UNITED STATES |
|||
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION |
|||
Washington, D.C. 20549 |
|||
|
|||
SCHEDULE 14A |
|||
|
|||
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of |
|||
|
|||
Filed by the Registrant ý |
|||
|
|||
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o |
|||
|
|||
Check the appropriate box: |
|||
o |
Preliminary Proxy Statement |
||
o |
Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
||
ý |
Definitive Proxy Statement |
||
o |
Definitive Additional Materials |
||
o |
Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
||
|
|||
Gaiam, 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): |
|||
ý |
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: |
|
|
|
|
|
Gaiam, Inc.
360 Interlocken Boulevard
Broomfield, Colorado 80021
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2006
To our shareholders:
The 2006 annual meeting of shareholders of Gaiam, Inc., a Colorado corporation, will be held on Thursday, June 22, 2006, at 9:30 a.m. at Hotel Boulderado, 2115 13th Street, Boulder, Colorado 80302, for the following purposes:
1. to elect directors of Gaiam to serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified;
2. to vote on a proposal to amend Gaiams 1999 Long-Term Incentive Plan in order to increase the number of shares which may be issued pursuant to the plan; and
3. to transact such other business as may properly come before the annual meeting, or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof.
Gaiams board of directors has fixed the close of business on Tuesday, April 25, 2006, as the record date for determining the shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting. A complete list of shareholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting will be available for inspection by any shareholder of Gaiam prior to the annual meeting, upon written request showing a proper purpose, during normal business hours at Gaiams Broomfield, Colorado office. Only shareholders of record on the April 25, 2006 record date are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.
A copy of Gaiams Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2005, a proxy statement and a proxy card accompany this notice. These materials are first being sent to shareholders on or about May 31, 2006.
Shareholders are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting in person. To assure you are represented at the annual meeting, please complete and sign the enclosed proxy card and return it promptly.
|
By Order of the Board of Directors, |
|
|
|
|
|
Lynn
Powers, Secretary |
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. WE URGE YOU TO DATE, SIGN AND PROMPTLY RETURN YOUR PROXY SO THAT YOUR SHARES MAY BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR WISHES.
Gaiam, Inc.
360
Interlocken Boulevard
Broomfield, Colorado 80021
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL
MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON JUNE 22, 2006
This proxy statement and the accompanying proxy card are being furnished to the shareholders of Gaiam, Inc. in connection with the solicitation of proxies by and on behalf of the Board of Directors of Gaiam for use at its 2006 annual meeting of shareholders to be held on Thursday, June 22, 2006, starting at 9:30 a.m. at Hotel Boulderado, 2115 13th Street, Boulder, Colorado 80302, and at any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof. This proxy statement and the accompanying proxy card are being mailed to shareholders on or about May 31, 2006.
PURPOSE OF ANNUAL MEETING
At the annual meeting, shareholders will be asked: (i) to elect directors of Gaiam to serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified; (ii) to vote on a proposal to amend Gaiams 1999 Long-Term Incentive Plan in order to increase the number of shares which may be issued pursuant to the plan; and (iii) to transact such other business as may properly be brought before the annual meeting. Our Board recommends a vote FOR the election of the nominees for directors of Gaiam listed below, and the proposal listed herein.
QUORUM AND VOTING RIGHTS
The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding votes eligible to be cast by our Class A and Class B Common Stock is necessary to constitute a quorum at the annual meeting. Only shareholders of record at the close of business on the record date, Tuesday, April 25, 2006, will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting. As of the record date, there were 15,358,378 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $.0001, and 5,400,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $.0001, outstanding and entitled to vote. Holders of Class A Common Stock as of the record date are entitled to one vote for each share held and holders of Class B Common Stock as of the record date are entitled to ten votes for each share held. The holders of the Class A and Class B Common Stock will vote together. Once a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes eligible to be cast on any subject matter shall be the act of the shareholders, other than with respect to the election of directors as described below.
Mr. Jirka Rysavy, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, holds all 5,400,000 outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock and 1,664,000 shares of Class A Common Stock (or approximately 11% of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock). These shares are sufficient to constitute a quorum and to elect all Gaiam directors and approve the other proposal, and Mr. Rysavy has indicated that he plans to be present at the meeting and vote in favor of the directors nominated by our Board and the other proposal.
All shares of Common Stock represented by properly executed proxies will, unless the proxies have previously been revoked, be voted in accordance with the instructions indicated in the proxies. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the result of the vote, although they will count towards the presence of a quorum. Any shareholder executing a proxy has the power to revoke the proxy at any time prior to its exercise. A proxy may be revoked prior to exercise by (a) filing with Gaiam a written revocation of the proxy, (b) appearing at the annual meeting and voting in person, or (c) submitting to Gaiam a duly executed proxy bearing a later date.
The cost of preparing, printing, assembling and mailing this Proxy Statement and other material furnished to shareholders in connection with the solicitation of proxies will be borne by Gaiam. In addition, officers, directors and regular employees of Gaiam may solicit proxies by written communication, telephone or telegraph. These persons will receive no special compensation for any solicitation activities.
IT IS THE INTENTION OF THE AGENTS DESIGNATED IN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD TO VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF ALL NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR IDENTIFIED BELOW (UNLESS AUTHORITY IS WITHHELD BY THE SHAREHOLDER GRANTING THE PROXY) AND FOR PROPOSAL 2 BELOW. IF ANY NOMINEE BECOMES UNAVAILABLE TO SERVE FOR ANY REASON, THE PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR A SUBSTITUTE NOMINEE OR NOMINEES TO BE SELECTED BY GAIAMS BOARD, UNLESS THE SHAREHOLDER WITHHOLDS AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. JIRKA RYSAVY, WHO HOLDS APPROXIMATELY 11% OF THE OUTSTANDING SHARES OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK AND 100% OF THE OUTSTANDING SHARES OF CLASS B COMMON STOCK, HAS INFORMED GAIAM THAT HE INTENDS TO VOTE HIS SHARES IN FAVOR OF THE NOMINEES AND PROPOSAL SET FORTH IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT.
PROPOSAL 1ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Nominees for Election as Directors
The Board proposes that Jirka Rysavy, Lynn Powers, James Argyropoulos, Barnet M. Feinblum, David Golden, Barbara Mowry, Ted Nark and Paul H. Ray be elected as directors of Gaiam, to hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Unless contrary instructions are given, the proxies will be voted for these nominees. Each nominee has agreed to serve if elected, and management has no reason to believe that any of the nominees will be unavailable for service. If for any unforeseen reason any nominee should decline or be unable to serve, the proxies will be voted to fill any vacancy so arising in accordance with the discretionary authority of the persons named in the proxy, unless contrary instructions are given.
The names of the nominees, their ages as of December 31, 2005, the years in which they began serving as directors if applicable, and their positions are set forth below. Each of the nominees, except David Golden, is currently serving as a director of Gaiam.
JIRKA RYSAVYage 51Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Gaiam. He has been Chairman since Gaiams inception and became our full-time Chief Executive Officer in December 1998. In 1986, Mr. Rysavy founded Corporate Express, Inc., which, under his leadership, grew to become a Fortune 500 company supplying office and computer products and services. He was its
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer until September 1998. Mr. Rysavy also founded and served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Crystal Market, a health foods market, which was sold in 1987 to become the first Wild Oats Markets store.
LYNN POWERSage 56President, Director and Chief Executive Officer of North American operations of Gaiam. Ms. Powers has been President and a Director since February 1996. From February 1996 until September 2001, she was Chief Operating Officer, when she was promoted to Chief Executive Officer of North American operations. From 1992 to 1996, she was Chief Executive Officer of La Scelta, an importer of natural fiber clothing products. Before that, Ms. Powers was Senior Vice President Marketing/Strategic Development and Vice President Merchandising of Millers Outpost, a specialty retailer.
JAMES ARGYROPOULOSage 62Director since May 2002. Mr. Argyropoulos has been primarily engaged as a private investor over the last fifteen years. Mr. Argyropoulos founded The Walking Company, a lifestyle specialty retailer, and served as its Chairman from 1992 until 2004. Previously Mr. Argyropoulos served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Cherokee Group Inc., a shoe manufacturing and apparel business he founded in 1972.
BARNET M. FEINBLUMage 58Director since October 1999. Mr. Feinblum is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Organic Vintners, a marketer of organic wines. Mr. Feinblum was the President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Horizon Organic Dairy from May 1995 to January 2000. From July 1993 through March 1995, Mr. Feinblum was the President of Natural Venture Partners, a private investment company. From August 1976 until August 1993, Mr. Feinblum held various positions at Celestial Seasonings, Inc., including President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board. Mr. Feinblum is also a director of Seventh Generation, Inc.
DAVID GOLDENage 47 Mr. Golden is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Revolution. From February 1988 to March 2006, Mr. Golden was with JP Morgan and a predecessor firm, Hambrecht & Quist, where he was director of mergers and acquisitions and, most recently, director of JP Morgan global investment banking for media, telecommunication and technology as well as a member of the management committee.
BARBARA MOWRYage 58Director since October 1999. Since 2003, Ms. Mowry has been Chief Executive Officer of Silver Creek Systems, a provider of enterprise data usability software. From 1997 until February 2001, Ms. Mowry was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Requisite Technology, a business-to-business e-commerce company specializing in the creation and management of electronic content and catalogs. Prior to joining Requisite Technology, Ms. Mowry was an officer of Telecommunications, Inc. (cable television) from 1995 to 1997; and UAL, Inc. (airline) from 1983 to 1990. In 1990, Ms. Mowry founded, and until 1995 served as Chief Executive Officer of, The Mowry Company, a relationship marketing firm focusing on the development of long-term customer relationships for businesses.
TED NARKage 47Director since June 2005. Mr. Nark served as Chief Executive Officer of White Cap Construction Supply, a distributor of specialty hardware, tools and materials to construction contractors, from April 2002 through January 2006. From 1998 until 2002, Mr. Nark was the Chief Executive Officer and Manager Director of Corporate Express Australia, a publicly traded business to business office product distribution company in Australia. From 1992 until 1998, Mr. Nark worked for Corporate Express, Inc., as Northwest Division President from 1992 to 1995, and then as Group President from 1995 to 1998. Mr. Nark also serves on the Board of Directors of FTD Group, Inc. and Leslies Poolmart, Inc.
PAUL H. RAYage 66Director since October 1999. Since 2000, Mr. Ray has been the Chief Executive Officer of Integral Partnerships LLC, a consulting firm specializing in Cultural Creative topics. From 1986 until 2000, he was Executive Vice President of American LIVES, Inc., a market research and opinion-polling firm. Prior to joining American LIVES, Mr. Ray was Chief of Policy Research on Energy Conservation at the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources of the Government of Canada from 1981
to 1983. From 1973 to 1981, Mr. Ray was Associate Professor of Urban Planning at the University of Michigan. He is the author of The Integral Culture Survey, which first identified the Cultural Creatives subculture.
Each director serves for a one-year term.
Directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast. If no instructions are indicated on a proxy card, the shares will be voted FOR the election of these nominees for director. Because director nominees must receive a plurality of the votes cast at the annual meeting, a vote withheld from a particular nominee or from all nominees will not affect the election of that nominee.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR
THE NOMINEES OF THE BOARD
PROPOSAL 2AMENDMENT OF GAIAM, INC. 1999 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
General
The Board of Directors recommends that the shareholders approve an amendment to Gaiams 1999 Long-Term Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of Class A Common Stock permitted to be granted. The amendment would provide that a maximum of 3,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock be authorized for issuance under the Incentive Plan. Currently a maximum of 2,100,000 shares of Class A Common Stock is authorized for issuance under the Incentive Plan. The following is a summary of the material features of the Incentive Plan, which is attached as Exhibit A.
Summary Of The Incentive Plan
The Incentive Plan was initially approved by shareholders on October 24, 1999. In 2002, the shareholders approved an increase in the number of shares of Class A Common Stock authorized for issuance from 1,600,000 to 2,100,000.
The purpose of the Incentive Plan is to advance the interests of Gaiam and its shareholders by providing incentives to certain employees of Gaiam and other key individuals who perform services for Gaiam, including those who contribute significantly to the strategic and long-term performance objectives and growth of Gaiam. The Incentive Plan is administered by the Board of Directors or, if the Board of Directors so designates, by a committee of the Board of Directors. Gaiams Board of Directors has designated the Boards Compensation Committee to administer the Incentive Plan. The Committee may delegate administrative responsibilities if so permitted by applicable law, other than with respect to executive officers who are subject to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Incentive Plan provides for the granting of several types of awards, including stock options, stock appreciation rights or SARs, restricted stock, performance grants and other awards deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Incentive Plan. Awards may be granted alone, or in conjunction with one or more other awards, as determined by the Committee.
As amended, a maximum of 3,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock will be authorized to be issued under the Incentive Plan in connection with the grant of awards, subject to adjustments described below. Currently 2,100,000 shares of Class A Common Stock are authorized to be issued under the Incentive Plan. Since 1999, 832,944 shares have been issued upon exercise of options and awards. At April 28, 2006, 1,125,454 shares were reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding options, representing approximately 5.4% of Gaiams outstanding shares. Class A Common Stock issued under the Incentive Plan may be either newly issued shares, treasury shares, reacquired shares or any combination thereof. If Class A Common Stock issued as restricted stock or otherwise subject to repurchase or forfeiture rights is reacquired by Gaiam pursuant to such rights, or if any award is canceled, terminates or expires unexercised, the Class A Common Stock which would otherwise have been issuable pursuant to such awards will be available for issuance under new awards.
The Committee has exclusive discretion to select which employees and other key individuals performing services for Gaiam to whom awards will be granted; to determine the type, size and terms of each award; to modify within certain limits the terms of any award; to determine the time when awards will be granted; to establish performance objectives; to prescribe the form of documents representing awards under the Incentive Plan and to make all other determinations which it deems necessary or desirable in the interpretation and administration of the Incentive Plan. The Committee has the authority to administer and interpret the Incentive Plan, and its decisions are final, conclusive and binding. Gaiam anticipates that approximately 400 employees will be eligible to participate in the Incentive Plan.
Awards under the Incentive Plan
Stock Options. A stock option, which may be a nonqualified or an incentive stock option, is the right to purchase a specified number of shares of Class A Common Stock at a price fixed by the Committee. The option exercise price for nonqualified options may be equal to or greater than the fair market value of the Class A Common Stock. In the case of incentive stock options, the option exercise price may not be less than the fair market value of the underlying shares of Class A Common Stock on the date of grant and, with respect to incentive stock options granted to employees of Gaiam or any affiliate who own more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of the stock of Gaiam or any affiliate, the option exercise price may not be less than 110% of fair market value on the date of the grant.
Stock options will generally expire not later than ten years or, in the case of incentive stock options granted to employees who own more than 10% of Gaiams stock, five years, after the date on which they are granted. Stock options become exercisable at such times and in such installments as the Committee determines. Payment of the option exercise price must be made in full at the time of exercise in cash, by tendering to Gaiam shares of Class A Common Stock, by a combination thereof or by any other means that the Committee deems appropriate (including, without limitation, the surrender of rights in one or more outstanding awards).
Other Awards. The Incentive Plan also authorizes several other types of awards. These include stock appreciation rights (rights to receive, without payment to Gaiam, cash, Class A Common Stock, other property or any combination thereof, based on the increase in the value of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock specified in the award), restricted stock (an award of a number of shares of Class A Common Stock that are subject to certain restrictions, such as a requirement that the shares shall be forfeited if the holders employment or performance of services for Gaiam terminates), and performance grants (cash, shares of Class A Common Stock, other consideration such as other Gaiam securities or property or a combination thereof that is paid based on the performance of the holder, Gaiam, one or more of Gaiams subsidiaries, divisions or units, or any combination).
Additional Information
Under the Incentive Plan, if any change in the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock occurs by reason of a stock split, stock dividend, combination, subdivision or exchange of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, reorganization or other extraordinary or unusual event, the Committee may direct appropriate changes in the terms of any award or the number of shares of Class A Common Stock available for awards. Such changes may include the number or kind of securities that may be issued, the number or kind of securities subject to, or the option exercise price under, any outstanding stock option, the number or kind of securities which have been awarded as restricted stock or any repurchase option price relating thereto, the number or value of performance grants, the number or value of any other award, or any measure of performance of any award.
The Incentive Plan permits the Committee to determine whether it is advisable for Gaiam or any affiliate to provide financing in connection with the exercise of an award and the payment of related taxes, or to assist in obtaining financing from a bank or other third party in this regard. Such assistance may take any form and be on such terms as the Committee considers appropriate including, without limitation, a direct loan, a guaranty of the obligation to a third party or the maintenance by Gaiam or an affiliate of deposits with a bank or third party.
The Committee may permit payment taxes required to be withheld with respect to an award in any appropriate manner (including, without limitation, by the surrender to Gaiam of shares of Class A Common Stock owned by such person or that would otherwise be distributed, or have been distributed, as the case may be, pursuant to such award).
Generally, no awards under the Incentive Plan may be assigned or transferred in whole or in part, either directly or by operation of law or otherwise (except in the event of a holders death), including, without limitation, execution, levy, garnishment, attachment, pledge, bankruptcy or in any other manner, although the Committee approve transfers of awards to employees and, without payment of consideration, to immediate family members and related parties.
The expenses of the Incentive Plan are borne by Gaiam. The Incentive Plan terminates upon the earlier of the adoption of a resolution by the Board terminating the Incentive Plan and June 1, 2009, unless extended for up to an additional five years for the grant of awards other than incentive stock options by action of the Board of Directors of Gaiam. The Board of Directors may amend the Incentive Plan at any time and from time to time for any purpose consistent with the goals of the Incentive Plan. However, if failure to obtain shareholder approval would adversely affect compliance of the Incentive Plan with Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act (or other applicable law or regulation) no amendment shall be effective unless and until approved by shareholders.
The following is a summary of the principal current federal income tax consequences of transactions under the Incentive Plan. This summary does not describe all federal tax consequences under the Incentive Plan, nor does it describe state, local or foreign tax consequences.
Incentive Stock Options. No taxable income is realized by the employee upon the grant or exercise of an incentive stock option. However, the exercise of an incentive stock option may result in alternative minimum tax liability for the employee. If the employee does not dispose of the shares received upon exercise of an incentive stock option within two years from the date of grant (or within one year after the transfer of such shares to the employee), then upon sale of such shares, any amount realized in excess of the exercise price will be taxed to the employee as a long-term capital gain and any loss sustained will be a long-term capital loss. In that case, no deduction will be allowed to Gaiam for federal income tax purposes.
If the shares of Class A Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of an incentive stock option are disposed of prior to the expiration of the two-year and one-year holding periods described above, generally the employee will realize ordinary income in the year of disposition. The ordinary income will equal the amount of the excess (if any) of the fair market value of the shares at exercise (or, if less, the amount realized on an arms-length sale of such shares) over the exercise price thereof, and Gaiam will be entitled to deduct such amount. Any further gain realized will be taxed as short-term or long-term capital gain and will not result in any deduction by Gaiam. Special rules may apply where all or a portion of the exercise price of the incentive stock option is paid by tendering shares of Class A Common Stock.
If an incentive stock option is exercised at a time when it does not qualify for the tax treatment described above, the option is treated as a nonqualified stock option. Generally, an incentive stock option will not be eligible for the tax treatment described above if it is exercised more than three months following termination of employment (one year following termination of employment by reason of permanent and total disability), except in certain cases where the incentive stock option is exercised after the death of an employee.
Nonqualified Options. No income is realized by the employee at the time a nonqualified stock option is granted under the Incentive Plan. Generally, at exercise, ordinary income is realized by the employee in an amount equal to the difference between the option price and the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise, and Gaiam receives a tax deduction for the same amount. At disposition, appreciation or depreciation after the date of exercise is treated as either short-term or long-term capital gain or loss, depending on how long the shares have been held.
Other Awards. The grant of a stock appreciation right does not result in income for the employee or in a deduction for Gaiam. Upon the exercise of an SAR, generally the employee recognizes ordinary income and Gaiam is entitled to a deduction measured by the fair market value of any amounts received by the employee.
An employee receiving restricted stock generally will be subject to tax at ordinary income rates on the fair market value of the stock at the time the stock is either transferable or is no longer subject to forfeiture, less any amount paid for such stock. Gaiam is entitled to a corresponding tax deduction for the amount of ordinary income recognized by the employee. However, an employee who so elects under Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code within 30 days of the date of issuance of the restricted stock will realize ordinary income on the date of issuance equal to the fair market value of the shares of restricted stock at that time (measured as if the shares were unrestricted and could be sold immediately), less any amount paid. If the shares subject to such election are forfeited, the employee will not be entitled to any deduction, refund or loss for tax purposes with respect to the forfeited shares. Upon sale of the shares after the forfeiture period has expired, the appreciation or depreciation since the shares became transferable or free from risk of forfeiture (or, if a Section 83(b) election was made, since the shares were issued) will be treated as long-term or short-term capital gain or loss. The holding period to determine whether the employee has long-term or short-term capital gain or loss begins when the restriction period expires (or upon earlier issuance of the shares, if the employee elected immediate recognition of income under Section 83(b)).
An employee receiving a performance award will generally be subject to tax at ordinary income rates on any cash received and on the fair market value of any Class A Common Stock issued under the award, and Gaiam will generally be entitled to a deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income realized by the employee. The capital gain or loss holding period for any Class A Common Stock distributed under a performance award will begin when the employee recognizes ordinary income relating to the award.
Plan Benefits. It is not possible to determine awards that will be made under the Incentive Plan. The amendment would not have resulted in any changes in the number of awards granted to date under the Incentive Plan. The amendment will increase the number of shares of Class A Common Stock available for awards under the Incentive Plan in the future.
At the meeting, the amendment to the Incentive Plan requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the total votes cast on the proposal. Jirka Rysavy, who holds approximately 11% of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and 100% of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, has informed Gaiam that he intends to vote his shares in favor of the proposal to amend the Incentive Plan.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR
THE PROPOSAL TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENT TO THE INCENTIVE PLAN
COMMITTEES AND MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Gaiam Board of Directors meets regularly during the year. The Board of Directors has determined that each of Messrs. Argyropoulos, Feinblum, Nark and Ray and Ms. Mowry are independent as defined by the listing standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market.
In 2005, our Board held ten meetings, including regularly scheduled and special meetings. Each director who served as director attended over 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of our Board and of the committees of our Board on which the director served during 2005; except for Messrs. Ray and Nark, who attended 67% of the Board and committee meetings during 2005.
The Board expects a majority of its directors to attend the annual meeting, and in 2005, five of the six directors attended the annual meeting. Gaiams policy on attendance by directors at the annual meeting encourages our directors to attend the annual meeting unless they have a scheduling conflict.
The Board of Directors generally has four regularly scheduled meetings during the year, and our five independent directors generally schedule their executive sessions (without management present) adjacent to a regularly scheduled Board meeting. Our Board has standing audit and compensation committees. We have adopted written charters for both committees.
Audit Committee. During 2005, the Audit Committee consisted of Messrs. Feinblum and Argyropoulos and Ms. Mowry, and each member of the committee is independent within the meaning of rules of NASDAQ Stock Market. During 2005, Barnet Feinblum served as chairperson of the Audit Committee and was an audit committee financial expert, as defined by the SEC rules adopted pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Audit Committee is responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of Gaiams auditor and for approval of any non-audit services provided by the auditor. The Audit Committee also oversees (a) managements maintenance of the reliability and integrity of our accounting policies and financial reporting and disclosure practices; (b) managements establishment and maintenance of processes to assure that an adequate system of internal control is functioning; and (c) managements establishment and maintenance of processes to assure our compliance with all laws, regulations and company policies relating to financial reporting. The Audit Committee held six meetings during 2005.
Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee consisted of Messrs. Feinblum, Argyropoulos and Ray and Ms. Mowry during 2005. During 2005, Barbara Mowry served as chairperson of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee establishes compensation amounts and policies applicable to our executive officers, establishes salaries, bonuses and other compensation plans and matters for our executive officers and administers Gaiams stock option plans and employee stock purchase plan. The Compensation Committee held five meetings during 2005.
We do not have a nominating committee, and nominations for directors are made by our full Board. Gaiam is exempt from NASDAQ Stock Market rules with respect to nominating committees because Gaiam may be deemed a controlled company on the basis of Mr. Rysavys control of more than 50% of Gaiams voting power, and in light of Mr. Rysavys control, our Board does not believe a nominating committee would serve a purpose. Our bylaws set forth certain procedures that are required to be followed by shareholders in nominating persons for election to our Board. Generally, written notice of a proposed nomination must be received by Gaiams Corporate Secretary not later than the 45th day nor earlier than the 70th day prior to the anniversary of the mailing of the preceding years proxy materials.
Directors Compensation
Directors who are not employees of Gaiam or its affiliates are paid a fee of $3,000 for each meeting of our Board that they attend, and a fee of $1,000 for each telephonic meeting attended. In addition, non-employee directors are paid a fee of $500 for attendance at each committee meeting and $250 for each telephonic meeting attended. Non-employee chairpersons of each standing committee receive an annual fee of $2,000. All directors elected to receive their 2005 compensation in Gaiam common stock, except Mr. Ray and Mr. Nark, who elected to receive cash compensation.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF GAIAM
The executive officers of Gaiam, Inc., their positions and their respective ages at December 31, 2005 were as follows:
Name |
|
Age |
|
Position |
|
|
|
|
|
Jirka Rysavy |
|
51 |
|
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
Lynn Powers |
|
56 |
|
President, Director, Secretary and CEO of North American Operations |
|
|
|
|
|
Janet Mathews |
|
50 |
|
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
Lou Weiss |
|
37 |
|
President, Gaiam Direct |
Executive officers are elected annually by Gaiams Board of Directors. Mr. Rysavy, Ms. Powers and Ms. Mathews have been employed by Gaiam for more than the past five years.
Mr. Weiss joined Gaiam in September 2005 following our acquisition of assets from Good Times Entertainment, where he had been Senior Vice President. Previously, he held a series of executive roles at new media and Internet companies, including Co-Founder and President of Blue Dolphin Group, an Internet-based marketer of subscription services; and Vice President and General Manager of AirMedia, the worlds first wireless Internet broadcast network. From 1991 to 1995, Mr. Weiss worked at Sony Corp. of America, where he began his career in the Corporate Strategy division and was promoted to National Sales and Marketing Manager for Sonys U.S. Wireless Telecomm business. He was graduated magna cum laude from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania with a B.S. in Economics.
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SHARES
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of April 28, 2006, except as noted, for (i) each person (or group of affiliated persons) who, insofar as Gaiam has been able to ascertain, beneficially owned more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Class A or Class B Common Stock of Gaiam, (ii) each director and nominee for director, (iii) each executive officer named in the table above, and (iv) all current directors and executive officers as a group.
Title of |
|
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1) |
|
Amount and |
|
Percent of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class A |
|
Jirka Rysavy |
(3) |
7,064,000 |
|
34.03 |
% |
|
|
Prentice Capital Management, LP |
(4) |
3,379,814 |
|
22.01 |
% |
|
|
Revolution Living LLC |
(5) |
2,500,000 |
|
16.28 |
% |
|
|
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, L.P. |
(6) |
1,212,000 |
|
7.89 |
% |
|
|
Lynn Powers |
(7) |
383,000 |
|
2.45 |
% |
|
|
James Argyropoulos |
(7)(8) |
237,491 |
|
1.55 |
% |
|
|
Janet Mathews |
(7) |
42,200 |
|
|
* |
|
|
Barnet Feinblum |
(7)(9) |
31,717 |
|
|
* |
|
|
Barbara Mowry |
(7) |
22,833 |
|
|
* |
|
|
Paul Ray |
(7) |
16,121 |
|
|
* |
|
|
Ted Nark |
(7) |
5,247 |
|
|
* |
|
|
David Golden |
(5) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
All directors and officers as a group (10 persons) |
(3)(7) |
7,807,609 |
|
36.94 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class B |
|
Jirka Rysavy |
|
5,400,000 |
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
All directors and officers as a group (10 persons) |
|
5,400,000 |
|
100.0 |
% |
* Indicates less than one percent ownership
(1) The address of all persons listed is 360 Interlocken Blvd., Broomfield, Colorado, 80021, except as otherwise noted.
(2) This table is based upon information supplied by officers, directors and principal shareholders on Schedule 13Ds and 13Gs and Forms 3, 4 and 5 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All beneficial ownership is direct, except as otherwise noted. Share amounts include stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 28, 2006.
(3) Includes 5,400,000 shares of Class A Common Stock obtainable upon conversion of Class B Common Stock.
(4) Based on a Schedule 13D filed as of July 8, 2005. Includes shares managed by Prentice Capital Management, LP and Michael Zimmerman. The address for Prentice Capital Management, LP is 623 Fifth Avenue, 32rd Floor, New York, New York 10022.
(5) Based on a Schedule 13D filed as of August 15, 2005. The address for Revolution Living LLC is 1717 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20036. Revolution, LLC, the Stephen M. Case Revocable Trust and Stephen M. Case may be deemed to beneficially own such shares. David Golden is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Revolution, LLC.
(6) Based on a Schedule 13G filed as of February 14, 2006. The address for Columbia Wanger Asset Management, L.P. is 227 West Monroe Street, Suite 3000, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
(7) Includes the following shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options which can be exercised within sixty days of April 28, 2006: Ms. Powers, 284,000; Mr. Argyropoulos, 10,000; Ms. Mathews, 41,600; Mr. Feinblum, 10,000; Ms. Mowry, 10,000; Mr. Nark, 5,000 and Mr. Ray, 10,000.
(8) Includes 220,000 shares of Class A Common Stock held by Argyropoulos Investors.
(9) Includes 4,000 shares of Class A Common Stock held by Mr. Feinblums wife, as to which Mr. Feinblum disclaims beneficial ownership.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE (1)
The following table sets forth certain summary information regarding individual compensation paid to our Chief Executive Officer and other four most highly compensated officers of Gaiam for all services rendered in all capacities to Gaiam and its subsidiaries for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003:
|
|
|
|
Annual Compensation |
|
Long Term |
|
|
|
||
Name and Principal Position |
|
Year |
|
Salary ($) |
|
Bonus ($) |
|
Securities |
|
Other |
|
Jirka Rysavy |
|
2005 |
|
205,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lynn Powers |
|
2005 |
|
205,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Janet
Mathews |
|
2005 |
|
164,615 150,308 140,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lou Weiss
(2) |
|
2005 |
|
81,115 |
|
25,000 |
|
75,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark Lipien |
|
2005 |
|
141,827 |
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
(1) No other annual compensation payments, awards of restricted stock, or payouts under long term incentive plans (as defined by the applicable federal securities regulations) were made during 2005, 2004 or 2003. Therefore the columns for such compensation otherwise required by applicable federal securities regulations have been omitted.
(2) Mr. Weiss joined Gaiam in September 2005.
Stock Option Grants
The following table provides information with respect to the individual stock option grants during 2005 to the officers named in the Summary Compensation table under Gaiams 1999 Long-Term Incentive Plan. Options granted under the plan vest at 2% per month during the 11th through 60th month after the grant.
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST YEAR
Name |
|
Number of |
|
Individual |
|
Exercise or |
|
Expiration Date |
|
|
|
|||||
|
||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Potential Realizable |
||||||||||||||||
Value at Assumed Rates |
||||||||||||||||
of Stock Appreciation for |
||||||||||||||||
Option Term(1) |
||||||||||||||||
5% ($) |
|
10% ($) |
||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lou Weiss |
|
75,000 |
|
36.3 |
% |
$ |
10.22 |
|
September 15, 2012 |
|
$ |
312,042 |
|
$ |
727,192 |
|
(1) The 5% and 10% assumed annual rates of compound stock price appreciation over the term of the options are computed in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and do not represent Gaiams estimate of stock price appreciation or a projection by Gaiam of future stock prices.
Stock Option Exercises and Holdings
The following table identifies the number and value of unexercised options for the officers named in the Summary Compensation table at December 31, 2005. No options were exercised during 2005, and, accordingly, columns for shares acquired and value realized for stock options exercised by the officers during 2005 have been omitted.
DECEMBER 31, 2005 OPTION VALUES
|
|
Number of Shares Underlying |
|
Value of Unexercised |
|
||||
Name |
|
Exercisable |
|
Unexercisable |
|
Exercisable |
|
Unexercisable |
|
Jirka Rysavy |
|
200,000 |
|
|
|
1,827,000 |
|
|
|
Lynn Powers |
|
420,000 |
|
140,000 |
|
2,322,700 |
|
1,149,400 |
|
Janet Mathews |
|
56,800 |
|
23,200 |
|
347,878 |
|
190,472 |
|
Lou Weiss |
|
|
|
75,000 |
|
|
|
246,750 |
|
Mark Lipien |
|
46,200 |
|
5,800 |
|
262,702 |
|
47,618 |
|
(1) The aggregate amount is based on the difference between the exercise price of the individual stock options and the closing price of $13.51 for Gaiams shares as reported on the NASDAQ National Market on December 31, 2005.
Employment Contracts and Termination of Employment
On August 4, 2005, Gaiam entered into a series of agreements with Revolution Living, LLC; its founder, Steve Case; and Revolution Livings LIME Media subsidiary, whereby Revolution Living acquired 2,500,000 shares of Gaiams Class A Common Stock and Gaiam acquired an interest in LIME Media. Simultaneously with the transactions with Revolution Living, Gaiam and Mr. Rysavy agreed to enter into an employment agreement pursuant to which Mr. Rysavy will serve as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Gaiam for a four year period at a base salary of $290,000, and Gaiam and Ms. Powers agreed to enter into an employment agreement pursuant to which Ms. Powers will serve as President for a four year period at a base salary of $290,000. These employment agreements were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K as Exhibits 10.3 and 10.4 on August 9, 2005.
Gaiam does not typically enter into written employment agreements with any employees. However, Gaiams directors, officers and managers are required to sign a confidentiality agreement and, upon receiving a stock option grant, a two-year non-compete agreement commencing with the date they leave Gaiam.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
The Compensation Committee consisted of Messrs. Feinblum, Argyropoulos, and Ray and Ms. Mowry during 2005. None of the members of the Compensation Committee has ever been an officer or employee of Gaiam, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries.
In 2005, none of Gaiams executive officers:
served as a member of the compensation committee (or committee performing a similar function, or in the absence of such committee, the board of directors) of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on Gaiams Compensation Committee or Board of Directors; or
served as a director of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on Gaiams Compensation Committee.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The Audit Committee, on behalf of the Board of Directors, oversees managements conduct of internal control processes and procedures for financial reporting designed to ensure the integrity and accuracy of our financial statements and to ensure that we are able to timely record, process and report information required for public disclosure.
Gaiams management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal financial controls, for the preparation of Gaiams consolidated financial statements and for the public reporting process. The firm of Ehrhardt Keefe Steiner & Hottman P.C. (EKS&H), as Gaiams independent registered public accounting firm for 2005, was responsible for performing an independent audit of Gaiams consolidated financial statements in accordance with auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and for issuing a report thereon expressing its opinion as to whether Gaiams consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of Gaiam in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. EKS&H was also responsible for performing an audit and expressing an opinion on managements assessment of the effectiveness of Gaiams internal control over financial
reporting, along with expressing its own opinion on the effectiveness of Gaiams internal control over financial reporting.
In this context, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed Gaiams audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2005 with management and representatives of EKS&H, managements assessment of the effectiveness of Gaiams internal control over financial reporting and EKS&Hs evaluation of Gaiams internal control over financial reporting. EKS&H concluded, in its Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm dated March 15, 2006, that in our opinion, Gaiam, Inc. and subsidiaries maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, based on the COSO Criteria.
The Audit Committee also discussed with EKS&H the matters required by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, Communication with Audit Committees. The Audit Committee reviewed with EKS&H, who was responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of our audited financial statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, their judgment as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of our accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments and the clarity of disclosures in our financial statements. Also, the Audit Committee discussed the results of the annual audit and such other matters required to be communicated with the Audit Committee under professional auditing standards.
In discharging its oversight responsibility over the audit process, the Audit Committee obtained from our independent auditors statements describing all relationships between our independent auditors and us that might bear on our auditors independence consistent with Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, Independence Discussions with Audit Committees, and discussed with the auditors any relationships that may impact their objectivity and independence.
The Audit Committee recommended to our Board that our audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2005 be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2005 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in reliance upon (1) the Audit Committees reviews and discussions with management and EKS&H; (2) managements assessment of the effectiveness of Gaiams internal control over financial reporting; (3) the receipt of an opinion from EKS&H, dated March 15, 2006, stating Gaiams 2005 consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Gaiam and its consolidated subsidiaries at December 31, 2005 and the consolidated results of operations and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2005 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, and (4) the receipt of EKS&Hs opinion on the effectiveness of Gaiam internal control over financial reporting dated March 15, 2006.
|
Audit Committee |
|
|
|
Barnet
Feinblum, Chairperson |
This report of the Audit Committee shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this proxy statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), except to the extent that Gaiam specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and shall not be deemed to be soliciting material.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
Gaiams Audit Committee discussed fees and other matters relating to accounting services for the 2004 fiscal year with Ernst & Young (E&Y) in December 2003 and did not accept E&Ys initial engagement proposal for the 2004 fiscal year. E&Y was asked to submit a revised proposal to the Audit
Committee for consideration, and E&Y submitted a revised proposal dated June 7, 2004. The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the revised engagement proposal and engaged E&Y to only provide services through the review of Gaiams second quarter results, and notified E&Y that Gaiam intended to seek additional bids for 2004 accounting services. On July 23, 2004, E&Y resigned as our independent accountants, effective following completion of their review of our second quarter financial statements and quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2004.
The reports of E&Y on the financial statements for the two years ended December 31, 2003 contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principle.
In connection with its audits for the two years ended December 31, 2003 and through July 23, 2004, there were no disagreements with E&Y on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope of procedure, which disagreements if not resolved to the satisfaction of E&Y would have caused them to make reference thereto in their report on the financial statements for such years.
During the two years ended December 31, 2003 and through July 23, 2004, there were no reportable events (as defined in Regulation S-K Item 304 (a)(1)(v)). E&Y furnished a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating that it agreed with the above statements. A copy of that letter, dated July 28, 2004, was attached as Exhibit 16 to our Form 8-K, dated July 23, 2004.
On October 11, 2004, the Audit Committee engaged EKS&H to serve as Gaiams independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. EKS&Hs engagement was effective for the filing of our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004.
During the two years ended December 31, 2003 and through October 11, 2004, we did not consult with EKS&H with respect to any of the matters or events set forth in Item 304(a)(i) or (ii) of Regulation S-K.
Disclosure of Independent Accountant Fees
The following table presents fees for professional services rendered by EKS&H and E&Y, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004:
EKS&H
Audit and Non-Audit Fees (in $000s) |
|
2005 |
|
2004 |
|
||
Audit fees (1) |
|
$ |
206 |
|
$ |
149 |
|
Audit related fees (2) |
|
6 |
|
|
|
||
Tax fees (3) |
|
|
|
|
|
||
All other fees |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total |
|
$ |
212 |
|
$ |
149 |
|
E&Y
Audit and Non-Audit Fees (in $000s) |
|
2005 |
|
2004 |
|
||
Audit fees (1) |
|
$ |
13 |
|
$ |
34 |
|
Audit related fees (2) |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Tax fees (3) |
|
|
|
|
|
||
All other fees |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total |
|
$ |
13 |
|
$ |
34 |
|
(1) Audit fees are fees that we paid for the audit of our annual financial statements included in our Form 10-K and review of financial statements included in our Form 10-Qs for the audit of our internal control over financial reporting; for the attestation of managements report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting; and for services that are normally provided by the auditor in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements; and all costs and expenses in connection with the above.
(2) Audit related fees consisted of consultative services on proposed transactions and accounting.
(3) Tax fees represent fees charged for services for tax advice, tax compliance and domestic and international tax planning.
In accordance with the policies of our Audit Committee and legal requirements, all services to be provided by our independent registered public accounting firm are pre-approved by the Audit Committee. Pre-approved services include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. In some cases, pre-approval is provided by the full Audit Committee for up to a year, and such services relate to a particular defined task or scope of work and are subject to a specific budget. In other cases, the chairman of the Audit Committee has the delegated authority from the Audit Committee to pre-approve additional services, and such action is then communicated to the full Audit Committee at the next Audit Committee meeting. To avoid certain potential conflicts of interest, the law prohibits a publicly traded company from obtaining certain non-audit services from its auditing firm. If we need such services, we obtain them from other service providers.
The Audit Committee has selected EKS&H to be our independent registered public accounting firm for 2006, and the Audit Committee is in the process of finalizing the engagement. Representatives of EKS&H are expected to be present at the annual meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors consists of Messrs. Feinblum, Argyropoulos and Ray and Ms. Mowry, each of whom qualifies as a non-employee director under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. The Compensation Committee sets compensation policies applicable to executive officers, has the authority to approve salaries and bonuses and other compensation matters for these executive officers and administers Gaiams 1999 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
Executive Compensation Philosophy
Gaiams executive compensation policy is designed with the goals of ensuring that an appropriate relationship exists between executive pay and corporate performance, while at the same time motivating and retaining highly qualified executive officers, and providing total compensation that is competitive with companies in comparable industries or other companies of comparable size, growth and performance. Gaiams policies emphasize compensation through long-term equity participation.
Executive Compensation Components
The key components of Gaiams compensation program are base salary, eligibility for annual incentive bonus awards and equity participation in the form of stock options. Executive officers are also entitled to customary benefits generally available to all employees of Gaiam, including group medical, dental, life and disability insurance and participation in 401(k) and employee stock purchase plans. The compensation of Gaiams executive officers, including our Chief Executive Officer, is not based on any specific relationship to Gaiams corporate performance.
Chief Executive Officer Compensation
During 2002, Mr. Rysavys annual salary increased from $165,000 to $175,000, which the Board of Directors believed to be a modest salary level given the importance of Mr. Rysavy to the future of Gaiam. During 2003, Mr. Rysavy voluntarily reduced his annual salary to $165,000, and his compensation continued at this reduced rate through fiscal year 2004. From August 2005, Mr. Rysavys base compensation is $290,000 per annum. The Board concluded that the increase in salary was appropriate in light of Gaiams expansion of scale, and that Mr. Rysavys salary would still be modest in comparison to salaries paid at other public media companies.
|
|
Compensation Committee |
|
|
Barbara
Mowry, Chairperson |
This report of the Compensation Committee shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this proxy statement into any filing under the Securities Act or under the Exchange Act, except to the extent that Gaiam specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and shall not be deemed to be soliciting material.
STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The graph below shows, for the five years ended December 31, 2005, the cumulative total return on an investment of $100 in our Class A common stock, assumed to have been made on December 31, 2000. The graph compares such return with that of comparable investments assumed to have been made on the same date in (a) the NASDAQ Stock Market (U.S. Companies) Index and (b) a peer group of other lifestyle companies, selected in good faith, comprised of Harley-Davidson, Inc.; Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.; and Starbucks Corporation and (c) a new media peer group, comprised of Martha Steward Living Omnimedia, Inc.; The Walt Disney Company; and Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. Gaiam did not believe a sufficient number of public companies that primarily engaged in Gaiams lines of business existed to permit construction of a peer group of such companies, and, accordingly, Gaiam had selected its peer group from companies who focus on their lifestyle brands. As Gaiams business model has evolved, a peer group of media companies, which are more closely aligned with Gaiams current model, have been chosen to replace the lifestyle peer group. Results from both peer groups have been reflected in the graph below. Although total return for the assumed investment reflects a reinvestment of all dividends on December 31st of the year in which such dividends are paid, no cash dividends were paid on our common stock during the periods presented. Our Class A common stock is quoted by The NASDAQ Stock Markets National Market under the trading symbol GAIA.
COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
AMONG GAIAM, INC., THE NASDAQ STOCK MARKET (U.S.) INDEX
AND TWO PEER GROUPS
* $100 invested on 12/31/00 in stock or index-including reinvestment of dividends. On October 29, 1999, Gaiam commenced trading on the NASDAQ stock exchange at $5.00 per share. The closing price of Gaiams stock on December 31, 2005 was $13.51. Gaiams fiscal year ends on December 31.
This Stock Performance Graph shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this proxy statement into any filing under the Securities Act or under the Exchange Act, except to the extent that Gaiam specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and is not to be deemed to be soliciting material.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Jacquelyn Abraham, the daughter of Gaiams Director, President and CEO of North American Operations Lynn Powers, was promoted to Director of Gaiam Media and Human Resources on February 24, 2005 and Gaiam requested that she relocate to the corporate headquarters. The Audit Committee approved a relocation reimbursement allowance of $25,000 for Ms. Abraham. Should she voluntarily terminate her employment within a two year period from the effective date, or if Gaiam terminates her employment for cause, all or a portion of the $25,000 is reimbursable to Gaiam. During 2005, Ms. Abraham earned a total of $89,945 in regular and bonus compensation, and was granted a stock option under Gaiams 1999 Long-Term Incentive Plan for 5,000 shares at an exercise price of $5.49 per share. In March 2006, the Audit Committee approved Ms. Abrahams annual salary of $95,000.
Jim Argyropoulos and Barney Feinblum, Gaiam Board Members, collectively own approximately 2.5% of the outstanding shares of Conscious Media, Inc., a company in which Gaiam has an ownership interest of approximately 51.3%.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires Gaiams directors, officers (including a person performing a principal policy-making function) and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of Gaiams equity securities to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of Class A Common Stock and other equity securities of Gaiam. Directors, officers and 10% holders are required by Securities and Exchange Commission regulations to furnish Gaiam with copies of all of the Section 16(a) reports they file. Based solely upon a review of the copies of the forms furnished to Gaiam and the representations made by the reporting persons to Gaiam, Gaiam believes that during 2005 its directors, officers and 10% holders complied with all the filing requirements under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, except Mr. Nark inadvertently failed to make one filing within the prescribed reporting timeframe with respect to stock options granted to them during 2005.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Shareholders may submit proposals on matters appropriate for shareholder action at Gaiams annual meetings consistent with regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission. For shareholder proposals to be considered for inclusion in Gaiams proxy statement and form of proxy relating to the 2007 annual meeting of shareholders, they must be received by Gaiam not later than January 31, 2007, unless the date of the 2007 meeting of shareholders is changed by more than 30 days from June 22, 2007.
In addition, under the terms of Gaiams Bylaws, unless the date of the 2007 meeting of shareholders is changed by more than 30 days from June 22, 2007, shareholders who intend to present an item of business or nomination at the 2007 annual meeting of shareholders (other than a proposal submitted for inclusion in Gaiams proxy material(s)) must provide notice in writing of such business or nomination to Gaiam no earlier than March 16, 2007 and no later than April 20, 2007.
Such written notice must contain specified information, including, among other things, information as would be required to be included in a proxy statement under Securities and Exchange Commission rules, as set forth more fully in our Bylaws. All proposals or other notices should be addressed to Gaiam at 360 Interlocken Boulevard, Broomfield, Colorado 80021, Attention: Secretary.
DELIVERY OF MATERIALS
Securities and Exchange Commission rules permit a single set of annual reports and proxy statements to be sent to any household at which two or more shareholders reside if they appear to be members of the same family. Each shareholder continues to receive a separate proxy card. This procedure, referred to as householding, reduces the volume of duplicate information shareholders receive and reduces mailing and printing expenses. A number of brokerage firms have instituted householding. In accordance with a notice that is being sent to certain beneficial shareholders (who share a single address) only one annual report and proxy statement will be sent to that address unless any shareholder at that address gave contrary instructions. However, if any such beneficial shareholder residing at such an address wishes to receive a separate annual report or proxy statement in the future, please contact Computershare Trust Company (Gaiams transfer agent & registrar) in writing by mailing to Computershare Trust Company, Attention: Householding, 350 Indiana Street, Suite 800, Golden, CO 80401, or by faxing your request to: 303-262-0700. You can also contact Gaiam by calling 303-222-3600.
COMMUNICATION WITH THE BOARD
Shareholders may communicate with the Board of Directors, including the non-management directors, by sending a letter to the Gaiam Board of Directors, c/o Corporate Secretary, Gaiam, Inc., 360 Interlocken Boulevard, Broomfield, CO 80021. The Corporate Secretary has the authority to disregard any inappropriate communications or to take other appropriate actions with respect to any such inappropriate communications. If deemed an appropriate communication, the Corporate Secretary will submit your correspondence to the Chairman of the Board or to any specific director to whom the correspondence is directed.
OTHER MATTERS
Management does not intend to present, and has no information as of the date of preparation of this proxy statement that others will present, any business at the annual meeting, other than business pertaining to matters set forth in the notice of annual meeting and this proxy statement. However, if other matters requiring the vote of the shareholders properly come before the annual meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy to vote the proxies held by them in accordance with their best judgment on such matters.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
WE URGE YOU TO DATE, SIGN AND PROMPTLY RETURN YOUR PROXY SO THAT YOUR SHARES MAY BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR WISHES AND THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM MAY BE ASSURED.
GAIAM, INC.
Proxy for Annual
Meeting of Shareholders
June 22, 2006
EXHIBIT A
GAIAM, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED AS OF JANUARY 2, 2006
2
Committee shall prescribe from time to time in accordance with this Plan and shall comply with the applicable terms and conditions of this Section and this Plan, and with such other terms and conditions, including, but not limited to, restrictions upon the Stock Option or the Common Shares issuable upon exercise thereof, as the Committee, in its discretion, shall establish.
(i) in the case of any Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Employee, after the expiration of five years from the date it is granted, and, in the case of any other Stock Option, after the expiration of ten years from the date it is granted; and
(ii) unless payment in full is made for the shares being acquired thereunder at the time of exercise as provided in subsection 6(i).
3
(i) unless the Associated Award, if any, is at the time exercisable;
(ii) if the Associated Award is a Stock Option and the Fair Market Value per share of the Common Shares on the exercise date does not exceed the exercise price per share of such Stock Option; and
(iii) if the Associated Award is an Incentive Stock Option and the exercise of the Award of Stock Appreciation Rights would disqualify the Incentive Stock Option as such under the Code.
4
5
6
(i) was not awarded in conjunction with an Associated Award, the Committee shall cause an amount equal to the Actual Value of the Performance Grant earned by the Participant to be paid to him or his permitted assignee or Beneficiary; or
(ii) was awarded in conjunction with an Associated Award, the Committee shall determine, in accordance with criteria specified by the Committee (A) to cancel the Performance Grant, in which event no amount with respect thereto shall be paid to the Participant or his permitted assignee or Beneficiary, and the Associated Award may be permitted to continue in effect in accordance with its terms, (B) to pay the Actual Value of the Performance Grant to the Participant or his permitted assignee or Beneficiary as provided below, in which event the Associated Award may be canceled or (C) to pay to the Participant or his Beneficiary, the Actual Value of only a portion of the Performance Grants, in which event all or a portion of the Associated Award may be permitted to continue in effect in accordance with its terms or be canceled, as determined by the Committee.
7
8
except as otherwise determined by the Committee, the terms of any outstanding Awards shall be equitably adjusted. If any change in the outstanding Common Shares occurs by reason of any split-up, split-off, spin-off, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, rights offering, reorganization, combination or exchange of shares, sale by the Company of all of its assets, distribution to shareholders (other than a stock dividend or a normal cash dividend on the Common Shares), or other extraordinary or unusual event (other than a stock split of the Common Stock as provided above), then the Committee may determine, in its discretion, to terminate all outstanding Awards immediately prior to the consummation of any such event, or make an equitable adjustment in the terms of any outstanding Award and/or the number of Common Shares available for Awards. Any such termination or adjustment made by the Committee and shall be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes of the Plan. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, all outstanding Awards shall terminate immediately prior to the consummation of any dissolution or liquidation of the Company.
9
10
11
12
APPENDIX A
13
14
(cc) Section 409A shall mean §409A of the Code, any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, as they may exist or may be amended from time to time, or any successor to such section.
15
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF GAIAM, INC.
The undersigned hereby appoints Jirka Rysavy and Lynn Powers as Proxies, each with the power to appoint his or her substitute, and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote, as designated below, all the shares of Class A Common Stock of Gaiam, Inc. held of record by the undersigned on April 25, 2006, at the 2006 annual meeting of shareholders of Gaiam, Inc. and any adjournment or postponement thereof, as follows:
The undersigned has received the Notice of Meeting, the proxy statement relating to the annual meeting of shareholders to be held June 22, 2006, and Gaiams Annual Report for its year ended December 31, 2005, and hereby ratifies and confirms all that the Proxies shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof and hereby revokes all proxies heretofore given to vote such shares.
THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS INDICATED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE DIRECTORS INDICATED AND FOR THE OTHER PROPOSAL.
PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN PROMPTLY.
A. PROPOSAL # 1 - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the listed nominees.
01Jirka
Rysavy
02Lynn Powers
03James Argyropoulos
04Barnet M. Feinblum
05David Golden
06Barbara Mowry
07Ted Nark
08Paul H. Ray
q FOR all nominees
q WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees
q FOR ALL EXCEPT: to withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, write the number(s) of the nominee(s) in the space provided to the right: ___________
B. PROPOSAL #2 AMENDMENT TO 1999 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
To authorize an amendment to our 1999 Long-Term Incentive Plan. The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR this proposal.
q |
FOR |
q |
AGAINST |
q |
ABSTAIN |
In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other matters as may properly come before the meeting. Management is not presently aware of any such matters to be presented for action.
|
|
Dated: |
|
, 2005 |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Signature 1 |
Signature 2 |
|
|
|||||||
Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this proxy. When shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such, and where more than one executor, etc., is named, a majority must sign. If a corporation, please sign full corporate name by president or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign full partnership name by an authorized person.
q
Mark this box with an X if you have made changes to your name or address details.