SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant /x/ | ||
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant / / | ||
Check the appropriate box: | ||
/ / | Preliminary Proxy Statement | |
/ / | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) | |
/x/ | Definitive Proxy Statement | |
/ / | Definitive Additional Materials | |
/ / | Soliciting
Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12 |
SOCKET COMMUNICATIONS, INC. |
||||
(Name
of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
|
||||
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): | ||||
/x/ | No fee required. | |||
/ / | Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11. | |||
1) | Title
of each class of securities to which transaction applies: N/A |
|||
2) | Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction applies: N/A |
|||
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): N/A |
|||
4) | Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction: N/A |
|||
5) | Total
fee paid: N/A |
|||
/ / | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. | |||
/ / | Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. | |||
1) | Amount
Previously Paid: N/A |
|||
2) | Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.: N/A |
|||
3) | Filing
Party: N/A |
|||
4) | Date Filed: N/A |
SOCKET COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
NOTICE OF 2006 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held April 19, 2006
Dear Stockholders:
      You
are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Socket
Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), to be held Wednesday,
April 19, 2006 at 9:00 a.m., local time, at the Company's headquarters at 37400
Central Court, Newark, California 94560 for the following purposes:
(1) To elect seven directors to serve until their respective successors are
elected.
(2) To ratify the appointment of Moss Adams LLP as independent public accountants
of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006.
(3) To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting
or any adjournment thereof.
The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the Proxy Statement
accompanying this notice.
      Only stockholders of record at the close of business
on February 21, 2006 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting. All
stockholders are cordially invited to attend the meeting in person. However,
to ensure your representation at the meeting, you are urged to mark, sign, date
and return the enclosed Proxy as promptly as possible in the postage-prepaid
envelope enclosed for that purpose. Any stockholder attending the meeting may
vote in person even if he or she has returned a Proxy.
Sincerely, | ||
Kevin J. Mills |
||
President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
Newark, California March 6, 2006 |
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT.
IN ORDER TO ENSURE YOUR REPRESENTATION AT THE ANNUAL MEETING,
YOU ARE REQUESTED TO COMPLETE, SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY
AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE AND RETURN IT IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
SOCKET COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
PROXY STATEMENT FOR
2006 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING
GENERAL
      The enclosed proxy is solicited
on behalf of the Board of Directors of Socket Communications, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), for use at the 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
to be held Wednesday, April 19, 2006 at 9:00 a.m., local time, or at any adjournment
thereof, for the purposes set forth herein and in the accompanying Notice of
the 2006 Annual Meeting. The 2006 Annual Meeting will be held at the Company's
headquarters at 37400 Central Court, Newark, California 94560. The Company's
telephone number at that location is (510) 744-2700.
      These proxy solicitation materials and our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, including financial
statements, were first mailed on or about March 15, 2006 to all stockholders
entitled to vote at the 2006 Annual Meeting.
RECORD DATE AND PRINCIPAL SHARE OWNERSHIP
     Holders of record of our Common Stock and of our Series
F Preferred Stock at the close of business on February 21, 2005 (the "Record
Date") are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. At the Record
Date, 30,228,709 shares of Common Stock were issued and outstanding, and 82,330
shares of Series F Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding (equivalent to
823,300 shares of Common Stock on an as-converted basis). Each share of Common
Stock is entitled to one vote, and each share of Series F Preferred Stock is
entitled to 10 votes. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, the holders
of shares of Series F Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with the
holders of the Common Stock as a single class upon the election of directors
and upon any other matter submitted to stockholders for a vote. The Company
has no other class of voting securities outstanding and entitled to be voted
at the meeting.
      The only person known by the Company to beneficially
own more than five percent of the Company's Common Stock as of the Record Date
was Charlie Bass, the Company's Chairman of the Board of Directors. The only
persons known by the Company to beneficially own more than five percent of the
Company's Series F Preferred Stock as of the Record Date were Charlie Bass,
Jonathan Fleisig, Headwaters Holdings LLC and Ezra P. Mager. Please see "Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management" for more information
on these beneficial owners.
REVOCABILITY OF PROXIES
      Any proxy given pursuant to this solicitation
may be revoked by the person giving it at any time before its use by delivering
to the Secretary of the Company a written notice of revocation or a duly executed
proxy bearing a later date or by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in
person.
1
VOTING AND SOLICITATION
      Each stockholder is entitled to one vote for
each share of Common Stock held and 10 votes for each share of Series F Preferred
Stock held on all matters to be voted on by the stockholders. If any stockholder
at the Annual Meeting gives notice of his or her intention to cumulate votes
with respect to the election of directors, then each stockholder voting for
the election of directors (Proposal One) may cumulate such stockholder's votes
and give one candidate a number of votes equal to the number of directors to
be elected multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock and 10 times the
number of shares of Series F Preferred Stock that such stockholder is entitled
to vote, or distribute such stockholder's votes on the same principle among
as many candidates as the stockholder may select, provided that votes cannot
be cast for more than seven candidates. However, no stockholder shall be entitled
to cumulate votes for a candidate unless the candidate's name has been placed
in nomination prior to the voting and the stockholder, or any other stockholder,
has given notice at the meeting, prior to the voting, of the intention to cumulate
votes. On all other matters, stockholders may not cumulate votes.
      This solicitation of proxies is made by the Company,
and all related costs will be borne by the Company. In addition, the Company
may reimburse brokerage firms and other persons representing beneficial owners
of stock for their expenses in forwarding solicitation material to such beneficial
owners. Proxies may also be solicited by the Company's directors, officers and
regular employees, without additional compensation, personally or by telephone,
email or facsimile. The Company does not expect to engage the services of a
professional proxy solicitation firm to aid in the solicitation of proxies from
brokers, bank nominees and other institutional investors. The Company's costs
for such services, if retained, are not expected to be material.
QUORUM; ABSTENTIONS; BROKER NON-VOTES
      The presence at the Annual Meeting, either in
person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of votes entitled to be cast
with respect to the outstanding shares of Common Stock and Series F Preferred
Stock shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Shares that
are voted "FOR," "AGAINST" or "WITHHELD" on a matter are treated as being present
at the meeting for purpose of establishing a quorum entitled to vote on the
subject matter (the "Votes Cast").
      The Company also intends to count abstentions
for purposes of determining both (i) the presence or absence of a quorum for
the transaction of business and (ii) the total number of Votes Cast with respect
to a proposal (other than the election of directors). Thus, abstentions will
have the same effect as a vote against a proposal.
      Broker non-votes will be counted for purpose of
determining the presence or absence of a quorum for the transaction of business,
but will not be counted for purposes of determining the number of Votes Cast
with respect to a particular proposal. Thus, a broker non-vote will not have
any effect on the outcome of the voting on a proposal.
      A plurality of the votes duly cast is required
for the election of directors. Thus, neither abstention nor broker non-votes
affect the election of directors, as only affirmative votes will affect the
outcome of election.
DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE COMPANY'S
PROXY MATERIALS
      The
Company currently intends to hold its 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in
April 2007 and to mail proxy statements relating to such meeting in March 2007.
Proposals of stockholders of the Company that are intended to be presented by
such stockholders at the 2007 Annual Meeting must be received by the Company
no later than November 15, 2006 and must otherwise be in compliance with applicable
laws and regulations in order to be considered for inclusion in the proxy statement
and form of proxy relating to that meeting.
2
      If a stockholder intends to submit a proposal
at the 2007 Annual Meeting, but does not wish to have it included in the proxy
statement and proxy for that meeting, the stockholder must do so no later than
January 29, 2007. If such a stockholder fails to comply with the foregoing notice
provision, the proxy holders will be allowed to use their discretionary authority
to vote against the proposal when it is raised at the 2007 Annual Meeting.
      The attached proxy card grants the persons named
as proxies discretionary authority to vote on any matter raised at the Annual
Meeting that is not included in this Proxy Statement. The Company has not been
notified by any stockholder of his or her intent to present a new stockholder
proposal at the 2006 Annual Meeting.
3
PROPOSAL ONE
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The following table sets forth information concerning the nominees for director.
Name
of Nominee |
Age
|
Position(s)
Held With the Company
|
Director
Since
|
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Charlie Bass (2) |
64
|
Chairman of the Board |
1992
|
|||
Micheal L. Gifford |
48
|
Executive Vice President and Director |
1992
|
|||
Leon Malmed (2) |
68
|
Director |
2000
|
|||
Kevin J. Mills |
45
|
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director |
2000
|
|||
Gianluca Rattazzi (2) |
53
|
Director |
1998
|
|||
Peter Sealey (1) |
65
|
Director |
2002
|
|||
Enzo Torresi (1) |
61
|
Director |
2000
|
(1) Member of the Compensation Committee. (2) Member of the Audit Committee. |
      There
are no family relationships among any of the directors or executive officers
of the Company.
      Charlie Bass co-founded the Company in
March 1992 and has been the Chairman of the Board of Directors from such time
to the present. Dr. Bass served as the Company's Chief Executive Officer from
April 1997 to March 2000. Dr. Bass holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from
the University of Hawaii.
       Micheal
L. Gifford has been a director of the Company since its inception in March
1992, has served as the Company's Executive Vice President since October 1994
and is currently the General Manager of the Company's Development Services Group.
Mr. Gifford served as the Company's President from the Company's inception in
March 1992 to September 1994 and as the Company's Chief Executive Officer from
March 1992 to June 1994. From December 1986 to December 1991, Mr. Gifford served
as a director and as Director of Sales and Marketing for Tidewater Associates,
a computer consulting and computer product development company. Prior to working
for Tidewater Associates, Mr. Gifford co-founded and was President of Gifford
Computer Systems, a computer network integration company. Mr. Gifford holds
a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley.
4
     Leon Malmed has been a director of the Company
since June 2000. Mr. Malmed served as Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing
and Sales of SanDisk Corporation, a manufacturer of flash memory products, from
1992 to his retirement in March 2000. Prior to his tenure with SanDisk Corporation,
Mr. Malmed was Executive Vice President of Worldwide Marketing and Sales for
Syquest Corporation, a disk storage manufacturer, President of Iota, a Syquest
subsidiary from 1990 to 1992, and Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales,
Marketing and Programs for Maxtor Corporation, a disk drive supplier, from 1984
to 1990. Mr. Malmed also serves as a director of a private company. Mr. Malmed
holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Paris, and also
has completed the AEA/UCLA Senior Executive Program at the University of California
at Los Angeles and the AEA/Stanford Executive Institute Program for Management
of High Technology Companies at Stanford Business School.
      Kevin J. Mills was appointed the Company's
President and Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company in March
2000. He had served as the Company's Chief Operating Officer from September
1998 to March 2000. Mr. Mills joined the Company in September 1993 as Vice President
of Operations and has also served as our Vice President of Engineering. Prior
to joining the Company, Mr. Mills worked from September 1987 to August 1993
at Logitech, Inc., a computer peripherals company, serving most recently as
its Director of Operations. He holds a B.E. in Electronic Engineering from the
University of Limerick, Ireland.
       Gianluca Rattazzi has been a director
of the Company since June 1998. Dr. Rattazzi served as the Chairman and CEO
of BlueArc Corporation, a provider of network attached storage from October
2002 through June 2005. Prior to BlueArc, he co-founded Meridian Data, Inc.,
a provider of CD ROM networking software and systems, in July 1988. He has served
as President and a director of Meridian Data since inception and was appointed
Chief Executive Officer of Meridian Data, serving from October 1992 until its
sale to Quantum Corporation in September 1999. From 1985 to 1988, Dr. Rattazzi
held various executive level positions at Virtual Microsystems, Inc., a networking
company, most recently as its President. Dr. Rattazzi serves on the board of
several private companies. Dr. Rattazzi holds an M.S. in Electrical Engineering
and Computer Science from the University of California at Berkeley and a Ph.D.
in Nuclear Chemistry from the University of Rome, Italy.
       Peter Sealey has been a director of the
Company since June 2002. Dr. Sealey has served as CEO and founder of Los Altos
Group, Inc., a diversified management consulting firm, since its founding in
July 1997. Dr. Sealey has also served as an Adjunct Professor of Marketing at
the Haas School of Business, University of California at Berkeley since 1994
and serves on the board of MaxWorldwide Inc., a media holding company and several
private companies. From July 1969 to August 1993, Dr. Sealey served in various
senior marketing positions with the Coca-Cola Company, including as its Senior
Vice President, Global Marketing from December 1989 to August 1993. Dr. Sealey
holds a doctorate from the Peter F. Drucker Graduate Management Center at Claremont
Graduate University.
       Enzo
Torresi has been a director of the Company since June 2000. Dr. Torresi
founded and has managed EuroFund Partners, a venture capital fund, since 1999.
In 1997 and 1998, he was Chairman and CEO of ICAST Corporation, a software company
specializing in broadcasting solutions for the Internet. During 1995 and 1996,
he was Entrepreneur-In-Residence at Accel Partners, a venture capital fund.
From November 1993 to 1994, he was Vice-Chairman of Power Computing Corporation,
a PC manufacturer he co-founded. From 1989 to October 1994, Dr. Torresi was
President and Chief Executive Officer of NetFRAME Systems, Inc., a computer
manufacturer that is now part of Micron Electronics, Inc. Dr. Torresi serves
on the boards of several private companies. Dr. Torresi holds a Doctorate in
Electronics Engineering from the Polytechnic Institute in Torino, Italy.
5
BOARD MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES
      The Board of Directors has determined that all
of the nominees, except Messrs. Mills and Gifford, satisfy the definition of
"independent director," as established by Nasdaq listing standards. The Board
of Directors has an Audit Committee, a Nominating Committee and a Compensation
Committee. Each committee has adopted a written charter, all of which are available
on the Company's web site at http://www.socketcom.com. The Board of Directors
has also determined that each member of the Audit Committee, the Nominating
Committee and the Compensation Committee satisfies the definition of "independent
director," as established by Nasdaq listing standards.
      The Board of Directors held a total of four regular
meetings during fiscal 2005 and one telephonic meeting. The Company strongly
encourages members of the Board of Directors to attend all meetings, including
meetings of committees on which they serve, as well as the annual meeting of
stockholders. No director attended fewer than 75 percent of the meetings of
the Board of Directors and the Board committees on which he served. Messrs.
Gifford, Malmed, Mills and Sealey attended the 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
      The Audit Committee consists of Messrs. Bass,
Malmed and Rattazzi. As required by Nasdaq rules, the members of the Audit Committee
each qualify as "independent" under special standards established by the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") for members of audit committees.
The Audit Committee also includes one independent member, Dr. Bass, who has
been determined by the Board of Directors to meet the qualifications of an "audit
committee financial expert" in accordance with SEC rules. Stockholders should
understand that this designation is a disclosure required by the SEC relating
to Dr. Bass' experience and understanding with respect to certain accounting
and auditing matters. This designation does not impose upon Dr. Bass any duties,
obligations or liability that are greater than are generally imposed on him
as member of the Audit Committee, and his designation as an audit committee
financial expert pursuant to this SEC requirement does not affect the duties,
obligations or liability of any other member of the Audit Committee or Board
of Directors. The Audit Committee met one time in person during the year ended
December 31, 2005 and members of the Audit Committee held five additional telephone
meetings with management and the independent auditors to review quarterly and
annual financial information and to discuss the results of quarterly review
procedures performed by the independent auditors before quarterly and annual
financial reports were issued. The Audit Committee is responsible for appointing,
compensating and overseeing actions taken by the Company's independent auditors
and reviews the Company's internal financial controls and financial statements.
The Audit Committee met in January 2006 with management and with the independent
auditors to review the status and plan for completion of the audit of the financial
statements and internal controls for the year ended December 31, 2005. In connection
with the completion of the annual audit of the Company's financial statements
for the year ended December 31, 2005 and the audit of the Company's internal
controls as of December 31, 2005, the Audit Committee met in February 2006 with
management and with the independent auditors to review the financial statements
and the annual audit results, including an assessment of internal controls and
procedures and discussed the matters with the independent auditors denoted as
required communications by Statement of Auditing Standards 61 (SAS 61). The
meeting included review of internal accounting controls, discussion and review
of auditor independence, review with management and discussion with the independent
auditors of the annual financial statements, the pre-approval of fees, and other
matters included in required communications with the independent auditors under
SAS 61, and a recommendation to the Board of Directors to approve the issuance
of the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2005. The report
of the Audit Committee for the year ended December 31, 2005 is included in this
Proxy Statement.
     The Nominating Committee consists of the Company's independent directors, Messrs. Bass, Malmed, Rattazzi, Sealey and Torresi. The Nominating Committee met separately without management or the management directors after each of the four regular board meetings held during 2005. The Nominating Committee considers and recommends nominations for the Board of Directors and facilitates the self-assessment of Board performance by the independent directors. For 2006, the Nominating Committee determined that each current director was willing and able to serve as a director for the ensuing year. The Nominating Committee, in a meeting held in January 2006, recommended nomination of the current directors to serve for the ensuing year. For 2007, the Nominating Committee will consider nominees recommended by security holders. Such nominations should be made in writing to the Company, attention Corporate Secretary, no later than November 15, 2006 in order to be considered for inclusion in next year's proxy statement.
6
The following directors were awarded options to purchase the number of shares of Common Stock set forth below:
Name
|
January 28, 2005 Grant
|
December 30, 2005 Grant
|
Charlie Bass
|
37,500
|
50,000
|
Leon Malmed
|
27,500
|
40,000
|
Gianluca Rattazzi
|
26,250
|
35,000
|
Peter Sealey
|
25,000
|
25,000
|
Enzo Torresi
|
26,250
|
30,000
|
VOTE REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD
      If a quorum is present, the seven nominees receiving
the highest number of votes will be elected to the Board of Directors. Votes
withheld from any nominee are counted for purposes of determining the presence
or absence of a quorum.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR"
ALL OF THE COMPANY'S NOMINEES FOR DIRECTORS.
7
PROPOSAL TWO
RATIFICATION
OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
      The Audit Committee has selected Moss Adams LLP,
independent public accountants, to audit the financial statements and internal
controls of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006, and recommends
that stockholders vote for ratification of such appointment.
      Moss Adams LLP has audited the Company's financial
statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004.
Representatives of Moss Adams LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting.
The firm will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do
so, and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions. Ernst
& Young LLP audited the Company's financial statements for all fiscal years
prior to 2004 since the Company's inception in March 1992.
      
FEES BILLED BY MOSS ADAMS LLP DURING FISCAL YEARS 2005 AND 2004
      Audit Fees:
      Audit fees billed to the Company by Moss Adams
LLP for their audit of the Company's 2005 and 2004 fiscal year financial statements
and review of the Company's quarterly financial statements for fiscal 2005 and
2004 totaled $205,000 and $183,098, respectively. Audit fees billed to the Company
by Moss Adams LLP for their audit of the Company's internal controls at December
31, 2005 and 2004 totaled $95,000 for both years.
      Audit-Related Fees:
      Audit-related fees billed to the Company by Moss
Adams LLP during the Company's 2005 and 2004 fiscal years totaled $14,470 and
$7,825, respectively. Audit-related fees were primarily related to meetings
with the Audit Committee, attendance at the annual stockholder meeting, the
issuance of a consent related to the filing of Form S-8 and accounting advice.
      Tax Fees:
      Tax fees are for preparation of the prior year's
annual tax returns and tax advice. Fees billed to the Company by Moss Adams
LLP for tax services during the Company's 2005 fiscal year were $19,765. Ernst
& Young LLP prepared the annual tax returns for fiscal 2003 during 2004. Tax
fees billed to the Company by Ernst & Young LLP during the Company's 2004 fiscal
year for preparation of annual tax returns totaled $21,000. Tax fees billed
to the Company for tax advice during 2004 by Moss Adams LLP totaled $7,650 and
by Ernst & Young LLP totaled $8,000.
      All Other Fees:
      There were no other fees billed to the Company
during the Company's 2005 and 2004 fiscal years by Moss Adams LLP.
8
VOTE REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD
      Ratification of the appointment of Moss Adams LLP
as the Company's independent public accountants for the fiscal year ending December
31, 2006 requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the Votes Cast on the
matter at the Annual Meeting.
      Stockholder ratification of the appointment of Moss
Adams LLP as the Company's independent public accountants is not required by the
Company's by-laws or other applicable legal requirement. However, the Audit Committee
is submitting the appointment of Moss Adams LLP to the stockholders for ratification
as a matter of common corporate practice. If the stockholders fail to ratify the
appointment, the Audit Committee will reconsider its selection. Even if the appointment
is ratified, the Audit Committee at its discretion may direct the appointment
of a different independent accounting firm at any time during the year, if it
determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and
its stockholders.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF
MOSS ADAMS LLP AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS FOR THE FISCAL
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2006.
9
OTHER INFORMATION
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
      The
following table sets forth as of the Record Date certain information with respect
to the beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock, including, on an
as-converted basis, the Series F Preferred Stock and, on an as-exercised basis,
options and warrants exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date, as to (i)
each person known by the Company to own beneficially more than 5 percent of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock or Series F Preferred Stock; (ii) each
director of the Company; (iii) each executive officer of the Company; and (iv)
all directors and executive officers of the Company as a group. Except as set
forth below, the address of record for each of the individuals listed in this
table is: c/o Socket Communications, Inc., 37400 Central Court, Newark, California
94560.
Name
of Beneficial Owner (1) |
Number
of Shares of Common Stock
Beneficially Owned |
Percentage
of Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned (2)
|
Number
of Shares of Series F Preferred Stock Beneficially Owned
|
Percentage
of Shares of Series F Preferred Stock Beneficially Owned (2)
|
Number
of Shares Beneficially Owned
|
Percentage
of Shares Beneficially Owned (2)
|
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Charlie Bass(3) |
1,747,012
|
5.7%
|
131,670
|
16.0%
|
1,878,682
|
6.0%
|
||||||
Kevin J. Mills(4) |
804,140
|
2.6
|
|
|
804,140
|
2.5
|
||||||
Robert J. Miller(5) |
689,233
|
2.2
|
|
|
689,233
|
2.2
|
||||||
David W. Dunlap(6) |
645,218
|
2.1
|
|
|
645,218
|
2.0
|
||||||
Micheal L. Gifford(7) |
591,271
|
1.9
|
|
|
591,271
|
1.9
|
||||||
Leonard L. Ott(8) |
405,473
|
1.3
|
|
|
405,473
|
1.3
|
||||||
Enzo Torresi(9) |
237,391
|
*
|
|
|
237,391
|
*
|
||||||
Peter K. Phillips (10) |
234,963
|
*
|
|
|
234,963
|
*
|
||||||
Gianluca Rattazzi(11) |
222,500
|
*
|
|
|
222,500
|
*
|
||||||
Leon Malmed(11) |
220,000
|
*
|
|
|
220,000
|
*
|
||||||
Kevin T. Scheier(11) |
173,626
|
*
|
|
|
173,626
|
*
|
||||||
Tim I. Miller(12) |
164,366
|
*
|
|
|
164,366
|
*
|
||||||
Peter Sealey(11) |
160,417
|
*
|
|
|
160,417
|
*
|
||||||
Headwaters Holdings LLC(13) |
41,553
|
*
|
114,200
|
13.8
|
155,753
|
*
|
||||||
Jonathan Fleisig (14) |
41,553
|
*
|
58,510
|
7.0
|
100,063
|
*
|
||||||
Ezra P. Mager (15) |
20,778
|
*
|
69,260
|
8.3
|
90,038
|
*
|
||||||
All Directors and Executive Officers as a group (13 persons)(16) |
6,295,610
|
20.4
|
131,670
|
16.0
|
6,427,280
|
20.5
|
*Less than 1% (1) To the Company's
knowledge, the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment
power with respect to all shares of Common Stock and Series F Preferred
Stock shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to community property
laws where applicable and the information contained in the footnotes to
this table. |
10
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL
OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
      Section
16(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's executive
officers and directors and persons who own more than ten percent of the Company's
Common Stock to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the
SEC and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Executive officers,
directors and greater than 10 percent stockholders are required by SEC regulation
to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based
solely on its review of the copies of such forms received by it, or written
representations from certain reporting persons, the Company believes that during
fiscal 2005, all filing requirements applicable to its executive officers and
directors were complied with by such executive officers and directors.
MANAGEMENT
      The current executive officers of the Company are as follows:
Name
of Officer
|
Age
|
Position
with the Company
|
||
---|---|---|---|---|
Kevin J. Mills |
45
|
President and Chief Executive Officer and Director | ||
David W. Dunlap |
63
|
Vice President of Finance and Administration, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary | ||
Micheal L. Gifford |
48
|
Executive Vice President and Director | ||
Robert J. Miller |
55
|
Vice President of Engineering | ||
Tim I. Miller |
51
|
Vice President of Worldwide Operations | ||
Leonard L. Ott |
47
|
Vice President and Chief Technical Officer | ||
Peter K. Phillips |
46
|
Vice President of Marketing | ||
Kevin T. Scheier |
49
|
Vice President of Worldwide Sales |
      For
information regarding Kevin J. Mills and Micheal L. Gifford, please see "Election
of Directors" above.
      David W. Dunlap has served as the Company's
Vice President of Finance and Administration, Secretary and Chief Financial
Officer since February 1995 and served in the same role as a consultant from
November 1994 to February 1995. Mr. Dunlap previously served as Vice President
of Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer at several public
and private companies, including Appian Technology Inc., a semiconductor company
from September 1993 to February 1995, and Mountain Network Solutions, Inc.,
a computer peripherals manufacturing company, from March 1992 to September 1993.
He is a certified public accountant, and holds an M.B.A. and a B.A. in Business
Administration from the University of California at Berkeley.
      Robert J. Miller has served as the Company's
Vice President of Engineering since October 2000. Prior to joining the Company,
Mr. Miller served as Chief Technical Officer of 3rd Rail Engineering, an engineering
design and services company that was acquired by the Company in October 2000.
Prior to his employment with 3rd Rail Engineering, Mr. Miller was an independent
engineering design consultant from 1997 to June 1999. Mr. Miller also served
in various capacities from 1991 to 1997 with Synaptics, Inc., a computer components
design and manufacturing company, including Director of Manufacturing Engineering
and Director of Operations. At Synaptics, Mr. Miller was co-inventor of the
Synaptics touch pad and was issued eight patents for his work. Mr. Miller holds
a BSEng degree with honors from the California Institute of Technology.
11
      Tim I. Miller has served as the Company's
Vice President of Worldwide Operations since March 2003, responsible for the
Company's worldwide manufacturing operations. Mr. Miller served in the same
role as a consultant from January 2003 to March 2003. Mr. Miller was an independent
consultant from June 1991 to December 1992. Prior to joining the Company, Mr.
Miller was the Vice President of Worldwide Operations for Com21, a developer
of Broadband technology solutions, from August 1994 to May 2001. Mr. Miller
holds a B.S. with an emphasis in Business Administration and Political Science
from San Jose State University.
       Leonard L. Ott has served as the Company's
Vice President and Chief Technical Officer since October 2000 and previously
served as Vice President of Engineering from December 1998 to October 2000.
Mr. Ott joined the Company in March 1994, serving in increasingly responsible
engineering positions including Director of Software Development and Director
of Engineering. Mr. Ott also worked as an engineering consultant to the Company,
from November 1993 to March 1994. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Ott served
in various senior roles at Vision Network Systems from March 1988 to November
1993, a networking systems company. Mr. Ott is a board member of the CompactFlash
Association, the body establishing standards for CompactFlash products, and
a board member of the Secure Digital Association, the body establishing standards
for Secure Digital products. He holds a B.S. in Computer Science from the University
of California at Berkeley.
      Peter K. Phillips has served as the Company's
Vice President of Marketing since November 2002. Mr. Phillips joined the Company
in August 1995, serving in the roles of Product Marketing Manager and then Director
of Marketing prior to assuming his present position. Prior to joining the Company,
Mr. Phillips held progressively responsible marketing positions for seven years
at Logitech, Inc., a developer and manufacturer of personal computer peripheral
products. Mr. Phillips holds a B.A. in Economics from Stanford University.
      Kevin T. Scheier has served as the Company's
Vice President of Sales since January 2003. Starting in September 2001, Mr.
Scheier served as co-founder and CEO of Gopher King Inc., a web based unified
email service. In November 1999, Mr. Scheier was co-founder and CEO of ODF Technology
Inc., a venture capital backed web site for selling unproductive assets, services
and perishables. From 1998 to 1999, Mr. Scheier was Director of Americas Distribution
and Private Label Sales for Iomega Corporation, a manufacturer of removable
disk drives. From 1996 to 1998, Mr. Scheier was President of Nomai USA, a French
manufacturer of storage products that was acquired by Iomega Corporation in
1998. He also served as Director of North American Sales for SyQuest Technologies,
a manufacturer of removable storage hard disk drives from 1989 to 1993. Mr.
Scheier holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing
from San Diego State University.
12
EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION
      The
following table sets forth the compensation paid by the Company during the fiscal
years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003 to the Company's Chief Executive
Officer, and the four other most highly compensated executive officers whose
total 2005 salary and bonus exceeded $100,000 (collectively, the "Named Executive
Officers"):
Summary
Compensation Table
|
|
Annual
Compensation
|
Long-Term Compensation Awards |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name
and Principal Position |
Year
|
Salary
($)
|
Bonus
($) (1)
|
Securities Underlying Options(#) |
||||||
Kevin
J. Mills President and Chief Executive Officer and Director |
2005
2004 2003 |
|
$168,750
151,875 150,000 |
|
$55,795 70,958 61,414 |
100,000
50,000 45,000 |
||||
Micheal
L. Gifford Executive Vice President and Director |
2005
2004 2003 |
|
159,375
150,938 150,000 |
|
23,903 28,051 15,000 |
90,000
47,500 35,000 |
||||
David W. Dunlap |
2005
2004 2003 |
|
156,250
150,625 150,000 |
|
25,922 28,848 24,566 |
85,000
45,000 35,000 |
||||
Robert
J. Miller Vice President of Engineering |
2005
2004 2003 |
|
156,250
150,625 150,000 |
|
25,905 33,411 29,019 |
75,000
40,000 25,000 |
||||
Kevin T. Scheier(2) |
2005
2004 2003 |
|
131,372
136,451 123,288 |
|
47,163 56,006 54,975 |
85,000
40,000 150,000 |
(1) Represents cash variable compensation earned for work performed during the year under a Management Incentive Variable Compensation Plan. Compensation earned during the first three quarters of each year was paid in that year, while compensation earned during the fourth quarter of a year was paid in the first quarter of the following year. (2) Mr. Scheier joined the Company on January 6, 2003. |
13
Stock Option Grants in Fiscal Year 2005
      The following table sets forth certain information for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 with respect to stock options granted during such fiscal year to the Named Executive Officers. No stock appreciation rights were granted during such year.
|
Individual Grants |
Potential
Realizable Value at Assumed Annual Rates of Stock Price Appreciation for
Option Terms (3) |
||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name
|
Number
of Securities Underlying Options Granted
|
%
of Total Options Granted to Employees in Fiscal 2005(1)
|
Exercise
Price Per Share ($)(2)
|
Expiration
Date
|
5%
($)
|
10%
($)
|
||||||
Kevin J. Mills |
100,000
(4)
|
4.8%
|
$1.50
|
1/28/2015
|
$94,334
|
$239,061
|
||||||
Micheal L. Gifford |
90,000
(5)
|
4.3
|
1.50
|
1/28/2015
|
84,901
|
215,155
|
||||||
David W. Dunlap |
85,000
(6)
|
4.1
|
1.50
|
1/28/2015
|
80,184
|
203,202
|
||||||
Robert J. Miller |
75,000
(7)
|
3.6
|
1.50
|
1/28/2015
|
70,751
|
179,296
|
||||||
Kevin T. Scheier |
75,000
(7)
10,000 (8) |
4.1
|
1.50
1.13 |
1/28/2015
12/27/2015 |
70,751
7,107 |
179,296
18,009 |
(1) Based on options granted to employees and directors during fiscal year 2005 to purchase 2,098,000 shares of Common Stock. (2) All options were granted at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company's Common Stock, as determined by the Board of Directors, on the date of grant. These options were granted under the Company's 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, and have a maximum term of 10 years contingent upon the executive officer's continued employment with the Company. (3) These columns present hypothetical future values that might be realized on exercise of the options, less the exercise price. These values assume that the market price of our stock appreciates at a five and ten percent compound annual rate over the ten-year term of the options. The five and ten percent rates of stock price appreciation are presented as examples pursuant to the SEC's proxy rules and do not necessarily reflect management's assessment of our future stock price performance. (4) Options were granted on January 28, 2005. Consists of 40,000 fully vested options and 60,000 options that vest over a 4 year period at the rate of 1/48th per month commencing in January 2006. (5) Options were granted on January 28, 2005. Consists of 36,000 fully vested options and 54,000 options that vest over a 4 year period at the rate of 1/48th per month commencing in January 2006. (6) Options were granted on January 28, 2005. Consists of 34,000 fully vested options and 51,000 options that vest over a 4 year period at the rate of 1/48th per month commencing in January 2006. (7) Options were granted on January 28, 2005. Consists of 30,000 fully vested options and 45,000 options that vest over a 4 year period at the rate of 1/48th per month commencing in January 2006. (8) Consists of fully vested options granted on December 27, 2005. |
14
Aggregated
Option Exercises in Fiscal Year 2005
and Fiscal Year-End Option Values
      The following table provides information on aggregate option exercises by the Named Executive Officers during the year ended December 31, 2005 and on the value of such officers' unexercised options at December 31, 2005.
|
|
|
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options at December 31, 2005 (#) |
|
|
||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Value of Unexercised In-the-Money Options at December 31, 2005 ($) (2) |
||||||||||||
|
Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) |
|
|||||||||||||
|
Value Received($) (1) |
||||||||||||||
Name |
Exercisable
|
Unexercisable
|
Exercisable
|
Unexercisable
|
|||||||||||
Kevin J. Mills |
-
|
$ |
-
|
677,625
|
117,042
|
$ |
82,409
|
$ |
9,854
|
||||||
Micheal L. Gifford |
-
|
-
|
378,143
|
101,657
|
50,911
|
7,288
|
|||||||||
David W. Dunlap |
-
|
-
|
465,396
|
97,354
|
121,114
|
7,288
|
|||||||||
Robert J. Miller |
-
|
-
|
394,292
|
81,708
|
16,904
|
5,106
|
|||||||||
Kevin T. Scheier. |
2,000
|
920
|
159,980
|
108,020
|
42,910
|
17,890
|
(1) Based on the difference between the closing market price of the Company's Common Stock on the date of exercise and the exercise price paid. (2) Based upon a final closing sales price of the Company's Common Stock, as of December 31, 2005, of $1.13 per share, as reported by the Nasdaq National Market. |
Equity
Compensation Plan Information
      The following table provides information as of December 31, 2005 about the Common Stock that may be issued under all Stock Option Plans of the Company.
Number
of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options
|
Weighted-average
exercise price of outstanding options
|
Number
of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation
plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))
|
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(a)
|
(b)
|
(c)
|
||||
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders (1) |
7,189,368
|
$
1.73
|
312,156
|
|||
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders (2) |
1,072,751
|
$
2.78
|
210,564
|
|||
Total |
8,262,119
|
$
1.86
|
522,720
|
_______________________________ (1) Includes the 1995 Stock Plan and its successor, the 2004 Equity Incentive Plan. Pursuant to an affirmative vote by security holders in June 2004, an annual increase is added on the first day of each fiscal year equal to the lesser of (a) 2,000,000 shares, (b) four percent of the outstanding shares on that date, or (c) a lesser amount as determined by the Board of Directors. A total of 1,208,948 shares became available for grant from the 2004 Equity Incentive Plan on January 1, 2006. (2) Consists of the 1999 Stock Plan. |
 
15
Employment Contracts and Change-In-Control Agreements
      In February 1998, the Company adopted a bonus plan pursuant to which a bonus pool in the amount of up to 10 percent of any consideration payable by a buyer in any acquisition of the Company is to be allocated to the executive officers and such other employees as the Board of Directors determines in its discretion.
      In December 2005, the Company renewed
separate employment agreements with Messrs. Kevin J. Mills, David W. Dunlap,
Micheal L. Gifford, Robert J. Miller, Tim I. Miller, Leonard L. Ott, Peter K.
Phillips and Kevin T. Scheier (each an "Executive"). The agreements expire on
December 31, 2008. The agreements set forth the base salaries for each Executive
and provide that if the Company terminates the Executive's employment without
cause, the Company will pay the Executive (i) six months' base salary regardless
of whether he secures other employment during those six months, (ii) health
insurance until the earlier of the date of the Executive's eligibility for the
health insurance benefits provided by another employer or the expiration of
six months, (iii) the full bonus amount to which he would have been entitled
for the first quarter following termination and one-half of such bonus amount
for the second quarter following termination, and (iv) certain other benefits
including the ability to purchase at book value certain items of the Company's
property purchased by the Company for the Executive's use, which may include
a personal computer, a cellular phone and other similar items. The exercise
period for vested stock options may also be extended up to a period not to exceed
one year based on formulas in the employment agreements.
      Additionally, under the Stock Option Plans, all
rights of all optionees (including executive officers) to purchase stock shall,
upon a change of control of the Company, be immediately vested and be fully
exercisable if such options are not assumed by the acquiring entity.
Limitation of Liability
and Indemnification Matters
      Pursuant
to the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Company has adopted provisions
in its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation that eliminate the
personal liability of the directors to the Company or the stockholders for monetary
damages for breach of the directors' fiduciary duties in certain circumstances.
The Company's bylaws require the Company to indemnify the Company's directors
and officers and authorize the Company to indemnify its employees and other
agents, to the fullest extent permitted by law.
      The Company has entered into indemnification agreements
with each of its current directors and officers that provide for indemnification
to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, including circumstances in
which indemnification and the advancement of expenses are discretionary under
Delaware law.
      The Company believes that the limitation of liability provisions in its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the indemnification agreements will enhance its ability to continue to attract and retain qualified individuals to serve as directors and officers. There is no pending litigation or proceeding involving a director, officer or employee to which the indemnification agreements would apply.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
      The Company and its Board of Directors are committed to high standards of corporate governance as an important component in building and maintaining stockholder value. To this end, the Company regularly reviews its corporate governance policies and practices to ensure that such policies are consistent with the high standards of other companies. The Company has also been closely monitoring guidance issued or proposed by the SEC, new listing standards of Nasdaq and provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. As a result of review of these matters, as well as the emerging best practices of other companies, the Company has implemented the following:
Director Independence
16
Audit Committee
Other Governance Matters
      More details on the Company's corporate governance initiatives, including copies of its Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and the committee charters can be found in the "Corporate Governance" section of the Company's web site at http://www.socketcom.com.
     
17
Policy for Director Recommendations and Nominations
      The Nominating Committee considers candidates
for board membership suggested by the Board of Directors, management and the
Company's stockholders. It is the policy of the Nominating Committee to consider
recommendations for candidates to the Board of Directors from stockholders holding
no less than five percent of the total outstanding shares of the Company. Stockholders
must have held such Common Stock continuously for at least 12 months prior to
the date of the submission of the recommendation. The Nominating Committee will
consider persons recommended by the Company's stockholders in the same manner
as nominees recommended by members of the Board of Directors or management.
      A stockholder who desires to recommend a candidate for election to the Board of Directors should direct the recommendation in written correspondence by letter to the Company, attention of:
Chairman of the Nominating Committee
c/o Socket Communications, Inc.
37400 Central Court
Newark, CA 94560
The notice must include:
      In addition, a stockholder may nominate a person
directly for election to the Board of Directors at the annual meeting of the
Company's stockholders, provided the stockholder complies with the requirements
set forth in the Company's Bylaws and the rules and regulations of the SEC related
to stockholder proposals. The process for properly submitting a stockholder
proposal, including a proposal to nominate a person for election to the Board
of Directors at an annual meeting, is described above in the section entitled
"Deadline for Receipt of Stockholder Proposals to be Included in the Company's
Proxy Materials."
       Where the Nominating Committee has either identified
a prospective nominee or determines that an additional or replacement director
is required, the Nominating Committee may take such measures that it considers
appropriate in connection with its evaluation of a director candidate, including
candidate interviews, inquiry of the person or persons making the recommendation
or nomination, engagement of an outside search firm to gather additional information,
or reliance on the knowledge of the members of the committee, the Board of Directors
or management. In its evaluation of director candidates, including the members
of the Board of Directors eligible for re-election, the Nominating Committee
considers a number of factors, including the following:
18
      The Nominating Committee has also specified the following minimum qualifications that it believes must be met by a nominee for a position on the Board of Directors:
      In connection with its evaluation, the Nominating Committee determines whether it will interview potential nominees. After completing the evaluation and interview, the Nominating Committee makes a recommendation to the full Board of Directors as to the persons who should be nominated to the board, and the Board of the Directors determines the nominees after considering the recommendation and report of the Nominating Committee.
Stockholder Communications to Directors
      Stockholders may communicate directly
with the members of the Board of Directors by sending an email to board@socketcom.com.
The Company's Secretary monitors these communications and will ensure that summaries
of all received messages are provided to the Board of Directors at its regularly
scheduled meetings or directly to the Chairman of the Board if the matter is
deemed to be urgent and to require the immediate attention of the Board. Where
the nature of a communication warrants, Mr. Bass, Chairman of the Board, may
decide to obtain the more immediate attention of the appropriate committee of
the Board of Directors or a non-management director, or the Company's management
or independent advisors, as appropriate. Mr. Bass will also determine whether
any response to a stockholder communication is necessary or warranted and whether
further action is required.
Director Independence
      In January 2006, the Board of Directors
undertook a review of the independence of its directors and considered whether
any director had a material relationship with the Company or its management
that could compromise his ability to exercise independent judgment in carrying
out his responsibilities. As a result of this review, the Board of Directors
affirmatively determined that all of the directors of the Company, with the
exception of Mr. Mills, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer,
and Mr. Gifford, the Company's Executive Vice President, are independent of
the Company and its management under the corporate governance standards of Nasdaq.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
      The Board of Directors has a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that is applicable to all employees, officers and directors of the Company, including the Company's senior financial and executive officers. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is intended to deter wrongdoing and promote ethical conduct among the Company's directors, executive officers and employees. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available on the Company's website. The Company will also post any amendments to or waivers from the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics on its website.
19
REPORT
OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
      Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of the Company's filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that might incorporate other filings, including this Proxy Statement, in whole or in part by reference, the following report and the Performance Graph (set forth below on page 24) shall not be incorporated by reference into any such filings.
Introduction
      The Compensation Committee establishes the general compensation policies of the Company, and establishes the compensation plans and specific compensation levels for executive officers. The Compensation Committee strives to ensure that the Company's executive compensation programs enable the Company to attract and retain key people and motivate them to achieve or exceed key objectives of the Company by making individual compensation directly dependent on the Company's achievement of certain financial goals, such as profitability and asset management, and by providing rewards for exceeding those goals.
Compensation Programs
      The three major components of the Company's executive officer compensation are: (i) base salary, (ii) variable incentive awards, and (iii) long-term equity-based incentive awards.
      Base Salary. The Compensation Committee establishes base salaries for executive officers, normally within ten percent of the average paid for comparable positions at other similarly sized companies, as set forth in national and local compensation surveys. Base pay increases vary according to individual contributions to the Company's success and comparisons to similar positions within the Company and at other comparable companies.
      Variable
Incentive Awards. To reinforce the importance of Company goals, the Compensation
Committee believes that a substantial portion of the quarterly compensation
of each executive officer should be in the form of variable incentive pay. The
variable incentive award set aside for each executive officer is determined
in part on the basis of the Company's achievement of the quarterly financial
performance targets established at the beginning of the fiscal year and also
on individual quarterly objectives. The incentive plan requires a threshold
level of Company performance that must be attained before any financial performance
incentives are awarded. Once the threshold is reached, specific formulas are
used to calculate the actual incentive payment for each executive officer. A
target is set for each executive officer based on targets for similar positions
at comparable companies. In fiscal year 2005, the Company met many of its performance
targets.
      Long-Term, Equity-Based Incentive Awards. The goal of the Company's long-term equity-based incentive awards is to align the interests of executive officers with those of stockholders and to provide each executive officer with a significant incentive to manage the Company from the perspective of an owner with an equity stake in the business. The Compensation Committee determines the size of long-term, equity-based incentives according to each executive's position within the Company and sets a level it considers appropriate to create a meaningful opportunity for equity participation. In addition, the Compensation Committee takes into account an individual's recent performance, his or her potential for future responsibility and promotion, comparable awards made to individuals in similar positions with comparable companies and the number of unvested options held by each individual at the time of the new grant. The relative weight given to each of these factors varies among individuals at the Compensation Committee's discretion.
20
      During fiscal year 2005, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors made option grants to Messrs. Mills, Gifford, Dunlap, Robert Miller and Scheier and to three other officers of the Company under the Company's 2004 Equity Incentive Plan. Each option allows the officer to acquire shares of the Company's Common Stock at the market price per share on the grant date over a specified period of time. Generally, each option granted under the 2004 Equity Incentive Plan and its predecessor plan, the 1995 Stock Plan, vests in periodic installments over a four-year period, contingent upon the executive officer's continued employment with the Company. Fully vested grants, or grants vesting over a shorter or longer term than four years, may be awarded at the discretion of the Compensation Committee. Each of the Named Executive Officer's options will provide a return only if the officer remains with the Company and only if the market price appreciates during the option term.
Compensation of Chief Executive Officer
      The factors considered by the Compensation
Committee in determining the compensation of Mr. Mills, the Chief Executive
Officer, in addition to survey data, include the Company's operating and financial
performance, his leadership in establishing and implementing the strategic direction
of the Company, and the relationship between Mr. Mills' compensation and the
compensation of the other officers and key employees of the Company. During
fiscal year 2005, the Compensation Committee increased Mr. Mills' annual base
compensation by $22,500, or 14%, to $180,000 per year. The Compensation Committee
did not change Mr. Mills' variable compensation under the variable incentive
awards program, described above, applicable to all of the officers of the Company.
Mr. Mills' variable compensation target of $100,000 per year is established
based upon a review of Chief Executive Officer compensation ranges for companies
of similar size and performance and in relationship to the variable compensation
targets of the other Company officers.
      The Compensation Committee considers stock options
to be an important component of the Chief Executive Officer's compensation as
a way to reward performance and motivate leadership for long-term growth and
profitability. In fiscal year 2005, Mr. Mills was granted an option to purchase
100,000 shares of Common Stock, with an exercise price equal to the fair market
value of the underlying Common Stock on the date of grant. This option was fully
vested on the date of grant with respect to 40,000 shares and the remaining
60,000 shares vest in forty-eight equal monthly installments commencing January
2006.
Compensation
Limitations
      Under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, which was enacted into law in August 1993, and regulations adopted thereunder by the Internal Revenue Service, publicly held companies may be precluded from deducting certain compensation paid to an executive officer in excess of $1 million in a single year. The regulations exclude from this limit performance-based compensation and stock options, provided certain requirements, such as stockholder approval, are satisfied.
      The cash compensation paid to the Company's executive officers during fiscal year 2005 did not exceed the $1 million limit for any executive officer, nor is the cash compensation to be paid to the Company's executive officers for fiscal year 2006 expected to reach that level. Because it is unlikely that the cash compensation payable to any of the Company's executive officers in the foreseeable future will approach the $1 million limitation, the Compensation Committee has decided not to take any action at this time to limit or restructure the elements of cash compensation payable to the Company's executive officers. The Compensation Committee will reconsider this decision should the individual compensation of any executive officer approach the $1 million level.
The foregoing report has been submitted by the undersigned in our capacity as members of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE |
||
Dated: March 6, 2006 | Enzo Torresi Peter Sealey |
21
COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
      None of the members of the Compensation Committee has ever been an officer or employee of the Company. No executive officer of the Company serves as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that had one or more executive officers serving as a member of the Company's Board of Directors or Compensation Committee.
REPORT
OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
      The
Board of Directors maintains an Audit Committee comprised of three of the Company's
outside directors. The Audit Committee oversees the Company's financial processes
on behalf of the Board of Directors, although management has the primary responsibility
for preparing the financial statements and maintaining the Company's financial
reporting process including the system of internal controls. In fulfilling its
oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee reviewed with management the
audited financial statements in the Annual Report to the Securities and Exchange
Commission on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, including discussing
the quality of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant
judgments and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements. The Audit
Committee also reviewed with management the report on internal controls in the
Annual Report to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2005, including discussing the design of internal control
systems and their effectiveness. The Board has a written charter for the Audit
Committee, a copy of which was filed with the Proxy Statement for the 2004 Annual
Meeting and is posted on the Company's website.
      The
Audit Committee reviewed the 2005 financial statements with the Company's independent
auditors, who are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of
the financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles, as well
as their judgment as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of the Company's
accounting principles. The Audit Committee also discussed such other matters
as the auditors are required to discuss with the Committee under generally accepted
auditing standards, including Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61. The Audit
Committee reviewed with the independent auditors the auditing standards applied,
including the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board's Auditing Standard
No. 2, An Audit of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, in evaluating
whether management's assessment process had an appropriate basis for its conclusion
and whether the design of the internal controls was effective for supporting
management's conclusion. In addition, the Audit Committee discussed with the
independent auditors the auditors' independence from management and the Company,
including the matters in the written disclosures and the letter from the independent
auditors required by the Independence Standards Board, Standard No. 1.
      The
Audit Committee also discussed with the Company's independent auditors the overall
scope and results of their audits of the financial statements and internal controls.
The Audit Committee met periodically with the independent auditors, with and
without management present, to discuss the results of their examination, their
evaluation of the Company's internal controls, and the overall quality of the
Company's financial reporting. The Audit Committee held two meetings with the
auditors in regards to their audits of the annual financial statements for the
year ended December 31, 2005 and internal controls as of December 31, 2005.
In addition, a conference call between members of the Audit Committee, the auditors
and management was held each quarter during fiscal 2005 to review quarterly
financial reports prior to their issue.
      In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred
to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors, and the
Board of Directors has approved, that the audited financial statements be included
in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2005 along with management's report on internal control over financial reporting
as of December 31, 2005. The Audit Committee also approved the appointment of
Moss Adams LLP as the Company's independent auditors for the year ending December
31, 2006.
22
      The
foregoing report has been submitted by the undersigned in our capacity as members
of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
AUDIT COMMITTEE |
||
Dated: March 6, 2006 |
Charlie Bass Leon Malmed Gianluca Rattazzi |
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
      There were no transactions during the last fiscal year to which the Company has been a party, in which the amount involved exceeded $60,000 and in which any director, executive officer or beneficial holder of more than five percent of the Company's outstanding capital stock had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.
      See also "Executive Compensation - Employment Contracts and Change-in-Control Agreements."
23
PERFORMANCE
GRAPH
     The following graph shows a five-year comparison of cumulative total stockholder return, calculated on a dividend reinvestment basis and based on a $100 investment, from December 31, 2000 through December 31, 2005 comparing the return on the Company's Common Stock with the Russell 2000 Index and the Nasdaq Computer & Data Processing Index. No dividends have been declared or paid on the Common Stock during such period. Historical stock price performance is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.
OTHER
MATTERS
The Company knows of no
other matters to be submitted at the 2006 Annual Meeting. If any other matters
properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is the intention of the persons
named in the enclosed form of proxy to vote the shares they represent as the
Board of Directors may recommend. It is important that your shares be represented
at the meeting, regardless of the number of shares that you hold. Please complete,
date, execute and return, at your earliest convenience, the accompanying proxy
card in the envelope that has been enclosed.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
||
Dated: March 6, 2006 |
24
This Proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of Socket Communications,
Inc.
2006
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
The undersigned stockholder of SOCKET COMMUNICATIONS, INC., a Delaware corporation, hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement, each dated March 3, 2006, and hereby appoints Kevin J. Mills and David W. Dunlap, and each of them, proxies and attorneys-in-fact, with full power to each of substitution, on behalf and in the name of the undersigned, to represent the undersigned at the 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of SOCKET COMMUNICATIONS, INC. to be held on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 at 9:00 a.m. local time, at the Company's headquarters at 37400 Central Court, Newark, California 94560, and at any adjournment or adjournments thereof, and to vote all shares of Common Stock which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if then and there personally present, on the matters set forth below:
1. | ELECTION OF SEVEN DIRECTORS. | |||||
/ / FOR all nominees listed / / Withhold Authority to vote for ALL Nominees Listed |
||||||
Nominees: Charlie Bass; Kevin J. Mills; Micheal L. Gifford; Gianluca Rattazzi; Leon Malmed; Enzo Torresi; Peter Sealey |
||||||
If you wish to withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, strike a line through that nominee's name in the list below: | ||||||
Charlie Bass; Kevin J. Mills; Micheal L. Gifford; Gianluca Rattazzi; Leon Malmed; Enzo Torresi; Peter Sealey |
||||||
2. |
PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF MOSS ADAMS LLP AS INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS OF THE COMPANY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2006. |
|||||
/ / FOR |
/ / AGAINST |
/ / ABSTAIN |
In their discretion, the Proxies are entitled to vote upon such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof. | ||||||
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO CONTRARY DIRECTION IS INDICATED, WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS, FOR THE RATIFICATION OF MOSS ADAMS LLP AS INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS, AND AS THE PROXIES DEEM ADVISABLE ON SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING. |
||||||
Signature |
Signature |
Date: , 2006 |
||||
(This Proxy should be marked, dated and signed by the stockholder(s) exactly as his or her name appears hereon, and returned promptly in the enclosed envelope. Persons signing in a fiduciary capacity should so indicate. If shares are held by joint tenants or as community property, both should sign.) |