UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.     )

 

Filed by the Registrant   x

 

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant    o

 

Check the appropriate box:

x

Preliminary Proxy Statement

o

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

o

Definitive Proxy Statement

o

Definitive Additional Materials

o

Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

 

INVENTURE FOODS, 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):

x

No fee required.

o

Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

 

(1)

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

 

 

(2)

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

 

 

(3)

Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

 

 

 

 

(4)

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

 

 

 

(5)

Total fee paid:

 

 

 

o

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

o

Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

(1)

Amount Previously Paid:

 

 

 

 

(2)

Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 

 

 

 

(3)

Filing Party:

 

 

 

 

(4)

Date Filed:

 

 

 

 



 

INVENTURE FOODS, INC.

5415 East High Street, Suite 350

Phoenix, Arizona 85054

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON MAY 18, 2011

 

Dear Stockholder:

 

The 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Inventure Foods, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), will be held on May 18, 2011, at 8:30 a.m. local time, at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, 7575 E. Princess Drive, Scottsdale, Arizona 85255  for the following purposes:

 

(1)            To elect the Directors of the Company to serve until the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders;

 

(2)            To approve an amendment to the Inventure Foods, Inc. 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (as amended, the “Plan”) to increase the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Plan by 800,000;

 

(3)            To ratify the selection of Moss Adams LLP as independent public accountants for fiscal year 2011; and

 

(4)            To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

 

The Board of Directors has fixed March 28, 2011 as the record date (the “Record Date”) for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.  Only stockholders of record at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. The stock transfer books will not be closed for the Annual Meeting.

 

Your copy of the 2010 Annual Report of the Company is enclosed.

 

This notice, the attached Proxy Statement and Proxy, and the Company’s 2010 Annual Report are available on the Company’s website at www.inventurefoods.com by choosing “Investor Relations” and then the “SEC Filings” link.

 

 

By Order of the Board of Directors

 

 

 

Terry McDaniel

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

Phoenix, Arizona

 

April 15, 2011

 

 

IMPORTANT

 

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING.  HOWEVER, WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING IN PERSON, YOU ARE URGED TO PROMPTLY MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED, SELF-ADDRESSED, STAMPED ENVELOPE SO THAT YOUR SHARES OF STOCK MAY BE REPRESENTED AND VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR WISHES AND IN ORDER THAT THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM MAY BE ASSURED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING.  YOUR PROXY WILL BE RETURNED TO YOU IF YOU SHOULD BE PRESENT AT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND SHOULD REQUEST SUCH RETURN OR IF YOU SHOULD REQUEST SUCH RETURN IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR REVOCATION OF PROXIES ON THE INITIAL PAGES OF THE ENCLOSED PROXY STATEMENT.  PROMPT RESPONSE BY OUR STOCKHOLDERS WILL REDUCE THE TIME AND EXPENSE OF SOLICITATION.

 



 

INVENTURE FOODS, INC.

5415 East High Street. Suite 350

Phoenix, Arizona 85054

 

PROXY STATEMENT FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF

STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 18, 2011

 

Solicitation of Proxies; Accompanying Documentation

 

We are delivering these proxy materials to solicit proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors of Inventure Foods, Inc. (which we refer to as the “Company,” “we,” or “us”), for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”), including any adjournment or postponement thereof.  The Annual Meeting will be held on May 18, 2011, at 8:30 a.m. local time, at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, 7575 E. Princess Drive, Scottsdale, Arizona 85255.  Starting on or about April 15, 2011, we are mailing this proxy statement to stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, together with a form of proxy and voting instruction card (“proxy card”) and the Company’s Annual Report for the year ended December 25, 2010 (which includes a copy of the Company’s Form 10-K for such period, including audited financial statements, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)).

 

Costs of Solicitation

 

All expenses of the Company in connection with this solicitation will be borne by the Company.  In addition to the solicitation of proxies by use of the mail, officers, Directors and employees of the Company may solicit the return of proxies by personal interview, mail, telephone and/or facsimile.  Such persons will not be additionally compensated, but will be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses.  The Company will also request brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of shares held of record by such persons and will reimburse such persons and the Company’s transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Co., for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in forwarding such material.

 

Stockholders Entitled to Vote at the Annual Meeting

 

If you were a registered stockholder at the close of business on the record date, March 28, 2011 (the “Record Date”), you are entitled to receive this notice and to vote at the Annual Meeting.  There were 18,028,867 shares of common stock outstanding on the Record Date.  You will have one vote on each matter properly brought before the Annual Meeting for each share of Company common stock you own.

 

How to Vote Your Shares

 

Your vote is important. Your shares can be voted at the Annual Meeting only if you are present in person or represented by proxy.  Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to vote in advance.  If you own your shares in record name, you may cast your vote by simply marking, dating and signing your proxy card, and then returning it to the Company’s transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Co., in the postage-paid envelope provided.

 

Stockholders who hold their shares beneficially in a street name through a nominee (such as a bank or broker) may be able to vote by either the telephone or the Internet, as well as by mail.  You should follow the instructions you receive from your nominee to vote these shares.

 

How to Revoke Your Proxy

 

You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted at the Annual Meeting by:

·       delivering written notice of revocation to: Secretary, Inventure Foods, Inc., 5415 East High Street Suite 350, Phoenix, Arizona, 85054 at any time before the proxy is voted;

·       executing and delivering a later-dated proxy; or

·       attending the Annual Meeting and voting by ballot.

 

No notice of revocation or later-dated proxy will be effective, however, until received by the Company at or prior to the Annual Meeting.  Such revocation will not affect a vote on any matter taken prior to the receipt of such revocation.  Your attendance at the Annual Meeting will not by itself revoke your proxy.

 



 

Voting at the Annual Meeting

 

The method by which you vote will in no way limit your right to vote at the Annual Meeting if you later decide to vote in person at the Annual Meeting.  If you hold your shares in a street name, you must obtain a proxy executed in your favor from your nominee (such as a bank or broker) to be able to vote at the Annual Meeting.

 

Your shares will be voted at the Annual Meeting as directed by the voting instructions on your proxy card if: (1) you are entitled to vote, (2) your proxy was properly executed, (3) we received your proxy prior to the Annual Meeting, and (4) you did not revoke your proxy prior to the Annual Meeting.

 

The Board’s Recommendations

 

If you send a properly executed proxy without specific voting instructions, your shares represented by that proxy will be voted as recommended by the Board of Directors:

 

·       FOR the election of the nominated slate of Directors (see pages 5 and 6).

 

·       FOR the increase in the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Plan by 800,000 (see pages 18 through 22).

 

·       FOR the ratification of the selection of Moss Adams LLP as independent public accountants for fiscal year 2011 (see page 23).

 

If any other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting, the shares represented by all properly executed proxies will be voted in accordance with the judgment of the persons named on such proxies.

 

Votes Required to Approve Each Item

 

The presence at the Annual Meeting (in person or by proxy) of the holders of at least a majority of the shares is necessary to have a quorum allowing us to conduct business at the Annual Meeting. Assuming the presence of a quorum, the following votes are required to approve each item of business at the Annual Meeting:

 

·       Election of Directors: A plurality of votes cast by holders of shares entitled to vote is required to approve the election of the Directors. Under plurality voting, the seven (7) nominees for Director who receive the greatest number of favorable votes are elected.

 

·       Other Items: A majority of the shares present at the Annual Meeting (in person or by proxy) and entitled to vote is required to approve the other proposals and any other items of business that properly come before the Annual Meeting.

 

Broker “non-votes” occur when a nominee (such as a bank or broker) returns a proxy, but does not have the authority to vote on a particular proposal because it has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner.  Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted as present or represented for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum for the Annual Meeting, but broker non-votes are not counted for purposes of determining the number of shares entitled to vote with respect to any proposal for which the broker lacks discretionary authority.  Accordingly, broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the vote for the election of Directors or any other proposed matter.  Stockholders of record who are present in person or by proxy and who abstain, including brokers holding customers’ shares of record who cause abstentions to be recorded at the meetings, are considered stockholders who are present and entitled to vote on the proposals.  Accordingly, a properly executed proxy marked “ABSTAIN” with respect to any matter will not be voted, will have no effect on the outcome of the election of Directors, and will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” any other proposed matter.

 

Annual Meeting Admission

 

You may attend the Annual Meeting if you are a registered stockholder, a proxy for a registered stockholder, or a beneficial owner of Company common stock with evidence of ownership.

 

* * * * *

 

2



 

PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

(Item 1 on Proxy Card)

 

The Bylaws of the Company, as amended, provide that the number of Directors constituting the Board of Directors shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors at any meeting or by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors of the Company has set the number of Directors comprising the Board of Directors at seven (7).

 

The Board of Directors has nominated seven (7) persons for election as Directors of the Company at the Annual Meeting, each to serve until the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company or until his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.  All of the nominees are incumbent Directors standing for reelection.  All of the nominees have been unanimously approved by the independent Directors.  Each nominee has consented to be named in this Proxy Statement and to serve if elected.  If, prior to the meeting, any nominee should become unavailable to serve for any reason, the shares represented by all properly executed proxies will be voted for such alternate individual as shall be designated by the Board of Directors, unless the Board of Directors shall determine to reduce the number of Directors pursuant to the Bylaws of the Company.

 

Assuming the presence of a quorum, a plurality of votes cast by holders of shares entitled to vote is required for the election of Directors.  Shares will be voted for the nominees in accordance with the specifications marked on the proxies applicable thereto, and if no specification is made, will be voted “ FOR ” the election of all the nominees.

 

The table below sets forth the names and ages of the nominees for Director and, where applicable, the year each first became a Director of the Company.

 

Name

 

Age

 

Year First Became a
Director of the Company

 

Itzhak Reichman

 

54

 

2007

 

Larry Polhill

 

59

 

2004

 

Ashton D. Asensio

 

66

 

2006

 

Mark S. Howells

 

57

 

1995

 

Bryce Edmonson

 

56

 

2006

 

Ronald C. Kesselman

 

68

 

2008

 

Terry McDaniel

 

54

 

2008

 

 

The following information relates to each person nominated to be a Director, which collectively constitute all of the Company’s Directors whose terms will continue after the Annual Meeting.  Where applicable, the information includes any publicly traded company directorships and certain other directorships held by each Director during the past five years.

 

Itzhak Reichman.   Mr. Reichman has served as a Director of the Company since October 2007, and was appointed Chairman of the Board in May 2010.  Mr. Reichman is the retired Chairman and CEO of Desert Glory, North America’s leading grower of flavorful tomatoes with greenhouse operations in Mexico and distribution operations throughout the United States.  He held this position from April 2004 through November 2008.  Prior to that role, Mr. Reichman worked with the Borden organization while it was owned by Kohlberg, Kravis and Roberts, fulfilling various strategic and merger and acquisition leadership positions at the holding company, as well as operating roles at Borden Foods. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of Wise Foods, Inc.  Mr. Reichman received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the Israeli Institute of Technology and a masters degree in business management from M.I.T.

 

The specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that led the Board to conclude that Mr. Reichman should serve as a Director in light of our business and structure were his advanced business education and his extensive leadership and operations experience as an officer and director of large companies in the consumer products, retail and food industries.  Mr. Reichman founded Elite Foods (an affiliate of Frito Lay in Israel), consulted to multiple companies as part of his work with McKinsey and Co., and led Desert Glory while growing the company in both revenues and profits.

 

Larry R. Polhill.   Mr. Polhill has served as a Director of the Company since July 2004 and Chairman of the Board from February 2006 to May 2010.  Since 1997, Mr. Polhill has been a Manager of Capital Foods, LLC, a private investment company that is a stockholder of the Company. Since 2006, Mr. Polhill has served as Chairman of AmPac Tri State CDC Inc., a not-for-profit corporation which is an SBA 504 lender and since 1978 as Chairman of American Pacific Financial Corp., a Grand Terrace, California-based asset management firm (APFC).    From August 2005 to February 2008, Mr. Polhill served as a Director of Realty Information Services Inc., a franchising organization (RIS).  On March 28, 2008, an involuntary action was filed against RIS under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. Section 101, et.seq. in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Nevada.  RIS disputed the petition but subsequently consented to relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code on July 15, 2008.  APFC and its affiliates prevailed as the successful credit bidder for the RIS assets in a sale pursuant to an order of the Bankruptcy Court on December 30, 2008.  APFC filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Southern District of Nevada on September 21, 2010.

 

The specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that led the Board to conclude that Mr. Polhill should serve as a director in light of our business and structure were his more than 30 years’ business experience as an officer, director and financier of a wide diversity of businesses, including companies in the consumer products, retail, real estate and food industries, and his extensive background in corporate and real estate finance as well as mergers and acquisitions.

 

3



 

Ashton D. Asensio.   Mr. Asensio has served as a Director of the Company since February 2006 and was appointed Chairman of the Audit Committee in July 2006.  Since January 2009, Mr. Asensio has served as Chief Financial Officer of Security Alarm Financing Enterprises, L.P., a California security alarm account aggregator.  From 2003 to January 2009, Mr. Asensio was a financial and operations consultant and, from March 2005 to January 2009, Mr. Asensio provided consulting services to American Pacific Financial Corp., a Grand Terrace, California-based asset management firm (APFC) and various entities in which APFC had an ownership interest, including Capital Foods, LLC, a stockholder of the Company, and Realty Information Systems, Inc., a franchising organization (RIS).  From August 2005 to February 2006, Mr. Asensio served as Chief Financial Officer of RIS.  On March 28, 2008, an involuntary action was filed against RIS under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. Section 101, et.seq. in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Nevada.  RIS disputed the petition but subsequently consented to relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code on July 15, 2008.  APFC and its affiliates prevailed as the successful credit bidder for the RIS assets in a sale pursuant to an order of the Bankruptcy Court on December 30, 2008.  From March 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008, Mr. Asensio provided services to RIS as a consulting chief financial officer under a consulting arrangement with RIS.  From 1972 to 1979, Mr. Asensio was an audit manager for Peat Marwick Mitchell.  Mr. Asensio received his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Florida Atlantic University and received his Master of Accounting degree from Florida State University.

 

The specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that led the Board to conclude that Mr. Asensio should serve as a director in light of our business and structure were his advanced accounting education and extensive experience as a former CPA and audit manager with a major independent auditing firm, and recent engagements as CFO or financial consultant for private companies.

 

Mark S. Howells.   Mr. Howells has served as a Director of the Company since March 1995 and as a member of the Audit Committee since May 2010.  Mr. Howells served as Chairman of the Compensation Committee from 2003 to October 2008, and as Chairman of the Board from 1995 to 2004.  Since 2000, Mr. Howells has devoted a majority of his time to serving as the President and Chairman of M.S. Howells & Co., a registered securities broker-dealer.  From 1987 to May 2000, Mr. Howells served as the President and Chairman of Arizona Securities Group, Inc., a registered securities broker-dealer.  For the period from March 1995 to August 1995, Mr. Howells also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

 

The specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that led the Board to conclude that Mr. Howells should serve as a director in light of our business and structure was his extensive experience in the securities industry, including finance, public and private equity, merger and acquisition, capital structure and strategic planning.

 

Macon Bryce Edmonson.   Mr. Edmonson has served as a Director of the Company since July 2006 and as Chairman of the Compensation Committee since October 2008.  Mr. Edmonson has served as a Senior Vice President in charge of the North American business of Del Monte Fresh Produce Company from 1995 to 2005 and, since mid-2005, has been a consultant for the food industry helping companies realign their strategies and position themselves for growth in the North American market.  Mr. Edmonson received Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Entomology from the University of Florida, and an MBA in marketing from the University of Miami.

 

The specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that led the Board to conclude that Mr. Edmonson should serve as a Director in light of our business and structure were his advanced business education and extensive experience as a former officer of a major consumer food product company, and ongoing consultant work in the food industry.

 

Ronald C. Kesselman.   Mr. Kesselman has served as a Director of the Company since July 2008.  Mr. Kesselman has a 40-year career in senior executive and management positions with consumer products and food processing companies, including past service as a Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Elmer Products, Inc. from March 1995 to October 2003, past service as a member of the Board of Directors of American Italian Pasta Company (AIPC), a publicly traded pasta manufacturing and marketing company, from July 2007 until AIPC was sold to Ralcorp Holdings, Inc. in July 2010, and past service as a board member and strategic advisor to Homax Products, Inc., a privately held company and supplier of home improvement products from April 2009 to December 2010.  Mr. Kesselman currently serves on the Board of Directors of Imperial Sugar Company, a publicly traded sugar manufacturing and marketing company since October 2008, and served on the Board of Directors of NewPage Corporation, a private equity portfolio company that manufactures and distributes paper products since May 2009.  Mr. Kesselman received a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin and an MBA from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University.

 

The specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that led the Board to conclude that Mr. Kesselman should serve as a Director in light of our business and structure were his advanced business education and his extensive leadership and operations experience as an officer and director of large companies in the consumer products, retail and food industries.

 

4



 

Terry McDaniel.   Mr. McDaniel has served as a Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since May 2008 and as Chief Operating Officer since April 2006.  Since May 2008, Mr. McDaniel serves on the Board of Directors of Foster Farms Dairy, the largest privately owned dairy in California.  From September 2003 to April 2006, Mr. McDaniel was President and a Director of MSLI Worksite Benefits, a company that marketed voluntary benefits through the worksite to Fortune 1000 companies.  From 1998 to 2003, Mr. McDaniel served as President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Wise Foods, Inc.  Prior to 1998, Mr. McDaniel served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Wise Foods, Inc., and as Vice President of Sales for Haagen-Dazs Company, Inc.  Prior to these positions, he held sales leadership positions for companies such as the Nestle Corporation, Tropicana Products, Inc. and Unilever.  Mr. McDaniel served as Chairman of the Snack Food Association until March 2010, and currently serves on its executive committee.  He has also served on the Chairman Advisory Committee of the Grocery Manufacturers Association.  Mr. McDaniel received a bachelor’s degree in business and an MBA from Columbus State University.

 

The specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that led the Board to conclude that Mr. McDaniel should serve as a Director in light of our business and structure were his status as the only member of the Company’s senior management who serves on the Board of Directors, his advanced business education and his extensive leadership and operations experience as an officer and director of large companies in the consumer products, retail and food industries.

 

* * * * *

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS

VOTE “FOR” ALL NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR.

 

* * * * *

 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

 

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of the Company’s Common Stock as of the Record Date by (i) each person known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding Common Stock, (ii) each director and nominee for director, (iii) each executive officer listed in the Summary Compensation Table set forth in “Executive Compensation” below, and (iv) all directors and executive officers as a group.

 

Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner

 

Amount and Nature
of Beneficial
Ownership of
Common Stock(1)

 

Percent of Shares
of Common Stock
Beneficially
Owned(2)

 

Larry Polhill
225 W. Hospitality Lane, Suite 201, San Bernardino, CA 92408

 

4,232,160

(3)(4)

23.5

 

Ashton D. Asensio
1019 Northoak Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598

 

40,000

(3)

0.2

 

Mark S. Howells
20555 N. Pima Road, Suite #100, Scottsdale, AZ 85255

 

464,913

(3)(5)

2.6

 

Macon Bryce Edmonson
1254 Andalusia Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33134

 

47,500

(3)

0.3

 

Itzhak Reichman
331 Box Oak, San Antonio, TX 78230

 

50,000

(3)

0.3

 

Ronald C. Kesselman
19 Keswick Drive, New Albany, OH 43054

 

30,000

(3)

0.2

 

Terry McDaniel
8638 E. Villa Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85262

 

658,963

(3)

3.7

 

Steve Weinberger
10451 N. 109
th  Way, Scottsdale, AZ 85259

 

398,645

(3)

2.2

 

Steven Sklar
22684 N 93rd Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85255

 

137,953

(3)

0.8

 

Richard Suchenski
3566 Burch Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45208

 

30,000

(3)

0.2

 

Capital Foods, LLC
7380 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 150, Las Vegas, NV 89123

 

4,133,695

(4)

22.9

 

Heartland Advisors, Inc.
789 N. Water Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202

 

2,992,659

(6)

16.6

 

William J. Nasgovitz
789 N. Water Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202

 

2,992,659

(6)

16.6

 

First Wilshire Securities Management, Inc.
1224 East Green Street, Suite 200, Pasadena, CA 91106

 

1,047,992

(7)

5.8

 

All officers and directors above as a group (10 persons)

 

6,090,134

(8)

33.8

 

 

5



 


(1)            Unless otherwise indicated, each of the persons named has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares reported.

 

(2)            Shares that an individual or group has a right to acquire within 60 days of the Record Date pursuant to the exercise of stock options are deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of such individual or group, but are not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the ownership percentage of any other person shown in the table.  On the Record Date, the date as of which these percentages are calculated, there were 18,028,867 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding pursuant to Rule 13d-3(d)(1) of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

(3)            Includes shares issuable to the indicated person upon exercise of stock options that are exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date as follows: Mr. Polhill — 35,000; Mr. Asensio — 35,000; Mr. Howells — 5,000; Mr. Edmonson — 42,500; Mr. Reichman — 35,000; Mr. Kesselman — 25,000; Mr. McDaniel — 439,200; Mr. Weinberger 287,600; Mr. Sklar — 100,600; and Mr. Suchenski — 0.  Excludes shares issuable to the indicated person upon the exercise of stock options that are not exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date as follows: Mr. Polhill — 0; Mr. Asensio — 0; Mr. Howells — 0; Mr. Edmonson — 0; Mr. Reichman — 0; Mr. Kesselman — 0; Mr. McDaniel — 58,800; Mr. Weinberger — 56,400; Mr. Sklar — 105,400; and Mr. Suchenski — 15,000.

 

(4)            According to Form 4 filed by the holder with the SEC on December 10, 2010, disclosing direct beneficial ownership of 7,140 shares, and Form 4 filed by the holder with the SEC on May 20, 2010, disclosing indirect beneficial ownership of 56,325 shares by IRA, and indirect ownership of 4,133,695 shares by Capital Foods, LLC.  Mr. Polhill has pledged 4,130,000 of the shares he beneficially owns.

 

(5)            According to Form 4 filed by holder with the SEC on December 15, 2010, disclosing direct beneficial ownership of 459,913 shares.  Mr. Howells has pledged 430,646 of the shares he holds.

 

(6)            According to Schedule 13G filed by the holder with the SEC on February 10, 2011, disclosing shared voting power with respect to 2,878,859 shares and shared dispositive power with respect to 2,992,659 shares.  The shares beneficially owned by Mr. Nasgovitz are included in the shares beneficially owned by, and disclosed in the above table with respect to, Heartland Advisors, Inc.

 

(7)            According to Schedule 13G filed by the holder with the SEC on February 14, 2011, disclosing sole voting power with respect to 317,826 shares and sole dispositive power with respect to 1,047,992 shares.

 

(8)            Includes 1,004,900 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options that are exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date.  Excludes 235,600 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options that have not yet vested and are not exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date.

 

MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

The Board of Directors conducts its business through meetings of the Board of Directors and through its standing committees. The Board of Directors has determined that Itzhak Reichman, Larry Polhill, Ashton D. Asensio, Mark S. Howells, Macon Bryce Edmonson, and Ronald C. Kesselman are independent, within the meaning of currently applicable rules of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended, the “Exchange Act”) and the applicable listing standards of The Nasdaq Global Market.  In connection with its determination that Larry Polhill was independent, the Board of Directors determined that Mr. Polhill’s beneficial ownership of more than 20% of the Company’s outstanding stock should not preclude a finding of general independence and compensation committee independence because (a) in discussions with the Board, he confirmed that he has no intent to effect a change of control or any other material change in Inventure’s business, structure or governing documents, or any other extraordinary event described in Item 4 of Schedule 13D, (b) his status as a large beneficial owner aligns him with the interests of the Company’s stockholders generally with regard to focus on executive compensation, and (c) he has no direct or indirect commercial, industrial, consulting, legal, accounting, charitable, family or other material business, professional or personal relationship with the Company other than as a director.

 

6



 

During the fiscal year ended December 25, 2010, the Board of Directors met 8 times.  During such period, there were 4 meetings of the Audit Committee and 2 meetings of the Compensation Committee, and the Compensation Committee took action on 1 other occasion by unanimous written consent.  During the fiscal year ended December 25, 2010, each Director attended at least 75% of the Board of Directors meetings and meetings of any committees on which he served.  It is the Company’s policy to encourage the Directors standing for election at the Annual Meeting to attend the Annual Meeting.  All Directors standing for election at the 2011 Annual Stockholders’ Meeting attended the 2010 Annual Stockholders’ Meeting.

 

Non-management Directors generally meet in executive session at each regularly scheduled Board meeting without any members of management being present. In lieu of a regularly presiding Director, these sessions are presided over by the Chairman of the Board. It is contemplated that at least twice each year, in conjunction with regularly scheduled Board meetings, the Board will hold an executive session at which only those Directors who are “independent” within the meaning of currently applicable rules of the Exchange Act and the applicable listing standards of The Nasdaq Global Market are present.

 

As of the date of this Proxy Statement, two committees have been established, an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee.  The Board of Directors does not currently utilize a formal Nominating Committee or committee performing similar functions and therefore does not have a Nominating Committee charter. Instead, a majority of independent Directors identifies and recommends persons to be nominees for positions on the Board of Directors at each Annual Stockholders’ Meeting and to fill vacancies on the Board between annual meetings.  Board candidates, including Directors up for reelection, are considered based upon various criteria, such as broad-based business and professional skills and experiences, understanding of the Company’s business and markets, concern for long-term interests of the stockholders, personal integrity, freedom from conflicts of interest, sound business judgment, and time available to devote to board activities.  The Board of Directors has not established any specific minimum qualification standards for nominees to the Board, although from time to time the Board may identify certain skills or attributes as being particularly desirable to help meet specific Board needs that have arisen.  While the Board of Directors does not have a formal diversity policy for Board Membership, the Board seeks Directors who represent a mix of backgrounds and experiences that will enhance the quality of the Board’s deliberations and decisions.  In identifying potential candidates, the independent Directors may rely on suggestions and recommendations from the Board, management and others, and may also retain search firms for assistance.  Current Directors whose terms are expiring and their past performance on the Board and its committees will be considered first using the criteria set forth above.  The Board of Directors believes that this process is as effective in nominating qualified Director candidates as a more formal process instituted by a separate committee under a separate charter would be.  Because it also believes that its independent Directors are in the best position to locate qualified candidates, the Board of Directors does not currently have a policy with regard to the consideration of any Director candidates recommended by stockholders.

 

Board Leadership Structure

 

For several years we have split the roles of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer so that our Chairman is better positioned to provide strong leadership that is separate and distinct from senior management.  In December 2009, Itzhak Reichman assumed the role of independent lead director to help organize the Board’s evaluation of our senior management, provide ongoing feedback to senior management from the board’s executive sessions, mentor and challenge senior management, and assist senior management with Board communications and meeting agenda.  Mr. Reichman was elected Chairman of the Board in May 2010 and, in addition to the traditional role of Chairman, he continues to function as lead director.  The scope of this dual Chairman/lead director role includes the following:

 

·       Board Meetings .  Preparation, facilitation, and debrief with senior management;

·       Feedback to CEO .  Annual objectives and review, skills development and board feedback;

·       Strategic Support .  Participate with senior management in strategic discussions and provide perspectives;

·       M&A Support .  Review and assist management in screening potential targets;

·       Management Support .  Interviews of key management candidates, attendance in key analyst reviews, periodic calls with CEO; and

·       Board Support .  Facilitate functionality of committees, solicit strategic perspectives and specific feedback.

 

Ashton D. Asensio has served as Chairman of our Audit Committee since 2006, and Macon Bryce Edmonson has served as Chairman of our Compensation Committee since 2008, and provide strong independent leadership in these functions.  It is management’s responsibility to manage risk and bring to the Board of Directors’ attention the most material risks to the Company, but the Board of Directors has oversight responsibility of the processes established to report and monitor systems for material risks applicable to the Company, and our Audit Committee and Compensation Committee help facilitate this oversight function.  The full Board considers strategic risks and opportunities and regularly reviews enterprise-wide risk management, including food safety, internal controls, compliance and ethics, insurance and operations.  Our Audit Committee regularly reviews risks related to internal controls over financial reporting, and our Compensation Committee regularly reviews risks related to the attraction and retention of talent and risks relating to the design of compensation programs and arrangements for executive officers. The full Board regularly receives detailed reports from the Committees regarding risk oversight in their areas of responsibility.

 

7



 

Audit Committee

 

The Audit Committee has the responsibility to assist the Board of Directors in its oversight of the integrity of the Company’s financial statements, the qualification and independence of the Company’s independent auditors, and the performance of the independent auditors.  Management has primary responsibility for the Company’s financial statements, reporting process and internal controls, and the Company’s independent auditors are responsible for auditing the financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and issuing an opinion as to whether the Company’s financial statements are, in all material respects, presented fairly in conformity with such principles.  The Committee oversees the Company’s financial reporting process, hires and sets the compensation of the Company’s independent auditors, pre-approves all audit and non-audit engagements of the Company’s independent auditors and related party transactions, reviews reports from the Company’s independent auditors and the Company’s financial statements, monitors and informs the Board of the Company’s accounting policies and internal controls, reviews the scope of the audit, and monitors the quality and objectivity of the Company’s financial statements and the independence of the Company’s independent auditors.  In addition, pursuant to its Charter, the Committee performs an annual evaluation of the adequacy of the Audit Committee’s Charter.  A copy of the Audit Committee Charter is available on our website, www.inventurefoods.com, by choosing the “Investor Relations” and then “Governance Documents” links.  The Audit Committee is currently comprised of three members of the Board of Directors, Messrs. Asensio, Edmonson and Howells. The Chairman of the Audit Committee is Mr. Asensio. The Audit Committee was established on October 22, 1996.  The report of the Audit Committee with respect to the 2010 fiscal year is set forth under the heading “Report of the Audit Committee” below.

 

Compensation Committee

 

The Company’s Compensation Committee is currently comprised of three members of the Board of Directors, Messrs. Edmonson, Kesselman, and Polhill.  The Chairman of the Compensation Committee is Mr. Edmonson.  The Board has determined that each of the Committee members is an outside Director within the meaning of the regulations under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, a non-employee Director under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, and “independent” within the meaning of currently applicable rules of the Exchange Act and the applicable listing standards of The Nasdaq Global Market.  The Compensation Committee evaluates the performance and reviews and approves the compensation of executive officers, including the Chief Executive Officer, of the Company.  The Compensation Committee was established on June 12, 1997.  A copy of the Compensation Committee Charter is available on our website, www.inventurefoods.com, by choosing the “Investor Relations” and then “Governance Documents” links.

 

The Compensation Committee also reviews, approves and recommends to the Board of Directors for approval the compensation of the members of the Board of Directors.  In approving director compensation, the Compensation Committee considers the anticipated number of meetings of the Board of Directors and its Committees and data regarding director compensation for similar size companies in similar industries. In fiscal 2010, the Compensation Committee engaged Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC to provide market benchmarks and evaluate and provide professional guidance with respect to the Company’s current compensation compared to these benchmarks.

 

Stockholder Communications with Directors

 

Stockholders who wish to communicate with the Board of Directors, the non-management Directors or an individual Director may do so by sending a letter to the Secretary of the Company at 5415 East High Street, Suite 350, Phoenix, Arizona, 85054. The mailing envelope must contain a clear notation indicating that the enclosed letter is a “Stockholder-Board Communication.”  The Secretary has been authorized to screen commercial solicitations and materials which pose security risks, are unrelated to the business or governance of the Company, relate to routine or insignificant matters that do not warrant the attention of the Board of Directors, are frivolous or offensive, or are otherwise inappropriate.  All such letters must identify the author as a stockholder and clearly state whether the intended recipients are all or individual members of the Board.  The Secretary will make copies of all such letters and circulate them to the appropriate Director or Directors.

 

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

 

The Company’s Audit Committee consists of three directors, each of whom the Board of Directors has determined to be “independent” within the meaning of currently applicable rules of the Exchange Act and the applicable listing standards of The Nasdaq Global Market for audit committee members, and to comply with the financial knowledge requirements of the applicable listing standards of The Nasdaq Global Market.  In addition, the Board of Directors has determined that Ashton D. Asensio is an Audit Committee “financial expert” within the meaning of currently applicable rules of the Exchange Act and complies with the professional experience requirements of the applicable listing standards of the Nasdaq Global Market.  The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors, which is available on the Company’s website at www.inventurefoods.com by choosing the “Investor Relations” and then the “Governance Documents” links.

 

8



 

The primary purpose of the Audit Committee is to oversee the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Company and the integrated audits of its financial statements, including its compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.  Management has primary responsibility for the Company’s financial statements and the financial reporting processes, including its systems of internal controls. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements in the Annual Report on Form 10-K with management, including a discussion of the quality and the acceptability of the financial reporting and controls. The Audit Committee discussed with the independent public accountants, who are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of the audited financial statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, their judgments as to the quality and the acceptability of the Company’s financial reporting and controls and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the Audit Committee under generally accepted auditing standards, including the matters required to be discussed by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended (AICPA, Professional Standards, Vol. 1 AU section 380), as adopted by the Public Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T.  In addition, the Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and letter from the independent public accountants required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent public accountants’ communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with the independent public accountants the independent public accountants’ independence.

 

Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee has recommended to the Board of Directors that the Company’s audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 25, 2010 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Submitted by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors,

 

Ashton D. Asensio

Mark S. Howells

Macon Bryce Edmonson

 

9



 

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

 

Only non-employee Directors are compensated for their services as Directors.  The Company’s 2010 compensation package for non-employee Directors was comprised of cash (annual retainers and committee meeting fees), stock option grants, and restricted share grants. The annual pay package is designed to attract and retain highly-qualified, independent professionals to represent our stockholders and positioned to approximate the median of our peer group.

 

2010 compensation for non-employee Directors consisted of the following:

 

·       Annual Retainers .  Each independent Director is paid an annual retainer of $25,000.  Our Chairman/lead director receives an additional annual retainer of $30,000 for his service as Chairman, plus an additional annual retainer of $20,000 for his service as lead director, plus personal company-covered health insurance at an approximate cost of $5,000/year.  The Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an additional annual retainer of $15,000, and the other members of the Audit Committee each receive an additional annual retainer of $10,000.  The Chairman of the Compensation Committee receives an additional annual retainer of $5,000, and the other members of the Compensation Committee each receive an additional annual retainer of $2,500.  The annual cash retainers are paid in quarterly installments.

 

·       Meeting Fees .  There are no individual meeting fees.  If a Director does not attend (in person or by telephone) a regular quarterly meeting, the Director forfeits $3,125 of the Director’s annual retainer for that meeting.

 

·       Stock Options .  Each year after each Annual Meeting of Stockholders, each independent Director receives an option to purchase 5,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price per share equal to the closing price at the end of the day of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which options vest on the date of the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and expire ten years after the date of grant.  In May 2010, the Company granted options to purchase 5,000 shares of Common Stock to each independent Director elected at the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, at an exercise price of $3.44 per share.  In May 2010, our Chairman/lead director received an additional option grant to purchase 5,000 shares of Common Stock for his service as Chairman, plus an additional option grant to purchase 5,000 shares of Common Stock for his service as lead director.

 

·       Restricted Stock .  Each year after each Annual Meeting of Stockholders, each independent Director receives a grant of 5,000 shares of restricted Common Stock, which grants vest on the date of the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders.  In May 2010, the Company granted 5,000 shares of restricted Common Stock to each independent Director elected at the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.  In May 2010, our Chairman/lead director received an additional grant of 5,000 shares of restricted Common Stock for his service as Chairman and lead director.

 

·       Business Expenses — Directors are reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board of Directors and for other expenses incurred in their capacity as Directors.

 

·       Director and Officer Liability Insurance Director and officer liability insurance individually insures our Directors and officers against certain losses that they are legally required to pay as a result of their actions while performing duties on our behalf.  Our D&O insurance policy does not break out the premium for Directors versus officers and, therefore, a dollar amount cannot be assigned for individual Directors.

 

The following table sets for the compensation paid to each non-employee Director for the 2010 fiscal year.

 

NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS’ COMPENSATION TABLE

 

Name

 

Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash(1)

 

Stock
Awards
($)(3)

 

Option
Awards
($)(2)

 

Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)

 

Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings

 

All Other
Compensation
($)

 

Total

 

Larry Polhill

 

$

28,250

 

$

10,419

 

$

6,209

 

 

 

 

$

44,878

 

Ashton D. Asensio

 

$

38,000

 

$

10,419

 

$

6,209

 

 

 

 

$

54,628

 

Mark S. Howells

 

$

28,500

 

$

10,419

 

$

6,209

 

 

 

 

$

45,128

 

M. Bryce Edmonson

 

$

32,500

 

$

10,419

 

$

6,209

 

 

 

 

$

49,128

 

Itzhak Reichman

 

$

86,600

 

$

31,257

 

$

10,058

 

 

 

 

$

127,315

 

Ronald Kesselman

 

$

21,750

 

$

10,419

 

$

6,209

 

 

 

 

$

38,378

 

 

10



 


(1)            The aggregate dollar amount of all fees earned or paid in cash for services as a Director.

 

(2)            Represents the value of options granted during the year to purchase shares of common stock.  Generally, options have a ten year term and become exercisable at the date of the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders held in May of every year.  The value noted here reflects the compensation expense recognized by the Company during fiscal year 2010 under FASB ASC Topic 718.  Refer to Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 25, 2010, for a discussion of the relevant assumptions used in calculating the recognized compensation expense and grant-date fair value pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 718.  The recognized compensation expense and grant-date fair value of the stock option awards for financial reporting purposes will likely vary from the actual amount ultimately realized by the Director based on a number of factors.  These factors include stock price fluctuations, differences from the valuation assumptions used and the timing of exercise.  The aggregate number of option awards outstanding for each independent Director at the end of fiscal year 2010 is set forth in the following table:

 

Name

 

Aggregate Number of
Option Awards Outstanding (#)

 

Larry Polhill

 

35,000

 

Ashton D. Asensio

 

35,000

 

Mark S. Howells

 

5,000

 

Bryce Edmonson

 

42,500

 

Itzhak Reichman

 

35,000

 

Ronald C. Kesselman

 

25,000

 

 

(3)            Represents the value of restricted share awards granted during the year.  Generally, restricted shares issued to non-employee Directors have a one year time vest restriction.  The value noted here reflects the compensation expense recognized by the Company during fiscal year 2010.  Refer to Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 25, 2010, for a discussion of the relevant assumptions used in calculating the recognized compensation expense.  The recognized compensation expense for financial reporting purposes will likely vary from the actual amount ultimately realized by the Director based on a number of factors, including stock price fluctuations.  The aggregate number of stock awards outstanding for each independent Director at the end of fiscal year 2010 is set forth in the following table:

 

Name

 

Aggregate Number of
Stock Awards Outstanding (#)

 

Larry Polhill

 

5,000

 

Ashton D. Asensio

 

5,000

 

Mark S. Howells

 

5,000

 

Bryce Edmonson

 

5,000

 

Itzhak Reichman

 

15,000

 

Ronald C. Kesselman

 

5,000

 

 

EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION

 

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors reviews and recommends to the Board of Directors for approval the compensation packages for all executive officers of the Company, including the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table below (the “Named Executive Officers”).  The following table sets forth certain compensation information for the Named Executive Officers for the fiscal years ended December 25, 2010 and December 26, 2009.

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

Name and
Principal Position

 

Year

 

Salary ($)

 

Bonus
($)

 

Stock
Awards
($)(18)

 

Option
Awards
($)(5)

 

Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)

 

Non-Qualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings

 

All Other
Compensation
($)

 

Total ($)

 

Terry McDaniel(1)

 

2009

 

404,246

 

101,206

 

24,166

(13)

 

 

 

 

 

27,735

(6)

557,353

 

 

 

2010

 

416,685

 

153,900

 

83,353

(14)

 

 

 

 

 

30,620

(7)

684,558

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve Weinberger(2)

 

2009

 

270,300

 

60,200

 

17,195

(15)

 

 

 

 

32,990

(8)

380,685

 

 

 

2010

 

276,538

 

87,585

 

34,730

(16)

 

 

 

 

35,966

(9)

434,819

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steven Sklar(3)

 

2009

 

220,388

 

34,646

 

 

3,596

 

 

 

22,659

(10)

281,289

 

 

 

2010

 

220,388

 

59,757

 

 

4,468

 

 

 

25,237

(11)

309,850

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Richard Suchenski(4)

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2010

 

145,354

 

11,928

 

16,060

(17)

1,774

 

 

 

66,889

(12)

242,005

 

 

11



 


(1)            Mr. McDaniel has served as Chief Executive Officer since May 2008.

 

(2)            Mr. Weinberger has served as Chief Financial Officer since August 2006.

 

(3)            Mr. Sklar has served as Senior Vice President of Marketing since August 2005.

 

(4)            Mr. Suchenski has served as Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing since June 2010.

 

(5)            Represents the value of options granted during the relevant year to purchase shares of common stock.  Refer to Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 25, 2010, for a discussion of the relevant assumptions used in calculating the recognized compensation expense and grant-date fair value pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 718.

 

(6)            Represents an automobile allowance of $12,000, NQDC Company matching payments of $-0-, $10,700 of health insurance benefits, $341 of life insurance benefits and $4,694 of disability insurance benefits paid on behalf of Mr. McDaniel

 

(7)            Represents an automobile allowance of $12,000, NQDC Company matching payments of $-0-, $13,500 of health insurance benefits, $276 of life insurance benefits and $4,844 of disability insurance benefits paid on behalf of Mr. McDaniel

 

(8)            Represents an automobile allowance of $12,000, NQDC Company matching payments of $-0-, $10,700 of health insurance benefits, $341 of life insurance benefits and $9,949 of disability insurance benefits paid on behalf of Mr. Weinberger.

 

(9)            Represents an automobile allowance of $12,000, NQDC Company matching payments of $-0-, $13,500 of health insurance benefits, $516 of life insurance benefits and $9,950 of disability insurance benefits paid on behalf of Mr. Weinberger.

 

(10)          Represents an automobile allowance of $7,800, NQDC Company matching payments of $-0-, $10,700 of health insurance benefits, $341 of life insurance benefits and $3,818 of disability insurance benefits paid on behalf of Mr. Sklar.

 

(11)          Represents an automobile allowance of $7,800, NQDC Company matching payments of $-0-, $13,500 of health insurance benefits, $120 of life insurance benefits and $3,817 of disability insurance benefits paid on behalf of Mr. Sklar.

 

(12)          Represents an automobile allowance of $5,607, NQDC Company matching payments of $-0-, $6,750 of health insurance benefits, $180 of life insurance benefits, $420 of disability insurance benefits, and $53,932 in taxable relocation expense paid on behalf of Mr. Suchenski.

 

(13)          On June 1, 2009, the Company issued to its Chief Executive Officer 52,000 shares of restricted stock under the Company’s 2005 Equity Incentive Plan, subject to vesting in equal installments over three years.

 

(14)          On May 20, 2010, the Company issued to its Chief Executive Officer 120,000 shares of restricted stock under the Company’s 2005 Equity Incentive Plan, subject to performance vesting over three years.

 

(15)          On June 1, 2009, the Company issued to its Chief Financial Officer 37,000 shares of restricted stock under the company’s 2005 Equity Incentive Plan, subject to vesting in equal installments over three years.

 

(16)          On May 20, 2010, the Company issued to its Chief Financial Officer 50,000 shares of restricted stock under the company’s 2005 Equity Incentive Plan, subject to performance vesting over three years.

 

(17)          On June 21, 2010, the Company issued to its Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing 30,000 shares of restricted stock under the Company’s 2005 Equity Incentive Plan, subject to performance vesting over three years.

 

(18)          Refer to Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 25, 2010, for a discussion of the relevant assumptions used in calculating the recognized compensation expense.

 

12



 

The following table sets forth certain information concerning outstanding option awards to the Named Executive Officers as at December 25, 2010:

 

Outstanding Equity Awards

at Fiscal Year-End

 

 

 

Options Awards

 

Stock Awards

 

Name

 

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options -

Exercisable

 

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options -

Unexercisable

 

Option
Exercise
Price ($)

 

Option
Expiration
Date

 

Number of
Shares or Units
of Stock —
Unvested

 

Market Value of Shares
or Units of Stock —
Unvested ($) (10)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terry McDaniel

 

200,000

 

 

$

2.69

 

2/23/12

 

34,666

(7)

149,757

 

 

 

133,333

 

66,667

(1)

$

1.94

 

5/7/13

 

120,000

(8)

518,400

 

 

 

39,200

 

58,800

(2)

$

1.70

 

12/6/18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve Weinberger

 

100,000

 

 

$

2.69

 

2/23/12

 

24,666

(7)

106,557

 

 

 

100,000

 

50,000

(1)

$

1.94

 

5/7/13

 

50,000

(8)

216,000

 

 

 

37,600

 

56,400

(2)

$

1.70

 

12/6/18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steven Sklar

 

12,000

 

 

$

2.80

 

5/23/11

 

 

 

 

 

50,000

 

 

$

2.69

 

2/23/12

 

 

 

 

 

16,000

 

24,000

(3)

$

1.86

 

5/19/18

 

 

 

 

 

15,600

 

23,400

(2)

$

1.70

 

12/6/18

 

 

 

 

 

7,000

 

28,000

(4)

$

2.40

 

6/1/19

 

 

 

 

 

 

30,000

(5)

$

3.44

 

5/20/20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Richard Suchenski

 

 

15,000

(6)

$

3.12

 

6/21/20

 

30,000

(9)

129,600

 

 


 

(1)            Options Award granted on May 7, 2008, with three year vesting in equal annual installments, and a life of 5 years.

 

(2)            Options Award granted on December 8, 2008, with five year vesting in equal annual installments and a life of 10 years.

 

(3)            Options Award granted on May 19, 2008, with five year vesting in equal annual installments and a life of 10 years.

 

(4)            Options Award granted on June 1, 2009, with five year vesting in equal annual installments and a life of 10 years.

 

(5)            Options Award granted on May 27, 2010, with five year vesting in equal annual installments and a life of 10 years.

 

(6)            Options Award granted on June 21, 2010, with five year vesting in equal annual installments and a life of 10 years.

 

(7)            Restricted Shares granted on June 1, 2009, with three year time vest in equal annual installments.

 

(8)            Performance Shares granted on May 20, 2010, with performance vesting over three years.

 

(9)            Performance Shares granted on June 21, 2010, with performance vesting over three years.

 

(10)          Market Value of unvested shares is calculated with the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the NASDAQ Capital Market, which was $4.32 per share on December 25, 2010, the Company’s fiscal year end.

 

13



 

Equity Incentive Plan Approved by Stockholders

 

As of December 25, 2010, the only compensation plan of the Company approved by the stockholders is the Company’s 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (as amended, the “2005 Plan”).  As of December 25, 2010, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2005 Plan is the sum of (a) 410,518, which was the number of reserved but unissued shares available for issuance under the Company’s 1995 Stock Option Plan (the “1995 Plan”) when the 2005 Plan was adopted on May 17, 2005, (b) 500,000, which was the number of additional shares approved by the stockholders on May 23, 2006 to be added to the 2005 Plan, (c) 500,000, which was the number of additional shares approved by the stockholders on May 19, 2008 to be added to the 2005 Plan and (d) 500,000, which was the number of additional shares approved by the stockholders on May 19, 2009 to be added to the 2005 Plan. In addition, to the extent shares of Common Stock are subject to awards granted under the 1995 Plan or the 2005 Plan that are canceled or expire prior to the issuance of such shares, those shares will again be available for future awards under the 2005 Plan.  All of the options listed in the table above were granted pursuant to the 2005 Plan.

 

The following table sets forth information as of December 25, 2010 with respect to compensation plans under which shares of Common Stock of the Company are authorized for issuance:

 

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

 

Plan Category

 

Number of Securities to be
Issued Upon Exercise of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights

 

Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights

 

Number of Securities
Remaining Available for
Future Issuance Under
Equity Compensation Plans

 

Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Stockholders

 

2,145,500

 

$

2.37

 

5,892

 

 

Retirement Benefits

 

The Company does not have a pension plan.

 

Non—Qualified Deferred Compensation

 

On January 18, 2007, the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors adopted the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Deferred Compensation Plan”), effective January 1, 2007.

 

The Deferred Compensation Plan is a nonqualified deferred compensation plan that allows certain individuals designated by the Company from a select group of management or highly compensated service providers to defer a portion of their salary and bonus under the Deferred Compensation Plan (“Compensation Deferrals”).  Compensation Deferrals under the Plan represent obligations of the Company to pay participants certain compensation amounts that the participants have elected to defer.  The Deferred Compensation Plan is intended to provide participants with the ability to defer income that would otherwise be payable to them for tax planning purposes.  The Compensation Deferrals are payable in cash and generally will be paid in either a lump sum or in annual installments over a certain term upon retirement or in a lump sum upon death or other termination of service, according to the Deferred Compensation Plan.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Deferred Compensation Plan, each participant may specify one or more investment funds or benchmarks made available by the Plan Administrator in which their deferrals shall be deemed to be invested, and each participant’s deferral account will be adjusted periodically in accordance with the procedures adopted by the Plan Administrator to reflect such deemed investments.  A participant’s deferral account will be 100% vested at all times.

 

The obligation to pay the vested balance of each Deferred Compensation Plan participant’s account shall at all times be an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company.  Benefits are payable solely from the Company’s general funds and are subject to the risk of corporate insolvency.  Participants will not have any interest in any particular assets of the Company by reason of any obligation created under the Deferred Compensation Plan.  A participant’s right to Compensation Deferrals cannot be transferred, assigned, pledged or encumbered.

 

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

 

Our executive officers are eligible to receive certain benefits in the event their employment is terminated (1) by the Company without cause, (2) upon their retirement, disability or death or (3) in certain circumstances following a change in control.  The amount of benefits will vary based on the reason for the termination.

 

The following sections present calculations as of December 25, 2010 of the estimated benefits our executive officers would receive in each of these situations.  Although the calculations are intended to provide reasonable estimates of the potential benefits, they are based on numerous assumptions and may not represent the actual amount an executive would receive if an eligible termination event were to occur.

 

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In addition to the amounts disclosed in the following sections, each executive officer would retain the amounts which he has earned or accrued over the course of his employment prior to the termination event, such as the executive’s balances under our Deferred Compensation Plan, our 401(k) plan and previously vested stock options.

 

Severance Benefits

 

If the employment of an executive is terminated without cause, then he or she will be entitled to receive benefits under their employment agreements.  Benefits are not available if an executive is terminated for cause.  Messrs. McDaniel, Weinberger, Sklar and Suchenski have severance benefits in their respective employment agreements.  The following table sets forth the benefits payable to our Named Executive Officers as severance, assuming termination on March 26, 2011.

 

Name

 

Salary ($)

 

Bonus(1)

 

Options ($)

 

Restricted
Stock ($)(2)

 

Health
Benefits
($)

 

Auto
Allowance ($)

 

Outplacement
($)

 

Total
($)

 

Terry McDaniel

 

210,208

 

 

 

 

 

6,000

 

9,000

 

225,208

 

Steve Weinberger

 

139,204

 

 

 

 

 

6,000

 

9,000

 

154,204

 

Steven Sklar

 

165,290

 

 

 

 

 

5,850

 

10,000

 

181,140

 

Richard Suchenski

 

116,666

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

116,666

 

 


(1)            Each Named Executive Officer would be entitled to any applicable prorated bonus.  Because bonuses are performance based, we are unable to reasonably estimate these amounts.

 

(2)            Messrs. McDaniel, Weinberger and Suchenski hold 120,000, 50,000 and 30,000 Performance Shares, respectively, which vest over three years based on achievement of cumulative Board-approved EBITDA targets.  If the executive’s employment is terminated without cause, or if the executive resigns for good reason, then a portion of the Performance Shares vest based on the level of performance for the completed fiscal years prior to termination.  If the Executive’s employment ends for any other reasons, then Performance Shares do not vest and are automatically forfeited.  Because vesting of Performance Shares is performance based, we are unable to reasonably estimate these amounts.

 

Payments Triggered Upon a Change in Control

 

The following table sets forth the value of the payments to which each Named Executive Officer would be entitled as of December 25, 2010 in the event of a change in control of the Company.

 

Name

 

Salary ($)(1)

 

Bonus(2)

 

Auto Allowance
($)

 

Stock
Options ($)(3)

 

Restricted
Stock ($)(4)

 

Outplacement
($)

 

Total ($)

 

Terry McDaniel

 

420,417

 

 

 

312,723

 

 

9,000

 

742,140

 

Steve Weinberger

 

278,409

 

 

 

266,768

 

 

9,000

 

554,177

 

Steven Sklar

 

440,776

 

 

7,800

 

200,508

 

 

10,000

 

659,084

 

Richard Suchenski

 

140,000

 

 

 

18,000

 

 

 

158,000

 

 


(1)            Assumes that the executive’s employment is terminated for “good reason” as defined in his employment agreement, within specified time periods before or after the change in control.

 

(2)            Each Named Executive Officer would be entitled to any applicable prorated bonus.  Because bonuses are performance based, we are unable to reasonably estimate these amounts.

 

(3)            Vesting of all unvested options automatically accelerates upon a change in control.  The dollar values indicated are based on the closing price of the shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market on December 25, 2010.

 

(4)            Upon a change in control, all Performance Shares are eligible for immediate vesting proportionately based upon the cumulative performance for the most recently completed fiscal year during the period, except to the extent that vesting would constitute an excess parachute payment under Internal Revenue Code Section 280G.  Because vesting of Performance Shares is performance based, we are unable to reasonably estimate these amounts.

 

15



 

Employment Agreements

 

Terry McDaniel

 

The Company entered into an executive employment agreement with Mr. McDaniel on April 17, 2006, employing him as Chief Operating Officer, which agreement was amended on May 8, 2008 when Mr. McDaniel took over as Chief Executive Officer.  Pursuant to the terms of this agreement, Mr. McDaniel is an “at will” employee.  Under the terms of his employment agreement, Mr. McDaniel receives an annual base salary of $404,246, a $60,000 relocation allowance, eligibility for bonus as determined by the Board of Directors (or its Compensation Committee) in its discretion, an auto allowance of $1,000 per month, and, to the extent eligible thereunder, will be included in the Company’s plans that provide benefits to executive employees, including, medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, 401(k) plan, sick days, vacation and holidays.  Mr. McDaniel is also eligible to participate in all non-qualified deferred compensation and similar compensation, bonus and stock plans offered, sponsored or established by the Company on substantially the same or a more favorable basis as any other employee of the Company.

 

In the event that Mr. McDaniel’s employment is terminated by the Company for cause or Mr. McDaniel resigns, Mr. McDaniel will be entitled to receive his then current base salary through the date his employment is terminated, but no other compensation of any kind.  In the event Mr. McDaniel’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause, he will be entitled to receive as severance his then current base salary and monthly car allowance for the six-month period following his termination, up to $9,000 for outplacement services and, to the extent that Mr. McDaniel lists the sale of his residence with a licensed real estate broker during such 6-month period and completes the sale of such residence during the 12-month period following expiration of such 6-month period at a sale price less than the amount Mr. McDaniel initially paid for such residence (net of real estate commissions and other closing costs), the Company shall reimburse Mr. McDaniel for such loss in a lump sum payment up to a maximum of $96,250.  In the event of a Change in Control (as defined in his employment agreement), if Mr. McDaniel’s employment is terminated by his resignation within twelve months following such Change in Control, he shall be entitled to receive the outplacement services described above, and if his employment is terminated for “good reason” as defined in his employment agreement, within specified time periods before or after a Change in Control, he shall be entitled to receive a lump sum amount equal to his then current annual base salary.

 

Mr. McDaniel’s employment agreement includes non-competition and non-solicitation provisions which will end one year after Mr. McDaniel’s employment ends and confidentiality provisions that continue indefinitely.

 

Steve Weinberger

 

The Company entered into an executive employment agreement with Mr. Weinberger on July 27, 2006, employing him as Chief Financial Officer, which agreement was amended on May 8, 2008.  Pursuant to the terms of this agreement, Mr. Weinberger is an “at will” employee.  Under the terms of his employment agreement, Mr. Weinberger receives an annual base salary of $270,300, a $60,000 relocation allowance, eligibility for bonus as determined by the Board of Directors (or its Compensation Committee) in its discretion, an auto allowance of $1,000 per month, and, to the extent eligible thereunder, will be included in the Company’s plans that provide benefits to executive employees, including, medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, 401(k) plan, sick days, vacation and holidays.  Mr. Weinberger is also eligible to participate in all non-qualified deferred compensation and similar compensation, bonus and stock plans offered, sponsored or established by the Company on substantially the same or a more favorable basis as any other employee of the Company.

 

In the event that Mr. Weinberger’s employment is terminated by the Company for cause or Mr. Weinberger resigns, Mr. Weinberger will be entitled to receive his then current base salary through the date his employment is terminated, but no other compensation of any kind.  In the event Mr. Weinberger’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause, he will be entitled to receive as severance his then current base salary and monthly car allowance for the six-month period following his termination, up to $9,000 for outplacement services and, to the extent that Mr. Weinberger lists the sale of his residence with a licensed real estate broker during such 6-month period and completes the sale of such residence during the 12-month period following expiration of such 6-month period at a sale price less than the amount Mr. Weinberger initially paid for such residence (net of real estate commissions and other closing costs), the Company shall reimburse Mr. Weinberger for such loss in a lump sum payment up to a maximum of $66,250.  In the event of a Change in Control (as defined in his employment agreement), if Mr. Weinberger’s employment is terminated by his resignation within twelve months following such Change in Control, he shall be entitled to receive the outplacement services described above, and if his employment is terminated for “good reason” as defined in his employment agreement, within specified time periods before or after a Change in Control, he shall be entitled to receive a lump sum amount equal to his then current annual base salary.

 

Mr. Weinberger’s employment agreement includes non-competition and non-solicitation provisions which will end one year after Mr. Weinberger’s employment ends and confidentiality provisions that continue indefinitely.

 

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Steven Sklar

 

The Company entered into an executive employment agreement with Mr. Sklar on August 1, 2005, employing him as Senior Vice President of Marketing.  Pursuant to the terms of this agreement, Mr. Sklar is an “at will” employee.  Under the terms of his employment agreement, Mr. Sklar receives an annual base salary of $216,000, a $75,000 relocation allowance, eligibility for bonus as determined by the Board of Directors (or its Compensation Committee) in its discretion, an auto allowance of $650 per month, and, to the extent eligible thereunder, will be included in the Company’s plans that provide benefits to executive employees, including, medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, 401(k) plan, sick days, vacation and holidays.  Mr. Sklar is also eligible to participate in all non-qualified deferred compensation and similar compensation, bonus and stock plans offered, sponsored or established by the Company on substantially the same or a more favorable basis as any other employee of the Company.

 

In the event that Mr. Sklar’s employment is terminated by the Company for cause or Mr. Sklar resigns, Mr. Sklar will be entitled to receive his then current base salary through the date his employment is terminated, but no other compensation of any kind.  In the event Mr. Sklar’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause, he will be entitled to receive as severance his then current base salary and monthly car allowance for the nine month period following his termination, and up to $10,000 for outplacement services.  In the event of a Change in Control (as defined in his employment agreement), if Mr. Sklar’s employment is terminated by his resignation within twelve months following such Change in Control, he shall be entitled to receive the outplacement services described above, and if his employment is terminated for “good reason” as defined in his employment agreement, within specified time periods before or after a Change in Control, he shall be entitled to receive a lump sum amount equal to 200% of his then current annual base salary and continuation of his car allowance for the 12-month period following such termination.

 

Mr. Sklar’s employment agreement includes non-competition and non-solicitation provisions which will end one year after Mr. Sklar’s employment ends and confidentiality provisions that continue indefinitely.

 

Richard Suchenski

 

The Company entered into an executive employment agreement with Mr. Suchenski on June 21, 2010, employing him as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing.  Pursuant to the terms of this agreement, Mr. Suchenski is an “at will” employee.  Under the terms of his employment agreement, Mr. Suchenski receives an annual base salary of $280,000, a $70,000 relocation allowance, eligibility for bonus as determined by the Board of Directors (or its Compensation Committee) in its discretion, an auto allowance of $900 per month, and, to the extent eligible thereunder, will be included in the Company’s plans that provide benefits to executive employees, including, medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, 401(k) plan, sick days, vacation and holidays.  Mr. Suchenski is also eligible to participate in all non-qualified deferred compensation and similar compensation, bonus and stock plans offered, sponsored or established by the Company on substantially the same or a more favorable basis as any other employee of the Company.

 

In the event that Mr. Suchenski’s employment is terminated by the Company for cause or Mr. Suchenski resigns, Mr. Suchenski will be entitled to receive his then current base salary through the date his employment is terminated, but no other compensation of any kind.  In the event Mr. Suchenski’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause, he will be entitled to receive as severance his then current base salary,  monthly car allowance and continuation of health benefits for the five month period following his termination,.  In the event of a Change in Control (as defined in his employment agreement), if Mr. Suchenski’s employment is terminated for “good reason” as defined in his employment agreement, within specified time periods before or after a Change in Control, he shall be entitled to receive a lump sum amount equal to 50% of his then current annual base salary.

 

Mr. Suchenski’s employment agreement includes non-competition and non-solicitation provisions which will end one year after Mr. Suchenski’s employment ends and confidentiality provisions that continue indefinitely.

 

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

The Board of Directors has appointed the following Company executive officers. Certain information concerning the Company’s executive officers is set forth below, except that information concerning Mr. McDaniel, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, is set forth above under “Proposal 1—Election of Directors.”

 

Steve Weinberger , age 59, has served as Chief Financial Officer since August 2006.  From July 2004 to July 2006, Mr. Weinberger was Chief Financial Officer for Fiera Foods Co.  From 1999 to 2003, Mr. Weinberger was Senior Vice President of Finance at Canada Bread Company.  From 1979 to 1999, Mr. Weinberger was employed at Nabisco Canada, where he last served as Senior Vice President of Finance of the Christie Brown & Company division.  Mr. Weinberger received his honors Bachelor of Arts degree and MBA from York University.

 

17



 

Richard Suchenski , age 52, has served as Senior Vice President — Sales and Marketing since June 2010.  From August 2008 to May 2010 he served as General Manager for the Fruit2O division of the Sunny Delight Corporation.  From August 2005 to July 2008 he served as President and Chief Operating Officer for The Republic of Tea.  Mr. Suchenski began his career at Procter and Gamble where he held various roles of added responsibility in Sales, and then spent six years at Frito Lay where he moved into General Management as a Region Vice President.   Mr. Suchenski received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Missouri State University.

 

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

 

The Company leases a farming, processing and storage facility located on approximately 696 acres of land in Whatcom County, Washington from the Uptrail Group LLC, a limited liability company controlled by the former owners of Rader Farms, including Brad Rader, an officer of the Company.  The ground lease extends through May 17, 2017, and the lease payment is $43,500 per month.  The Company has a right of first offer prior to any sale of the leased premises during the term, and an option to purchase the premises until 90 days prior to expiration of the term.

 

Policy on Review of Related Person Transactions

 

It is the policy of the Board of Directors that all related party transactions must be approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors.  A related party transaction may not be approved by a single director.  For purposes of the policy, the term “related party transaction” means any transaction that is required to be disclosed in the Company’s proxy statements or other filings with the SEC pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any material “conflict of interest” transaction with a director.

 

* * * * *

 

PROPOSAL 2

 

APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE INVENTURE FOODS, INC. 2005 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

General Information

 

On March 10, 2011, the Board adopted, subject to stockholder approval, an amendment to the Inventure Foods, Inc. 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (as amended, the “Amended and Restated Plan”) to increase the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Amended and Restated Plan by 800,000.   As of December 25, 2010, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Amended and Restated Plan is the sum of (a) 410,518, which was the number of reserved but unissued shares available for issuance under the discontinued 1995 Plan when the Amended and Restated Plan was initially adopted on May 17, 2005, (b) 500,000, which was the number of additional shares approved by the stockholders on May 23, 2006 to be added to the Amended and Restated Plan, (c) 500,000, which was the number of additional shares approved by the stockholders on May 19, 2008 to be added to the Amended and Restated Plan and (d) 500,000, which was the number of additional shares approved by the stockholders on May 19, 2009 to be added to the Amended and Restated Plan.  In addition, to the extent shares of Common Stock are subject to awards granted under the 1995 Plan or the Amended and Restated Plan that are canceled or expire prior to the issuance of such shares, those shares will again be available for future awards under the Amended and Restated Plan.  As of December 25, 2010, there were 5,892 shares of Common Stock available for Awards under the Amended and Restated Plan.  If the proposed amendment is approved by the stockholders, the total number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Plan would be increased by 800,000.

 

The Board of Directors believes that a robust equity incentive plan is necessary for the Company to continue to attract, retain and provide appropriate incentive compensation to key personnel, and that the number of shares authorized for issuance under the Amended and Restated Plan should be increased.  If the amendment to the Amended and Restated Plan to increase the number of shares available for issuance thereunder is not approved, the Company may become unable to provide suitable equity-based incentives to present and future employees.  Whether or not stockholder approval is obtained, the Amended and Restated Plan will remain in effect, and equity incentives may continue to be awarded pursuant to the provisions of the Amended and Restated Plan until the share reserve is depleted.

 

The following is a summary of the material terms of the Amended and Restated Plan as proposed to be amended and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amended and Restated Plan, a copy of which is attached to this proxy statement as Appendix A .

 

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Summary of the Amended and Restated 2005 Equity Incentive Plan

 

Administration

 

The Compensation Committee will administer the Amended and Restated Plan, with certain actions subject to the review and approval of the full Board or a panel consisting of all of the independent Directors. The Committee will have full power and authority to determine when and to whom awards will be granted, including the type, amount, form of payment and other terms and conditions of each award, consistent with the provisions of the Amended and Restated Plan. In addition the Committee has the authority to interpret the Amended and Restated Plan and the awards granted under the plan, and establish rules and regulations for the administration of the plan. The Committee may delegate the administration of the plan to the Company’s officers, including the maintenance of records of the awards and the interpretation of the terms of the awards.

 

Eligible Participants

 

Any officer, employee, consultant, independent contractor, or adviser providing services to the Company or any subsidiary, who is selected by the Committee, is eligible to receive awards under the Amended and Restated Plan.

 

Shares Available for Awards

 

The aggregate number of shares of the Common Stock that may be issued as awards under the Amended and Restated Plan is the sum of (a) 410,518, which was the number of reserved but unissued shares available for issuance under the Company’s 1995 Stock Option Plan (the “1995 Plan”) when the 1995 Plan was discontinued and the Amended and Restated Plan was adopted on May 17, 2005, (b) 500,000, which was the number of additional shares approved by the stockholders on May 23, 2006 to be added to the Amended and Restated Plan, (c) 500,000, which was the number of additional shares approved by the stockholders on May 19, 2008 to be added to the Amended and Restated Plan, (d) 500,000, which was the number of additional shares approved by the stockholders on May 19, 2009 to be added to the Amended and Restated Plan, (e) 800,000, which was the number of shares of Stock approved by the stockholders on May 18, 2011 to be added to the Amended and Restated Plan, and (f) the number of shares of Stock that prior to issuance are released from, or reacquired by the Company pursuant to, the terms of awards outstanding under the 1995 Plan.

 

The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which may be granted to any one participant in any one year under the Amended and Restated Plan is 250,000 shares.  The Committee may adjust the aggregate number of shares reserved for issuance under the plan in the case of a stock dividend or other distribution, including a stock split, merger, extraordinary dividend, or other similar corporate transaction or event, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be provided under the plan.

 

If any shares of Common Stock subject to any award or to which an award relates, granted under the Amended and Restated Plan, are forfeited, become unexercisable, or if any award terminates without the delivery of any shares, the shares of Common Stock previously set aside for such awards will be available for future awards under the Amended and Restated Plan.

 

Types of Awards and Terms and Conditions

 

The Amended and Restated Plan permits the grant of the following awards:

 

*nonqualified stock options

 

*incentive stock options

 

*restricted stock

 

*restricted stock units

 

*stock appreciation rights

 

*performance shares or units

 

*stock-reference awards

 

Awards may be granted alone, in addition to, or in combination with any other award granted under the Amended and Restated Plan.

 

Stock Options

 

The holder of an option will be entitled to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock at a specified exercise price during a specified time period, all as determined by the Committee. The option exercise price may be payable either in cash or, at the discretion of the Committee, in shares of Common Stock having a fair market value on the exercise date equal to the exercise price.

 

19



 

Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units

 

The holder of restricted stock will own shares of Common Stock subject to restrictions imposed by the Committee (including for example, restrictions on the right to vote the restricted shares or to receive any dividends with respect to the shares) and subject to forfeiture to the Company if the holder does not satisfy certain requirements (including, for example, continued employment with the Company) for a specified period of time. The holder of restricted stock units will have the right, subject to any restrictions imposed by the Committee, to receive shares of Common Stock, or a cash payment equal to the fair market value of those shares, at some future date determined by the Committee, provided that the holder has satisfied certain requirements (including, for example, continued employment with the Company until such future date).

 

The awards of restricted stock and restricted stock units that are intended to qualify as “performance based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code will be subject to the attainment of performance goals relating to the performance criteria selected by the Committee. Performance goals must be based solely on one or more of the following business criteria: (i) cash flow; (ii) earnings per share, including earnings per share as adjusted (a) to exclude the impact of any (1) significant acquisitions or dispositions of businesses by the Company, (2) one-time, non-operating charges and (3) accounting changes (including but not limited to any accounting changes that require the expensing of stock options and any accounting changes the Company adopts early); and (b) for any stock split, stock dividend or other recapitalization; (iii) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; (iv) return on equity; (v) total stockholder return; (vi) share price performance; (vii) return on capital; (viii) return on assets or net assets; (ix) revenue; (x) income; (xi) operating income; (xii) operating profit; (xiii) profit margin; (xiv) return on operating revenue; (xv) return on invested capital; (xvi) market price; (xvii) brand recognition/acceptance; (xviii) customer satisfaction; (xix) productivity; or (xx) sales growth and volume.

 

Stock Appreciation Rights

 

Participants may be granted tandem SARs (consisting of SARs with underlying options) and stand-alone SARs. The holder of a tandem SAR is entitled to elect between the exercise of the underlying option for shares of Common Stock or the surrender of the option in exchange for the receipt of a cash payment equal to the excess of the fair market value on the surrender date over the aggregate exercise price payable for such shares. The holder of stand-alone SARs will be entitled to receive the excess of the fair market value (on the exercise date) over the exercise price for such shares.

 

Change of Control

 

The Committee has the discretion to include provisions in awards that provide for acceleration of certain restrictions in the event of a change of control of the Company (as defined by the Committee and set forth in such awards), including provisions that provide that, upon the occurrence of such change of control:

 

*options and SARs may become fully vested and immediately exercisable;

 

*restriction periods and restrictions imposed on restricted stock or restricted stock units that are not performance-based may lapse; and

 

*restrictions and other conditions applicable to other awards may lapse, and the awards may become free of restrictions, limitations or conditions and become fully vested and transferable.

 

Termination of Employment

 

Vested options granted under the Amended and Restated Plan will expire, terminate, or otherwise be forfeited as follows:

 

*sixty (60) days after termination of a participant, including voluntary termination by the participant, other than in the circumstances described below;

 

*upon termination of a participant for Cause (as defined in the Amended and Restated Plan);

 

*six (6) months after the date on which a participant is terminated due to Disability (as defined in the Amended and Restated Plan); and

 

*six (6) months after the death of a participant.

 

Duration, Termination and Amendment

 

The Amended and Restated Plan will terminate on the tenth anniversary of the date the Company’s stockholders approved the initial version of the plan, May 17, 2015, unless terminated by the Board or the Committee earlier, or extended by an amendment approved by the Company’s stockholders. No awards may be made after the termination date. However, unless otherwise expressly provided in an applicable award agreement, any award granted under the Amended and Restated Plan prior to the expiration may extend beyond the end of such period through the award’s normal expiration date.

 

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The Board, and the Committee, may generally amend or terminate the plan as determined to be advisable. Stockholder approval may also be required for certain amendments by the Internal Revenue Code, the rules of The Nasdaq Global Market, or rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Board or the Committee has specific authority to amend the plan without stockholder approval to comply with legal, regulatory and listing requirements and to avoid unanticipated consequences determined to be inconsistent with the purpose of the plan or any award agreement.

 

Prohibition on Repricing Awards

 

Without the approval of the Company’s stockholders, no option or SAR may be amended to reduce its exercise price or grant price at any time during the term of such option or SAR.

 

Transferability of Awards

 

Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, awards under the Amended and Restated Plan may only be transferred by will or the laws of descent and distribution. The Committee may permit further transferability pursuant to conditions and limitations that it may impose, except that no transfers for consideration will be permitted.

 

Federal Income Tax Consequences

 

The federal income tax consequences of awards under the Amended and Restated Plan to the Company and the Company’s employees, officers and directors are complex and subject to change. The following discussion is only a summary of the general rules applicable to the Amended and Restated Plan. Recipients of awards under the Amended and Restated Plan should consult their own tax advisors since a taxpayer’s particular situation may be such that some variation of the rules described below will apply.

 

Options

 

Options granted under the Amended and Restated Plan may be either incentive stock options or nonqualified stock options. Incentive stock options are options which are designated as such by the Company and which meet certain requirements under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and the regulations thereunder. Any option which does not satisfy these requirements will be treated as a nonqualified stock option.

 

Incentive Stock Options

 

If an option granted under the Amended and Restated Plan is treated as an incentive stock option, the optionee will not recognize any income upon either the grant or the exercise of the option, and the Company will not be entitled to a deduction for federal tax purposes. Upon a sale of the shares, the tax treatment to the optionee and the Company will depend primarily upon whether the optionee has met certain holding period requirements at the time he or she sells the shares. In addition, as discussed below, the exercise of an incentive stock option may subject the optionee to alternative minimum tax liability.

 

If an optionee exercises an incentive stock option and does not dispose of the shares received within two years after the date theoption was granted or within one year after the transfer of the shares to him or her, any gain realized upon the disposition will be characterized as long-term capital gain and, in such case, the Company will not be entitled to a federal tax deduction.

 

If the optionee disposes of the shares either within two years after the date the option is granted or within one year after the transfer of the shares to him or her, the disposition will be treated as a disqualifying disposition and an amount equal to the lesser of (1) the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise minus the exercise price, or (2) the amount realized on the disposition minus the exercise price, will be taxed as ordinary income to the optionee in the taxable year in which the disposition occurs. However, in the case of gifts, sales to related parties, and certain other transactions, the full difference between the fair market value of the stock and the purchase price will be treated as compensation income. The excess, if any, of the amount realized upon disposition over the fair market value at the time of the exercise of the option will be treated as long-term capital gain if the shares have been held for more than one year following the exercise of the option.

 

The exercise of an incentive stock option may subject an optionee to alternative minimum tax liability. The excess of the fair market value of the shares at the time an incentive stock option is exercised over the purchase price of the shares is included in income for purposes of the alternative minimum tax even though it is not included in taxable income for purposes of determining the regular tax liability of an optionee. Consequently, an optionee may be obligated to pay alternative minimum tax in the year he or she exercises an incentive stock option.

 

In general, the Company will not be entitled to a federal income tax deduction upon the grant, exercise, or termination of an incentive stock option. However, in the event an optionee sells or otherwise disposes of the stock received on the exercise of an incentive stock option in a disqualifying disposition, the Company will be entitled to a deduction for federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the ordinary income, if any, recognized by the optionee upon disposition of the shares, provided that the deduction is not otherwise disallowed under the Code.

 

Nonqualified Stock Options

 

Nonqualified stock options granted under the Amended and Restated Plan do not qualify as “incentive stock options” and will not qualify for any special tax benefits to the optionee. An optionee generally will not recognize any taxable income at the time he or she is granted a nonqualified option. However, upon its exercise, the optionee will recognize ordinary income for federal tax purposes measured by the excess of the then fair market value of the shares over the exercise price. The income realized by the optionee will be subject to income and other employment withholding taxes.

 

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The optionee’s basis for determination of gain or loss upon the subsequent disposition of shares acquired upon the exercise of a nonqualified stock option will be the amount paid for such shares plus any ordinary income recognized as a result of the exercise of such option. Upon disposition of any shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of a nonqualified stock option, the difference between the sale price and the optionee’s basis in the shares will be treated as a capital gain or loss and generally will be characterized as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year at the time of their disposition.

 

In general, the Company will not be entitled to a federal income tax deduction upon the grant or termination of a nonqualified stock option or a sale or disposition of the shares acquired upon the exercise of a nonqualified stock option. However, upon the exercise of a nonqualified stock option, the Company will be entitled to a deduction for federal income tax purposes equal to the amount of ordinary income that an optionee is required to recognize as a result of the exercise, provided that the deduction is not otherwise disallowed under the Code.

 

Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units

 

Generally, absent a timely election by the holder under Section 83(b) of the Code, the holder of restricted stock will recognize ordinary compensation income at the time the stock becomes vested. The amount of ordinary compensation income recognized will be equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the stock on the date it becomes vested over any amount paid by the holder in exchange for stock.

 

In the case of restricted stock units, the holder will recognize ordinary compensation income at the time the stock is received equal to the excess of value of the stock on the date of receipt over any amount paid by the holder in exchange for stock. If the holder of a restricted stock unit receives the cash equivalent of the stock issuable under the restricted stock unit in lieu of actually receiving the stock, the holder will recognize ordinary compensation income at the time of the receipt of such cash in the amount of the cash received. In the case of both restricted stock and restricted stock units, the income recognized by the holder will generally be subject to U.S. income tax withholding and employment taxes.

 

In the year that the recipient of a stock award recognizes ordinary taxable income in respect of restricted stock or a restricted stock unit, the Company will be entitled to a deduction for federal income tax purposes equal to the amount of ordinary income that the recipient is required to recognize, provided that the deduction is not otherwise disallowed under the Code.

 

Stock Appreciation Rights

 

As discussed above, the Company may grant either stand-alone SARs or tandem SARs under the Amended and Restated Plan. Generally, the recipient of a SAR will not recognize any taxable income at the time the SAR is granted.

 

With respect to stand-alone SARs, if the holder receives the appreciation inherent in the SARs in cash, the cash will be taxable as ordinary compensation income to the employee at the time that it is received. If the holder receives the appreciation inherent in the stand-alone SARs in stock, the holder will recognize ordinary compensation income equal to the excess of the fair market value of the stock on the day it is received over any amounts paid by the holder for the stock.

 

With respect to tandem SARs, if a holder elects to surrender the underlying option in exchange for cash or stock equal to the appreciation inherent in the underlying option, the tax consequences to the holder will be the same as discussed above relating to stand-alone SARs. If the holder elects to exercise the underlying option, the holder will be taxed at the time of exercise as if he or she had exercised a nonqualified stock option (discussed above), i.e., the holder will recognize ordinary income for federal tax purposes measured by the excess of the then fair market value of the shares of stock over the exercise price.

 

The income recognized by the holder of a stand-alone SAR or tandem SAR will generally be subject to U.S. income tax withholding and employment taxes.

 

In general, the Company will not be entitled to a federal income tax deduction upon the grant or termination of stand-alone SARs or tandem SARs. However, upon the exercise of either a stand-alone SAR or a tandem SAR, the Company will be entitled to a deduction for federal income tax purposes equal to the amount of ordinary income that the holder is required to recognize as a result of the exercise, provided that the deduction is not otherwise disallowed under the Code.

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE INVENTURE FOODS, INC. 2005 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

New Plan Benefits

 

Because the Amended and Restated 2005 Equity Incentive Plan is a discretionary plan, it is not possible to determine what awards the Board of Directors or the Committee will grant under the plan.

 

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* * * * *

 

PROPOSAL 3 RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF
MOSS ADAMS LLP AS INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

 

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has selected Moss Adams LLP as independent public accountants to audit our consolidated financial statements for the 2010 fiscal year, ending December 25, 2010 . This selection is being presented to the stockholders for their ratification at the Annual Meeting. Moss Adams LLP has served as our independent certified public accountants and has audited our consolidated financial statements since July 15, 2008. Representatives of Moss Adams LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and to respond to appropriate questions.  Stockholder ratification of the selection of Moss Adams LLP as our independent public accountants is not required by our Bylaws or otherwise. We are submitting the selection of Moss Adams to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the stockholders fail to ratify the selection, the Audit Committee will reconsider its selection of Moss Adams LLP.

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS
VOTE FOR RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF
MOSS ADAMS LLP AS INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS.

 

* * * * *

 

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

 

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

The following table itemizes fees billed to the Company by Moss Adams for fiscal years 2009 and 2010:

 

 

 

2009

 

2010

 

 

 

MossAdams

 

MossAdams

 

Audit Fees (includes quarterly review procedures)

 

$

196,735

 

$

201,926

 

Audit Related Fees (Fees related to the review of Form S-8 in 2009)

 

3,100

 

 

 

All of the services described under the captions Audit Related Fees were approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to Item 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X.  Audit Committee approval is required before an accountant is engaged to render audit or non-audit services unless (a) the engagement is entered into pursuant to detailed pre-approval policies established by the Audit Committee and such policies do not include delegation of the committee’s responsibilities to management or (b) the engagement is with respect to services other than audit, review or attest services and they aggregate less than 5% of the total paid to the accountant during the fiscal year, such services were not recognized by the Company at the time of the engagement to be non-audit and such services are promptly brought to committee’s attention and approved prior to completion of the audit.

 

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

 

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires that the Company’s directors, executive officers and persons who own more than 10% of the Company’s Common Stock file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of Common Stock and other equity securities of the Company.  Officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file.

 

To the Company’s knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of such reports furnished to the Company and written representation that no other reports were required, during the fiscal year ended December 25, 2010, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial owners were complied with.

 

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2012 ANNUAL MEETING

 

If any stockholder intends to present a proposal to be considered for inclusion in the Company’s proxy material in connection with the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the proposal must be on matters appropriate for stockholder action, in proper form and otherwise consistent with the rules and regulations under the Exchange Act and the Company’s Bylaws, and received by the Secretary of the Company on or before December 17, 2011.  Proposals should be directed to the Company’s Secretary, Inventure Foods, Inc., 5415 East High Street, Suite 350, Phoenix, Arizona 85054.

 

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OTHER BUSINESS

 

The Board of Directors does not know of any business to be brought before the Annual Meeting other than the matters described in the Notice of Annual Meeting.  However, if any other matters are properly presented for action, it is the intention of each person named in the accompanying proxy to vote said proxy in accordance with his judgment on such matters.

 

AVAILABILITY OF FORM 10-K AND ANNUAL REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS

 

The Company is required to provide an Annual Report to stockholders who receive this proxy statement.  The Company will also provide copies of the Annual Report to brokers, dealers, banks, voting trustees and their nominees for the benefit of their beneficial owners of record.  Additional copies of the Annual Report, along with copies of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 25, 2010 (not including documents incorporated by reference), are available without charge to stockholders upon written request to the Company:  Inventure Foods, Inc., Attention: Corporate Secretary, 5415 East High Street, Suite 350, Phoenix, Arizona 85054.  You may review the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission by visiting the Company’s website at www.inventurefoods.com.

 

* * * * *

 

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APPENDIX A

 

INVENTURE FOODS, INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED

2005 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

ARTICLE 1. PURPOSE

 

1.1            General .  The purpose of Inventure Foods, Inc. Amended and Restated 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is to promote the interests of Inventure Foods, Inc. (the “Company”), by enabling the Company to motivate, attract, and retain the services of persons upon whose judgment, efforts, and contributions the success of the Company’s business depends.  The plan is further intended to align the personal interests of such persons with the interests of stockholders of the Company through equity participation in the Company’s growth and success.  Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in the text are defined in Article 16.

 

ARTICLE 2. EFFECTIVE DATE; TERM

 

2.1            Effective Date .  The effective date of the Plan is May 17, 2005 (the “Effective Date”), which is the date as of which the Plan was approved by the stockholders of the Company.

 

2.2            Term .  This Plan shall continue in effect until terminated in accordance with Article 14, except that no Awards shall be granted after the tenth (10 th ) anniversary of the Effective Date.

 

ARTICLE 3. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

 

3.1            Number of Shares .  The aggregate number of shares of Stock (the “Shares”) reserved and available for Awards or which may be used to provide a basis of measurement or valuation of an Award (such as an SAR, Restricted Stock Award or Performance Unit Award) shall be the sum of (a) 410,518, which was the number of shares of Stock reserved for issuance under the Company’s 1995 Stock Option Plan (the “Prior Plan”) that were not subject to outstanding awards under the Prior Plan on the Effective Date, (b) 500,000, which was the number of shares of Stock approved by the stockholders on May 23, 2006 to be added to the number of shares of Stock reserved and available under the Plan for Awards or which may be used to provide a basis of measurement or valuation for an Award, (c) 500,000, which was the number of shares of Stock approved by the stockholders on May 19, 2008 to be added to the number of shares of Stock reserved and available under the Plan for Awards or which may be used to provide a basis of measurement or valuation for an Award, (d) 500,000, which was the number of shares of Stock approved by the stockholders on May 19, 2009 to be added to the number of shares of Stock reserved and available under the Plan for Awards or which may be used to provide a basis of measurement or valuation for an Award, (e) 800,000, which is the number of shares of Stock that will, upon approval by the stockholders on May 18, 2011, be added to the number of shares of Stock reserved and available under the Plan for Awards or which may be used to provide a basis of measurement or valuation for an Award and (f) the number of shares of Stock that prior to issuance are released from, or reacquired by the Company pursuant to, the terms of awards outstanding under the Prior Plan.

 

3.2            Re-use of Shares .  Shares that: (a) are subject to issuance upon exercise of an Option but cease to be subject to such Option for any reason other than exercise of such Option; (b) are subject to an Award granted hereunder but prior to issuance are released from, or reacquired by the Company pursuant to, the terms of such Award; or (c) are subject to an Award that otherwise terminates without Shares being issued; will again be available for grant and issuance in connection with future Awards under this Plan.  In addition, Shares that are withheld by the Company and not issued in order to pay for Shares purchased pursuant to an Award or any withholding taxes due upon issuance of an Award or Shares thereunder shall not be deemed to have been delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of Shares available for delivery under the Plan and such Shares shall again be available for grant of Awards under the Plan, other than an Award that includes Incentive Stock Options.

 

3.3            Maximum Number of Shares for Certain Awards .  No more than 100% of the Shares shall be issued pursuant to Incentive Stock Options, and no more than 100% of the Shares shall be issued pursuant to Non-Qualified Stock Options, Restricted Stock Awards, SARs, Performance Units and Stock Reference Awards.  A person may be granted more than one Award under this Plan.

 

3.4            Stock Distributed .  Any Stock distributed pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Stock, treasury Stock, or Stock purchased on the open market.  At all times the Company shall reserve and keep available a sufficient number of Shares as shall be required to satisfy the requirements of all outstanding Awards granted under this Plan.

 

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ARTICLE 4. ELIGIBILITY

 

4.1            General .  Awards may be granted only to an individual who is an employee (including an employee who also is a director or officer), officer, director, consultant, independent contractor, or adviser of the Company or a Subsidiary, as determined by the Board; provided such consultants, contractors and advisors render bona fide services not in connection with the offer and sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction.

 

4.2            Individual Award Limits .  In no event shall any Participant receive an Award or Awards during any calendar year covering an aggregate of more than 250,000 Shares.

 

4.3            Description of Criteria for Performance-Based Awards to Named Executive Officers .  In determining performance goals applicable to any Award granted to a Named Executive Officer, one or more of the following business criteria shall be used: (a) cash flow; (b) earnings per share, including earnings per share as adjusted (i) to exclude the impact of any (1) significant acquisitions or dispositions of businesses by the Company, (2) one-time, non-operating charges and (3) accounting changes (including but not limited to any accounting changes that require the expensing of stock options and any accounting changes the Company adopts early); and (ii) for any stock split, stock dividend or other recapitalization; (c) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; (d) return on equity; (e) total shareholder return; (f) share price performance; (g) return on capital; (h) return on assets or net assets; (i) revenue; (j) income; (k) operating income; (l) operating profit; (m) profit margin; (n) return on operating revenue; (o) return on invested capital; (p) market price; (q) brand recognition/acceptance; (r) customer satisfaction; (s) productivity; or (t) sales growth and volume.

 

ARTICLE 5. ADMINISTRATION

 

5.1            Board .  The Plan shall be administered by the Board or a Committee appointed by the Board to administer the Plan at any time or from time to time.  To the extent required for Awards to qualify for the exemptions available under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, or successor legislation, members of the Committee shall be “non-employee” directors within the meaning of Rule 16b-3.  To the extent required for compensation realized from Awards to be deductible by the Company pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Code, members of the Committee shall be “outside directors” within the meaning of such Section.  Once appointed, the Committee shall continue to serve until otherwise directed by the Board.  From time to time, the Board may increase the size of the Committee and appoint additional members thereof, remove members (with or without cause), appoint new members in substitution therefor, and fill vacancies however caused.

 

5.2            Authority of Board .  The Board has the exclusive power, authority, and discretion to:

 

(a)            Designate Participants;

 

(b)            Determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant;

 

(c)            Determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of shares of Stock subject to an Award;

 

(d)            Prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need not be identical for each Participant;

 

(e)            Determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted under the Plan, including but not limited to, the exercise price, grant price, or purchase price, any restrictions or limitations on the Award, any schedule for lapse of forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on the exercisability of an Award and accelerations or waivers thereof, any performance criteria, and any modification or amendment of any Award previously granted, based in each case on such considerations as the Board in its sole discretion determines;

 

(f)             Determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise price of an Award may be paid in, cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property, or an Award may be canceled, forfeited, or surrendered;

 

(g)            Determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances cash, Stock, other Awards, other property, and other amounts payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the holder thereof or of the Board;

 

(h)            Decide all other matters that must be determined in connection with an Award;

 

26



 

(i)             Establish, adopt, or revise any rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;

 

(j)             Interpret the Plan, any Award, and any Award Agreement in its discretion; and

 

(k)            Make all other decisions and determinations that may be required under the Plan or as the Board deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan.

 

5.3            Decisions Binding .  All decisions, interpretations, and determinations by the Board with respect to the Plan, any Award, and any Award Agreement are final, binding, and conclusive on all parties.

 

5.4            Repricing of Stock Options and SARs .  In no event shall any outstanding Option or SAR be repriced to a lower exercise or grant price per Share at any time during the term of such Option or SAR without the prior affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock of the Company present at a stockholders meeting in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon.

 

ARTICLE 6. STOCK OPTIONS

 

6.1            General .  The Board is authorized to grant Options to Participants on the following terms and conditions:

 

(a)            Exercise Price .  The exercise price per share of Stock under an Option other than an Incentive Stock Option shall be determined by the Board, provided that the exercise price for any such Option may not be less than 85% of the Fair Market Value as of the date of the grant.

 

(b)            Payment .  Payment for Stock issued upon exercise of an Option shall be made in accordance with Article 11 of the Plan.

 

(c)            Time and Conditions of Exercise . The Board shall determine the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part, provided that no Option may be exercisable prior to six months following the date of the grant of such Option if and to the extent such limitation is necessary or required under Rule 16b-3 or successor legislation under the Exchange Act.

 

(d)            Evidence of Option .  All Options shall be evidenced by a written Award Agreement between the Company and the Participant.  The Award Agreement shall include such provisions as may be specified by the Board.

 

6.2            Incentive Stock Options .  The terms of any Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan must comply with the following additional rules, and, to the extent that an Incentive Stock Option fails to comply with such rules, it will be treated as a Non Qualified Stock Option:

 

(a)            Employees Only .  Incentive Stock Options may only be granted to employees (including officers and directors who are also employees) of the Company or a Subsidiary.

 

(b)            Exercise Price .  The exercise price per share of Stock shall be set by the Board, provided that the exercise price for any Incentive Stock Option may not be less than the Fair Market Value as of the date of the grant.

 

(c)            Exercise .  In no event may any Incentive Stock Option be exercisable for more than ten years from the date of its grant.

 

(d)            Individual Dollar Limitation .  The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time an Award is made) of all shares of Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are first exercisable by a Participant in any calendar year may not exceed $100,000.00.

 

(e)            Ten Percent Owners .  An Incentive Stock Option may be granted to a Ten Percent Owner, provided that at the time such option is granted the exercise price per share of Stock shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value and such option by its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date of its grant.

 

(f)             Expiration of Incentive Stock Options .  No Award of an Incentive Stock Option may be made pursuant to this Plan after the expiration of ten (10) years from the Effective Date.

 

27



 

(g)            Right to Exercise .  During a Participant’s lifetime, an Incentive Stock Option may be exercised only by the Participant.

 

(h)            Tax-Qualified ISOP Options .  All provisions of the Plan relating to Incentive Stock Options shall be administered and interpreted in accordance, and so as to comply, with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code.

 

6.3            Termination of Participant .  Notwithstanding the exercise periods set forth in any Award Agreement, Options shall be subject to the following:

 

(a)            An Option shall lapse ten years after it is granted, unless an earlier time is set in the Award Agreement.

 

(b)            If a Participant’s employment is terminated due to Retirement or for any other reason other than for Cause, such Participant may exercise his or her Incentive Stock Options only to the extent that such Incentive Stock Options would have been exercisable on the Termination Date; provided, that such exercise is made prior to the earlier of the date sixty (60) days after the Termination Date and the expiration date of the Option set forth in the Award Agreement.  If a Participant’s employment is terminated due to Cause, the Participant’s Incentive Stock Options shall automatically lapse and not be exercisable by the Participant, whether or not such Options were vested.

 

(c)            If a Participant’s employment, contractual or other relationship with the Company is terminated due to Retirement or for any other reason other than for Cause, such Participant may exercise his or her Non-Qualified Stock Options, only to the extent that such Options would have been exercisable on the Termination Date; provided, that such exercise is made prior to the earlier of the date sixty (60) days after the Termination Date (or such other time period as set forth in the Award Agreement) and the expiration date of the Option set forth in the Award Agreement.  If a Participant’s employment, contractual or other relationship is terminated due to Cause, the Participant’s Non-Qualified Stock Options shall automatically lapse and not be exercisable by the Participant, whether or not such Options were vested.

 

(d)            If a Participant dies or is terminated due to Disability, then the Participant’s Options may be exercised, only to the extent that such Options would have been exercisable on the date of the Participant’s death or termination due to Disability; provided that such exercise is made prior to the earlier of (i) the six-month anniversary of such Participant’s death or termination due to Disability, as the case may be or (ii) the expiration date of the Option set forth in the Award Agreement.  Upon the Participant’s death or termination due to Disability, any exercisable Options may be exercised by the Participant’s legal representative or representatives.

 

ARTICLE 7. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

 

7.1            Grant of SARs .  The Board is authorized to grant SARs to Participants on the following terms and conditions:

 

(a)            Right to Payment .  Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the Participant to whom it is granted has the right to receive the excess, if any, of:

 

(1)            The Fair Market Value of one share of Stock on the date of exercise; over

 

(2)            The grant price of the SAR as determined by the Board, which shall not be less than 85% of the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock on the date of grant in the case of any SAR.

 

(b)            Other Terms .  All awards of Stock Appreciation Rights shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.  The terms, methods of exercise, methods of settlement, form of consideration payable in settlement, and any other terms and conditions of any Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Board at the time of the grant of the Award and shall be reflected in the Award Agreement.  A Stock Appreciation Right may be granted in combination with, in addition to, or completely independent of an Option or any other Award under the Plan.

 

ARTICLE 8. PERFORMANCE UNITS

 

8.1            Grant of Performance Units .  The Board is authorized to grant Performance Units to Participants on such terms and conditions as may be selected by the Board.  The Board shall have the complete discretion to determine the number of Performance Units granted to each Participant.  All Awards of Performance Units shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.

 

28



 

8.2                                  Right Under Performance Units .  A grant of Performance Units gives the Participant rights, valued as determined by the Board, and payable to, or exercisable by, the Participant to whom the Performance Units are granted, in whole or in part, as the Board shall establish at grant or thereafter.  The Board shall set performance goals and other terms or conditions to payment of the Performance Units in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the amount and value of cash, Stock, Awards, and/or other property that will be paid to the Participant.

 

8.3                                  Other Terms .  Performance Units may be payable in cash, Stock, or other Awards or property, or any combination thereof, and have such other terms and conditions as determined by the Board and reflected in the Award Agreement.

 

ARTICLE 9. RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

 

9.1                                  Restricted Stock Awards .  The Board is authorized to make Awards of Restricted Stock to Participants either in the form of a grant of Stock or an offer to sell Stock to a Participant, in such amounts and subject to such terms, conditions and restrictions as may be selected by the Board.  All Awards of Restricted Stock shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.

 

9.2                                  Issuance and Restrictions .  Restricted Stock shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability and other restrictions, including without limitation “vesting” or forfeiture restrictions, as the Board may impose.  These restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, under such circumstances, in such installments, or otherwise, as the Board determines at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter.

 

9.3                                  Forfeiture .  Except as otherwise determined by the Board at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter, upon termination of employment during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Stock that is at that time subject to restrictions shall be forfeited and reacquired by the Company; provided, however, that the Board may provide in any Award Agreement that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Stock will be waived in whole or in part in specified circumstances, and the Board may in other cases waive in whole or in part restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Stock.

 

9.4                                  Payment and Certificates for Restricted Stock .  If a Restricted Stock Award provides for the purchase of Stock by a Participant, payment shall be made pursuant to Article 11 of the Plan.  Restricted Stock granted under the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Board shall determine.  To the extent that an Award is granted in the form of newly issued Restricted Stock, the Award recipient, as a condition to the grant of such an Award, shall be required to pay to the Company in cash, cash equivalents or other legal consideration an amount equal to the par value of such Restricted Stock.  To the extent that an Award is granted in the form of Restricted Stock from the Company’s treasury, no such cash consideration shall be required of the Award recipients.  If certificates representing shares of Restricted Stock are registered in the name of the Participant, certificates must bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, and the Company shall retain physical possession of the certificate until such time as all applicable restrictions lapse.

 

9.5                                  Restricted Stock Units .  Restricted Stock Awards may be granted as Awards of Restricted Stock Units.

 

(a)                                   A Restricted Stock Unit means a contractual right granted to a Participant under this Plan to receive a Share (or cash equivalent) which is subject to restrictions of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.  A Restricted Stock Unit shall entitle the Participant to receive one Share at such future time and upon such terms as specified by the Board in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award. Restricted Stock Units issued under the Plan may have restrictions which lapse based upon the service of a Participant, or based upon other criteria that the Board may determine appropriate. The Board may require a cash payment from the Participant in exchange for the grant of Restricted Stock Units or may grant Restricted Stock Units without the requirement of a cash payment. The Board may grant Restricted Stock Units that vest on the attainment of performance goals determined by the Board based upon one or more of the performance criteria listed in Section 4.3, and must have the attainment of such performance goals certified in writing by the Board.

 

(b)                                  The Board shall establish the vesting schedule applicable to Restricted Stock Units and shall specify the times, vesting and performance goal requirements. Until the end of the period(s) of time specified in the vesting schedule and/or the satisfaction of any performance criteria set forth in the Award Agreement, the Restricted Stock Units subject to such Award Agreement shall remain subject to forfeiture.

 

(c)                                   If the Participant’s employment (or in the case of a non-employee, such Participant’s service) with the Company terminates before the Restricted Stock Awards vest, the Participant shall forfeit all unvested Restricted Stock Awards, unless the termination is a result of such Participant’s death, Disability or Retirement (a “Qualifying Event”) or the Board determines that the Participant’s unvested Restricted Stock Awards shall vest as of the Termination Date; provided, however, the Board may grant Restricted Stock Awards precluding such accelerated vesting in order to qualify the Restricted Stock Awards for the performance-based exception from the tax deductibility limitations of Code Section 162(m).

 

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(d)                                  In the event a Qualifying Event occurs before the date or dates on which Restricted Stock Units vest, the expiration of the applicable restrictions (other than restrictions based on performance criteria listed in Section 4.3) shall be accelerated and the Participant shall be entitled to receive the Shares free of all such restrictions.  In the case of Restricted Stock Units which are based on performance criteria set forth in Section 4.3, then as of the date on which such Qualifying Event occurs, the Participant shall be entitled to receive a number of Shares that is determined by measuring the selected performance criteria from the Company’s most recent publicly available quarterly results that are available as of the date the Qualifying Event occurs; provided, however, the Board may grant Restricted Stock Units precluding such partial awards when a Qualifying Event occurs in order to qualify the Restricted Stock Units for the performance-based exception from the tax deductibility limitations of Code Section 162(m). All other Shares subject to such Restricted Stock Units shall be forfeited and returned to the Company as of the date on which such Qualifying Event occurs.

 

(e)                                   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, the Board shall have the power to permit, in its sole discretion, an acceleration of the applicable restrictions or the applicable period of such restrictions with respect to any part or all of the Restricted Stock Units awarded to a Participant; provided, however, the Board may grant Restricted Stock Units precluding such accelerated vesting on order to qualify the Restricted Stock Units for the performance-based exception from the tax deductibility limitations of Code Section 162(m).

 

(f)                                     Each grant of Restricted Stock Unit(s) shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the terms, conditions and restrictions regarding the Participant’s right to receive Share(s) in the future, and shall incorporate such other terms and conditions as the Board, acting in its sole discretion, deems consistent with the terms of this Plan. The Board shall have sole discretion to modify the terms and provisions of Restricted Stock Unit(s) in accordance with Article 14 of this Plan.

 

(g)                                  Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Award Agreement, no Restricted Stock Unit granted under the Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated by the Participant, except upon the death of the Participant by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

 

(h)                                  Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Award Agreement, holders of Restricted Stock Units shall not be entitled to vote or to receive dividends until they become owners of the Shares pursuant to their Restricted Stock Units.

 

ARTICLE 10. STOCK-REFERENCE AWARDS

 

10.1                            Grant of Stock-Reference Awards .  The Board is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Participants such other Awards that are payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to shares of Stock, as deemed by the Board to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan, including without limitation shares of Stock awarded purely as a “bonus” and not subject to any restrictions or conditions, other rights convertible or exchangeable into shares of Stock, and awards valued by reference to book value of shares of Stock or the value of securities of or the performance of specified divisions or Subsidiaries of the Company.  The Board shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards.

 

ARTICLE 11. PAYMENT FOR STOCK PURCHASES;
WITHHOLDING TAXES; RELOAD OPTIONS

 

11.1                            Payment .  Payment for Stock purchased pursuant to the Plan may be made in cash (by check) or, where expressly approved for the Participant by the Board in an Award Agreement or otherwise in writing and where permitted by law:

 

(a)                                   by cancellation of indebtedness of the Company to the Participant;

 

(b)                                  by surrender of (or attestation to the ownership of) Stock valued at Fair Market Value on the date new Stock is purchased under the Plan; provided, however, that such surrender or attestation shall not be permitted if such action would cause the Company to recognize compensation expense (or additional compensation expense) with respect to the Award for financial reporting purposes;

 

(c)                                   by waiver of compensation due or accrued to Participant for services rendered;

 

(d)                                  by tender of property acceptable to the Board;

 

(e)                                   with respect only to purchases upon exercise of an Option, and provided that a public market for the Company’s stock then exists:

 

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(1)                                   through a “same day sale” commitment from Participant and a broker-dealer that is a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers (a “NASD Dealer”) whereby Participant irrevocably elects to exercise the Option and to sell a portion of the Stock so purchased to pay for the exercise price, and whereby the NASD Dealer irrevocably commits upon receipt of such Stock to forward the exercise price directly to the Company;

 

(2)                                   through a “margin” commitment from Participant and a NASD Dealer whereby Participant irrevocably elects to exercise the Option and to pledge the Stock so purchased to the NASD Dealer in a margin account as security for a loan from the NASD Dealer in the amount of the exercise price, and whereby the NASD Dealer irrevocably commits upon receipt of such Stock to forward the exercise price directly to the Company; or

 

(3)                                   through any other “cashless exercise” procedure approved by the Board; or

 

(f)                                     by any combination of the foregoing, or any other method of payment acceptable to the Board in its sole discretion.

 

11.2                            Loans .  To the extent permitted under applicable law and the rules and regulations of any listing organization for the Stock, the Board may, in its discretion, help the Participant pay for Shares purchased under the Plan by authorizing (a) a guarantee by the Company of a third-party loan to the Participant, or (b) payment of the purchase price of part or all of the Shares by tender of a full recourse promissory note having such terms as may be approved by the Board and bearing interest at a rate at least sufficient to avoid imputation of income under Section 183 and 1274 of the Code; provided, however, that Participants who are not employees or directors of the Company will not be entitled to purchase Shares with a promissory note unless the note is adequately secured by collateral other than the Shares; provided, further, that the portion of the purchase price equal to the par value of the Shares, if any, must be paid in cash.

 

11.3                            Tax Withholding .  The Company or any Subsidiary shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and local taxes (including the Participant’s FICA obligation) required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of this Plan.  Whenever, under the Plan, payments in satisfaction of Awards are to be made in cash, such payment shall be net of an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and local withholding tax requirements.  With respect to withholding required upon any taxable event relating to the issuance of Stock under the Plan, Participants may elect (the “Election”), on or prior to the date of such taxable event, to satisfy the withholding requirement, in whole or in part, by having the Company or any Subsidiary withhold shares of Stock having a Fair Market Value on the date of withholding equal to the amount to be withheld for tax purposes.  The Board may disapprove any Election or may suspend or terminate the right to make Elections.  An Election is irrevocable.  The Board may, at the time any Award is granted, require that any and all applicable tax withholding requirements be satisfied by the withholding of shares of Stock as set forth above.

 

11.4                            Reload Options .  Award Agreements may contain a provision pursuant to which a Participant who pays all or a portion of the exercise price of an Option or the tax required to be withheld pursuant to an exercise of an Option by surrendering shares of Stock pursuant to Sections 11.1 or 11.3, respectively, shall be automatically granted an Option for the purchase of Stock equal to the number of shares surrendered (a “Reload Option”).  The grant of the Reload Option shall be effective on the date the Participant surrenders the shares of Stock in respect of which the Reload Option is granted (the “Reload Date”).  The Reload Option shall have an exercise price equal to the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the Reload Date, and shall have a term which is no longer, and which shall lapse no later, than the original term of the underlying option.  If stock otherwise available under an Incentive Stock Option is withheld pursuant to Section 11.3, any Reload Option granted in connection with the withholding shall be treated as a new Incentive Stock Option, subject to the rules set forth in Section 6.2.

 

ARTICLE 12. PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS

 

12.1                            Stand-Alone, Tandem, and Substitute Awards .  Awards granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Board, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution for, any other Award granted under the Plan.  Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards.

 

12.2                            Modification or Assumption of Awards .  Within the limitations of the Plan, the Board may modify, extend or assume outstanding Awards or may accept the cancellation of outstanding Awards (whether granted by the Company or by another issuer) in return for the grant of new Awards for the same or a different number of shares and at the same or a different exercise price.  The foregoing notwithstanding, no modification of an Award shall, without the consent of the Participant, alter or impair his or her rights or obligations under such Award.

 

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12.3                            Exchange Provisions .  The Board may at any time offer to exchange or buy out any previously granted Award for a payment in cash, Stock, or another Award, based on the terms and conditions the Board determines and communicates to the Participant at the time the offer is made.

 

12.4                            Escrow; Pledge of Shares .  To enforce any restrictions on a Participant’s Shares, the Board may require the Participant to deposit all certificates representing Shares, together with stock powers or other instruments of transfer approved by the Board, appropriately endorsed in blank, with the Company or an agent designated by the Company to hold in escrow until such restrictions have lapsed or terminated, and the Board may cause a legend or legends referencing such restrictions to be placed on the certificates.  Any Participant who is permitted to execute a promissory note as partial or full consideration for the purchase of Shares under this Plan will be required to pledge and deposit with the Company all or part of the Shares so purchased as collateral to secure the payment of Participant’s obligation to the Company under the promissory note; provided, however , that the Board may require or accept other or additional forms of collateral to secure the payment of such obligation and, in any event, the Company will have full recourse against the Participant under the promissory note notwithstanding any pledge of the Participant’s Shares or other collateral.  In connection with any pledge of the Shares, Participant will be required to execute and deliver a written pledge agreement in such form as the Board will from time to time approve.  The Shares purchased with the promissory note may be released from the pledge on a pro rata basis as the promissory note is paid.

 

12.5                            Form of Payment for Awards .  Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable law or Award Agreement, payments or transfers to be made by the Company or a Subsidiary on the grant or exercise of an Award may be made in such forms as the Board determines at or after the time of grant, including without limitation, cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property, or any combination, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis, in each case determined in accordance with rules adopted by, and at the discretion of, the Board.

 

12.6                            Limits on Transfer .  No right or interest of a Participant in any Award may be pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated to or in favor of any party other than the Company or a Subsidiary, or shall be subject to any lien, obligation, or liability of such Participant to any other party other than the Company or a Subsidiary.  Except as otherwise provided below, no Award shall be assignable or transferable by a Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, except in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, pursuant to a “domestic relations order” as defined in the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or the rules thereunder.  In the Award Agreement for any Award other than an Award that includes an Incentive Stock Option, the Board may allow a Participant to assign or otherwise transfer all or a portion of the rights represented by the Award to specified individuals or classes of individuals, or to a trust or other entity benefiting such individuals or classes of individuals, subject to such restrictions, limitations, or conditions as the Board deems appropriate.  At the discretion of the Board, the Company may reserve to itself or its assignees in any Award (a) a right of first refusal to purchase any Stock which a Participant may propose to transfer to a third party and/or (b) a right to repurchase any and all Stock held by a Participant upon the Participant’s termination of employment or other relationship with the Company or its Parent or Subsidiary for any reason, including Death or Disability, at a price for such Stock as determined by the Board.

 

12.7                            Market Standoff .  In connection with any underwritten public offering by the Company of its equity securities pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act, a Participant shall not sell, make any short sale of, loan, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option for the purchase of, or otherwise dispose or transfer for value or otherwise agree to engage in any of the foregoing transactions with respect to, any Stock issued pursuant to an Award granted under the Plan without the prior written consent of the Company or its underwriters.  Such limitations shall be in effect for a period of 180 days, or such period of time as may be requested in writing by the Company and such underwriters.  The limitations of this subsection shall apply only to the Company’s initial underwritten public offering registered under the Securities Act that results in the Stock being traded, or quoted, as applicable, on a national securities exchange, over the counter on NASDAQ, or through the NASD’s National Market System.

 

In the event of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares or other change affecting the Company’s outstanding Stock effected as a class without the Company’s receipt of consideration, then any new, substituted or additional securities distributed with respect to the purchased Stock shall be immediately subject to the provisions of this subsection, to the same extent the purchased Stock is at such time covered by such provisions.

 

In order to enforce the limitations of this subsection, the Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the purchased Stock until the end of the applicable standoff period.

 

12.8                            Stock Certificates .  All Stock certificates delivered under the Plan are subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Board deems necessary or advisable to comply with federal or state securities laws, rules, and regulations and the rules of any national securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Stock is listed, quoted, or traded.  The Board may place legends on any Stock certificate to reference restrictions applicable to the Stock.

 

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ARTICLE 13. CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE

 

13.1                            General; Adjustments .  In the event of a subdivision of the outstanding Stock, a declaration of a dividend payable in Stock, a declaration of a dividend payable in a form other than Stock in an amount that has a material effect on the price of the Stock, a combination or consolidation of the outstanding Stock (by classification or otherwise) into a lesser number of shares of Stock, a recapitalization, a spin-off or a similar occurrence, or the assumption and conversion of outstanding grants of a company acquired by the Company or its Subsidiary, the Board shall make such adjustments as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate in one or more of (a) the number of shares of Stock available for future Awards under Article 3, (b) the limitations set forth in Article 3, (c) the number and kind of shares of Stock covered by each outstanding Award or (d) the exercise price under each outstanding Option and other Award in the nature of rights that may be exercised.  Except as provided in this Article 13, a Participant shall have no rights by reason of any issue by the Company of stock of any class or securities convertible into stock of any class, any subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of any class, the payment of any stock dividend or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class.

 

13.2                            Dissolution or Liquidation .  To the extent not previously exercised, Awards shall terminate immediately prior to the dissolution or liquidation of the Company.

 

13.3                            Reorganizations .  In the event that the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation or other reorganization, outstanding Awards shall be subject to the agreement of merger, consolidation or reorganization (“Reorganization Agreement”), which shall be binding on all Participants.  The Board may cause such Reorganization Agreement to provide, without limitation and without any Participant’s consent, for any one or combination of the following:

 

(a)                                   for the continuation of outstanding Awards by the Company (if the Company is a surviving corporation);

 

(b)                                  for assumption of outstanding Awards by the surviving corporation or its parent or subsidiary;

 

(c)                                   for the substitution by the surviving corporation or its parent or subsidiary of its own awards for outstanding Awards;

 

(d)                                  for accelerated vesting and/or lapse of restrictions on outstanding Awards;

 

(e)                                   for termination in its entirety, without payment of any consideration, of any Award that is not exercised in accordance with its terms upon or prior to consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement within a time specified by the Board for such exercise, whether or not such Award is then fully exercisable;

 

(f)                                     for termination of any Award consisting of an Option or any other exercisable right after payment to the Participant of an amount in cash or cash equivalents equal to (1) the per share Fair Market Value immediately prior to consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement of the Stock subject to such Award (to the extent then vested), minus (2) the exercise price per share pursuant to such Award; or

 

(g)                                  for termination, without payment of any consideration, of any Award consisting of an Option or other exercisable right, if the exercise price per share pursuant to such Award exceeds the Fair Market Value of the Stock immediately prior to consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement, as determined by the Board in good faith.

 

The Board shall have the discretion to cause any such Reorganization Agreement to provide for different terms and conditions for different Awards and shall have no obligation to treat Awards or classes of Awards in an identical fashion under any such Reorganization Agreement.

 

13.4                            Effect of Change of Control .  The Board may determine and specify in any Award Agreement, at the time of granting an Award or thereafter, that any or all outstanding rights that may be exercised under Awards shall become fully exercisable and/or that any or all restrictions on Awards shall lapse, upon the effectiveness of a change of control of the Company as defined in such Award Agreement, or upon termination of a Participant’s employment, contractual or other relationship with the Company or its successor following a specified period after such change of control; provided that, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the acceleration of exercisability shall not occur without the Participant’s written consent.

 

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ARTICLE 14. AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TERMINATION

 

14.1                            Amendment, Modification, and Termination .  With the approval of the Board, at any time and from time to time, the Board may terminate, amend, or modify the Plan.  An amendment or modification of the Plan shall be subject to the approval of the stockholders of the Company only to the extent required by applicable laws, regulations and rules.

 

14.2                            Awards Previously Granted .  No termination, amendment, or modification of the Plan shall adversely affect in any material way any Award previously granted under the Plan, without the written consent of the Participant.

 

ARTICLE 15. GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

15.1                            No Rights to Awards .  No Participant or employee shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and neither the Company nor the Board is obligated to treat Participants and employees uniformly.

 

15.2                            No Stockholders Rights .  No Award gives the Participant any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company unless and until shares of Stock are in fact issued to such person in connection with such Award.

 

15.3                            No Right to Employment .  Nothing in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the “at-will” nature of any Participant’s employment or other relationship with the Company or any Subsidiary, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the employment or any other relationship of the Company or any Subsidiary, and the Company and each Subsidiary reserve the right to terminate any Participant’s employment or other relationship with the Company or any Subsidiary at any time and for any reason or no reason, with or without Cause.

 

15.4                            Unfunded Status of Awards .  The Plan is intended to be an “unfunded” plan for incentive and deferred compensation.  With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall give the Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

15.5                            Relationship to Other Benefits .  No payment under the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or other benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

15.6                            Expenses .  The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

15.7                            Titles and Headings .  The titles and headings of the Articles and Sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only, and in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control.

 

15.8                            Fractional Shares .  No fractional shares of stock shall be issued and the Board shall determine, in its discretion, whether cash shall be given in lieu of fractional shares or whether such fractional shares shall be eliminated by rounding up.

 

15.9                            Securities Law Compliance .  With respect to any person who is, on the relevant date, obligated to file reports under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, transactions under this Plan are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Section 16 or its successors under the Exchange Act.  To the extent any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement or any action by the Board fails to so comply, it shall be void to the extent permitted by law and voidable as deemed advisable by the Board.

 

15.10                      Government and Other Regulations .  The obligation of the Company to make payment of awards in Stock or otherwise shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by government agencies as may be required.  The Company shall be under no obligation to register under the Securities Act, any of the shares of Stock paid under the Plan.  If the shares of Stock paid under the Plan may in certain circumstances be exempt from registration under the Securities Act, the Company may restrict the transfer of such shares in such manner as it deems advisable to ensure the availability of any such exemption.  As a condition to the exercise of an Option or any other receipt of Stock pursuant to an Award under the Plan, the Company may require the Participant to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise or receipt that such Stock is being purchased or received only for the Participant’s own account and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Stock if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any relevant provision of the aforementioned laws.  At the option of the company, a stop-transfer order against any such Stock may be placed on the official stock books and records of the Company, and a legend indicating that such Stock may not be pledged, sold or otherwise transferred, unless an opinion of counsel is provided (concurred in by counsel for the Company) stating that such transfer is not in violation of any applicable law or regulation, may be stamped on stock certificates to ensure exemption from registration.  The Board may also require such other action or agreement by the Participant as may from time to time be necessary to comply with federal and state securities laws.

 

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15.11                      Governing Law .  The Plan and all Award Agreements shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Arizona without regard to its conflicts of laws provisions.

 

15.12                      Nonexclusivity of the Plan .  Neither the adoption of the Plan nor the submission of the Plan to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations upon the right and authority of the Board to adopt such other incentive compensation arrangements (which arrangements may be applicable either generally to a class or classes of individuals or specifically to a particular individual or individuals) as the Board in its discretion determines desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of stock options or other rights otherwise than under the Plan.

 

ARTICLE 16. DEFINITIONS

 

16.1                            Definitions .  The following words and phrases shall have the following meanings for purposes of this Plan:

 

(a)                                   “Award” means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Performance Unit, Stock-Reference Award or any other right or interest relating to Stock, cash or property, granted to a Participant under the Plan.

 

(b)                                  “Award Agreement” means any written agreement, contract, or other instrument or document evidencing an Award.

 

(c)                                   “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company or, if the context so requires, a Committee thereof appointed pursuant to Article 5.

 

(d)                                  Unless otherwise defined in the applicable Award Agreement, “Cause” means (i) an act of fraud, intentional dishonesty or theft adversely affecting the Company by a Participant, (ii) noncompliance by a Participant with the reasonable directives of the Board or its designees (except by reason of death or Disability), (iii) an allegation against a Participant of discrimination by such Participant based on race, sex, national origin, religion, handicap or age which is prohibited by applicable law if the Company has reason to believe any material portion of the allegations after an investigation conducted in accordance with any applicable Company policy, (iv) material violation by a Participant of previously published Company policies and procedures or the Plan or any applicable Award Agreement, or (v) a Participant’s conviction of a felony; provided, however, in the case of (ii) or (iv) above, the Participant shall be provided with thirty (30) days written notice of such event, and the Participant shall have ten (10) days to respond and/or propose a cure in writing.  If such noncompliance or material violations are not capable of cure, or if such noncompliance or material violations have not been cured within fifteen (15) days after the date of such written proposal by Participant, Cause shall be deemed to exist.

 

(e)                                   “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

(f)                                     “Committee” means the committee of the Board described in Article 5.

 

(g)                                  “Disability” means the following:  A Participant shall be disabled if he or she is unable to perform the duties of his customary position of employment by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.  The Board may require such medical or other evidence as it deems necessary to judge the nature and permanency of the Participant’s condition.

 

(h)                                  “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

(i)                                      “Fair Market Value” means with respect to Stock or any other property, the fair market value of such Stock or other property determined by the Board in good faith using such methods or procedures as may be established from time to time by the Board.  Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Fair Market Value of Stock as of any date shall be the mean between the bid and asked quotations for the Stock on that date as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (NASDAQ) or, if there are no bid or asked quotations on such date, the mean between the bid and asked quotations on the next preceding date for which quotations are available.  If the Stock is subsequently listed and traded upon a recognized securities exchange or shall be quoted on a recognized national market system, the Fair Market Value shall be the closing price on such date or, if no closing price is so reported for that date, the closing price on the next preceding date for which a closing price was reported.

 

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(j)                                      “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.

 

(k)                                   “Non-Qualified Stock Option” means an Option that is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.

 

(l)                                      “Option” means a right granted to a Participant under Article 6 of the Plan to purchase Stock at a specified price during specified time periods.  An Option may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

 

(m)                                “Participant” means a person who, as an officer, employee, consultant, independent contractor, or adviser of the Company or any Subsidiary, has been granted an Award under the Plan.

 

(n)                                  “Performance Unit” means a right granted to a Participant under Article 8 to receive cash, Stock, or other Awards.

 

(o)                                  “Plan” means Inventure Foods, Inc. Amended and Restated 2005 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

 

(p)                                  “Restricted Stock Award” means Stock granted to a Participant or offered for sale to a Participant under Article 9.

 

(q)                                  “Retirement” means a Participant’s termination of employment with the Company after attaining any normal or early retirement age specified in any pension, profit sharing, or other retirement program sponsored by the Company, if any.

 

(r)                                     “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

(s)                                   “Stock” means Common Stock ($.01 par value) of the Company and such other securities of the Company that may be substituted for Stock pursuant to Article 13.

 

(t)                                     “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right granted to a Participant under Article 7 to receive a payment equal to the difference between the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock as of the date of exercise of the SAR over the grant price of the SAR, all as determined pursuant to Article 7.

 

(u)                                  “Stock-Reference Award” means a right, granted to a Participant under Article 10.

 

(v)                                  “Subsidiary” means any entity of which a majority of the outstanding voting stock or voting power is beneficially owned directly or indirectly by the Company.

 

(w)                                “Ten Percent Owner” means any individual who, at the date of grant of an Incentive Stock Option, owns stock possessing more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of Stock of the Company or a Subsidiary.  For purposes of determining such percentage, the following rules shall apply:

 

(1)                                   The individual with respect to whom such percentage is being determined shall be considered as owning the Stock owned, directly or indirectly, by or for his brothers and sisters (whether by the whole or half blood), spouse, ancestors, and lineal descendants; and

 

(2)                                   Stock owned, directly or indirectly, by or for a corporation, partnership, estate, or trust, shall be considered as being owned proportionately by or for its stockholders, partners, or beneficiaries.

 

(x)                                    “Termination Date” means the date on which the employment (or other service or relationship in the case of a Participant who is not an employee of the Company) of a Participant terminates for any reason or no reason.

 

36



 

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF

 

INVENTURE FOODS, INC.

 

May 18, 2011

 

NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIAL :

 

The Company’s Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Proxy Statement, Proxy and 2010 Annual Report

are available at www.inventurefoods.com by choosing “Investor Relations” and then the “Annual Report and Proxy” links.

 

Please sign, date and mail

your proxy card in the

envelope provided as soon

as possible.

 

 Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided.

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
“FOR” THE AMENDMENT TO THE INVENTURE FOODS, INC. 2005 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN, AND “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF MOSS ADAMS LLP AS INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS.

 

PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.  PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE x

 

1.

Election of Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOMINEES:

 

 

 

 

o

FOR ALL NOMINEES

o

Ashton D. Asensio

 

 

o

Macon Bryce Edmonson

o

WITHHOLD AUTHORITY

o

Mark S. Howells

 

FOR ALL NOMINEES

o

Ronald C. Kesselman

 

 

o

Larry R. Polhill

o

FOR ALL EXCEPT

o

Itzhak Reichman

 

(See instructions below)

o

Terry McDaniel

 

 

 

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “FOR ALL EXCEPT” and fill in the box next to each nominee you wish to withhold, as shown here:  x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR

AGAINST

ABSTAIN

2.

Proposal to approve an amendment of the Inventure Foods, Inc. 2005 Equity Plan to increase the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Plan by 800,000.

o

o

o

 

 

 

 

 

3.

Ratify selection of Moss Adams LLP as independent public accountants.

o

o

o

 

 

 

 

 

To change the address on your account, please check the box at right and indicate your new address in the address space above. Please note that changes to the registered name(s) on the account may not be submitted via this method.

o

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature of Stockholder

 

 

Date:

 

 

Signature of Stockholder

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note:

Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.

 



 

INVENTURE FOODS, INC.

 

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

The undersigned hereby appoints Terry McDaniel and Steve Weinberger, and each of them, with full power of substitution, as proxies of the undersigned to vote all shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of Inventure Foods, Inc. (the “Company”) held of record by the undersigned on March 28, 2011, at an Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held on May 18, 2011 or any adjournments or postponements thereof (the “Annual Meeting”), on the matters set forth on the reverse side of this Proxy, and, in their discretion, upon all matters incident to the conduct of the Annual Meeting and upon such other matters as may properly be brought before the Annual Meeting. This Proxy revokes all prior proxies given by the undersigned.

 

This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein.  If no direction is made, this Proxy will be voted FOR All Nominees in the Election of Directors, FOR the amendment to the Inventure Foods, Inc. 2005 Equity Incentive Plan, and FOR the Ratification of Moss Adams LLP as Independent Public Accountants.

 

(Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)

 


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