def14a
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(A) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant R Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ¨
Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only
(as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Under Rule § 240.14a-12 |
PDF SOLUTIONS, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing proxy statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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No fee required. |
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
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Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction 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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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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Amount Previously Paid: |
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
PDF
SOLUTIONS, INC.
333 West San Carlos Street
Suite 700
San Jose, CA 95110
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held May 24,
2006
On Wednesday, May 24, 2006, PDF Solutions, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the Company), will hold its Annual
Meeting of Stockholders at the Marriott Hotel, located at 301
South Market Street, San Jose, California 95113. The
Meeting will begin at 1:30 p.m. local time.
Only record stockholders who owned stock at the close of
business on April 4, 2006 can vote at this Meeting or
any adjournment that may take place. At the Meeting we will:
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Elect two Class II nominees to the Board of Directors to
serve for a three-year term expiring on the first Annual Meeting
of Stockholders that occurs after December 31, 2008, or
until such directors respective successors are duly
elected and qualified.
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Ratify the appointment by the Audit Committee of
Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered
public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2006.
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Transact any other business properly brought before the Meeting.
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You can find more information about each of these items,
including the nominees for directors, in the attached Proxy
Statement.
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Our Board of Directors recommends that you vote in favor of each
of the two proposals outlined in this Proxy Statement.
We cordially invite all stockholders of record at the record
date or persons who hold a valid proxy for the Annual Meeting to
attend the Annual Meeting in person. However, whether or not you
expect to attend the Annual Meeting in person, please either
mark, date, sign and return the enclosed proxy card as promptly
as possible in the postage-prepaid envelope provided or vote
your shares by telephone or via Internet to ensure your
representation and the presence of a quorum at the Annual
Meeting. If you send in your proxy card or vote via telephone or
Internet and then decide to attend the Annual Meeting to vote
your shares in person, you may still do so. Your proxy is
revocable in accordance with the procedures set forth in the
Proxy Statement.
At the Meeting, we will also report on our business results and
other matters of interest to stockholders.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
PETER COHN
Secretary
San Jose, California
April 20, 2006
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PDF
SOLUTIONS, INC.
333 West San Carlos
Street
Suite 700
San Jose, CA 95110
FOR THE
2006 ANNUAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held May 24, 2006
Our Board of Directors is soliciting proxies for the 2006 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders. This Proxy Statement contains important
information for you to consider when deciding how to vote on the
matters brought before the meeting. Please read it carefully.
The Board set April 4, 2006 as the record date for the
Meeting. Stockholders of record who owned our common stock on
that date are entitled to vote at and attend the Meeting, with
each share entitled to one vote. On the record date, there were
26,659,942 shares of our common stock outstanding.
Voting materials, which include this Proxy Statement, a proxy
card and the 2005 Annual Report, will be mailed to stockholders
on or about April 24, 2006.
In this Proxy Statement:
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We, us, our, PDF
Solutions and the Company refer to PDF
Solutions, Inc.
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Annual Meeting or Meeting means our 2006
Annual Meeting of Stockholders
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Board of Directors or Board means our
Board of Directors
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SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission
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We have summarized below important information with respect to
the Annual Meeting.
Time and
Place of the Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting is being held on Wednesday, May 24, 2006
at 1:30 p.m. local time at the Marriott Hotel, located at
301 South Market Street, San Jose, California 95113.
All stockholders of record who owned shares of our stock as of
April 4, 2006, the record date, may attend the Annual
Meeting.
Purpose
of the Proxy Statement and Proxy Card
You are receiving a Proxy Statement and proxy card from us
because you owned shares of our common stock on April 4,
2006, the record date. This Proxy Statement describes issues on
which we would like you, as a stockholder, to vote. It also
gives you information on these issues so that you can make an
informed decision.
When you sign the proxy card, you appoint John K. Kibarian and
Keith A. Jones as your representatives at the Meeting.
Messrs. Kibarian and Jones will vote your shares, as you
have instructed them on the proxy card, at the Meeting. This
way, your shares will be voted whether or not you attend the
Annual Meeting. Even if you plan to attend the Meeting it is a
good idea to complete, sign and return your proxy card or vote
your shares by telephone or via Internet in advance of the
meeting just in case your plans change.
Proposals
to be Voted on at This Years Annual Meeting
You are being asked to vote on:
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The election of two Class II directors to serve on our
Board of Directors.
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The ratification of the Audit Committees appointment of
Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered
public accounting firm for the current fiscal year.
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The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR each proposal.
Voting
Procedure
You
may vote by mail
To vote by mail, please sign your proxy card and return it in
the enclosed, prepaid and addressed envelope. If you mark your
voting instructions on the proxy card, your shares will be voted
as you instruct.
You
may vote in person at the Meeting
We will pass out written ballots to anyone who wants to vote at
the Meeting. Holding shares in street name means
your shares of stock are held in an account by your stockbroker,
bank or other nominee, and the stock certificates and record
ownership are not in your name. If your shares are held in
street name and you wish to attend the Annual
Meeting, you must notify your broker, bank or other nominee and
obtain the proper documentation to vote your shares at the
Annual Meeting.
You
may vote by telephone or electronically
If you live in the United States or Canada, you may submit your
proxy by following the Vote by Telephone instructions on the
proxy card. If you have Internet access, you may submit your
proxy from any location in the world by following the Vote by
Internet instructions on the proxy card.
You
may change your mind after you have returned your proxy
card
If you change your mind after you return your proxy card or
submit your proxy by telephone or Internet, you may revoke your
proxy at any time before the polls close at the Meeting. You may
do this by:
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enter a new vote by telephone, over the Internet or by signing
and returning another proxy card at a later date;
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provide written notice of the revocation to the Secretary; or
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voting in person at the Annual Meeting.
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Multiple
Proxy Cards
If you received more than one proxy card, it means that you hold
shares in more than one account. Please sign and return all
proxy cards to ensure that all of your shares are voted.
Quorum
Requirement
Shares are counted as present at the Meeting if the stockholder
either:
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is present and votes in person at the Meeting, or
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has properly submitted a proxy card or voted by telephone or
Internet.
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A majority of our outstanding shares present (either in person
or by proxy) constitutes the quorum required for holding the
Annual Meeting and conduct business.
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Consequences
of Not Returning Your Proxy Card; Broker Non-Votes
If your shares are held in your name, you must return your proxy
card or vote by telephone or Internet (or attend the Annual
Meeting in person) in order to vote on the proposals. If your
shares are held in street name and you do not return
your proxy card or vote by telephone or Internet, your
stockbroker may either:
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vote your shares on routine matters, or
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leave your shares unvoted.
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Under the rules that govern brokers who have record ownership of
shares that are held in street name for their
clients, brokers may vote such shares on behalf of their clients
with respect to routine matters (such as the
election of directors or the ratification of auditors), but not
with respect to non-routine matters (such as a proposal
submitted by a stockholder or a proposal related to a stock
incentive plan). If the proposals to be acted upon at the
Meeting include both routine and non-routine matters, the broker
may turn in a proxy card for uninstructed shares that
votes FOR the routine matters, but expressly states that
the broker is not voting on non-routine matters. This is called
a broker non-vote.
Broker non-votes will be counted for the purpose of determining
the presence or absence of a quorum, but will not be counted for
the purpose of determining the number of votes cast. Since there
are no non-routine matters to be acted upon at the Meeting, the
voting results from the Meeting are not expected to include
broker non-votes.
We encourage you to provide instructions to your stockbroker by
returning your proxy card or voting by telephone or Internet.
This ensures that your shares will be voted at the Meeting.
Effect of
Abstentions
Abstentions are counted as shares that are present and entitled
to vote for the purposes of determining the presence of a quorum
and as votes AGAINST a proposal for purposes of determining
the approval of any matter submitted to the stockholders for a
vote.
Required
Vote
Assuming a quorum is present, the two nominees receiving the
highest number of affirmative votes will be elected as directors.
Vote
Solicitation; Use of Outside Solicitors
PDF Solutions, Inc. is soliciting your proxy to vote your shares
at the Annual Meeting. In addition to this solicitation by mail,
our directors, officers and other employees may contact you by
telephone, Internet, in person or otherwise to obtain your
proxy. PDF Solutions, Inc. will bear the cost of this
solicitation, but our directors, officers and employees that
assist us in this solicitation will not receive any additional
compensation for doing so. We will also request brokerage firms,
nominees, custodians and fiduciaries to forward proxy materials
to the beneficial owners. We will reimburse these entities and
our transfer agent for their reasonable
out-of-pocket
expenses in forwarding proxy materials.
Voting
Procedures
Votes cast by proxy or in person at the Annual Meeting will be
tabulated by a representative of Computershare, our transfer
agent, and transmitted to Keith A. Jones, our Vice President of
Finance and Chief Financial Officer, who will act as the
Inspector of Election. The Inspector will also determine whether
a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting.
The shares represented by the proxy cards received, properly
marked, dated, signed and represented by votes cast using the
telephone or Internet and not revoked, will be voted at the
Annual Meeting. If the proxy card specifies a choice with
respect to any matter to be acted on, the shares will be voted
in accordance with that specified choice. Any proxy card which
is returned but not marked will be voted FOR the director
nominee, FOR each of the other proposals discussed in this Proxy
Statement, and as the proxy holders deem desirable for any other
matters that may
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come before the Meeting. Broker non-votes will not be considered
as voting with respect to any matter for which the broker does
not have voting authority.
We believe that the procedures to be used by the Inspector to
count the votes are consistent with Delaware law concerning
voting of shares and determination of a quorum.
Publication
of Voting Results
We will announce preliminary voting results at the Meeting. We
will publish the final results in our quarterly report on
Form 10-Q
for the second quarter of fiscal 2006, which we will file with
the SEC. You may obtain a copy free of charge from our Internet
web site at www.pdf.com, by contacting our Investor Relations
Department at
(408) 280-7900
or the SEC at
(800) 732-0330
for the location of the nearest public reference room, or
through the EDGAR system at www.sec.gov.
Other
Business
We do not know of any business to be considered at the 2006
Annual Meeting other than the proposals described in this Proxy
Statement. However, because we did not receive notice of any
other proposals to be brought before the Meeting, if any other
business is properly presented at the Annual Meeting, your
signed proxy card gives authority to John K. Kibarian and Keith
A. Jones to vote on such matters at their discretion.
Proposals
for 2007 Annual Meeting
To have your proposal included in our proxy statement for the
2007 Annual Meeting, pursuant to
Rule 14a-8
under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, you
must submit your proposal in writing by the date that is 120
calendar days before the anniversary of the date this
years proxy statement is released to
stockholders (i.e., the mailing date) to the attention of
our Secretary, PDF Solutions, Inc., 333 West
San Carlos Street, Suite 700, San Jose, CA 95110.
In addition, our Bylaws provide that a proposal that the
stockholder delivers or mails to our principal executive offices
not less than 90 nor more than 120 days prior to the
anniversary date of the prior years meeting shall be
timely received; provided, however, that if the date of the
annual meeting is more than 30 days prior to or more than
60 days after such anniversary date and less than
60 days notice of the date of the meeting is given to
stockholders, to be timely, the proposal must be received from
the stockholder not later than the close of business on the
10th day following the date the notice of meeting was
mailed.
If you submit a proposal for the 2007 Annual Meeting after the
date that is less than 90 days prior to April 24,
2007, or the anniversary date of the mailing of this years
Proxy Statement, management may or may not, at their discretion,
present the proposal at the meeting, and the proxies for the
2007 Annual Meeting will confer discretion on the management
proxy holders to vote against your proposal.
PROPOSAL NO. 1
Election
of Directors
We have nominated two candidates for election to the Board this
year. Detailed information on each of the nominees is provided
below.
The Board is divided into three classes with each director
serving a three-year term and one class being elected at each
years Annual Meeting of stockholders. If any director is
unable to stand for re-election, the Board may reduce the size
of the Board, designate a substitute or leave a vacancy
unfilled. If a substitute is designated, proxies voting on the
original director candidate will be cast for the substitute
candidate. Each Class II nominee listed has consented to
serve as a director.
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Vote
Required
If a quorum is present, the nominees receiving the highest
number of affirmative votes of shares entitled to be voted for
them will be elected as Class II directors for the ensuing
three-year term. Unless marked otherwise, proxies received will
be voted FOR the election of each of the two nominees. If
additional people are nominated for election as directors, the
proxy holders intend to vote all proxies received by them in a
way that will ensure that as many as possible of the nominees
listed below are elected. If this happens, the specific nominees
to be voted for will be determined by the proxy holders.
Nominees
for the Board of Directors
The Companys Bylaws provide that the number of directors
shall be established by the Board or the stockholders of the
Company. The Companys Certificate of Incorporation
provides that the directors shall be divided into three classes,
with the classes serving for staggered, three-year terms.
Pursuant to the Companys Bylaws, the Board has set the
number of Directors at seven, consisting of three Class I
directors, two Class II directors and two Class III
directors. Two Class II directors are to be elected at the
Annual Meeting. These Class II directors will hold office
until the Annual Meeting that occurs after the fiscal year
ending December 31, 2008 or until their successors have
been duly elected and qualified. The terms of the Class III
and Class I directors will expire at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders next following the fiscal years ending
December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2007, respectively.
Unless otherwise instructed, the proxy holders will vote the
proxies received by them for the Companys nominees named
below. Messrs. Lanza and Michaels are currently directors
of the Company. In the event that a nominee of the Company
becomes unable or declines to serve as a director at the time of
the Annual Meeting, the proxy holders will vote the proxies for
any substitute nominee who is designated by the current Board of
Directors to fill such vacancy. It is not expected that the
nominees listed below will be unable or will decline to serve as
a director.
Set forth below are the names of, and certain information as of
March 31, 2006 about the business experience of, the
nominees for Class II directors and the current
Class I and Class III directors with unexpired terms.
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Name
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Age
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Principal Occupation
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Nominees for and Current
Class II Directors
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Lucio L. Lanza
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Managing Director, Lanza
techVentures
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Kimon Michaels, Ph.D.
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Vice President, Field Operations
and Director of PDF Solutions, Inc.
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Continuing Class III
Directors
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John K. Kibarian, Ph.D.
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Chief Executive Officer, President
and Director of PDF Solutions, Inc.
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Susan H. Billat
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Semiconductor Industry Consultant
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Continuing Class I
Directors
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B. J. Cassin
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Private Venture Capital Investor
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Albert Y. C. Yu
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Private Venture Capital Investor
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R. Stephen Heinrichs
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Private Venture Capital Investor
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Business
Experience of Nominees and Incumbent Directors
Except as indicated below, each nominee or incumbent director
has been engaged in the principal occupation set forth above
during the past five years. There are no family relationships
among any of the directors or executive officers of the Company.
B.J. Cassin has served as a director since November 1995.
Mr. Cassin has been a private venture capital investor
since 1979. Previously, he co-founded Xidex Corporation, a
manufacturer of data storage media in 1969.
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Mr. Cassin is chairman of the board of directors of Cerus
Corporation, a medical device company and several private
companies. Mr. Cassin holds an A.B. in Economics from Holy
Cross College.
Lucio L. Lanza has served as the Chairman of the Board
since April 2004 and as a director since November 1995.
Mr. Lanza is the managing director of Lanza tech Ventures,
an early stage venture capital and investment firm, which he
founded in January 2001. From 1990 to December 2000,
Mr. Lanza served as partner of U.S. Venture Partners,
a venture capital firm. Mr. Lanza served as chairman of the
board of directors of Artisan Components, Inc., a semiconductor
intellectual property company, from November 1997 until December
2004 and as a director from March 1996 until December 2004.
Mr. Lanza has served as a director of ARM Holdings, PLC
since December 2004.
Kimon Michaels, Ph.D., one of our co-founders, has
served in vice presidential capacities since March 1993
including currently as Vice President, Field Operations, and as
a director since November 1995. He also served as Chief
Financial Officer from November 1995 to July 1998. Mr. Michaels
received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, a M.S. E.C.E. and a
Ph.D. E.C.E. from Carnegie Mellon University.
John K. Kibarian, Ph.D., one of our co-founders, has
served as President since November 1991 and has served as our
Chief Executive Officer since July 2000. Mr. Kibarian has
served as a director since December 1992. Mr. Kibarian
received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, a M.S. E.C.E. and a
Ph.D. E.C.E. from Carnegie Mellon University.
Susan H. Billat has served as a director since September
2003. Ms. Billat is a principal of Benchmark Strategies, a
consulting firm providing independent analysis of the
semiconductor equipment industry, which she founded in 1990.
From 1996 to 2002, Ms. Billat served with Robertson
Stephens, a former investment bank, most recently as a managing
director and senior semiconductor equipment research analyst.
Ms. Billat is a director and member of the audit committee
of Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc., a semiconductor equipment
company. Ms. Billat recieved both a B.S. and an M.S. in
physics from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Albert Y. C. Yu has served as a director since August
2005. Dr. Yu currently is active in private venture
investing and serves on several high technology company boards.
Previously, Dr. Yu had been employed with Intel Corporation
for almost 30 years until his retirement in 2002. At Intel,
he held numerous technical and executive management positions,
most recently as a Senior Vice President and a member of the
Corporate Management Committee, with responsibilities for
corporate strategy, microprocessors, chipsets, and software.
Dr. Yu received a B.S. from the California Institute of
Technology, and an M.S. and Ph.D. from Stanford University, all
in electrical engineering.
R. Stephen Heinrichs has served as a director since
August 2005. Mr. Heinrichs, who has been appointed Chairman of
the Audit Committee, currently is a private investor.
Mr. Heinrichs brings over 30 years experience in
finance and operations through positions held in public
accounting and, most recently, before his retirement in 2001, as
Chief Financial Officer of Avistar Communications Corporation, a
video communications company he co-founded and for which he
presently serves as a director. Mr. Heinrichs is currently
a director and chairman of the audit committee of Catapult
Communications Corporation, a communications test equipment
company. From January 2003, until the company was acquired in
2005, Mr. Heinrichs was a member of the board of directors
of Artisan Components and was its audit committee chairman. Mr.
Heinrichs received a B.S. in Accounting from California State
University Fresno and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Recommendation
of the Board:
THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR
THE ELECTION OF ALL NOMINEES NAMED ABOVE.
PROPOSAL NO. 2
Ratification
of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm
The Audit Committee has appointed Deloitte & Touche LLP
as our independent registered public accounting firm for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 2006. Deloitte &
Touche LLP has served as our independent registered public
accounting firm since September 18, 1998. In the event that
ratification of this selection of auditors is not
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approved by a majority of the shares of common stock voting at
the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy, the Audit Committee
will review its future selection of auditors. Notwithstanding
the selection by the Audit Committee of Deloitte &
Touche LLP, the Audit Committee may direct the appointment of a
new independent registered public accounting firm at any time
during the year if the Board determines that such a change would
be in our best interest and in that of our stockholders.
A representative of Deloitte & Touche LLP is expected
to be present at the Annual Meeting. This representative will
have an opportunity to make a statement and will be available to
respond to appropriate questions.
Principal
Accountant Fees and Services
The following is a summary of the fees billed or expected to be
billed to the Company by Deloitte & Touche LLP for
professional services rendered for the fiscal years ended
December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004:
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Fee Category
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Fiscal 2005 Fees
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Fiscal 2004 Fees
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Audit Fees
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$
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681,220
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$
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657,744
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Audit-Related Fees
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29,095
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22,865
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Tax Fees:
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Tax Compliance/Preparation
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105,408
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54,913
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Other Tax Fees
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91,793
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107,333
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Total Tax Fees
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197,201
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162,246
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All Other Fees
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Total Fees
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$
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907,516
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$
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842,855
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Audit Fees. The aggregate fees billed or
expected to be billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP for
professional services rendered for the audits of the
Companys annual consolidated financial statements for the
fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 and December 31,
2004, the reviews of the condensed consolidated financial
statements included in the Companys Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q
for the fiscal years 2005 and 2004, the audit of
managements assessment of internal control over financial
reporting as of December 31, 2005 as required by the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Section 404 and consents
totaled approximately $681,220 and $657,744, respectively.
Audit-Related Fees. The aggregate fees billed
or expected to be billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP for
assurance and related services for the fiscal years ended
December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004 totaled
$29,095 and $22,865, respectively. The audit-related fees for
the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 and
December 31, 2004 included fees for financial accounting
and reporting consultations. The audit-related fees for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 included fees for due
diligence services in connection with a contemplated acquisition.
Tax Fees. The aggregate fees billed or
expected to be billed by Deloitte Tax LLP for tax
compliance/preparation services for the fiscal years ended
December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004 totaled
$105,408 and $54,913, respectively. Tax compliance/preparation
services consisted of fees billed for assistance in preparation
of the Companys U.S. federal, state and local tax
returns. The aggregate fees billed by Deloitte Tax LLP for other
tax services for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005
and December 31, 2004 totaled $91,793 and $107,333,
respectively. Other tax services consisted of fees billed for
tax advice related to international and domestic tax consulting
and planning.
All Other Fees. There were no fees billed or
expected to be billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP for any
other services rendered to the Company during the fiscal years
ended December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004.
Policy on
Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit
Services of Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm
The Audit Committees policy is to pre-approve all audit
and permissible non-audit services provided by
Deloitte & Touche LLP. These services may include audit
services, audit-related services, tax services and other
services. Pre-approval is generally provided for up to one year
and any pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or
category of services and is generally subject to an initial
estimated budget. Deloitte & Touche LLP and management
are required to periodically report to the Audit Committee
regarding the extent of services provided by Deloitte &
Touche LLP in accordance with this pre-approval, and the fees
performed to date. The Audit Committee may also pre-approve
particular services on a
case-by-case
basis.
7
Recommendation
of the Board:
THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR PROPOSAL NO. 2.
MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
During the last fiscal year (the period from January 1,
2005 through December 31, 2005), the Board met eleven times
and took action by unanimous written consent eight times during
the same period. Each director attended at least 75% of all
Board and applicable committee meetings during this time, with
the exception of Mr. Michaels, who attended four Board
meetings. The Board has four standing committees: the Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee, the Compensation Committee,
the Special Option Committee and the Audit Committee. Each of
these committees has a written charter approved by the Board
(except for the Special Option Committee). A copy of each
charter can be found on our website at www.pdf.com. The members
of the committees are identified in the following table:
|
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|
Nominating and
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|
|
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|
|
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|
Corporate
|
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|
|
|
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|
|
|
Special
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|
|
Governance
|
|
|
Compensation
|
|
|
Audit
|
|
|
Options
|
|
Director
|
|
Committee
|
|
|
Committee
|
|
|
Committee
|
|
|
Committee
|
|
|
John K. Kibarian, Ph.D.
|
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|
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|
|
|
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|
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X
|
|
Lucio L. Lanza
|
|
|
X
|
*
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|
|
X
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kimon Michaels, Ph.D.
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|
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|
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|
|
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B.J. Cassin
|
|
|
X
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|
|
|
X
|
*
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|
|
X
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|
|
|
|
|
Susan H. Billat
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X
|
|
|
|
|
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X
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|
|
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|
Albert Y. C. Yu
|
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|
|
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X
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|
|
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|
R. Stephen Heinrichs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
The Compensation Committee held three meetings during the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2005 and took one action by
unanimous written consent. The functions of the Compensation
Committee are to establish and administer our policies regarding
annual executive salaries and cash incentives and long-term
equity incentives and to assist with the administration of our
2001 Stock Plan and 2001 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Each of
the members of the Compensation Committee is an outside
director as defined in Section 162(m) of the Internal
Revenue Code and a Non-Employee Director under
Rule 16b-3(b)(3)(i)
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
The Board approved the formation of a Special Option Committee
in June of 2000 to assist the Compensation Committee by serving
as administrator for our stock plans for the purposes of
granting options to purchase up to 35,000 shares of common
stock to new, non-executive employees. In January of 2002, the
Board also authorized the Special Option Committee to approve
merit stock increases to existing employees by granting them
options to purchase up to 15,000 shares of common stock.
Mr. Kibarian comprises the Special Option Committee, with
Mr. Jones serving in a confirmatory role. The Special
Option Committee took action by unanimous written consent
fourteen times during the fiscal year ended December 31,
2005.
The Audit Committee held eight meetings and took action by
unanimous written consent twice during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2005. The functions of the Audit Committee are
to recommend the engagement of the independent public auditors,
to monitor the effectiveness of our internal and external audit
efforts, and to monitor and assess the effectiveness of our
financial and accounting organization and our system of internal
accounting controls. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and rules
adopted by the SEC require us to disclose whether the Audit
Committee includes at least one member who is an Audit
Committee Financial Expert within the meaning of such Act
and rules. The Board has determined that there is at least one
such financial expert on the Audit Committee and has designated
R. Stephen Heinrichs as its Audit Committee Financial Expert.
The Board believes that Mr. Heinrichs qualifies as such an
expert in view of his over 30 years experience in finance
and operations, holding various positions in public accounting
and with companies in the private sector including most
recently, as
8
Chief Financial Officer of Avistar Communications Corporation
and serving on the boards of directors and as the audit
committee chairman of both Artisan Components and Catapult
Communications Corporation. Mr. Heinrichs received a B.S.
in Accounting from California State University Fresno and is a
Certified Public Accountant. As a result of such background and
experience, the Board believes that Mr. Heinrichs has
acquired an understanding of generally accepted accounting
principles and financial statements, the ability to assess the
general application of such principles in connection with
accounting estimates, accruals and reserves, experience
analyzing and evaluating financial statements that present a
breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues generally
comparable to those of the Company, an understanding of internal
control over financial reporting and an understanding of Audit
Committee functions.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held four
meetings during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.
The functions of the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee are to oversee all aspects of the Companys
corporate governance functions on behalf of the Board and make
recommendations on corporate governance issues, identify, review
and evaluate candidates to serve as directors and to make other
recommendations to the Board regarding affairs related to the
directors of the Company. The Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee does not set specific criteria for
directors but believes the Company is well served when the Board
is appropriately sized, the members of the Board possess the
requisite talents and experience with respect to technology,
business, finance, administration, and public service, the
members of the Board possess a variety of backgrounds and
demonstrated personal integrity, character and acumen that
complement the core components of the Board. The Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee does, however, believe it
appropriate for at least one, and, preferably, several, members
of the Board to meet the criteria for an audit committee
financial expert as defined by SEC rules, and that a
majority of the members of the Board meet the definition of
independent director under Nasdaq rules. The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also believes it
appropriate for certain key members of the Companys
management to participate as members of the Board. The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers
suggestions from many sources, including stockholders, regarding
possible candidates for director. The Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee considers properly submitted stockholder
nominees for director in the same manner as nominees for
director from other sources. The Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee identifies nominees by first evaluating the
current members of the Board willing to continue in service.
Current members of the Board with skills and experience that are
relevant to the Companys business and who are willing to
continue in service are first considered for re-nomination. If
any member of the Board does not wish to continue in service,
the Board decides not to re-nominate a member for re-election or
the Board decides to expand the size of the Board, the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee identifies the
desired skills and experience of a new nominee in light of the
guidelines set forth above. Current members of the Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee are polled for suggestions as
to individuals meeting the guidelines of the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee. Research may also be performed
to identify qualified individuals. To date, the Company has not
engaged third parties to identify, evaluate or assist in
identifying potential nominees, although the Company reserves
the right in the future to retain a third party search firm, if
necessary. Stockholders may send any recommendations for
director nominees or other communications to the Board of
Directors or any individual director in accordance with
Section 2.5 of the bylaws of the Company at the following
address:
Board of Directors (or Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee or name of individual director)
c/o Corporate Secretary
PDF Solutions, Inc.
333 West San Carlos Street, Suite 700
Santa Clara, California 95110
The Company strongly encourages all of the members of its Board
of Directors to attend its Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Five
members of the Board attended our Annual Meeting last year.
Director
Independence
The Company has adopted standards for director independence
pursuant to Nasdaq listing standards and SEC rules. An
independent director means a person other than an
officer or employee of the Company or its
9
subsidiaries, or any other individual having a relationship
that, in the opinion of the Board, would interfere with the
exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the
responsibilities of a director. To be considered independent,
the Board must affirmatively determine that neither the director
nor an immediate family member has had any direct or indirect
material relationship with the Company within the last three
years.
The Board considered relationships, transactions or arrangements
with each of the directors, including relationships and
transactions discussed in Certain Relationships and
Related Transactions, and concluded that none of the
non-employee directors has any relationships with PDF that would
impair his or her independence. The Board has determined that
each member of the Board, other than Messrs. Kibarian and
Michaels, is an independent director under applicable Nasdaq
listing standards and SEC rules. These directors did not meet
the independence standards because they are employees of PDF
Solutions. In addition, the Board has also determined that:
|
|
|
|
|
all directors who serve on the Audit, Compensation, and
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees are independent
under applicable Nasdaq listing standards and SEC rules, and
|
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|
|
all members of the Audit Committee meet the additional
independence requirement that they not directly or indirectly
receive compensation from PDF other than their compensation as
directors.
|
The independent directors meet regularly in executive sessions
without the presence of the non-independent directors or members
of the Companys management at least twice per year during
regularly scheduled Board meeting days and from time to time as
they deem necessary or appropriate.
Our non-employee directors received the following cash
compensation for serving on the Board of Directors during the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2005:
|
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|
|
|
an annual cash retainer fee in the amount of $15,000;
|
|
|
|
per meeting fees of $1,500 per board meeting ($500 for
telephone participation); and
|
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|
|
per meeting fees of $1,000 per committee meeting ($500 for
telephone participation) for committee meetings held on days
other than the same date as a board meeting (in which case there
is no additional per meeting fee).
|
The Chairman of the Board received additional fees consisting of
an annual cash retainer in the amount of $30,000 plus an option
to purchase 30,000 shares a year. Committee chairpersons
received additional fees as follows: Audit Committee Chair
$10,000 plus an option to purchase 5,000 shares per year;
Compensation Committee Chair $5,000 plus an option to purchase
5,000 shares per year; and the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee Chair $5,000 plus an option to purchase
5,000 shares per year. Directors were reimbursed for
reasonable travel expenses incurred in connection with attending
Board of Directors and committee meetings. Our 2001 Stock Plan
provides for the automatic grant of nonstatutory options to
non-employee directors. Each new director subsequent to
July 26, 2001, the effective date of our initial public
offering, will be granted options to purchase
30,000 shares. In addition, each non-employee director is
currently granted options to purchase 15,000 shares each
year following the conclusion of the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders for such year. These grants each vest at the rate
of 25% on the one-year anniversary of the date of grant, and at
the rate of 1/48 of the total options granted in each month
thereafter.
10
The non-employee directors received the following compensation
during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005:
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fees Earned
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
or Paid
|
|
|
Option
|
|
Name
|
|
Total
|
|
|
in Cash(1)
|
|
|
Awards(2)
|
|
|
Susan H. Billat
|
|
$
|
129,544
|
|
|
$
|
28,000
|
|
|
$
|
101,544
|
|
B. J. Cassin
|
|
|
167,392
|
|
|
|
32,000
|
|
|
|
135,392
|
|
R. Stephen Heinrichs
|
|
|
324,023
|
|
|
|
15,417
|
(3)
|
|
|
308,606
|
|
Lucio Lanza
|
|
|
400,980
|
|
|
|
62,500
|
|
|
|
338,480
|
|
Albert Y. C. Yu
|
|
|
275,769
|
|
|
|
11,250
|
(4)
|
|
|
264,519
|
|
Donald L. Lucas(5)
|
|
|
166,902
|
|
|
|
31,500
|
|
|
|
135,392
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
This amount is the cash compensation paid to non-employee
directors based on the fees approved by the Board set forth
above. |
|
(2) |
|
The values were calculated on the date of grant using the
Black-Sholes option pricing model with the following weighted
average assumptions used: Risk free interest rates ranging from
3.85% to 4.0%, no expected dividend, expected option lives of
5.5 years and expected volatilities ranging from 53% to
57%. These values have been included solely for purposes of
disclosure in accordance with the rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission and represent theoretical values. The actual
value, if any, the director may realize will depend upon the
increase in the market value of our common stock through the
date of exercise. |
|
(3) |
|
Mr. Heinrichs joined the Board effective August 1,
2005 and therefore received only prorated portions of the annual
cash retainer fee and Audit Committee Chair fee. |
|
(4) |
|
Mr. Yu joined the Board effective August 1, 2005 and
therefore received only a prorated portion of the annual cash
retainer fee. |
|
(5) |
|
Mr. Lucas resigned as a director effective August 1,
2005. |
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
The Company provides information on its website about its
corporate governance policies, including the Companys Code
of Ethics, and charters for the committees of the Board. The
website can be found at www.pdf.com.
The Companys policies and practices reflect corporate
governance initiatives that are compliant with the listing
requirements of Nasdaq and the corporate governance requirements
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, including:
A majority of the board members are independent as defined in
Rule 4200 of the Marketplace Rules of the National
Association of Securities Dealers;
All members of the key board committees the
Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nomination
and Corporate Governance Committee are
independent as the term is defined under the Nasdaq rules;
The independent members of the Board meet at least twice per
year in execution sessions without the presence of management;
The Company has an ethics hotline available to all employees,
and the Companys Audit Committee has procedures in place
for the anonymous submission of employee complaints on
accounting, internal controls, or auditing matters; and
The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to all of
its employees, including its principal executive officer and all
members of its finance department, including the principal
financial officer and principal accounting officer, as well as
the Board of Directors.
Our Board welcomes communications from our stockholders.
Stockholders may send communications to the Board, or any
director in particular, at the following address: Investor
Relations, c/o PDF Solutions, Inc., 333 West Santa
Clara Street, Suite 700, San Jose, California 95110.
Any correspondence addressed to the Board or to any one of our
directors care of our offices is reviewed by our Investor
Relations department and presented from time to time to the
Board at its regular meetings.
11
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table shows how much common stock is owned by
owners of more than 5% of our outstanding common stock and by
the directors, the Named Executive Officers identified in the
Summary Compensation Table, and all executive officers and
directors as a group, as of March 31, 2006. Except as
otherwise indicated, the address for each person listed as a
director or officer is c/o PDF Solutions, Inc.,
333 West San Carlos Street, Suite 700,
San Jose, CA 95110. Unless otherwise indicated in the
footnotes, each person or entity has sole voting and investment
power, or shares such powers with his spouse, with respect to
the shares shown as beneficially owned.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nature of Beneficial
|
|
|
Percentage of
|
|
Name and Address of Beneficial
Owner
|
|
Ownership(1)
|
|
|
Common Stock(1)(2)
|
|
|
5% Stockholders:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
William Blair &
Company, L.L.C.
|
|
|
3,854,852
|
|
|
|
14.46
|
%
|
222 W. Adams
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chicago, IL 60606(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. Rowe Price Associates,
Inc.
|
|
|
1,948,601
|
|
|
|
7.30
|
|
100 E. Pratt Street
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Baltimore, Maryland 21202(4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital Research and Management
Company
|
|
|
1,600,000
|
|
|
|
6.00
|
|
333 South Hope Street
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Los Angeles, CA 90071(5)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Directors and Named Executive
Officers:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John K. Kibarian(6)
|
|
|
2,710,421
|
|
|
|
10.17
|
|
Kimon Michaels(7)
|
|
|
1,633,357
|
|
|
|
6.13
|
|
David Joseph(8)
|
|
|
304,404
|
|
|
|
1.14
|
|
P. Steven Melman(9)
|
|
|
210,799
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Cornelis D. Hartgring(10)
|
|
|
136,440
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
B.J. Cassin(11)
|
|
|
129,998
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Lucio L. Lanza(12)
|
|
|
127,772
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Zia Malik(13)
|
|
|
44,040
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Susan H. Billat(14)
|
|
|
31,248
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
R. Stephen Heinrichs(15)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Albert Y. C. Yu(15)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
All directors and executive
officers as a group (16 persons)(16)
|
|
|
6,756,482
|
|
|
|
25.34
|
%
|
|
|
|
* |
|
Less than 1%. |
|
(1) |
|
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with SEC rules.
Beneficial ownership calculations for 5% stockholders are based
primarily on publicly-filed Schedule 13Ds or
13Gs, which 5% stockholders are required to file with the
SEC, and which generally set forth ownership interests as of
December 31, 2005. In computing the number of shares
beneficially owned by a person, we have included shares for
which the named person has sole or shared power over voting or
investment decisions. The number of shares beneficially owned
includes common stock which the named person has the right to
acquire, through conversion, option or warrant exercise, or
otherwise, within 60 days after March 31, 2006. |
|
(2) |
|
Percentage of beneficial ownership is based on
26,659,942 shares outstanding as of March 31, 2006.
For each named person, the percentage ownership includes stock
which the person has the right to acquire within 60 days
after March 31, 2006, as described in Footnote 1.
However, such shares shall not be deemed outstanding with
respect to the calculation of ownership percentage for any other
person. |
|
(3) |
|
The Schedule 13G filed on February 14, 2006 by William
Blair & Company, L.L.C. (William Blair), an
Investment Adviser registered under Section 203 of the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and Broker or Dealer |
12
|
|
|
|
|
registered under Section 15 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, indicates that William Blair has sole dispositive and
voting power of 3,854,852 shares. |
|
(4) |
|
The Schedule 13G Amendment filed on February 15, 2006
by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (Price
Associates), an Investment Adviser registered under
Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940,
indicates that Price Associates has sole dispositive power of
1,948,601 shares and sole voting power of
192,600 shares. |
|
(5) |
|
The Schedule 13G Amendment filed on February 10, 2006
by Capital Research and Management (Capital
Research), an Investment Adviser registered under
Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940,
indicates that Capital Research has sole dispositive and voting
power of 1,600,000 shares. Capital Research disclaims
beneficial ownership of 1,600,000 shares pursuant to
Rule 13d-4. |
|
(6) |
|
Includes 161,665 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock
options as of March 31, 2006 or within 60 days
thereafter. |
|
(7) |
|
Includes 155,281 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock
options as of March 31, 2006 or within 60 days
thereafter. |
|
(8) |
|
Includes 110,832 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock
options as of March 31, 2006 or within 60 days
thereafter. |
|
(9) |
|
Includes 40,832 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock
options as of March 31, 2006 or within 60 days
thereafter. |
|
(10) |
|
Includes 133,331 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock
options as of March 31, 2006 or within 60 days
thereafter. |
|
(11) |
|
Includes 100,000 shares held in the name of The Cassin
Family Trust U/ D/ T dtd 1/31/96 and 29,998 shares
issuable upon the exercise of stock options as of March 31,
2006 or within 60 days thereafter. |
|
(12) |
|
Includes 52,498 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock
options as of March 31, 2006 or within 60 days
thereafter. |
|
(13) |
|
Includes 44,040 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock
options as of March 31, 2006 or within 60 days
thereafter. |
|
(14) |
|
Includes 31,248 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock
options as of March 31, 2006 or within 60 days
thereafter. |
|
(15) |
|
As of March 31, 2006 or within 60 days thereafter,
these Directors only hold unvested options to purchase shares. |
|
(16) |
|
Includes an aggregate of 1,132,250 shares issuable upon the
exercise of stock options, as of March 31, 2006 or within
60 days thereafter. |
EQUITY
COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The following table provides information as of December 31,
2005 about our Common Stock that may be issued upon the exercise
of options, warrants and rights under all of our existing equity
compensation plans, including the 1996 Stock Option Plan, the
1997 Stock Plan, 2001 Stock Plan, the Stock Option/Stock
Issuance Plan and our Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Remaining Available for
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities
|
|
|
|
|
|
Future Issuance
|
|
|
|
to be Issued Upon
|
|
|
Weighted-Average
|
|
|
Under Equity
|
|
|
|
Exercise of
|
|
|
Exercise Price of
|
|
|
Compensation Plans
|
|
|
|
Outstanding Options,
|
|
|
Outstanding Options,
|
|
|
(Excluding Securities
|
|
Plan Category
|
|
Warranties and Rights
|
|
|
Warrants and Rights
|
|
|
Reflected in Column
(a))
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
|
|
(b)
|
|
|
(c)
|
|
|
Equity Compensation Plans Approved
by Stockholders(1)
|
|
|
5,302,587
|
|
|
$
|
11.296
|
|
|
|
1,823,401
|
(2)(3)(4)
|
Equity Compensation Plans Not
Approved by Stockholders
|
|
|
371,458
|
(5)
|
|
$
|
8.83
|
|
|
|
307,863
|
(5)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
5,674,045
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,131,264
|
|
13
|
|
|
(1) |
|
For a description of these plans, see Note 6 to our
Consolidated Financial Statements in our annual report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2005. |
|
(2) |
|
Includes 956,488 shares available for issuance pursuant to
options, stock appreciation rights, stock purchase rights and
long-term performance awards under the 2001 Plan. The 2001 Plan
includes an evergreen feature, which provides for an
automatic annual increase in the number of shares available
under the plan on the first day of each of our fiscal years
through 2011, equal to the lesser of 3,000,000 shares, 5%
of our outstanding common stock on the last day of the
immediately preceding fiscal year or such amount as is
determined by our Board of Directors. |
|
(3) |
|
Includes 866,913 shares available for issuance under the
ESPP. The ESPP, designed to comply with Internal Revenue Code
Section 423, includes an evergreen feature,
which provides for an automatic annual increase in the number of
shares available under the plan on the first day of each of our
fiscal years through 2011, equal to the lesser of
675,000 shares, 5% of our outstanding common stock on the
last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year or such amount
as is determined by our Board of Directors. |
|
(4) |
|
Other than in connection with outstanding awards, no shares
remain available for issuance pursuant to either of the 1996
Stock Option Plan or the 1997 Stock Plan. |
|
(5) |
|
The Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan was assumed by us upon the
acquisition of IDS Software Systems, Inc. The options generally
vest at 25% after the first year and then at 1/48 of the granted
options at each month thereafter. All options expire
10 years after the grant date. The vesting for certain
options is accelerated upon a change in control. |
COMPENSATION
OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND OTHER MATTERS
The following table shows the compensation earned by
(a) the person who served as our Chief Executive Officer
during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005,
(b) the four other most highly compensated individuals who
served as an executive officer during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2005 (the Named Executive
Officers); and (c) the compensation received by each
of these people for the two preceding fiscal years.
SUMMARY
COMPENSATION TABLE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-Term
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Compensation
|
|
Compensation Awards
|
|
|
Name and Principal
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Annual
|
|
Securities
|
|
Option
|
|
All Other
|
Position
|
|
Year
|
|
Total
|
|
Salary
|
|
Bonus
|
|
Compensation
|
|
Underlying Options
|
|
Awards(1)
|
|
Compensation(2)
|
|
John K. Kibarian
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
$
|
250,621
|
|
|
$
|
250,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
621
|
|
Chief Executive
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
|
250,522
|
|
|
|
250,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
522
|
|
Officer And President
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
|
649,570
|
|
|
|
250,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
80,000
|
|
|
$
|
319,048
|
|
|
|
522
|
|
Zia Malik
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
411,154
|
|
|
|
180,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
100,000
|
(3)
|
|
|
15,000
|
|
|
|
115,575
|
|
|
|
579
|
|
Vice President,
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
|
525,755
|
|
|
|
160,008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
194,714
|
(3)
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
145,555
|
|
|
|
478
|
|
World Wide Sales
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
|
465,090
|
|
|
|
7,282
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,083
|
(3)
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
|
405,725
|
|
|
|
|
|
David A. Joseph
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
543,246
|
|
|
|
235,000
|
|
|
$
|
90,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
192,625
|
|
|
|
621
|
|
Chief Strategy Officer
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
|
265,522
|
|
|
|
225,000
|
|
|
|
40,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
522
|
|
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
|
425,046
|
|
|
|
225,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
40,000
|
|
|
|
159,524
|
|
|
|
522
|
|
P. Steven Melman
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
512,045
|
|
|
|
200,000
|
|
|
|
60,000
|
|
|
|
7,692
|
(5)
|
|
|
28,000
|
|
|
|
215,740
|
|
|
|
613
|
|
Vice President,
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
|
217,522
|
|
|
|
182,000
|
|
|
|
35,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
522
|
|
Investor Relations and
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
|
382,046
|
|
|
|
182,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
40,000
|
|
|
|
159,524
|
|
|
|
522
|
|
Strategic
Initiatives(4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cornelis D. Hartgring
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
575,260
|
|
|
|
180,000
|
|
|
|
90,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,000
|
|
|
|
269,675
|
|
|
|
585
|
|
VP and GM,
Manufacturing
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
|
211,207
|
|
|
|
175,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,685
|
(6)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
522
|
|
Process Solutions
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
|
175,522
|
|
|
|
175,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
522
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
The values were calculated on the date of grant using the
Black-Sholes option pricing model with the following weighted
average assumptions used: Risk free interest rates ranging from
2.98% to 4.30%, no expected dividend, expected option lives of
5.5 years and expected volatilities ranging from 53% to
73%. These values have been included solely for purposes of
disclosure in accordance with the rules of the Securities and |
14
|
|
|
|
|
Exchange Commission and represent theoretical values. The actual
value, if any, the executive may realize will depend upon the
increase in the market value of our common stock through the
date of exercise. |
|
(2) |
|
Amounts listed under All Other Compensation
represent the dollar value of premiums for term life insurance
paid by us on behalf of each Named Executive Officer during the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. There is no cash
surrender value under these life insurance policies. |
|
(3) |
|
Includes non-recoverable advances and sales commissions paid to
Mr. Malik for sales made in 2005, 2004 and 2003,
respectively. |
|
(4) |
|
Mr. Melman was our Vice President, Finance and
Administration and Chief Financial Officer from 1998 through
2005. Effective January 1, 2006, Mr. Melman serves as
our Vice President, Investor Relations and Strategic Initiatives. |
|
(5) |
|
This amount represents a sabbatical payout. |
|
(6) |
|
Includes commissions paid to Mr. Hartgring for sales made
in 2004. |
OPTION
GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
The following table provides information with respect to stock
options granted to the Named Executive Officers during the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. In addition, as
required by SEC rules, the table sets forth the hypothetical
gains that would exist for the options based on assumed rates of
annual compound stock price appreciation during the option term.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Individual Grants(1)
|
|
|
Potential Realizable
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
Percent of Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value at Assumed Annual Rates
of
|
|
|
|
Securities
|
|
|
Options
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock Price
|
|
|
|
Underlying
|
|
|
Granted to
|
|
|
Per-Share
|
|
|
|
|
|
Appreciation for
|
|
|
|
Options
|
|
|
Employees in
|
|
|
Exercise
|
|
|
Expiration
|
|
|
Option Term
|
|
Name
|
|
Granted (#)(2)
|
|
|
Fiscal Year (%)(3)
|
|
|
Price ($/sh)(4)
|
|
|
Date
|
|
|
5% ($)
|
|
|
10% ($)
|
|
|
John K. Kibarian
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Zia Malik
|
|
|
15,000
|
|
|
|
0.92
|
%
|
|
$
|
14.58
|
|
|
|
10/26/2015
|
|
|
$
|
137,635
|
|
|
$
|
348,848
|
|
David A. Joseph
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
1.54
|
|
|
|
14.58
|
|
|
|
10/26/2015
|
|
|
|
229,391
|
|
|
|
581,413
|
|
P. Steven Melman
|
|
|
28,000
|
|
|
|
1.72
|
|
|
|
14.58
|
|
|
|
10/26/2015
|
|
|
|
256,918
|
|
|
|
651,183
|
|
Cornelis D. Hartgring
|
|
|
35,000
|
|
|
|
2.15
|
|
|
|
14.58
|
|
|
|
10/26/2015
|
|
|
|
321,147
|
|
|
|
813,978
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
No stock appreciation rights were granted to the Named Executive
Officers in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. |
|
(2) |
|
The options are subject to a vesting schedule whereby 25% of the
option shares vest upon the one year anniversary of the date of
grant and the remaining shares vest equally over the next
36 months thereafter, such that the option shares are 100%
vested on the fourth anniversary of the date of grant. |
|
(3) |
|
The Company granted stock options representing
1,625,205 shares to employees in the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2005. |
|
(4) |
|
The exercise price for all stock option grants is the fair
market value of our common stock on the date of grant. |
AGGREGATED
OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
The following table provides certain information with respect to
stock options exercised by the Named Executive Officers during
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. The table also
provides the number of shares covered by stock options as of the
end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, and the
value of
in-the-money
15
stock options, which represents the positive difference between
the exercise price of a stock option and the market price of the
shares subject to such option at the end of the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2005.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities
|
|
|
Value of Unexercised
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying Unexercised
|
|
|
In-the-Money
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options at December 31,
|
|
|
Options at December 31,
|
|
|
|
Acquired on
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
2005(1)
|
|
|
2005(2)
|
|
|
|
Exercise
|
|
|
Realized
|
|
|
Exercisable
|
|
|
Unexercisable
|
|
|
Exercisable
|
|
|
Unexercisable
|
|
|
John K. Kibarian
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
142,913
|
|
|
|
37,087
|
|
|
$
|
828,637.30
|
|
|
$
|
298,162.70
|
|
Zia Malik
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,342
|
|
|
|
54,658
|
|
|
|
159,406.72
|
|
|
|
212,893.28
|
|
David Joseph
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
103,540
|
|
|
|
41,460
|
|
|
|
666,260.88
|
|
|
|
183,789.12
|
|
P. Steven Melman
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
98,331
|
|
|
|
46,669
|
|
|
|
505,154.46
|
|
|
|
206,405.54
|
|
Cornelis Hartgring
|
|
|
50,000
|
(3)
|
|
$
|
470,981.40
|
|
|
|
112,498
|
|
|
|
72,502
|
|
|
|
1,220,603.30
|
|
|
|
465,346.70
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
No stock appreciation rights were outstanding during the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2005. |
|
(2) |
|
Based on the $16.25 per share closing price of our common
stock on The Nasdaq National Stock Market on December 30,
2005, less the exercise price of the options. |
|
(3) |
|
Cashless exercise/same day sale. |
Change of
Control Arrangements
On July 9, 1998, we entered into a letter agreement with
Mr. Melman to act as our Vice President, Finance and
Administration and Chief Financial Officer. This letter
agreement provides that in the event Mr. Melman is
terminated without cause any time after his one-year anniversary
with us and there is no change of control, Mr. Melman will
receive six months accelerated vesting of shares purchased
pursuant to an option or restricted stock purchase agreement. In
the event of a change of control, Mr. Melman will receive
24 months accelerated vesting, regardless of whether his
employment is terminated. Additionally, in the event
Mr. Melmans employment with the Company is terminated
by the Company at any time without cause, he will be entitled to
receive his monthly base salary and benefits for a period of six
months, paid on a monthly basis. Change of control
is defined as an event whereby a party or group of parties,
different from those in control of PDF Solutions at the time of
Mr. Melmans offer, attains a majority voting right in
PDF Solutions.
On October 10, 2005 we entered into a letter agreement with
Mr. Keith A. Jones to act as our Vice President of Finance
and Chief Financial Officer. This letter agreement provides that
in the event of a change of control of PDF Solutions, he will be
entitled to receive twenty-four months acceleration of
vesting regardless of whether his employment is terminated. For
purposes of Mr. Jones agreement, a change of
control is defined as an event whereby a party or group of
parties, different from those maintaining control at the time of
Mr. Jones agreement, acquires more than 50% of
PDFs outstanding common stock.
On November 17, 2005, we entered into acceleration
agreements with each of Lucio L. Lanza, B.J. Cassin, Susan H.
Billat, Albert Y. C. Yu and R. Stephen Heinrichs pursuant
to which all of the options to purchase shares of our stock that
have been granted or will be granted to each of the
aforementioned directors will become vested and exercisable in
full in the event of a change in control of PDF. Each of the
acceleration agreements will generally remain in effect until
terminated by PDF or, if earlier, the date the director in
question ceases to provide services to PDF. For purposes of
these agreements, a change of control is defined as
an event whereby a party or group of parties, different from
those maintaining control at the time of the acceleration
agreement, attains a majority voting right in PDF.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of
the Companys filings under the Securities Act of 1933
or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that might incorporate
future filings, including this Proxy Statement, in whole or in
part, the Compensation Committee Report, the Audit Committee
Report and the Stock Performance Graph shall not be deemed to be
incorporated by reference into any such filings.
16
COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following is a report of the Compensation Committee of the
Board of Directors describing the compensation policies
applicable to the Companys executive officers during the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. The Compensation
Committee is responsible for establishing and monitoring our
general compensation policies and compensation plans, as well as
the specific compensation levels for executive officers.
Executive officers who are also directors have not participated
in deliberations or decisions involving their own compensation.
General
Compensation Policy
Under the supervision of the Board of Directors, our
compensation policy is designed to attract and retain qualified
key executives critical to our growth and long-term success. It
is the objective of the Board of Directors to have a portion of
each executives compensation be contingent upon our
performance as well as upon the individuals personal
performance. Accordingly, each executive officers
compensation package is comprised of three elements:
(i) base salary which reflects individual performance and
expertise, (ii) variable bonus awards payable in cash and
tied to the achievement of certain performance goals that the
Board of Directors establishes from time to time for the Company
and (iii) long-term stock-based incentive awards which are
designed to strengthen the mutuality of interests between the
executive officers and our stockholders.
The summary below describes in more detail the factors which the
Board of Directors considers in establishing each of the three
primary components of the compensation package provided to the
executive officers.
Base
Salary
The level of base salary is established primarily on the basis
of the individuals qualifications and relevant experience,
the strategic goals for which he or she has responsibility, the
compensation levels at similar companies and the incentives
necessary to attract and retain qualified management. Base
salary may be adjusted each year to take into account the
individuals performance and to maintain a competitive
salary structure. Additionally, the Compensation Committee takes
into account general economic and business conditions. Company
performance does not play a significant role in the
determination of base salary.
Cash-Based
Incentive Compensation
Cash bonuses are awarded on a discretionary basis to executive
officers on the basis of their success in achieving designated
individual goals and our success in achieving specific
company-wide goals, such as customer satisfaction, revenue
growth and earnings growth.
Long-Term
Incentive Compensation
We utilize our stock option plans to provide executives and
other key employees with incentives to maximize long-term
stockholder values. Awards under this component of the
compensation package take the form of stock options designed to
give the recipient a significant equity stake and thereby
closely align his or her interests with those of our
stockholders. Factors considered in making such awards include
the individuals position, his or her performance and
responsibilities, and internal comparability considerations.
Each option grant allows the executive officer to acquire shares
of common stock at a fixed price per share (the fair market
value on the date of grant) over a specified period of time (up
to 10 years). The options typically vest over a four-year
period at the rate of 25% on the one year anniversary of the
vesting commencement date, and 1/48 of the total number of
shares subject to the option vest each month thereafter,
contingent upon the executive officers continued
employment with us. Accordingly, the option will provide a
return to the executive officer only if he or she remains in our
service, and then only if the market price of our common stock
appreciates over the option term.
Compensation
of the Chief Executive Officer
John K. Kibarian has served as our President since November 1991
and as our Chief Executive Officer since July 2001.
Mr. Kibarians base salary for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2005 was $250,000 and he did not receive a
cash bonus in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.
17
The factors discussed above in Base Salaries,
Cash-Based Incentive Compensation, and
Long-Term Incentive Compensation were also applied
in establishing the amount of Mr. Kibarians salary.
In addition to the foregoing, other significant factors
considered in establishing Mr. Kibarians compensation
were competitive factors and Mr. Kibarians leadership
in achieving our long and short term strategic goals.
Deductibility
of Executive Compensation
The Compensation Committee has considered the impact of
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code adopted under
the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, which section
disallows a deduction for any publicly held corporation for
individual compensation exceeding $1 million in any taxable
year for the CEO and four other most highly compensated
executive officers, respectively, unless such compensation meets
the requirements for the performance-based exception
to Section 162(m). As the cash compensation paid by the
Company to each of its executive officers is expected to be
below $1 million and the Committee believes that options
granted under the 2001 Stock Plan to such officers will meet the
requirements for qualifying as performance-based, the committee
believes that Section 162(m) will not affect the tax
deductions available to the Company with respect to the
compensation of its executive officers. It is the Compensation
Committees policy to qualify, to the extent reasonable,
its executive officers compensation for deductibility
under applicable tax law. However, the Company may from time to
time pay compensation to its executive officers that may not be
deductible.
THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
PDF SOLUTIONS, INC.:
B.J. Cassin, Chair
Lucio L. Lanza
Albert Y. C. Yu
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors currently
consists of B. J. Cassin, Lucio L. Lanza and Albert Y. C.
Yu. No member of the Compensation Committee or executive officer
of PDF Solutions has a relationship that would constitute an
interlocking relationship with executive officers or directors
of another entity.
AUDIT
COMMITTEE REPORT
The Audit Committee of our Board of Directors is composed of
three independent directors and operates under a written charter
adopted by the Board of Directors. The members of the Audit
Committee are Ms. Billat, Mr. Heinrichs and
Mr. Cassin. Each of the members of the Audit Committee is
independent as defined by the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules presently
in place. In addition, our Board of Directors has determined
that Mr. Heinrichs qualifies as an audit committee
financial expert as defined by SEC rules.
Our Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the
Audit Committee which governs the Audit Committees
functions and responsibilities. This charter was amended and
restated on July 23, 2003 and again on January 26,
2005, in light of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and new SEC and
NASD rules. The Audit Committee reviews and reassesses the
adequacy of this charter at least once per year and makes
recommendations to the Board regarding changes or amendments the
Audit Committee deems appropriate.
The Audit Committee, subject to stockholder ratification,
appoints the accounting firm to be engaged as the Companys
independent registered public accounting firm. The independent
registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing
an independent audit of the Companys consolidated
financial statements in accordance with auditing standards
generally accepted in the United States of America and to issue
a report thereon. Management is responsible for our internal
controls and the financial reporting process. The Audit
Committee is responsible for monitoring, overseeing and
assessing the effectiveness of these processes.
18
The Audit Committee held eight meetings and acted twice by
written consent during the fiscal year ended December 31,
2005. The meetings were designed to facilitate and encourage
communication between the Audit Committee, management and our
independent registered public accounting firm,
Deloitte & Touche LLP. Management represented to the
Audit Committee that our consolidated financial statements were
prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America. The Audit Committee
reviewed and discussed the audited consolidated financial
statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 with
management and the independent registered public accounting firm.
The Audit Committee discussed with the independent registered
public accounting firm the adequacy of the Companys
internal control system, financial reporting procedures and the
matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing
Standards No. 61, Communication with Audit
Committees, as amended.
The Audit Committee has received and reviewed the written
disclosures and the letter from the independent registered
public accounting firm, Deloitte & Touche LLP as
required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1,
Independence Discussions with Audit Committees. Additionally,
the Audit Committee has discussed with Deloitte &
Touche LLP the issue of its independence from PDF Solutions, Inc.
Based on its review of the audited consolidated financial
statements and the various discussions noted above, the Audit
Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited
consolidated financial statements be included in our Annual
Report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS OF PDF SOLUTIONS, INC.:
R. Stephen Heinrichs, Chair
Susan H. Billat
B. J. Cassin
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Loans to,
and Other Arrangements with, Officers and Directors
We had an early exercise provision under our 1996 Stock Option
Plan and 1997 Stock Plan, which allowed our optionholders and
holders of stock purchase rights to purchase shares of stock
underlying unvested options, subject to our own repurchase
right. In addition, we previously had an employee loan program,
which allowed employees to borrow the full exercise price of
their options or stock purchase rights from us by signing a full
recourse promissory note bearing interest at the applicable
federal rate in the month of purchase. The following officers
previously participated in the loan program and unless otherwise
indicated, currently have notes outstanding:
In connection with his purchase of 200,000 shares of common
stock on December 4, 1998 we loaned $75,000 to David A.
Joseph under a four-year, 4.46% promissory note. In connection
with his purchase of 33,333 shares on September 20,
1999 we loaned $12,500 to David Joseph under a four year, 4.46%
promissory note and in connection with his purchase of
53,333 shares of common stock on July 14, 2000, we
loaned $160,000 to Mr. Joseph under a four year, 6.62%
promissory note. Mr. Joseph paid the December 4, 1998
note and the September 20, 1999 note in August 2003 and the
July 14, 2000 note in June 2005. These notes were full
recourse notes secured by pledges of the shares of common stock
purchased.
In connection with his purchase of 200,000 shares of common
stock on July 14, 2000, we loaned $600,000 to John K.
Kibarian under a four-year, 6.62% promissory note.
Mr. Kibarian paid this note in March 2005. This note was a
full recourse note secured by pledges of the shares of common
stock purchased.
In connection with his purchase of 50,000 shares of common
stock on July 24, 2001, we loaned approximately $550,000 to
Lucio L. Lanza under a four-year, 7.75% promissory note. This
note was a full recourse note secured by a pledge of the shares
of common stock purchased. The outstanding balance was
extinguished when we repurchased
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44,942 shares of common stock from Mr. Lanza at the
closing price on the date of repurchase, which was
$16.52 per share, in exchange for the repayment of the note
receivable and accrued interest in 2005.
Other
Transactions
We have granted options to some of our officers and directors.
Please see Compensation of Executive Officers and Other
Matters Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year
and Meetings and Committees of the Board of
Directors Director Compensation. We have
also entered into acceleration agreements with certain of our
officers and directors. Please see Change of Control
Arrangements.
Limitation
of Liability and Indemnification Matters
As permitted by the Delaware general corporation law, we have
included a provision in our certificate of incorporation to
eliminate the personal liability of our officers and directors
for monetary damages for breach or alleged breach of their
fiduciary duties as officers or directors, other than in cases
of fraud or other willful misconduct.
In addition, our Bylaws provide that we are required to
indemnify our officers and directors even when indemnification
would otherwise be discretionary, and we are required to advance
expenses to our officers and directors as incurred in connection
with proceedings against them for which they may be indemnified.
We have entered into indemnification agreements with our
officers and directors containing provisions that are in some
respects broader than the specific indemnification provisions
contained in the Delaware general corporation law. The
indemnification agreements require us to indemnify our officers
and directors against liabilities that may arise by reason of
their status or service as officers and directors other than for
liabilities arising from willful misconduct of a culpable
nature, to advance their expenses incurred as a result of any
proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified,
and to obtain our directors and officers insurance
if available on reasonable terms. We have obtained
directors and officers liability insurance in
amounts comparable to other companies of our size and in our
industry.
We believe that all related-party transactions described above
were made on terms no less favorable to us than could have been
otherwise obtained from unaffiliated third parties.
20
STOCK
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph compares the cumulative total stockholder
return data for our stock since July 26, 2001 (the date on
which the Companys stock was first registered under
Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended) to the cumulative return over such period of
(i) The Nasdaq Stock Market (U.S.) Index and (ii) the
RDG Technology Composite Index. The graph assumes that $100 was
invested on July 27, 2001. The graph further assumes that
such amount was initially invested in the Common Stock of the
Company at a per share price of $12.00 (price at which such
stock was first offered to the public by the Company on the date
of its initial public offering) and reinvestment of any
dividends. The stock price performance on the following graph is
not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.
COMPARISON
OF 53 MONTH CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
AMONG PDF SOLUTIONS, INC., THE NASDAQ STOCK MARKET (U.S.)
INDEX
AND THE RDG TECHNOLOGY COMPOSITE INDEX
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Cumulative Total
Return
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7/01
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12/01
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12/02
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12/03
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12/04
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12/05
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PDF SOLUTIONS, INC.
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100.00
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175.00
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57.75
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124.17
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134.25
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135.42
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NASDAQ STOCK MARKET (U.S.)
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100.00
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96.21
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68.29
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101.66
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110.76
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113.32
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RDG TECHNOLOGY COMPOSITE
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100.00
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96.75
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59.92
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88.84
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91.92
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94.46
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$100 invested on 7/27/01 in stock or on 7/31/01 in
index-including investment of dividends. Fiscal year ending
December 31. |
Section 16
Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors,
our executive officers and persons who own more than 10% of the
common stock (collectively, Reporting Persons) to
file initial reports of ownership and changes in ownership of
our common stock. Reporting Persons are required by SEC
regulations to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a)
reports they file. To our knowledge, based solely on our review
of the copies of such reports received or written
representations from certain Reporting Persons that no other
reports were required, we believe that during
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the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, all Reporting
Persons complied with all applicable filing requirements, except
for Mr. Hawit, who filed one report for two sales of shares
pursuant to a
10b5-1 plan
5 days after the required filing date.
Other
Matters
The Board of Directors knows of no other business that will be
presented to the Annual Meeting. If any other business is
properly brought before the Annual Meeting, proxies in the
enclosed form will be voted in respect thereof as the proxy
holders deem advisable.
It is important that the proxies be returned promptly and that
your shares be represented. Stockholders are urged to mark,
date, execute and promptly return the accompanying proxy card in
the enclosed envelope.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
PETER COHN
Secretary
San Jose, California
April 20, 2006
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THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF PDF SOLUTIONS, INC. FOR THE
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD MAY 24, 2006
The undersigned stockholder of PDF Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the Company)
hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement,
each dated April 24, 2006, and hereby appoints John K. Kibarian and Keith A. Jones or either of
them, proxies and attorneys-in-fact, with full power to each of substitution, on behalf and in the
name of the undersigned, to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of PDF
Solutions, Inc. to be held on Wednesday, May 24, 2006, at 1:30 p.m., PDT, at the Marriott Hotel,
301 South Market Street, San Jose, CA 95113, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof, and to
vote all shares of Common Stock which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if then and there
personally present, on the matters set forth on the reverse side.
PLEASE SIGN ON REVERSE SIDE AND RETURN IMMEDIATELY
Telephone and Internet Voting Instructions
You can vote by telephone OR Internet! Available 24 hours a day 7 days a week!
Instead of mailing your proxy, you may choose one of the two voting methods outlined below to vote your proxy.
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Call toll free 1-800-652-VOTE (8683) in the United
States or Canada any time on a touch tone telephone.
There is NO CHARGE to you for the call. |
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Follow the simple instructions provided by the recorded message. |
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Go to the following web site:
WWW.COMPUTERSHARE.COM/EXPRESSVOTE |
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Enter the information requested on your
computer screen and follow the simple
instructions. |
VALIDATION DETAILS ARE LOCATED ON THE FRONT OF THIS FORM IN THE COLORED BAR.
If you vote by telephone or the Internet, please DO NOT mail back this proxy card.
Proxies submitted by telephone or the Internet must be received by 1:00 a.m., Central Time, on May 24, 2006.
THANK YOU FOR VOTING
MR A SAMPLE
DESIGNATION (IF ANY)
ADD 1
ADD 2
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000004
Least Address Line
000000000.000
ext
000000000.000 ext
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1234567890 J N T
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Mark this box with an X if you have made
changes to your name or address details above. |
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Annual Meeting Proxy Card
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123456
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C0123456789
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12345
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A
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Election of Directors
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PLEASE REFER TO THE REVERSE SIDE FOR TELEPHONE AND INTERNET VOTING INSTRUCTIONS. |
1. The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the listed nominees.
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For
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Withhold
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01 Lucio L. Lanza
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02 Kimon Michaels, Ph.D.
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The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the following proposal.
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For
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Against
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Abstain
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2.
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Proposal to ratify the appointment by the audit committee of
Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent auditors of the
company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006.
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And, in their discretion, upon such other matter or
matters that may properly come before the meeting
and any postponement(s) or adjournment(s) thereof. |
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Mark this box with an X if you
plan to attend the meeting.
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Authorized Signatures
Sign Here This section must be completed for your instructions to be executed. |
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO CONTRARY DIRECTION IS INDICATED, WILL BE VOTED
AS FOLLOWS: (1) FOR THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS; (2) FOR RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT BY THE
AUDIT COMMITTEE OF DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP AS THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS OF THE COMPANY FOR THE FISCAL
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2006; AND (3) AS SAID PROXIES DEEM ADVISABLE ON SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY
COME BEFORE THE MEETING.
(This Proxy should be marked, dated, signed by the stockholder(s) exactly as his or her name
appears hereon, and returned promptly in the enclosed envelope. Persons signing in a fiduciary
capacity should so indicate. If shares are held by joint tenants or as community property, both
should sign.)
Signature 1 Please keep signature within the box
Signature 2 Please keep signature within the box
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0 0 8 1 3 9 1
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1 U P X
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C O Y
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