UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A INFORMATION
PROXY
STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a)
OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Filed by
the Registrant
þ
Filed by
a Party other than the Registrant
o
Check the
appropriate box:
o
Preliminary Proxy
Statement
o
Confidential, for Use
of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
þ
Definitive Proxy
Statement
o
Definitive Additional
Materials
o
Soliciting Material
under Rule 14a-12
EDCI
Holdings, Inc.
(Name of
Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
N/A
(Name of
Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
þ
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No
fee required.
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o
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Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
0-11.
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(1)
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Title
of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
N/A
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Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction applies: N/A
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(3)
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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):
N/A
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(4)
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Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction: N/A
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(5)
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Total
fee paid: N/A
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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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(1)
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Amount
Previously Paid: N/A
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Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.: N/A
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Party: N/A
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Filed: N/A
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TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Page
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INFORMATION
ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND
VOTING
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL HOLDERS AND MANAGEMENT
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1
4
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EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
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5
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PROPOSAL
ONE – ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
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5
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NOMINEE
FOR ELECTION AS CLASS II DIRECTOR UNTIL THE 2013 ANNUAL
MEETING
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5
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DIRECTORS
CONTINUING IN OFFICE AS CLASS III DIRECTORS UNTIL THE 2011 ANNUAL
MEETING
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6
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DIRECTORS
CONTINUING IN OFFICE AS CLASS I DIRECTORS UNTIL THE 2012 ANNUAL
MEETING
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6
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LEADERSHIP
STRUCTURE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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6
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COMMITTEES
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Audit
Committee
Governance
and Nominating
Committee
Compensation
and Plan Administration
Committee
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6
7
7
8
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DIRECTOR
COMPENSATION
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9
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EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
Summary
Compensation
Table
Option
Exercises and Stock
Vested
Non-Qualified
Deferred
Compensation
Employment
and Severance
Agreements
Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal
Year-End
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10
10
11
11
11
12
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AUDIT
COMMITTEE
REPORT
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13
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CODE
OF
ETHICS
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13
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CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED
TRANSACTIONS
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13
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SECTION
16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
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13
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PROPOSAL
TWO: INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
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14
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PROPOSAL
THREE: STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL TO HIRE INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT TO REPRESENT
THE INTERESTS OF
CERTAIN
THIRD
PARTIES
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14
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PROPOSALS
OF
STOCKHOLDERS
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15
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OTHER
MATTERS
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16
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INCORPORATION
BY
REFERENCE
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16
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HOUSEHOLDING
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16
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EDCI
Holdings, Inc.
11
East 44
th
Street, Suite 1201
New
York, New York 10018
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO
BE HELD ON June 15 2010
The 2010
Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of EDCI Holdings, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the “
Company
” or “
EDCI
”), will be held at the
Westin Atlanta Airport, Atlanta I Room, 4736 Best Road, Atlanta, GA 30337 on
June 15, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. local time for the following purposes:
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To
elect one Class II Director,
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To
ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent
registered public accounting firm to audit the financial statements of the
Company,
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To
consider a stockholder proposal, if properly presented at the Annual
Meeting, which our Board of Directors unanimously opposes, to require the
Company to hire an independent contractor to represent the interests of
certain third parties.
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To
transact any other business that may properly come before the 2010 Annual
Meeting and any adjournment(s) or postponement(s)
thereof.
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The close
of business on April 20, 2010 has been fixed as the record date for
determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the 2010
Annual Meeting and any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof. The Company is
pleased to take advantage of SEC rules that allow the Company to furnish proxy
materials to stockholders via the Internet. In this regard, a Proxy Statement, a
form of proxy and the Company’s 2009 Annual Report are currently available on
our website, without charge, at
http://www.edcih.com
.
You may
vote your shares in person at the 2010 Annual Meeting, via the Internet, by
telephone or by mail. Please refer to the section “How do I vote?” for detailed
voting instructions. If you choose to vote in person at the Annual Meeting, via
the Internet or by telephone, you do not need to mail in a proxy card. A list of
stockholders entitled to vote at the 2010 Annual Meeting will be open to the
examination of any stockholder for any purpose relevant to the 2010 Annual
Meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of 10 days prior to
the 2010 Annual Meeting at the Company’s offices located at 11 East 44
th
Street, Suite 1201, New York, New York and will be available at the meeting for
such purpose.
Stockholders
are cordially invited to attend this meeting. Each stockholder, whether or not
he or she expects to be present in person at the 2010 Annual Meeting, is
requested to
VOTE, AS PROMPTLY
AS POSSIBLE, VIA THE TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER OR OVER THE INTERNET
as
described in the following materials. If you received a proxy card by mail, you
also may
SIGN, DATE and RETURN
THE PROXY CARD
in the envelope that was provided to you.
BY ORDER
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Clarke H.
Bailey
Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer
May 3,
2010
IMPORTANT
NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS
FOR
THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON June 15, 2010
EDCI’s
Proxy Statement, form of proxy, and 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K are
currently available on the Company’s website at
http://edcih.com
under the heading “Investor Center.” The Company’s website does not have
“cookies” which identify visitors to the site. The Notice of Internet
Availability of Proxy Materials was first mailed to stockholders on or about May
3, 2010. The cost of solicitation of proxies will be borne by EDCI.
YOUR
VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT. Whether or not you plan to attend the 2010
Annual Meeting, you should read the Proxy Statement carefully and vote your
shares, as promptly as possible, via the Internet or by telephone, or, if you
received a proxy card by mail, by completing, signing, and dating the proxy card
and returning it in the postage prepaid envelope which was provided to you.
Please note, however, that if your shares are held of record by a broker, bank,
or other nominee and you wish to vote at the meeting, you must obtain from the
record holder a proxy issued in your name and bring an account statement or
letter from the nominee indicating your beneficial ownership as of the record
date.
EDCI
HOLDINGS, INC.
PROXY
STATEMENT
2010
ANNUAL MEETING
Why
did I receive a Notice regarding the availability of Proxy
Materials?
In
accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission (“
SEC
”) rules, instead of
mailing a printed copy of our proxy materials, we may send a Notice of Internet
Availability of Proxy Materials (the “
Notice
”) to stockholders. All
stockholders will have the ability to access the proxy materials on a website
referred to in the Notice or to request a printed set of these materials at no
charge. You will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials unless you
specifically request one. Instead, the Notice instructs you as to how you may
access and review all of the important information contained in the proxy
materials via the Internet and submit your vote via the Internet or
telephonically.
In
addition, you may request to receive future proxy materials on an ongoing basis
(i) electronically by e-mail or (ii) in printed form by mail. Choosing
to receive future proxy materials by e-mail will save the Company the cost of
printing and mailing documents to stockholders and will reduce the impact of
annual meetings on the environment. Your election to receive proxy materials by
e-mail or by mail will remain in effect until you terminate it.
Can
I vote my shares by filling out and returning the Notice of Internet
Availability of Proxy Materials?
No. The
Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials contains instructions on how
to request a paper copy of the Proxy Statement and related proxy materials by
phone, e-mail, or via the Internet.
What
is the purpose of the Proxy Materials?
This
Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the Board of
Directors of EDCI Holdings, Inc. (“
EDCI
” or the “
Company
”) of proxies for use
at the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at Westin Atlanta Airport,
Atlanta I Room, 4736 Best Road, Atlanta, GA 30337 on June 15, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.
local time, and any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof. These
materials are being made available on or about May 3, 2010. All
stockholders of record as of the close of business on April 20, 2010, are
entitled to attend the 2010 Annual Meeting and to vote on the items of business
outlined in this proxy statement. If you choose not to attend the
2010 Annual meeting, you may vote your shares via the internet, by telephone or
by mail.
Am
I entitled to vote?
You are
entitled to vote if our records indicate that you held shares as of the close of
business on April 20, 2010. All stockholders of record are entitled to one vote
per share of the Company’s common stock (“
Common Stock
”) held for each
matter submitted for a vote at the meeting. On April 20, 2010, there were
6,730,099 shares of EDCI’s Common Stock outstanding.
What
is the difference between holding shares as a beneficial owner in street name
and a stockholder of record?
If your
shares are held in street name through a broker, bank, trust or other nominee,
you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in street name. As the
beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank, trust or other
nominee on how to vote your shares.
Your
broker, bank, trust or other nominee has the discretion to vote on routine
corporate matters presented in the proxy materials without your specific voting
instructions. Your broker, bank, trust or other nominee does not have the
discretion to vote on non-routine matters. Pursuant to recent amendments to the
rules of the New York Stock Exchange applicable to brokers, the proposal for the
election of a director to the Company’s Board is considered a non-routine item
and, therefore brokers and other nominees will not have discretion to vote your
shares on this proposal. If you hold your shares in street name, you, the
beneficial owner, are not the stockholder of record, and therefore you may not
vote these shares in person at the 2010 Annual Meeting unless you obtain a legal
proxy from the broker, bank, trust or other nominee that holds your
shares.
If your
shares are registered directly in your name with EDCI’s transfer agent, American
Stock Transfer & Trust Company, you are considered to be a stockholder of
record with respect to those shares. As a stockholder of record, you have the
right to grant your voting proxy directly to EDCI or to a third party, or to
vote in person at the 2010 Annual Meeting.
How
do I request paper copies of the proxy materials?
You may
request paper copies of the 2010 proxy materials by following the instructions
listed at
www.proxyvote.com
, by
telephoning 1-800-579-1639 or by sending an e-mail to
sendmaterial@proxyvote.com
.
How
do I vote?
By
Internet or Telephone
You may
vote electronically via the Internet at
www.proxyvote.com
. If
you wish to vote by telephone you will need to request paper copies of the
materials in order to obtain a Voting Instruction Form which contains a specific
telephone number for your broker, bank, trust or other nominee. Votes submitted
telephonically or via the Internet must be received by 11:59 PM (EST) on June
14, 2010.
In
Person
If you
hold EDCI shares in street name through a broker, bank, trust or other nominee,
you must obtain a legal proxy from that institution and present it to the
inspector of elections with your ballot to be able to vote at the 2010 Annual
Meeting. To request a legal proxy please follow the instructions at
www.proxyvote.com
.
If you
hold EDCI shares directly in your name as a stockholder of record, you may vote
in person at the 2010 Annual Meeting. Stockholders of record are entitled to one
vote per share of Common Stock held for each matter submitted for a vote at the
meeting. Stockholders of record also may be represented by another person at the
2010 Annual Meeting by executing a proper proxy designating that
person.
By
Mail
To vote
by mail you must request paper copies of the proxy materials. Once you receive
your paper copies, you will need to mark, sign and date the Voting Instruction
Form and return it in the prepaid return envelope provided. Our proxy
distributor, Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“
Broadridge
”) must receive your
Voting Instruction Form no later than close of business on June 14,
2010.
What
are the proposals to be considered at the 2010 Annual Meeting?
At the
annual meeting, the Company will ask its stockholders to:
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(1)
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elect
one Class II Director for a three-year term;
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(2)
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ratify
the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered
public accounting firm to audit the financial statements of the Company;
and
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(3)
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consider
a stockholder proposal, if properly presented at the Annual Meeting, which
our Board of Directors unanimously opposes, to require the Company to hire
an independent contractor to represent the interests of certain third
parties.
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What
are the Board of Directors recommendations?
The Board
of Directors recommends that the stockholders vote
“FOR”
the election of the
director nominee and
“FOR”
ratification of the selection by the Board of Directors of
Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent public accountants for
the 2010 fiscal year. The Board of Directors recommends that the
stockholders vote
“AGAINST”
the stockholder proposal to hire an independent contractor to represent
the interests of certain third parties.
The
Company’s Board of Directors is not aware of any other matters to be presented
at the Annual Meeting. If any other matters should properly come before the
Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting, the
persons named as proxies in the enclosed proxy card will vote the proxies in
accordance with their best judgment. If necessary to solicit additional proxies,
the Company may ask its stockholders to vote upon the adjournment or
postponement of the Annual Meeting.
What
vote is necessary to approve each item?
Proposal
One
The one
nominee for director receiving a plurality of the votes cast at the meeting will
be elected as director to serve until the expiration of his term or until his
successor has been duly elected or qualified. If you do not vote “FOR” the
nominee or you indicate “WITHHELD” on your proxy card, your vote will neither be
counted for or against the nominee. Abstentions will not affect the outcome of
this proposal.
Proposal Two
Ernst &
Young LLP will be ratified as the Company’s independent accountant for the 2010
fiscal year if a majority of shares represented at the Annual Meeting and
eligible to vote on the matter vote in favor of the proposal. If you do not vote
“FOR” the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP or you indicate “WITHHELD”
on your proxy card, your vote will count against the proposal. Broker non-votes
will not affect the outcome of this proposal because the shares will not be
considered eligible to vote on this proposal. Abstentions will be treated as a
vote against the proposal.
Proposal
Three
The
stockholder proposal will be approved if a majority of shares represented at the
Annual Meeting and eligible to vote on the matter vote in favor of the proposal.
If you do not vote “FOR” the proposal or you indicate “WITHHELD” on your proxy
card, your vote will count against the proposal. Broker non-votes will not
affect the outcome of this proposal because the shares will not be considered
eligible to vote on this proposal. Abstentions will be treated as a vote against
the proposal.
Yes. If
your shares are held in street name through a broker, bank, trust or other
nominee, you may revoke any proxy that you previously granted or change your
vote at any time prior to 11:59 PM (EST) on June 14, 2010, by entering your new
vote electronically via the Internet at
www.proxyvote.com
using the account, control and pin numbers that you previously used or
telephonically using the number indicated on your Voting Instruction Form. If
you desire to change your vote by mail, you must first request paper copies of
the materials and mail your new Voting Instruction Form using the prepaid return
envelope provided. However, your new instructions must be received before the
close of business on May 13, 2010.
You also
may revoke your proxy or change your vote at any time prior to the final
tallying of votes by:
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Delivering
a written notice of revocation to EDCI’s Corporate Secretary at the
address on the Notice of Annual
Meeting;
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Executing
and delivering to the Corporate Secretary a later-dated proxy;
or
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Attending
the meeting and voting in
person.
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What
constitutes a quorum?
One-third
of the total issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, present in person or
represented by proxy, will constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting.
Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted for purposes of determining the
presence or absence of a quorum for the transaction of business.
Where
can I find voting results of the Annual Meeting?
We will
announce preliminary results at the meeting and publish final results in a
Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC within four business days after
the meeting.
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Listed in the following table are the
beneficial owners known to the Company as of April 20, 2010, of more than 5% of
the outstanding Common Stock. In addition, this table includes the number of
shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by each director and each of the
executive officers listed in the Summary Compensation Table, and the number of
shares owned by directors and executive officers as a group. Except as noted
below, the address of each beneficial owner is EDCI Holdings, Inc., 11 East
44
th
Street, Suite 1201, New York, New York 10017.
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Name
of Beneficial Owner
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Number
of Shares Beneficially Owned
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Percent
of Class
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Clarke
H. Bailey
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96,311
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(1)
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1.43
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Matthew
K. Behrent
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2,000
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*
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Roger
J. Morgan
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-
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*
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Ramon
D. Ardizzone
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26,074
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(2)
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*
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Cliff
O. Bickell
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25,735
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(3)
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*
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Peter
W. Gilson
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27,997
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(4)
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*
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Horace
H. Sibley
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26,477
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(5)
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*
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David
Sandberg (8)
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282,986
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4.20
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All
directors and executive officers as a
group (10 persons)
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487,580
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(6)
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7.24
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Robert
L. Chapman, Jr. et al (9)
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587,936
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(7)
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8.74
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Dimensional
Fund Advisors, Inc. (10)
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336,767
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5.00
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*
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Less
than 1%.
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(1)
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Includes
70 shares held by Mr. Bailey’s son and 60,053 shares that
may be acquired at or within 60 days of April 20, 2010, pursuant to
the exercise of options.
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(2)
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Includes
6,000 shares that may be acquired at or within 60 days of April
20, 2010 pursuant to the exercise of
options.
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(3)
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Includes
6,000 shares that may be acquired at or within 60 days of April
20, 2010 pursuant to the exercise of
options.
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(4)
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Includes
9,000 shares that may be acquired at or within 60 days of April
20, 2010 pursuant to the exercise of
options.
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(5)
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Includes
9,000 shares that may be acquired at or within 60 days of April
20, 2010 pursuant to the exercise of
options.
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(6)
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Includes
90,053 shares that may be acquired at or within 60 days of April
20, 2010 pursuant to the exercise of
options.
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(7)
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Includes
3,000 shares that may be acquired at or within 60 days of April
20, 2010 pursuant to the exercise of
options.
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(8)
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Red
Oak Partners, LLC (“
ROP
”) serves as the
general partner of The Red Oak Fund, LP, a Delaware limited partnership
(the “
Fund
”), the
direct owner of the subject securities. David Sandberg is the managing
member of ROP and the Fund’s portfolio manager. ROP serves as a
general partner of Pinnacle Partners, LLC, a Colorado limited liability
limited company (“
Pinnacle Partners
”).
Pinnacle Partners manages Pinnacle Fund, LLP, a Colorado limited liability
partnership (“
Pinnacle
Fund
”), the direct owner of the subject securities. ROP
is the investment advisor to Bear Market Opportunity Fund, L.P., the
direct owner of the subject securities, and exercises investment control
over the subject securities. David Sandberg is the managing member of ROP
and is the portfolio manager of the Bear Market Opportunity Fund,
L.P. Each Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of
all securities reported herein, except to the extent of their pecuniary
interest therein, if any, and this report shall not be deemed an admission
that such Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of the shares for
purposes of Section 16 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 or for
any other purpose.
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(9)
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Robert
L. Chapman, Jr., Chap-Cap Activist Partners Master Fund, Ltd., Chap-Cap
Partners II Master Fund, Ltd., and Chapman Capital L.L.C. jointly
report beneficial ownership of certain shares of Common Stock. Chap-Cap
Activist Partners Master Fund, Ltd. has shared voting power and sole
dispositive power over 268,551 shares, Chap-Cap Partners II
Master Fund, Ltd. has shared voting power and sole dispositive power over
237,620 shares, Chapman Capital L.L.C. has shared voting and dispositive
power over 506,171 shares and Mr. Chapman has shared voting and
dispositive power over 506,171 shares and sole voting and
dispositive power over 81,765 shares (which includes the options
referenced in footnote 7 above). Mr. Chapman’s and the reporting
entities’ address is 1007 N. Sepulveda Blvd. #129, Manhattan
Beach, CA 90267.
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(10)
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The
address of Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc. (“
DFA
”) is 1299 Ocean
Avenue, 11th Floor, Santa Monica, CA 90401. This information is based on
the Schedule 13G filed by DFA on February 9, 2009. Such shares
are owned by certain investment companies, commingled group trusts and
accounts with respect to which DFA acts as an investment advisor or
manager. DFA disclaims beneficial ownership of all such
shares.
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EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
Presented
below is information about each person who currently serves as an executive
officer of EDCI. None of the individuals listed below is related to each other,
whether by blood, marriage, or adoption. No executive officer was selected
pursuant to any arrangements or understandings between such individual and any
other person.
Clarke H. Bailey
;
age 55; Chief Executive
Officer of the Company since July 2009; Director of the Company since December
1990; Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company from September 2008 to
January 2009; Chief Executive Officer of the Company from October 2003 to
November 2006; Chairman of the Company since October 1999; Vice Chairman of the
Company from November 1992 to June 1996; Chief Executive Officer of the Company
from December 1990 to March 1994; Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Company
from May 1994 to December 1994; Director of Iron Mountain
Incorporated.
Matthew K. Behrent
;
age 39;
Executive Vice
President, Corporate Development of the Company and EDC, LLC since November
2007; Senior Vice President & Chief Acquisitions Officer of the Company
from July 2005 to November 2007; Vice President of Revolution Partners from
March 2004 until June 2005; Associate at Credit Suisse First Boston from June
2000 until January 2003; Associate at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
from June 1998 until May 2000; Director of Tengasco Inc.
Roger J. Morgan
;
age 45;
Executive Vice
President International Operations of EDC, LLC since June 2005; Head of
Operations Universal Manufacturing & Logistics International from
January 2005 to May 2005; Chief Financial Officer of Universal
Manufacturing & Logistics International from July 1999 to December
2004.
PROPOSAL ONE—
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The total
number of directors on the Company’s Board of Directors is six. Pursuant to the
Company’s certificate of incorporation and by-laws, the Board of Directors is
divided into three classes each consisting, as nearly as may be possible, of
one-third of the total number of directors, for terms of three years. Subsequent
to the determination by one of the existing Class II Directors not to stand for
re-election, the Board of Directors determined not to appoint another candidate
in order to save director fees given the Company's ongoing Plan of
Dissolution..Proxies cannot be voted for a greater number of persons than the
one director nominee named.
The Board
of Directors of the Company is responsible for ensuring that its members have
the requisite skills, experience and business acumen to evaluate business
situations and make critical decisions on behalf of the Company and its
stockholders. To help ensure the Board of Directors meets its
responsibility, the Board of Directors has assigned the Governance and
Nominating Committee the task of administering the skill evaluations of
directors and director candidates. All candidates for director positions
are carefully screened initially by the Governance and Nominating Committee and
its agents through a series of background checks, interviews and reference
follow ups. Detailed reviews and diligence are performed before candidates
are proposed for nomination to the full Board of Directors and
stockholders.
The
Governance and Nominating Committee conducts an annual evaluation of all
directors based on 23 criteria including financial literacy, international
business experience, industry knowledge and merger and acquisition experience,
amongst other skills. The results are then discussed with the full Board of
Directors and any skill gaps are identified and addressed through appropriate
means. Ample opportunity is given to discuss the individual and collective
skills of directors as well as the performance of committees and the entire
Board of Directors.
At the
2010 Annual Meeting, one Class II Director is to be elected. As proposed
and recommended by the Governance and Nominating Committee, the Board of
Directors has nominated David A. Sandberg who is currently serving as a director
of the Company, for election as a Class II Director to serve for a
three-year term expiring at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2013, and
until his respective successor shall have been elected and
qualified.
The Board
of Directors recommends a vote FOR the nominee. The nominee has indicated his
willingness to serve if elected, and the Board of Directors has no reason to
believe that the nominee will be unavailable. In the event that a vacancy arises
among such nominee by death or any other reason prior to the 2010 Annual
Meeting, the proxy may be voted for a substitute nominee designated by the Board
of Directors.
The
biographies of each of the directors below contains information regarding the
person’s service as a director, business experience, director positions held
currently or at any time during the last five years, and the experiences,
qualifications, attributes or skills that caused the Governance and Nominating
Committee and the Board of Directors to determine that the person should serve
as a director for the Company beginning in 2010.
NOMINEE
FOR ELECTION AS CLASS II DIRECTOR UNTIL THE 2013 ANNUAL
MEETING
David
A. Sandberg
;
age 37;
Director of the Company
since June 2009;
Managing
member, founder, and portfolio manager of Red Oak Partners, LLC, a NY-based
hedge fund advisor, since its March 2003 inception. Previously, Mr. Sandberg
co-managed JH Whitney & Co.’s Green River Fund; Director of SMTC Corp.;
Chairman of Asure Software, Inc.;
Mr. Sandberg has extensive
experience in corporate finance and public company strategic
planning.
DIRECTORS
CONTINUING IN OFFICE AS CLASS III DIRECTORS UNTIL THE
2011 ANNUAL MEETING
Ramon D. Ardizzone
;
age 72;
Director of the
Company since November 1992; Vice Chairman of the Company since May 2001;
Chairman of the Company from June 1996 to September 1999; President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company from December 1998 to June 1999; President of
the Company from December 1994 to June 1996; Chief Executive Officer of the
Company from May 1995 through December 1996; Acting Chief Executive Officer of
the Company from December 1994 to May 1995; Chief Operating Officer of the
Company from June 1994 to December 1994; Acting Chief Operating Officer of the
Company from May 1994 to June 1994; Executive Vice President of the Company from
November 1992 to December 1994; Executive Vice President of the Company in
charge of Sales and Marketing from November 1992 to May 1994. Mr. Ardizzone has
extensive executive experience in corporate finance and strategic planning,
international operations, and sales and marketing.
Cliff O. Bickell
;
age 67;
Director of the
Company since October 2004; Acting President, Scientific Games, Inc. Printed
Parts Division from January 2008; Full-time and part-time consultant to
Scientific Games, Inc. from January 2007 to December 2007; President, Scientific
Games, Inc. Printed Products Division from September 2000 to December 2006; Vice
President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Scientific Games, Inc. from
January 1995 to August 2000; Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and
Treasurer of Paragon Trade Brands, Inc. from May 1992 to January
1995. Mr. Bickell has extensive executive experience in corporate
finance and accounting, strategic planning, and operations. Mr.
Bickell currently serves as Lead Director, Chairman of the Audit Committee of
the Board and has been designated as the Audit Committee financial
expert.
DIRECTORS
CONTINUING IN OFFICE AS CLASS I DIRECTORS UNTIL THE 2012 ANNUAL
MEETING
Clarke H. Bailey
;
age 55;
Director of the
Company since December 1990; Chief Executive Officer of the Company since July
2009; Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company from September 2008 to
January 2009; Chief Executive Officer of the Company from October 2003 to
November 2006; Chairman of the Company since October 1999; Vice Chairman of the
Company from November 1992 to June 1996; Chief Executive Officer of the Company
from December 1990 to March 1994; Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Company
from May 1994 to December 1994; Director of Iron Mountain Incorporated.
Director of ACT
Teleconferencing, Inc. Mr. Bailey has extensive executive experience in
strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, international operations,
corporate governance and demonstrated strong leadership skills during his tenure
as Chairman of the Board.
Peter W. Gilson
;
age 70;
Director of the
Company since March 1997; Chairman of the Board of Directors of Swiss Army
Brands, Inc. from May 1998 to August 2002; Chairman of the Executive Committee
of Swiss Army Brands, Inc. from 1998 to May 2002; President, Chief Executive
Officer and Director of Physician Support Systems, Inc. from 1991 to December
1997. Mr. Gilson has extensive executive experience in corporate development,
strategic planning, and public company executive compensation. Mr. Gilson
currently serves as the Chairman of the Compensation Committee of the
Board.
LEADERSHIP
STRUCTURE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Our
Bylaws currently provide that the Chairman of the Board may simultaneously serve
as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and shall preside at all Board and
stockholders’ meetings. Clarke H. Bailey currently serves as Chairman of the
Board and Chief Executive Officer. We have chosen to combine the principal
executive officer and Board chairman positions because this combined role
promotes unified leadership and direction for the Board and for executive
management, and allows for a single, clear focus for the chain of command while
saving on corporate costs in conjunction with the previously approved Plan of
Dissolution. Furthermore, the Board does not believe that the Company’s size or
the complexity of its operations warrants a separation of the Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer functions. For these reasons, the Company has
determined that it is appropriate for Mr. Bailey to serve as both Chairman of
the Board and Chief Executive Officer.
In
addition, the Board has determined to maintain a lead independent director at
this time because Mr. Bailey does not meet the NASDAQ standards of independence
due to his service as Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The independent
directors have elected Cliff O. Bickell to serve as the lead independent
director. The lead independent director is selected annually by the independent
directors. The lead independent director’s responsibilities include, among
others, presiding at the meetings of the independent directors, approving
meeting agendas and schedules, approving and advising the Chairman of the Board
as to the quality, quantity, and timeliness of information sent to the Board,
and serving as the principal liaison and facilitator between the independent
directors and the Chairman of the Board.
COMMITTEES
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board
of Directors met 15 times during 2009. The Board of Directors operates under the
terms of a charter, a copy of which is available on the Company’s website
at
www.edcih.com
under the headings “Investor Center” and “Corporate
Governance.” The full Board of Directors has determined that the following
directors are independent under the standards set forth in the Board of
Directors charter and the listing standards of NASDAQ: Cliff O. Bickell, Ramon
D. Ardizzone, Peter W. Gilson, David A. Sandberg and Horace H. Sibley. The
independent directors met in executive session 3 times during 2009.
The Board
of Directors has standing Audit, Governance and Nominating, and Compensation and
Plan Administration Committees. Each of these committees operates under the
terms of a charter, a copy of which is available on the Company’s website
at
www.edcih.com
under the headings “Investor Center” and “Corporate
Governance.” The functions and membership of the Audit, Governance and
Nominating and Compensation and Plan Administration Committees are set forth
below.
Each
member of the Board of Directors attended 90% or more of the aggregate number of
meetings of the Board of Directors and the meetings of all committees of the
Board of Directors on which he served during 2009.
Audit
Committee
Our Board
of Directors has established a separately-designated Audit
Committee. The current members of the Audit Committee are Cliff O.
Bickell, David A. Sandberg, and Ramon D. Ardizzone. The Audit Committee met 9
times during 2009. All of the members of the Audit Committee are independent
directors within the meaning of applicable NASDAQ listing standards. The Board
of Directors has determined that Mr. Bickell is an “audit committee
financial expert” within the meaning of the regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
The Audit
Committee oversees the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the
Board of Directors. The Audit Committee’s role includes a particular focus on
the qualitative aspects of financial reporting to stockholders and on the
Company’s processes and procedures for the management of business and financial
risks. The function of the Audit Committee is to provide assistance to the Board
of Directors in fulfilling its responsibility to stockholders, potential
stockholders and the investment community in monitoring:
·
|
the
accounting and reporting practices of the
Company,
|
·
|
the
Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements related to
financial reporting,
|
·
|
the
qualifications and independence of the Company’s independent registered
public accounting firm,
|
·
|
the
performance of the Company’s internal audit function and independent
registered public accounting
firm, and
|
·
|
the
quality and integrity of the financial reports of the
Company.
|
A full
description of the Audit Committee’s primary responsibilities, operating
principles, and relationship with the internal auditor and the independent
registered public accounting firm is contained in the Audit Committee Charter, a
copy of which is available on the Company’s website at
www.edcih.com
under
the headings “Investor Center” and “Corporate Governance.”
Governance
and Nominating Committee
Our Board
of Directors has established a separately-designated Governance and Nominating
Committee. Horace H. Sibley, Cliff O. Bickell, and Peter W. Gilson
served on the Governance and Nominating Committee in 2009. All of the members of
the Governance and Nominating Committee are independent directors within the
meaning of applicable NASDAQ listing standards. The Governance and Nominating
Committee met 7 times during 2009. The Governance and Nominating Committee’s
functions include assisting the Board of Directors in ensuring that it is
appropriately constituted to meet its fiduciary obligations to the stockholders
and the Company by developing and implementing policies and processes regarding
corporate governance matters, by assessing Board of Directors membership needs,
and by proposing director candidates to the Board of Directors. The Governance
and Nominating Committee is also responsible for reviewing and recommending
action to the Board of Directors concerning related party transactions or
relationships involving a possible conflict of interest between the Company and
either a director or a senior executive officer.
In
identifying potential director candidates, the Governance and Nominating
Committee seeks input from other members of the Board of Directors and executive
officers and also considers recommendations by employees, community leaders,
business contacts, third-party search firms and any other sources deemed
appropriate by the Governance and Nominating Committee. The Governance and
Nominating Committee will also consider director candidates recommended by
stockholders to stand for election at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, so
long as such recommendations are submitted in accordance with the procedures
described below.
The
Governance and Nominating Committee has not set specific, minimum qualifications
that must be met by a director candidate. Rather, in evaluating candidates for
recommendation to the Board of Directors, the Governance and Nominating
Committee considers the following factors, in addition to any other factors that
it deems appropriate:
·
|
whether
the candidate is of the highest ethical character and shares the values of
the Company,
|
·
|
whether
the candidate’s reputation, both personal and professional, is consistent
with the image and reputation of the
Company,
|
·
|
whether
the candidate’s diversity, characteristics, experiences, perspectives and
skills would benefit the Board of Directors given the current composition
of the Board of Directors,
|
·
|
whether
the candidate is “independent” as defined by NASDAQ listing standards and
other applicable laws, rules or regulations regarding
independence,
|
·
|
whether
the candidate qualifies as someone who is “financially sophisticated” or
as an “audit committee financial expert” as described in NASDAQ listing
standards or any other applicable laws, rules or
regulations,
|
·
|
whether
the candidate is free from material conflicts of interest that would
interfere with the candidate’s ability to perform the duties of a director
or violate any applicable NASDAQ listing standard or other applicable law,
rule or regulation,
|
·
|
whether
the candidate’s service as an executive officer of another company or on
the boards of directors of other public companies would interfere with the
candidate’s ability to devote sufficient time to discharge his or her
duties as a director,
|
·
|
if
the candidate is an incumbent director, the director’s overall service to
the Company during the director’s term, including the number of meetings
attended, the level of participation and the overall quality of
performance of the director, and
|
·
|
whether
the candidate has specific skill sets that are important to the Company’s
future success.
|
The
Governance and Nominating Committee also assesses the effectiveness of its
efforts to have a diverse Board of Directors by periodically reviewing the
current Board members for geographic, occupational, gender, race and age
diversity. Qualified candidates are selected for recommendation to the Board of
Directors by majority vote of the Governance and Nominating Committee. The Board
of Directors, taking into consideration the recommendations of the Governance
and Nominating Committee, is responsible for filling vacancies and selecting
nominees for election as directors at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, with
the primary emphasis on the guidelines set forth above.
Stockholders
who wish to recommend director candidates for consideration by the Governance
and Nominating Committee may do so by mailing a written recommendation to
Chairman, Governance and Nominating Committee, c/o Secretary, EDCI
Holdings, Inc., 11 East 44
th
Street, Suite 1201, New York, New York 10018. Such recommendation must include
the following information:
·
|
the
name and address of the stockholder submitting the recommendation, the
beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the recommendation is made and
the director candidate,
|
·
|
the
class and number of shares of stock of the Company that are owned
beneficially and of record by the stockholder and, if applicable, the
beneficial owner, including the holding period for such shares as of the
date of the recommendation,
|
·
|
full
biographical information concerning the director candidate, including a
statement about the director’s
qualifications,
|
·
|
all
other information regarding each director candidate proposed by such
stockholder as would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed
pursuant to the proxy rules of the
SEC,
|
·
|
a
description of all arrangements or understandings among the stockholder
and the candidate and any other person or persons pursuant to which the
recommendation is being
made, and
|
·
|
a
written consent of the candidate (1) to be named in the Company’s
proxy statement and stand for election if nominated by the Board of
Directors, and (2) to serve if elected by the
stockholders.
|
Recommendations
by stockholders for director candidates to be considered by the Governance and
Nominating Committee must be submitted not later than the 120th calendar
day before the date the Company’s proxy statement was released to stockholders
in connection with the previous year’s annual meeting. The submission of a
recommendation by a stockholder in compliance with these procedures will not
guarantee the selection of the stockholder’s candidate or the inclusion of the
candidate in the Company’s proxy statement.
The
by-laws of the Company also provide that nominations of persons for election to
the Board of Directors may be made at any Annual Meeting of Stockholders by any
stockholder entitled to vote on such election. Such nominations must be
submitted to the Secretary of the Company in accordance with the procedures
specified in Section IX of Article II of the Company’s by-laws as
described under “PROPOSALS OF STOCKHOLDERS” below. The Company’s by-laws
require the presiding officer of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to refuse to
acknowledge the nomination of any person that is not submitted in compliance
with such procedures.
A full
description of the Governance and Nominating Committee’s primary
responsibilities and operating principles is contained in the Governance and
Nominating Committee Charter, a copy of which is available on the Company’s
website at
www.edcih.com
under
the headings “Investor Center” and “Corporate Governance.”
Compensation
and Plan Administration Committee
Our Board
of Directors has established a separately-designated Compensation and Plan
Administration Committee. Howard W. Speaks, Donald S. Bates, David A. Sandberg
and Peter W. Gilson served on the Compensation and Plan Administration Committee
in 2009. Mr. Speaks served on the Compensation and Plan Administration Committee
until his respective resignation from the Board of Directors in June
2009. Mr. Bates served on the Compensation and Plan Administration
Committee until the expiration of his term in May 2009. All of the members
of the Compensation and Plan Administration Committee are independent directors
within the meaning of applicable NASDAQ listing standards. The Compensation and
Plan Administration Committee met 10 times during 2009. The function of the
Compensation and Plan Administration Committee is to develop and review all
compensation philosophies and practices and to review and approve all bonus and
incentive programs, as well as all compensation and benefits for executive
officers. The Compensation and Plan Administration Committee is also responsible
for reviewing, overseeing and making recommendations to the Board of Directors
on the Company’s incentive stock plans, employee stock purchase plan and 401(k)
plan and for reviewing and recommending to the Board of Directors compensation
and benefits for the Board of Directors. The charter of the Compensation and
Plan Administration Committee does not provide for the delegation by the
committee of its duties to any other committee or executive officers of the
Company. Regarding most compensation matters, including executive and director
compensation, Company management provides recommendations to the Compensation
and Plan Administration Committee, which are considered by the committee in the
discharge of its duties. The charter of the Compensation and Plan Administration
Committee is posted on the Company’s website at
www.edcih.com
under
the headings “Investor Center” and “Corporate Governance.”
DIRECTOR
COMPENSATION
The
following table provides the compensation earned by the Company’s non-employee
directors during the year ended December 31, 2009. Clarke H. Bailey, the
Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is not included in the Director
Compensation table because he is an employee of the Company (see the Summary
Compensation Table below). Mr. Bailey does not receive compensation under the
non-employee director compensation plan described below.
Name
|
|
Fees
Earned ($)(1)
|
|
Stock
Awards ($)(2)
|
|
Option
Awards ($)(3)
|
|
Total ($)
|
Ramon
D. Ardizzone
|
|
39,000
|
|
18,000
|
|
17,910
|
|
74,910
|
Donald
S. Bates (4)
|
|
18,205
|
|
—
|
|
13,500
|
|
31,705
|
Cliff
O. Bickell
|
|
51,480
|
|
18,000
|
|
—
|
|
69,480
|
Peter
W. Gilson
|
|
41,913
|
|
18,000
|
|
13,500
|
|
73,413
|
David
A. Sandberg
|
|
22,813
|
|
—
|
|
15,210
|
|
38,023
|
Horace
H. Sibley
|
|
37,000
|
|
18,000
|
|
15,480
|
|
70,480
|
Howard
W. Speaks, Jr. (5)
|
|
19,695
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
19,695
|
(1)
|
For
2009 non-employee directors earned the following fees: an annual fee of
$20,000 plus $1,500 for attendance at in-person meetings and $500 for
attendance at meetings via telephonic conference call; no annual fee for
Executive Committee participation; an annual fee of $8,000 for Audit
Committee participation; an annual fee of $5,000 for Compensation and Plan
Administration Committee participation; an annual fee of $3,000 for
Governance and Nominating Committee participation; an annual fee of $8,000
for the Audit Committee chair position; $5,000 for the Compensation and
Plan Administration Committee chair position; $3,000 for the Governance
and Nominating Committee chair position; and an annual fee of $4,000 for
service as the lead independent director. Annual fees are paid ratably on
a quarterly basis. Meeting fees are also paid on a quarterly
basis.
|
(2)
|
At
the 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, each director in the table above,
received a number of restricted stock units equal to $18,000 divided by
$4.92, the fair market value of the Common Stock on the last trading day
immediately preceding the 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. See
Note 19 for a discussion of the assumptions underlying the valuation
of equity awards. At the end of 2009, the aggregate number of outstanding
restricted stock units held by each director in the table above was:
Mr. Ardizzone 6,524, Mr. Bates 2,866, Mr. Bickell 6,524,
Mr. Gilson 6,524, Mr. Sandberg 0, Mr. Sibley 6,524 and
Mr. Speaks 6,524.
|
(3)
|
In
accordance with resolutions passed by the Board, each non-employee
director receives automatic formula-based awards of stock options to
purchase 3,000 shares of the Common Stock upon initial appointment to the
Board of Directors and on each third anniversary
thereof. During 2009, 3,000 options were granted to Mr.
Ardizzone, Mr. Bates, Mr. Gilson, Mr. Sandberg and Mr.
Sibley. At the end of 2009, the aggregate number of outstanding
stock options held by each director in the table above was:
Mr. Ardizzone 12,000, Mr. Bates 12,000, Mr. Bickell 6,000,
Mr. Chapman 3,000, Mr. Gilson 12,000, Mr. Sandberg 3,000,
Mr. Sibley 12,000 and Mr. Speaks
9,000.
|
(4)
|
Mr.
Bates served as a director until his term expired in May
2009.
|
(5)
Mr. Speaks served as a director until his resignation in June 2009.
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
The
following table presents information for compensation earned by, awarded to, or
paid to the Company’s Named Executive Officers for our fiscal years ended
December 31, 2009 and 2008. As part of EDCI’s overall efforts to
reduce costs and minimize EDCI’s cash burn, on July 1, 2009, Mr. Bailey and Mr.
Behrent agreed to reduce their salaries by 33%, respectively.
Summary
Compensation Table
Name
and Principal Position
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary
($)
|
Bonus
($)
|
Stock
Awards
($)
(1)
|
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation ($)
|
All
Other Compensation ($)
|
Total
($)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clarke
H. Bailey
|
|
2009
|
|
303,077
|
|
50,000
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
16,648
(2)
|
|
369,725
|
Chief
Executive Officer
|
|
2008
|
|
277,500
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
11,648
(2)
|
|
289,148
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Matthew
K. Behrent
|
|
2009
|
|
227,500
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
26,378
(2)
|
|
253,878
|
Executive
Vice President,
|
|
2008
|
|
260,000
|
|
260,000
|
(3)
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
9,365
(2)
|
|
529,365
|
Corporate
Development
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Roger
Morgan (4)
|
|
2009
|
|
234,795
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
(5)
|
-
|
|
71,702
(6)
|
|
306,497
|
Executive
Vice President
|
|
2008
|
|
278,277
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
(5)
|
-
|
|
84,980
(7)
|
|
363,257
|
International
Operations of EDC
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
L. Chapman, Jr. (8)
|
|
2009
|
|
112,500
|
|
-
|
|
112,500
|
(9)
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
225,000
|
Former
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
2008
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
(1)
|
Amounts
in this column reflect stock compensation awarded to Mr. Chapman in
accordance with his employment agreement dated January 2,
2009. See “Employment and Severance Agreements” for additional
information.
|
(2)
|
Consists
of payments for a car allowance, matching contributions paid to a defined
contribution plan and disability insurance
premiums.
|
(3)
|
Represents
bonus paid in connection with retention contracts between the Company and
the respective employees.
|
(4)
|
Mr.
Morgan is based in the United Kingdom and is paid in pounds
sterling. Mr. Morgan’s compensation is reported in U.S. dollars
based upon the prevailing average exchange rate from pounds sterling to
U.S. dollars during 2009 of $1.5653 per
pound.
|
(5)
|
Mr. Morgan
holds 375 units of profits interests, all of which are fully vested,
in the Company’s subsidiary EDC,
LLC.
|
(6)
|
Consists
of payments of $23,480 for a car allowance, social club dues and a $46,959
contribution made to Mr. Morgan’s personal retirement
plan.
|
(7)
|
Consists
of payments of $27,828 for a car allowance, social club dues and a $55,655
contribution made to Mr. Morgan’s personal retirement
plan.
|
(8)
|
Mr.
Chapman served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer until July 2009
when Mr. Bailey was named Chief Executive
Officer.
|
(9)
|
See
Mr. Chapman's employment agreement description below for assumptions made
in the valuation of these stock
awards.
|
Option
Exercises and Stock Vested
No stock
options were exercised by the named executive officers during fiscal
2009. Other than the shares of restricted stock issued to Robert L.
Chapman, Jr. as noted below, no shares of restricted stock were outstanding or
vested with respect to any named executive officers during fiscal
2009. The EDCI shares issued to Mr. Chapman vested fully upon
issuance and were not subject to forfeiture for any reason and it was determined
that the shares may only be transferred pursuant to an exemption from
registration under federal securities law. The number of EDCI shares
issued and delivered was calculated by dividing $18,750 by the average daily
closing price of EDCI Shares on the Nasdaq Stock Market during the calendar
month immediately preceding the calendar monthly period in which issuance and
delivery was made. See Mr. Chapman’s employment agreement description
below for further details of the stock awards.
Non-Qualified
Deferred Compensation
None of
the named executive officers deferred any portion of their salary under the
Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan in 2009.
Employment and Severance
Agreements
Bailey Employment
Agreement.
On July 2, 2009, in conjunction with the
resignation of Robert L. Chapman, Jr, as noted below, Clarke H. Bailey was
appointed to the position of Chief Executive Officer of the
Company. Mr. Bailey continued in his position as Non-Executive
Chairman of the Board of Directors as well. As a result of his new
role, on July 2, 2009, the Board of Directors of the Company approved new
compensation for Clarke H. Bailey consisting of an annual base salary of
$300,000 and a car allowance of $700 per month.
It was
further determined that Mr. Bailey would be eligible to participate in the
Company’s annual bonus plan and receive discretionary bonus awards as determined
by the Board of Directors of the Company in its sole discretion from time to
time and is allowed to participate in all retirement plans, life, medical/dental
insurance plans and disability insurance plans of the Company, to the extent
eligible. Mr. Bailey or the Company can terminate his arrangement at
any time upon two weeks’ notice.
Chapman Employment
Agreement.
On January 2, 2009, the Board of Directors of the
Company appointed Robert L. Chapman Jr., as Chief Executive
Officer. In conjunction with the appointment of Mr. Chapman to the
position of Chief Executive Office, the Company and Mr. Chapman entered into a
letter agreement (the “
Chapman
Employment Agreement
”), dated January 2, 2009, to confirm certain terms
of Mr. Chapman’s employment with the Company. Pursuant to the Chapman
Employment Agreement, Mr. Chapman received $38,750 per month, or $450,000
annually, (the “
Base
Salary
”), $18,750 of which was paid in cash in bi-weekly installments
(the “
Cash Portion of Base
Salary
”) and $18,750 of which was paid monthly through the issuance and
delivery, within five days of the second bi-weekly payment of the Cash Portion
of Base Salary each calendar month, of shares of common stock of the Company
(“
EDCI Shares
”), issued
in a valid private placement under federal securities laws (the “
Stock Portion of Base
Salary
”). The Stock Portion of Base Salary vested fully upon issuance and
was not subject to forfeiture for any reason, but such shares may only be
transferred pursuant to an exemption from registration under federal securities
law. The number of EDCI Shares issued and delivered for each monthly
payment of the Stock Portion of Base Salary was calculated by dividing $18,750
by the average daily closing price of EDCI Shares on the Nasdaq Stock Market
during the calendar month immediately preceding the calendar monthly period in
which issuance and delivery was made. Mr. Chapman was eligible
to participate in the Company’s bonus plans and was eligible to receive
discretionary bonus awards as the Board of Directors determined in its sole
discretion from time to time. No such bonuses were paid to Mr. Chapman during
his tenure as CEO of the Company. Mr. Chapman was not eligible to
participate in any retirement, life, medical/dental insurance or disability
insurance plans maintained by the Company during his tenure as
CEO. Mr. Chapman’s employment agreement had a term of a minimum of
six months from July 2, 2009 (the “
Effective
Date
”). If Mr. Chapman’s position as CEO of the Company had
been terminated by the Company prior to the six month anniversary of the
Effective Date for any reason, including with or without cause, the Company
would have paid Mr. Chapman, within one week of termination of such services, in
one cash lump sum and one issuance and delivery of EDCI Shares, the remainder of
Mr. Chapman’s Base Salary (both the Cash Portion of Base Salary and the Stock
Portion of Base Salary) through such six month anniversary date in accordance
with the payment provisions provided above. The number of EDCI Shares that would
have been delivered for Mr. Chapman’s final payment would have been calculated
by dividing the full calendar month and prorated/partial calendar monthly sums
of all remaining $18,750 monthly EDCI Shares payments by the average daily
closing price of EDCI Shares on the Nasdaq Stock Market, or other primary market
(e.g., Pink Sheets) should EDCI Shares have ceased to trade on the Nasdaq Stock
Market, during the calendar month immediately preceding the calendar month in
which Mr. Chapman’s position had been terminated. If EDCI Shares
would not have traded on any particular business day during which the Nasdaq
Stock Market had been open for trading, the closing price of EDCI Shares on the
most recent, prior trading day on which EDCI Shares traded would have been used
for that current day’s pricing in performing the monthly average calculation
described above. Following the six month anniversary of the Effective
Date (July 2, 2009), Mr. Chapman’s position with the Company became that of
an at-will employee, and thus following July 2, 2009, Mr. Chapman’s
employment with the Company and his agreement was eligible to be terminated at
any time by the Company or Mr. Chapman. Effective July 2, 2009, Mr.
Chapman resigned as Chief Executive Officer of EDCI.
Behrent Employment
Agreement.
On July 1, 2009, the Company and Mathew K. Behrent,
the Company's Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Legal Counsel,
mutually agreed to an amended and restated employment agreement (the “
Behrent Employment
Agreement
”). The amended agreement provided for a reduction in
Mr. Behrent’s base salary from $260,000 to $175,000 and eliminated certain
severance payments payable upon a termination of Mr. Behrent's employment
without cause or with good reason following a change of control of the
Company. The amendment did not alter any other terms of Mr. Behrent's
prior employment agreement.
Mr.
Behrent is also eligible to participate in the Company’s annual bonus plan and
receive discretionary bonus awards as determined by the Board of Directors of
the Company in its sole discretion from time to time and is allowed to
participate in all retirement plans, life, medical/dental insurance plans and
disability insurance plans of the Company, to the extent
eligible. Mr. Behrent also receives a car allowance of $700 per month
pursuant to the terms of the Behrent Employment Agreement. Pursuant
to a severance policy adopted in conjunction with the Company’s previously
disclosed Plan of Dissolution covering Mr. Behrent and three other employees of
EDCI (not including Mr. Bailey) who are involved in the Plan of Dissolution, Mr.
Behrent will be eligible to receive severance equal to 26 weeks of his annual
salary upon termination without cause.
Morgan Employment
Agreement
. On December 16, 2009, the Company and Roger J.
Morgan, the Executive Vice President of International Operations of EDC, LLC
since 2005, mutually agreed to an extension of the employment of Mr. Morgan (the
“
Morgan Contract
Extension
”) from February 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010. Mr.
Morgan’s previous contract was set to terminate on January 31,
2010. The Morgan Contract Extension provides for an annual base
salary of £150,000, which was the same as Mr. Morgan’s salary in the prior
contract. Further, the Morgan Contract Extension entitled Mr. Morgan
to social club dues of £2,084 during the five month contract extension period
and £1,250 per month car allowance. The Company also agreed to make a
distribution equivalent to 20% of Mr. Morgan’s total salary for the five month
employment period to a personal and recognized pension arrangement established
by Mr. Morgan. These benefits are also substantially the same as in
Mr. Morgan’s prior contract.
|
Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
|
Name
|
|
Number
of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#)
Exercisable
|
|
Number
of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#)
Unexercisable
|
|
Option
Exercise Price ($)
|
|
Date
Options Fully Vested
|
|
Option
Expiration Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clarke
H. Bailey
|
|
20,000
|
|
—
|
|
25.00
|
|
6/7/2007
|
|
6/7/2014
|
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
—
|
|
23.00
|
|
6/30/2007
|
|
6/30/2014
|
|
|
|
2,533
|
|
—
|
|
25.00
|
|
7/21/2009
|
|
7/21/2016
|
|
|
|
7,500
|
|
—
|
|
23.00
|
|
12/14/2009
|
|
12/14/2016
|
Robert
L. Chapman, Jr.
|
|
3,000
|
|
—
|
|
7.20
|
|
12/10/2009
|
|
12/10/2017
|
The
Company maintains an incentive stock option plan (the “
1996 Plan
”) that was approved
by the stockholders, is administered by the Compensation and Plan Administration
Committee of the Board of Directors (the “
Compensation Committee
”) and
is used to promote the long-term financial interests and growth of
EDCI. Participation under the 1996 Plan is limited to non-officer
directors, key employees and other key persons. Options are generally
granted with an exercise price equal to the market price of its stock at the
date of grant, generally vest based on three years of continuous service and
have 10-year contractual terms. Generally, one-third of the options granted vest
on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the
grant. Pursuant to the terms of the Incentive Plan under which
options and RSU’s are granted, the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors is authorized to and has approved the suspension new grants of options
and RSUs effective upon stockholder approval of the Plan of
Dissolution.
AUDIT
COMMITTEE REPORT
The Audit
Committee oversees the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the
Board of Directors. Management has primary responsibility for the financial
statements and the financial reporting processes, including the Company’s
systems of internal controls. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities,
the Audit Committee reviewed with management the audited financial statements
included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2009, including a discussion of the quality and the acceptability of the
Company’s financial reporting and controls.
The Audit
Committee reviewed with the Company’s independent registered public accounting
firm, which is responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of those
audited financial statements with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles,
their judgments as to the quality and the acceptability of the Company’s
financial reporting and such other matters as are required to be discussed with
the Audit Committee under standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board (United States), including the matters required to be discussed by
Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communication with Audit
Committees), as amended by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 90
(Audit Committee Communications). In addition, the Audit Committee has
discussed with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm the
firm’s independence from management and the Company, including the matters in
the independent registered public accounting firm’s written disclosures required
by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions
with Audit Committees).
The Audit
Committee also discussed with the Company’s independent registered public
accounting firm the overall scope and plans for their audits. The Audit
Committee meets periodically with the Company’s independent registered public
accounting firm, with and without management present, to discuss the results of
their examinations, their evaluations of the Company’s internal controls, and
the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting.
In
reliance on the review, discussions and disclosures referred to above, the Audit
Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Company’s audited
financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 be included in the
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for such year.
Audit
Committee
Cliff
O. Bickell (Chairman)
David A.
Sandberg
Ramon D.
Ardizzone
CODE
OF ETHICS
The
Company has adopted a Code of Ethics (the “
Code of Ethics
”) which applies
to all directors, officers and employees. A copy of the Code of
Ethics is posted on the Company’s website at
www.edcih.com
under
the headings “Investor Center” and “Corporate Governance” The Company
intends to make any disclosures regarding amendments to, or waivers from, the
Code of Ethics required under Form 8-K by posting such information on the
Company’s website
www.edcih.com
.
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
On
December 16, 2009, EDCI, Entertainment Distribution Company, LLC (“
EDC
”), and Entertainment
Distribution Company (USA) LLC (a wholly-owned subsidiary of EDC) (“
EDC USA
”) (collectively, the
“
EDC Companies
”)
and Robert L. Chapman, Jr. entered into a settlement agreement and general
mutual release with Michael W. Klinger, the former Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer of EDCI, which resulted in the settlement of
all legal disputes existing between the parties in connection with Mr. Klinger’s
previously disclosed separation of employment from EDCI. Pursuant to the
settlement agreement, the EDC Companies withdrew their notice of
termination for cause, retroactive to April 13, 2009, the date of Mr. Klinger’s
separation from employment, and Mr. Klinger withdrew his notice of resignation
for good reason. The EDC Companies accepted Mr. Klinger’s voluntary
resignation effective December 17, 2009, agreed to pay a settlement
payment for the benefit of Mr. Klinger in the amount of approximately $0.3
million, and agreed to reinstate certain life insurance and disability
benefits to Mr. Klinger. For the complete terms of the
settlement agreement, see Exhibit 99.1 to the registrant's current report on
Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 17, 2009, which is incorporated by
reference herein.
SECTION
16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires that
directors and officers of the Company and persons who beneficially own more than
10% of the Common Stock file with the SEC initial reports of beneficial
ownership and reports of changes in beneficial ownership of the Common Stock of
the Company. Directors, officers and greater than 10% beneficial
owners are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all
Section 16(a) forms they file.
To the
Company’s knowledge, based solely on review of the copies of such reports, and
amendments thereto, furnished to the Company and written representations that no
other reports were required during 2009, all reports required by Section 16(a)
to be filed by its directors, officers and greater than 10% beneficial owners
were filed on a timely basis.
PROPOSAL
TWO: INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit
Committee of the Board of Directors has selected Ernst & Young LLP as the
Company’s independent registered public accounting firm to audit the financial
statements of the Company and its subsidiaries for the year ending December 31,
2010. This selection is being presented to the stockholders for their
ratification at the 2010 Annual Meeting. Representatives of Ernst
& Young LLP are expected to be present at the 2010 Annual Meeting with an
opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and the representatives
are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.
Audit
and Non-Audit Fees
The
following table presents fees for professional audit services rendered by Ernst
& Young LLP for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements for
the years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 and fees billed for
other services rendered by Ernst & Young LLP during those
periods.
|
2009
|
2008
|
Audit
Fees (1)
|
$ 540,000
|
$
1,187,000
|
Audit-Related
Fees (2)
|
1,500
|
1,500
|
Tax
Fees (3)
|
75,000
|
100,000
|
All
Other Fees
|
–
|
–
|
|
$ 616,500
|
$
1,288,500
|
(1)
|
Audit
Fees consist of the aggregate fees billed for professional services
rendered for the audit of the Company’s annual consolidated financial
statements, for the reviews of the financial statements included in the
Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q.
|
(2)
|
Audit
Related Fees consist of the aggregate fees billed for assurance and
related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the
audit or review of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and are
not reported under “Audit Fees.” These fees principally
included fees for services rendered in connection with statutory audit of
subsidiaries, mergers and acquisition services, and other accounting
advisory services.
|
(3)
|
Tax
services provided by Ernst & Young LLP principally included review of
and consultation regarding the Company’s federal, state and foreign tax
returns and tax planning.
|
The
Audit Committee’s current practice is to pre-approve all audit services
and all non-audit services to be provided to the Company by its
independent registered public accounting firm. The Board of Directors
recommends a vote
FOR
the ratification of
the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent
registered public accounting firm to audit the financial statements of the
Company and its subsidiaries for the year ending December 31,
2010. Stockholder ratification of the selection of Ernst &
Young LLP as the Company’s independent public accountants is not required
by the Company’s By-Laws or otherwise. The Company is
submitting the selection of Ernst & Young LLP to the stockholders for
ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the
stockholders do not ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP, the
selection of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm
will be reconsidered by the Audit
Committee.
|
PROPOSAL
THREE: STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL TO HIRE
INDEPENDENT
CONSULTANT TO REPRESENT INTERESTS OF CERTAIN THIRD PARTIES
The
Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote “AGAINST” the following
stockholder proposal.
Kwaku O.
Kushindana, having a mailing address of P.O. Box 52916, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
70892, owner of 10 shares of EDCI common stock, has notified EDCI that he
intends to present the following proposal at the Annual Meeting. As
required by SEC rules, the text of the proposal and supporting statement are
included below exactly as submitted by the stockholder. EDCI is not
responsible for the contents of the proposal or the supporting
statement.
Stockholder
Proposal
“Hereby,
that Kwaku O. Kushindana of Louisiana be hired as an Independent Consultant
(based from Louisiana) to
insure
the rights of
disaffected concerns (i.e., small shareholders, small firms doing business with
EDCI, women & minority owned firms, gay & lesbian entities, artists
under the purview of Entertainment Distributions Company, Inc, small retail
stores, etc).
Further, that named person receives
a three year contract during the winding down period of EDCI which would include
a salary, plus expenses to insure the fairness of this process to all
disaffected concerns.”
The
proponent of the foregoing proposal has submitted the following statement in
support thereof:
Finally,
the named individuals’ qualifications include: A Fellowship Recipient at The
Stanford University Professional Publishing Course and his written material has
appeared in The Washington Post (“Outlook Section”) and has appeared on National
Public Radio (“NPR” on “Talk of the Nation”).
Response
of the Board of Directors Opposing the Proposal
The
Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote “AGAINST” this stockholder
proposal.
The Board
of Directors believes the proposal is not in the best interests of EDCI or its
stockholders and recommends a vote “AGAINST” the proposal. Under
Delaware law, upon dissolution, a corporation is required to wind-up its affairs
and, in this regard, is only permitted to prosecute and defend suits, gradually
settle and close the business, dispose of and convey its property, discharge its
liabilities, and distribute the remaining assets to the
stockholders. The dissolving corporation is prohibited from
continuing the business for which it was organized. As a result, the
board of directors of a dissolving corporation is compelled to take into account
the interests of a number of different constituencies during the dissolution
process, including claimants, creditors, and stockholders.
In this
connection, EDCI’s Board of Directors believes the foregoing stockholder
proposal is unnecessary and inappropriate as an exercise of corporate governance
for a corporation in dissolution. EDCI’s Board of Directors already
is taking into account the interests of the constituencies it is required to
consider during the dissolution process, including our
stockholders. Therefore, hiring a consultant to duplicate these
efforts and advance the interests of other groups, which do not have legitimate
interests in the dissolution process, such as small firms doing business with
EDCI when EDCI is prohibited by law from continuing the business for which it
was organized, is unnecessary and constitutes a waste of corporate
assets.
Finally,
the Board believes that entering into a three year contract with Mr. Kushindana
and paying him a salary and expenses would be an inappropriate expenditure of a
finite amount of cash resources which could be more beneficially used to
maximize stockholder value during the dissolution process.
For
the foregoing reasons, the Board of Directors believes that this stockholder
proposal is not in the best interests of EDCI or our
stockholders. Therefore, the Board of Directors unanimously
recommends a vote “AGAINST” this stockholder proposal.
PROPOSALS
OF STOCKHOLDERS
The
Annual Meeting of Stockholders provides an opportunity each year for
stockholders to ask questions of or otherwise communicate directly with members
of the Board of Directors on matters relevant to the Company. As
such, each of the Company’s directors is requested to attend in person the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders. All members of the Company’s Board of
Directors attended the 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in
person.
In
addition, it is the policy of the Company that stockholders may, at any time,
communicate with any of the Company’s directors by mailing a written
communication to such director, c/o Secretary, EDCI Holdings, Inc.., 11 East
44
th
Street, Suite 1201, New York, New York 10017. All communications
received in accordance with these procedures will be reviewed by the office of
the Secretary of the Company and forwarded to the appropriate director or
directors unless such communications are considered, in the reasonable judgment
of the office of the Secretary of the Company, to be improper for submission to
the intended recipient. Examples of stockholder communications that
would be considered improper for submission include, without limitation,
communications that:
·
|
do
not relate to the business or affairs of the Company or the functioning or
constitution of the Board or any of its
committees,
|
·
|
relate
to routine or insignificant matters that do not warrant the attention of
the Board,
|
·
|
are
advertisements or other commercial solicitations,
or
|
·
|
are
frivolous or offensive or otherwise not appropriate for delivery to
directors.
|
To have a
proposal intended to be presented at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be
held in 2011 be considered for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement and
form of proxy relating to that meeting, a stockholder must deliver written
notice of such proposal in writing to the Secretary of the Company no later than
January 3, 2011. In addition, the Company’s By-Laws provide that if a
stockholder desires to submit a proposal for consideration at the 2011 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders, or to nominate persons for election as director at that
meeting, the stockholder must deliver written notice of such proposal or
nomination in writing in the form specified by the By-Laws to the Secretary of
the Company no later than April 16, 2011 or such proposal will be considered
untimely. The Company’s By-Laws further provide that the presiding
officer of an annual meeting shall refuse to acknowledge any untimely proposal
or nomination. Additionally, under applicable SEC rules the persons
named in the proxy statement and form of proxy for the 2011 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders would have discretionary authority to vote on any such untimely
nomination or proposal.
OTHER
MATTERS
The Board
of Directors does not know of any matters to be presented at the 2010 Annual
Meeting other than those set forth in the Notice of the 2010 Annual
Meeting. However, if any other matters do come before the 2010 Annual
Meeting, it is intended that the holders of the proxies will vote thereon in
their discretion.
The
Company will pay the cost of preparing the proxy materials and soliciting
proxies for the annual meeting. In addition to solicitation by mail,
directors, officers, and employees of the Company may solicit proxies
personally, by telephone, electronically, or by other means of
communication. If our directors, officers, or employees were to
solicit proxies, they would receive no additional compensation for their
services.
INCORPORATION
BY REFERENCE
The
section in this proxy statement entitled “Audit Committee Report” does not
constitute soliciting material and should not be deemed filed or incorporated by
reference into any other filing we make under the Securities Act of 1933 or the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent we specifically
incorporate the section into another filing by reference.
HOUSEHOLDING
We are
delivering a single Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, and if
requested, a single copy of our proxy statement and annual report to persons
with the same last name residing in a single household or whom we reasonably
believe are members of the same family, unless we have been notified that such
persons prefer to receive individual copies of those documents. This practice is
referred to as “householding.” If you reside at an address that received only
one copy of our Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or, if
requested, our proxy statement and annual report as a result of householding, we
will promptly deliver additional copies upon oral or written request to EDCI
Holdings, Inc., 11 East 44
th
Street, Suite 1201, New York, New York 10018, Attn: Corporate Secretary, or you
may request additional copies by following the instructions listed at
www.proxyvote.com, by telephoning 1-800-579-1639, or by sending an e-mail to
sendmaterial@proxyvote.com.
If you
object to householding and wish to receive separate copies of documents in the
future, you may contact Broadridge, whether your shares are held of record by
you or held in an account at a brokerage firm or bank
at
(800) 542-1061, or by writing to Broadridge, Householding Department, 51
Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. Broadridge will remove a requesting
stockholder from the householding program within 30 days of the stockholder’s
written request. If you received multiple copies of your Notice of Internet
Availability of Proxy Materials or other documents at a single address and would
like to request delivery of a single copy in the future, please contact us or
Broadridge as described above.
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