers and directors
of the acquired entity, those awards, to the extent permitted under applicable laws and securities
exchange rules, will not reduce the number of shares reserved for the 2007 Plan.
- 13 -
The 2007 Plan imposes additional maximum limitations, which limitations will be adjusted to
take into account stock splits, reverse stock splits and other similar occurrences. The maximum
number of shares that may be issued in connection with incentive stock options granted to any one
person in any calendar year intended to qualify under Internal Revenue Code Section 422 is
160,000 shares. The maximum number of shares that may be subject to stock options or stock
appreciation rights granted to any
one person in any calendar year is 200,000 shares, except that this limit is 400,000 shares if
the grant is made in the year of the recipients initial employment. The maximum number of shares
that may be subject to restricted stock or restricted stock units granted to any one person in any
calendar year is 200,000 shares. The maximum number shares that may be subject to awards granted to
any one Participant in any calendar year of (i) performance shares, and/or performance units (the
value of which is based on the Fair Market Value of a Shares), is 200,000 Shares; and (ii) of
performance units (the value of which is not based on the Fair Market Value of a Share) that could
result a payment of more than $500,000.
- 14 -
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of shares of our
common stock as of March 31, 2009 by (i) all stockholders known to the Company to be beneficial
owners of more than 5% of the outstanding common stock; (ii) each director and executive officer of
the Company individually, and (iii) all directors and executive officers of the Company as a group:
|
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Amount of |
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Percent of |
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|
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Beneficial |
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Class |
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Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1) |
|
Ownership |
|
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(2) |
|
|
Directors and Officers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kenneth R. Code(3) |
|
|
22,826,315 |
|
|
|
53.8 |
% |
Dennis P. Calvert(4) |
|
|
7,444,611 |
|
|
|
15.6 |
% |
Joseph L. Provenzano (5) |
|
|
634,110 |
|
|
|
1.5 |
% |
Gary A. Cox(6) |
|
|
435,337 |
|
|
|
1.0 |
% |
Dennis E. Marshall(7) |
|
|
208,603 |
|
|
|
0.5 |
% |
Charles K. Dargan II (8) |
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
|
0.5 |
% |
All directors and officers as a group (6 persons) |
|
|
31,748,976 |
|
|
|
66.3 |
% |
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Except as noted in any footnotes below, each person has sole voting
power and sole dispositive power as to all of the shares shown as
beneficially owned by them. Beneficial ownership is determined in
accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting or
investment power with respect to securities. |
|
(2) |
|
Percentage ownership is based on 42,349,018 shares of common stock
outstanding on March 31, 2009. Shares of common stock subject to
options, warrants and convertible notes currently exercisable or
convertible, or exercisable or convertible within 60 days, are deemed
outstanding for determining the number of shares beneficially owned by
the directors and officers, and the directors and officers as a group,
and for computing the percentage ownership of the person holding such
options, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage
ownership of any other person. |
|
(3) |
|
Includes 22,139,012 shares issued on April 30, 2007 to IOWC
Technologies, Inc., which Mr. Code controls, in connection with the
acquisition by the Company of certain intellectual property and other
assets on that date. Includes 66,666 shares issuable to Mr. Code upon
exercise of a portion of the option issued pursuant to the 2007 plan
on December 28, 2007, which option vests over three years in equal
amounts on the anniversary of the option grant date. |
|
(4) |
|
Includes 1,636,364 shares issued on April 13, 2007 to New Millennium
Capital Partners, LLC (New Millennium), which is wholly owned or
controlled by Mr. Calvert, on conversion of the principal amount of a
promissory note held by New Millennium. Does not include shares
issuable upon conversion of the remaining interest due pursuant to the
New Millennium Note. See Certain Relationships and Related
TransactionsTransactions with Dennis Calvert and New Millennium
Capital Partners, LLC. Includes 5,155,506 shares issuable to Mr.
Calvert upon exercise of a portion the option issued in connection
with his employment agreement, 2,577,753 of which vested on April 30,
2008, and 2,577,753 of which vests on April 30, 2009. Includes 66,666
shares issuable to Mr. Calvert upon exercise of a portion of the
option issued pursuant to the 2007 plan on December 28, 2007, which
option vests over three years in equal amounts on the anniversary of
the option grant date. |
|
(5) |
|
Includes 33,333 shares issuable to Mr. Provenzano upon exercise of a
portion of the option issued pursuant to the 2007 plan on December 28,
2007, which option vests over three years in equal amounts on the
anniversary of the option grant date. |
- 15 -
|
|
|
(6) |
|
Includes 10,000 shares issuable upon exercise of an option issued
pursuant to the 2007 Plan on September 6, 2007. Includes 10,000 shares
issuable upon exercise of an option issued pursuant to the 2007 Plan
on May 29, 2008. |
|
(7) |
|
Includes 10,000 shares issuable upon exercise of an option issued
pursuant to the 2007 Plan on September 6, 2007. Includes 10,000 shares
issuable upon exercise of an option issued pursuant to the 2007 Plan
on May 29, 2008. |
|
(8) |
|
Consists of options to purchase 200,000 shares of our Common Stock
issued pursuant to our agreement with Mr. Dargan in which he was
appointed as our Chief Financial Officer effective February 1, 2008,
and the extension of that agreement effective February 1, 2009. |
- 16 -
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Transactions with Dennis Calvert and New Millennium Capital Partners, LLC
New Millennium Note. In conjunction with our acquisition of a technology license from Med
Wireless, Inc. (Med Wireless) on August 21, 2002, we assumed a $1,120,000 promissory note (the
Med Wireless Note) with interest at 10% per annum payable by Med Wireless to Summitt Ventures,
Inc. (Summitt Ventures). On March 26, 2003, Summitt Ventures sold the Med Wireless Note,
together with 167,258 shares (all share amounts and share prices in this section have been adjusted
for the 1-for-25 reverse split of our common stock on March 21, 2007) of the Companys common
stock, to New Millennium Capital Partners LLC (New Millennium), a limited liability company
controlled and owned in part by the Companys CEO and president, Dennis Calvert, in exchange for a
$900,000 promissory note issued by New Millennium in favor of Summitt Ventures. Neither Med
Wireless nor Summitt Ventures is or was controlled by, controlling, or under common control with,
either New Millennium or Mr. Calvert.
From time to time following New Millenniums acquisition of the Med Wireless Note, we
have held discussions with New Millennium concerning potential amendments to the Med Wireless Note
to amend payment dates and to add conversion features. New Millennium also agreed to waive a
payment default with respect to a $100,000 installment payment originally due on October 1, 2003.
On April 28, 2006, New Millennium agreed to amend the Med Wireless Note to (i) extend the due date
to January 15, 2008; (ii) waive any payments of interest until the Med Wireless Note becomes due;
(iii) reduce the principal amount of the Note from $1,120,000 to $900,000, equal to a 19.6%
reduction; and (iv) correspondingly reduce the accrued but unpaid interest due under the terms of
the Note from $317,956 to $255,636, also equal to a 19.6% reduction.
On April 13, 2007, New Millennium converted the $900,000 principal amount of the Note into
1,636,364 shares of our common stock, at a price of $0.55 per share, which was the last bid price
on the date of conversion. Accrued but unpaid interest in the amount of $380,658 as of the
conversion date of April 13, 2007 remained outstanding on the Note, which amount was due to be
paid on January 15, 2008. We did not make such payment on such date. On November 12, 2008, we
agreed to further extend the date on which interest would be paid to April 30, 2009. On April 27,
2009, New Millennium agreed to accept as payment of $230,658 of the outstanding $380,658 in accrued
but unpaid interest an option to purchase 691,974 shares of our common stock, exercisable at $0.55
cents per share. This option will expire April 24, 2012. New Millennium further agreed to extend
the due date for the remaining $150,000 unpaid interest to April 30, 2010.
Retirement of a Portion of Board of Director and Officer Payables
On April 27, 2009, in an effort to preserve cash and reduce outstanding payables to third
parties, officers and board members, the Board offered an option to purchase common stock in lieu
of cash payment to reduce amounts owed. The options may be exercised at $0.50 cents a share, an
amount which was 20 cents a share above the 30 cents per share closing price of the Companys
common stock on April 27, 2009, would be issued pursuant to the 2007 Plan, and would expire April
27, 2012. The number of shares of common stock purchasable pursuant to the option would be equal to
three times the dollar amount reduced by the particular optionee.
Each member of the Board opted to reduce outstanding accrued and unpaid compensation pursuant
to the terms set by the Board and offered to third parties to whom the Company owed money. Mssrs.
Calvert and Code reduced the outstanding amount owed to each by $20,000, and in exchange each
received options to purchase 60,000 shares of common stock. The options issued to Mssrs. Calvert
and Code were exercisable at $0.55 per share, which is ten percent above the exercise price, per
the terms of the 2007 Plan. Mr. Provenzano reduced the outstanding amount owed to him by $10,000,
and in exchange received an option to purchase 30,000 shares of common stock at $0.50 per share.
Mr. Marshall reduced the outstanding amount owed to him by $50,000, and in exchange received an
option to purchase 150,000 shares of common stock at $0.50 per share. Mr. Cox reduced the
outstanding amount owed to him by
$38,000, and in exchange received an option to purchase 114,000 shares of common stock at
$0.50 per share. In addition to these Board members, our Chief Financial Officer reduced the
outstanding amount owed to him by $12,000, and in exchange received an option to purchase 36,000
shares of common stock at $0.50 per share.
- 17 -
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The following table summarizes the fees billed by Jeffrey S. Gilbert, our principal
accountant, for professional services rendered to the Company and its subsidiaries during 2007 and
2008:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount Billed and Paid |
|
Type of Fee |
|
Fiscal Year 2007 |
|
|
Fiscal Year 2008 |
|
Audit Fees(1) |
|
$ |
49,300 |
|
|
$ |
64,075 |
|
Audit-Related(2) |
|
|
11,000 |
|
|
|
1,650 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
60,300 |
|
|
$ |
65,725 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
This category consists of fees for the audit of our annual financial
statements included in our annual report on Form 10-K, as amended,
and review of the financial statements included in the Companys
quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. This category also includes advice
on audit and accounting matters that arose during, or as a result of,
the audit or the review of interim financial statements, statutory
audits required by non-U.S. jurisdictions and the preparation of an
annual management letter on internal control matters. |
|
(2) |
|
Represents services that are normally provided by the independent
auditors in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or
engagements for those fiscal years, aggregate fees charged for
assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the
performance of the audit and are not reported as audit fees. These
services include consultations regarding Sarbanes-Oxley Act
requirements, various SEC filings and the implementation of new
accounting requirements. |
- 18 -
REPORT OF COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
The following Report of the Compensation Committee does not constitute soliciting material and
should not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any of our other filings under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), or the Exchange Act, except to the
extent that we specifically incorporate this report. The Compensation Committee has furnished this
report on executive compensation for the 2008 fiscal year.
Compensation Program and Philosophy
The Compensation Committee administers the Companys executive compensation program. The
Compensation Committee has the authority to review and determine the salaries and bonuses of the
executive officers of the Company, including the Chief Executive Officer and the other Named
Executive Officers, and to establish the general compensation policies for such individuals. The
Compensation Committee also has the sole and exclusive authority to make discretionary option
grants to all of the Companys employees under the Companys equity incentive plans.
The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter. The duties and responsibilities
of a member of the Compensation Committee are in addition to his or her duties as a member of the
Board. The charter reflects these various responsibilities, and the Committee is charged with
periodically reviewing the charter. The Committees membership is determined by the Board and is
composed entirely of independent directors. In addition, the Committee has the authority to engage
the services of outside advisors, experts and others, including independent compensation
consultants who do not advise the Company, to assist the Committee. Mr. Marshall has served as
Chairman of the Compensation Committee since April 28, 2006. Mr. Cox also serves on the
Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee met once and acted by written consent once
during 2008.
The Compensation Committee believes that the compensation programs for the Companys executive
officers should reflect the Companys performance, support the short- and long-term strategic goals
and values of the Company, reward individual contribution to the Companys success and align the
interests of the Companys executive officers with the interests of the Companys stockholders. The
Company is engaged in a very competitive industry, and the Companys success depends upon its
ability to attract and retain qualified executives through the competitive compensation packages it
offers to such individuals. To that end, it is the view of the Board that the total compensation
program for executive officers should consist of all or most of the following components:
|
|
|
base salary |
|
|
|
|
bonus |
|
|
|
|
equity-based compensation |
The Committee does not rely solely on predetermined formulas or a limited set of criteria when
it evaluates the performance of the Companys chief executive officer and the Companys other
executive officers. Typically, our Chief Executive Officer makes compensation recommendations to
the Committee with respect to the compensation of our officers, and the Committee may accept or
adjust such recommendations in its discretion. In 2008, the Committee considered managements
continuing achievement of its short- and long-term goals versus its strategic imperatives. The
principal factors that were taken into account in establishing each executive officers
compensation package for the 2008 fiscal year are described below. However, the Compensation
Committee may in its discretion apply entirely different factors, such as different measures of
financial performance, for future fiscal years. Moreover, all of the Companys Named Executive
Officers have entered into employment agreements or arrangements with the Company, and many
components of each such persons compensation are set by such agreement or arrangement.
- 19 -
Chief Executive Officer Compensation
On April 30, 2007, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Calvert, pursuant
to which, throughout 2008, Mr. Calvert served as the President, Chief Executive Officer and Interim
Chief Financial Officer (until Mr. Dargan was retained February 1, 2008). No modifications to Mr.
Calverts employment agreement were made in 2008. Other provisions of Mr. Calverts Employment
Agreement are discussed elsewhere in this Information Statement. See EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Employment Agreements Dennis P. Calvert above.
Chief Technology Officer Compensation
On April 30, 2007, the Company entered an employment agreement with Mr. Code, pursuant to
which, throughout 2008, Mr. Code served as the Companys Chief Technology Officer. Other provisions
of Mr. Codes employment agreement are discussed elsewhere in this Information Statement. See
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION Employment Agreements Kenneth R. Code above.
Other Executive Compensation
As part of the negotiations with Mr. Provenzano, our Chief Executive Officer consulted with
certain individual members of the Committee and legal counsel with respect to terms and conditions
of his employment agreement. In January 2008 our Chief Executive Officer made recommendations to
the Committee that the Committee approve a new employment agreement with Mr. Provenzano. The
Committee reviewed and evaluated such recommendations and, following the completion of the
Committees evaluation, the Board reviewed and approved the employment agreement for Mr.
Provenzano, as recommended by the Chief Executive Officer and the Committee.
Deductibility of Executive Compensation
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code disallows a tax deduction to publicly-held
companies for compensation paid to certain of their executive officers, to the extent that
compensation exceeds $1 million per covered officer in any fiscal year. The limitation applies only
to compensation which is not considered to be performance based. Non-performance based compensation
paid to the Companys executive officers for the 2008 fiscal year did not exceed the $1 million
limit per officer, and the Compensation Committee does not anticipate that the non-performance
based compensation to be paid to the Companys executive officers for the 2009 fiscal year will
exceed that limit. Because it is unlikely that the cash non-performance based compensation payable
to any of the Companys executive officers in the foreseeable future will approach the $1 million
limit, the Compensation Committee has decided at this time not to take any action to limit or
restructure the elements of cash compensation payable to the Companys executive officers. The
Compensation Committee will reconsider this decision should the individual cash non-performance
based compensation of any executive officer ever approach the $1 million level.
Submitted by the Compensation Committee:
/s/ Dennis E. Marshall, Chair
/s/ Gary A. Cox
- 20 -
REPORT OF AUDIT COMMITTEE
The following report of the Audit Committee does not constitute soliciting material and should
not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any of our other filings under the Securities
Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate this report by
reference therein, and shall not be deemed to be soliciting material or otherwise deemed filed
under either such Act.
The Audit Committee is currently comprised of two independent directors, both of whom are
independent under the rules of the SEC and Nasdaq. Mr. Marshall serves as Chairman of the Audit
Committee. Mr. Cox also serves on the Audit Committee. The Board has determined that Mr. Marshall
qualifies as an audit committee financial expert as defined in Item 401(h) of Regulation S-K of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The duties and responsibilities of a member of the
Audit Committee are in addition to his or her duties as a member of the Board. The Audit Committee
operates under a written charter, a copy of which is available on the Companys corporate website.
The Audit Committee met six times during 2008.
The Audit Committees primary duties and responsibilities are to:
|
|
|
engage the Companys independent auditor, |
|
|
|
|
monitor the independent auditors independence, qualifications and performance, |
|
|
|
|
pre-approve all audit and non-audit services, |
|
|
|
|
monitor the integrity of the Companys financial reporting process and internal
control systems, |
|
|
|
|
provide an open avenue of communication among the independent auditor, financial
and senior management of the Company and the Board, and |
|
|
|
|
monitor the Companys compliance with legal and regulatory requirements,
contingent liabilities, risk assessment and risk management. |
Management is responsible for the Companys internal controls and the financial reporting
process. The Companys independent auditor is responsible for performing an independent audit of
the Companys consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board and issuing a report thereon. The Audit Committees
responsibility is to monitor and oversee these processes.
In carrying out these responsibilities, the Audit Committee monitored the scope and staffing
of the Companys internal management group that was previously established by the Company and held
meetings with the Companys internal auditor regarding the progress and completion of the
implementation of the Companys internal controls and the scope of their audit of such internal
controls.
In overseeing the preparation of the Companys financial statements, the Audit Committee held
meetings with the Companys internal auditor and independent auditors, both in the presence of
management and privately, to review and discuss all financial statements prior to their issuance
and to discuss the overall scope and plans for their respective audits, the evaluation of the
Companys internal controls and significant accounting issues. Management advised the Audit
Committee that all financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America, and the Audit Committee discussed the
statements with both management and the Companys independent auditors. In accordance with
Section 204 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the Statement on Auditing Standards (SAS)
No. 61 (Communication With Audit Committees) as amended by SAS No. 90 (Audit Committee
Communications), the Audit Committee has discussed with the Companys independent auditors all
matters required to be discussed under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the foregoing standards.
- 21 -
With respect to the Companys independent auditors, the Audit Committee, among other things,
discussed with Jeffrey S. Gilbert matters relating to its independence, including the written
disclosures made to the Audit Committee as required by the Independence Standards Board Standard
No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees). The Audit Committee also reviewed and
approved the audit and non-audit fees of Mr. Gilbert.
On the basis of these reviews and discussions, the Audit Committee (i) appointed Mr. Gilbert
as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm for the 2009 fiscal year and (ii)
recommended to the Board that the Board approve the inclusion of the Companys audited financial
statements in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 for filing with the SEC.
Submitted by the Audit Committee:
/s/ Dennis E. Marshall, Chair
/s/ Gary A. Cox
- 22 -
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
From time to time stockholders present proposals that may be proper subjects for inclusion in
a proxy statement and for consideration at an annual meeting of stockholders. Under the rules of
the SEC, to be included in the proxy statement for our 2010 annual meeting of stockholders,
proposals must be received by us no later than March 1, 2010.
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
We filed with the SEC our Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2008 on Form 10-K on
March 31, 2009. A copy of the 10-K has been made available on the Internet or mailed to all
stockholders along with this information statement. Stockholders may obtain additional copies of
the 10-K and the exhibits thereto, without charge, by writing to our Corporate Secretary, at our
principal executive offices at 2603 Main Street, Suite 1155, Irvine, California 92614.
We incorporate by this reference herein the Companys Financial Statements and the notes
thereto, and the discussions under the captions Description of Business, Description of
Properties, Legal Proceedings, Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations contained in the 10-K.
OTHER MATTERS
Management does not know of any matters to be considered by the Consenting Stockholders other
than those set forth herein and in the notice accompanying this information statement.
WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY AND YOU ARE NOT
REQUESTED TO SEND US A PROXY.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Dennis Calvert
Chairman
Irvine, California
May 15, 2009
- 23 -