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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.        )

  Filed by the Registrant ý

 

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o

 

Check the appropriate box:

 

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Preliminary Proxy Statement

 

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

 

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Definitive Proxy Statement

 

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Definitive Additional Materials

 

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Soliciting Material Pursuant to § 240.14a-12

TUCOWS INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
         
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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:
        
 
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

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

 

 

(1)

 

Amount Previously Paid:
        
 
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    (4)   Date Filed:
        
 

GRAPHIC

August 5, 2008

Dear Fellow Shareholder:

        You are cordially invited to attend the 2008 annual meeting of shareholders of Tucows Inc. to be held at the offices of the company, 96 Mowat Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on Tuesday, September 9, 2008, at 4:30 p.m. (local time).

        The accompanying notice of annual meeting and proxy statement describes the matters we will discuss and vote on at the annual meeting. You will also have an opportunity to ask questions.

        Please read the accompanying notice of annual meeting and proxy statement carefully. It is important that your shares be represented at the meeting, whether or not you attend the meeting and regardless of the number of shares you own. Whether or not you plan to attend, you can ensure that your shares are represented and voted at the annual meeting in accordance with your instructions by promptly completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the envelope provided, or by voting your shares over the phone or Internet. You can revoke your proxy anytime before the annual meeting and issue a new proxy as you deem appropriate. You will find the procedures to follow if you wish to revoke your proxy on page 3 of this proxy statement. If you decide to attend the annual meeting and wish to change your proxy vote, you may do so by voting in person at the meeting.

        Your vote is very important. We look forward to seeing you on September 9, 2008.


 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

GRAPHIC

Elliot Noss
President and Chief Executive Officer

TUCOWS INC.
96 Mowat Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M6K 3M1
Canada

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
September 9, 2008

        The 2008 annual meeting of shareholders of Tucows Inc. will be held at 4:30 p.m. (local time) on September 9, 2008 at the offices of the company, 96 Mowat Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to:

        At the annual meeting, the board of directors intends to present Eugene Fiume, Erez Gissin, Allen Karp, Lloyd Morrisett, Elliot Noss, Jeffery Schwartz and Stanley Stern as nominees for election to the board of directors.

        Only shareholders of record on the books of the company at the close of business on August 5, 2008 will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof. Our board of directors is soliciting the enclosed proxy. Please carefully read the accompanying proxy statement for more information regarding the business to be transacted at the annual meeting. You will also find enclosed our 2007 annual report on Form 10-K.

        We will make available at the annual meeting a complete list of the shareholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting, and you may examine the list for any purpose related to the annual meeting.

        Regardless of whether you plan to attend the annual meeting, please complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card promptly. You are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting in person. Returning the enclosed proxy card will not affect your right to revoke your proxy or to vote in person if you do attend the annual meeting.


 

 

GRAPHIC

Michael Cooperman
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

Toronto, Ontario
August 5, 2008

        Your vote is important. Please vote by using the Internet, vote by telephone or sign and return the enclosed proxy card as soon as possible to ensure your representation at the annual meeting.


TUCOWS INC.
96 Mowat Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M6K 3M1
Canada

PROXY STATEMENT

ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
September 9, 2008

        We are sending this proxy statement to shareholders of Tucows Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation, in connection with our board of directors' solicitation of proxies for use at our annual meeting of shareholders on September 9, 2008. We invite you to attend in person. We have also enclosed our 2007 annual report on Form 10-K (which does not form a part of the proxy solicitation material).

VOTING INFORMATION

Record date.

        The record date for the annual meeting was August 5, 2008. You may vote all shares of our common stock that you owned as of the close of business on that date. On August 5, 2008, we had 73,923,542 shares of common stock outstanding. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote on each matter to be voted at the annual meeting. We will begin mailing this proxy statement and the proxy card on or about August 8, 2008 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on the record date.

How to vote.

         By mail.    If you hold your shares through a securities broker (that is, in street name), you may complete and mail the voting instruction card forwarded to you by your broker. If you hold your shares in your name as a holder of record, you can vote your shares by proxy by completing, signing and dating the proxy card and returning it in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. A properly completed and returned proxy card will be voted as you instruct, unless you subsequently revoke your instructions.

         By telephone.    If you hold your shares through a securities broker, you may vote by telephone by following the instructions included with the voting instruction card forwarded to you by your broker. If you vote your shares via telephone, you may incur additional charges.

         By Internet.    If you hold your shares through a securities broker, you may vote your shares via the Internet by following the instructions included with the voting instruction card forwarded to you by your broker. If you vote your shares via the Internet, you may incur costs such as telephone and Internet access charges.

         At the annual meeting.    Submitting your vote by mail or via the Internet does not limit your right to vote in person at the annual meeting if you later decide to do so. If you hold your shares in street name and want to vote in person at the annual meeting, you must obtain a proxy from your broker and bring it to the annual meeting.

Revoking your proxy.

        You can revoke your proxy at any time before your shares are voted at the annual meeting by:

1


Returning your proxy without indicating your vote.

        If you return a signed proxy card without indicating your vote and do not revoke your proxy, your shares will be voted according to the board of directors' recommendations.

Withholding your vote or voting to "abstain."

        In the election of directors, you can withhold your vote for any of the nominees. Withheld votes will be excluded entirely from the vote and will have no effect on the outcome. On the other proposals, you can vote to "abstain." If you vote to "abstain," your shares will be excluded entirely from the vote and will have no effect on the outcome.

Votes required to hold the annual meeting.

        On September 9, 2008, we need a majority of shares of common stock outstanding as of August 5, 2008, the record date, present, in person or by proxy, to have a quorum to be able to hold the annual meeting. Shares represented by a properly signed and returned proxy are considered present at the annual meeting for purposes of determining a quorum, regardless of whether the holder of such shares or proxy withholds his, her or its vote or abstains. Broker non-votes also count as shares present at the annual meeting for purposes of a quorum

Votes required to elect directors.

        A plurality of the votes cast is required for the election of directors. Accordingly, the seven nominees for election as directors who receive the highest number of votes actually cast will be elected.

Votes required to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP.

        The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by all holders of shares of common stock represented at the annual meeting and entitled to vote is required to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent public accountants for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Street Name Shares and Broker Non-Votes.

        If you hold your shares in "street name" through a broker or other nominee, your broker or nominee may not be permitted to exercise voting discretion with respect to some of the matters to be acted upon. Under the rules that govern brokers who are voting with respect to shares held in street name, brokers have the discretion to vote such shares on routine matters, but not on non-routine matters. Routine matters include the election of directors. Non-routine matters include matters such as the approval of stock plans. Therefore, if you do not give your broker or nominee specific instructions, your shares may not be voted on non-routine matters and will not be counted in the voting results. Shares represented by such "broker non-votes" will be counted in determining whether there is a quorum. Broker non-votes will not be counted toward a nominee's total of affirmative votes in the election of directors and will have no effect on the approval of the other proposals.

Postponement or adjournment of annual meeting.

        If the annual meeting is postponed or adjourned, your proxy will still be valid and may be voted at the rescheduled meeting. You will still be able to revoke your proxy until it is voted.

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BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS

Stock ownership of management.

        The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of our common stock, as of August 5, 2008 by each of our chief executive officer and our two other most highly compensated executive officers, as well as by all of our directors and executive officers as a group. The information on beneficial ownership in the table and related footnotes is based upon data furnished to us by, or on behalf of, the persons referred to in the table. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes to the table, each person named has sole voting power and sole investment power with respect to the shares included in the table.

 
  Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock  
Name
  Common
Stock
Beneficially
Owned
Excluding
Options
  Stock Options
Exercisable
within
60 Days of
August 5, 2008
  Total
Common
Stock
Beneficially
Owned
  Percent of
Class(1)
 

Executive officers and directors

                         

Elliot Noss

    421,197 (2)   2,262,261     2,683,458     3.5 %

Michael Cooperman

    90,715     950,225     1,040,940     1.4 %

David Woroch

    93,050     172,915     265,965     *  

Kenneth Schafer

        20,000     20,000     *  

Carla Goertz

        45,833     45,833     *  

Eugene Fiume

        35,000     35,000     *  

Erez Gissin

    10,000     40,000     50,000     *  

Allen Karp

    20,000 (3)   65,000     85,000     *  

Lloyd Morrisett

    80,000 (4)   80,000     160,000     *  

Jeffrey Schwartz

        75,000     75,000     *  

Stanley Stern

    188,850     213,050     401,900     *  

All directors and executive officers as a group (13 persons)

    903,812     3,959,284     4,863,096     6.2 %

*
Less than 1%.

(1)
Based on 77,882,826 shares outstanding as of August 5, 2008, adjusted for shares of stock exercisable by each shareholder, or the shareholders as a group, within 60 days of the record date of the annual meeting.

(2)
Includes an aggregate of 86,869 shares of common stock owned by two separate family trusts of which Mr. Noss is the trustee.

(3)
These shares of common stock are owned by Karp Corp., Inc., as nominee for Mr. Karp's wife.

(4)
These shares of common stock are owned jointly by Dr. Morrisett and his wife.

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Principal shareholders.

        The following table sets forth information with respect to each shareholder known to us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding common stock as of August 5, 2008.

 
  Beneficial Ownership
of Common Stock
 
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
  Number of Shares
Beneficially Owned
  Percent of
Class(1)
 

Diker GP, LLC
    745 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1409
    New York, NY 10151

   
9,407,035

(2)
 
12.7

%

Mark Cuban
    5424 Deloache Avenue
    Dallas, TX 75220

   
6,111,700

(3)
 
8.3

%

Lacuna Hedge Fund LLLP
Lacuna Hedge GP LLLP
Lacuna, LLC
    1100 Spruce Street, Suite 202
    Boulder, CO 80302

   
3,772,061

(4)
 
5.1

%

(1)
Based on 73,923,542 shares outstanding as of August 5, 2008.

(2)
As disclosed on Amendment No. 3 to Schedule 13G, filed with the SEC on February 13, 2008. The shares are held indirectly by Diker Management, LLC, in its capacity as the Registered Investment Adviser of certain managed accounts and funds. The reporting person is a Registered Investment Adviser and as such disclaims all beneficial ownership of these shares and in any case disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of the reporting person's pecuniary interest in the shares. The reporting person is a Registered Investment Adviser but elected to file a Form 3 nonetheless.

(3)
As disclosed on Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on August 22, 2005.

(4)
As disclosed on the Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on May 23, 2008. These shares are held directly by Lacuna Hedge Fund LLLP. Lacuna, LLC serves as the sole general partner of Lacuna Hedge GP LLLP, which serves as the sole general partner of Lacuna Hedge Fund LLLP. Neither Lacuna, LLC nor Lacuna Hedge GP LLLP directly owns any shares of our common stock. Lacuna, LLC and Lacuna Hedge GP LLLP may be deemed to have shared power to vote or direct the vote of, and to dispose or direct the disposition of, the shares of our common stock held by Lacuna Hedge Fund LLLP but disclaim beneficial ownership except to their pecuniary interest therein.

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PROPOSAL NO. 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

        The current term of office of all of our directors expires upon election of their successors at the 2008 annual meeting. The board of directors proposes that the following seven nominees, all of whom are currently serving as directors, be elected for a term of one year and until their successors are duly selected and qualified. The number of directors fixed pursuant our governing instruments and a resolution adopted by our board of directors is nine. Proxies cannot be voted for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees named in this proxy statement.

        Each of the nominees has consented to serve if elected. If any of them becomes unavailable to serve as a director, the board of directors may designate a substitute nominee. In that case, the persons named as proxies will vote for the substitute nominee designated by the board of directors. Unless you withhold authority to vote for these persons, your proxy will be voted FOR the election of the seven nominees.

 

Stanley Stern

  Chairman of the board of directors since August 2001


        Mr. Stern, age 51, has been a managing director and head of investment banking with Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., an investment banking firm, since April 2004. From February 2002 to March 2004, Mr. Stern served as a managing director and head of investment with C.E. Unterberg, Towbin, an investment banking firm. From January 2000 to February 2002, Mr. Stern served as managing director of STI Ventures Advisory USA Inc. and as a member of the board of directors and the investment committee of STI Ventures, a venture capital company focusing on the high technology market.

 

Eugene Fiume

 
Director since June 2005


        Mr. Fiume, age 50, is a Professor (since 1995) and past Chair (1998-2004) of the Department of Computer Science at the University of Toronto, where he also co-directs the Dynamic Graphics Project. Mr. Fiume's advisory board positions include the Max-Planck Center for Visual Computing and Communication and NGRAIN Corporation. Mr. Fiume also works with venture capital companies and SMEs on due diligence and strategy.

 

Erez Gissin

 
Director since August 2001


        Mr. Gissin, age 49, is the Chief Executive Officer of Brack Capital China Ltd., an investment company focusing on infrastructure development projects in China. From July 2000 to March 2005, Mr. Gissin has served as the Chief Executive Officer of IP Planet Networks Ltd., an Israeli satellite communication operator providing Internet backbone connectivity and solutions to Internet Service Providers. From July 1995 to July 2000, Mr. Gissin was Vice President, Business Development of Eurocom Communications Ltd., a holding company that controls several telecommunications services, equipment and Internet companies in Israel and elsewhere. Mr. Gissin is also a director of Partner Communications Ltd. (NASDAQ: PTNR).

 

Allen Karp

 
Director since October 2005


        Mr. Karp, age 67, has been a Trustee of Brookfield Real Estate Services Fund since August 2003 and is a director of its management company, the Chair of its corporate governance committee and sits on the audit committee. Mr. Karp is Chairman of the board of trustees of IBI Income fund since August 2004, and has been Chairman of its Nominating, Governance and Compensation Committee since August 2004. Mr. Karp has been a director of the Toronto International Film Festival Group since 1990, has served as Chairman from 1999 to 2007 and has been a member of its corporate governance committee since 2007.


5


 

Lloyd Morrisett

 
Director since February 1994


        Dr. Morrisett, age 78, served as a director of Infonautics, Inc., our predecessor, beginning in February 1994 and served as chairman of the board of directors of Infonautics beginning in March 1998 until we merged with Tucows Delaware in August 2001 and became Tucows Inc. He is the co-founder of the Children's Television Workshop—now Sesame Workshop—and served from 1969 to 1998 as president of The Markle Foundation, a charitable organization.

 

Elliot Noss

 
Director since August 2001


        Mr. Noss, age 44, is our President and Chief Executive Officer and has served in such capacity since the completion of our merger with Tucows Delaware in August 2001. From May 1999 until completion of the merger in August 2001, Mr. Noss served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Tucows Delaware. Before that, from April 1997 to May 1999, Mr. Noss served as Vice President of Corporate Services of Tucows Interactive Ltd., which was acquired by Tucows Delaware in May 1999.

 

Jeffrey Schwartz

 
Director since June 2005


        Jeffrey Schwartz, age 45, has served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Dorel Industries, a juvenile products and bicycle company, since 2003. Prior to 2003, he served as Dorel Industries' Vice President, Finance.

The board of directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR the nominees listed above.

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Governance Principals

        The governance principals of our board of directors include the charters of our audit committee, our Code of Conduct, and our Code of Ethics. Each of these documents and various other documents embodying our governance principals are published on our website at http://about.tucows.com. Amendments and waivers of our Code of Ethics will either be posted on our website or filed with the SEC on a current report on Form 8-K.

        Our website is not part of this proxy statement; references to our website address in this proxy statement are intended to be inactive textual references only.

Affirmative Determinations Regarding Director Independence

        In 2007, the board of directors determined that a majority of the board of directors met the independence requirements prescribed by the listing standards of the American Stock Exchange ("AMEX").

Meetings.

        Our board of directors met five times during the 2007 fiscal year. Our board of directors also took action by unanimous written consent on five occasions during the 2007 fiscal year. Each director attended at least 80% of the total number of meetings of the board of directors and the committees on which he served during the 2007 fiscal year.

Executive Sessions of Independent Directors.

        A majority of the independent directors meet quarterly in executive sessions without members of our management present. Mr. Stern was responsible for chairing the executive sessions.

Policy regarding attendance

        Directors are expected, but are not required, to attend board meetings, meetings of committees on which they serve, and shareholder meetings, and to spend the time needed and meet as frequently as necessary to discharge their responsibilities properly. Elliot Noss attended our 2007 annual meeting of shareholders in person while the remainder of the board of directors attended by teleconference.

Committees

        Our board of directors has two committees, an audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and a Corporate Governance, Nomination and Compensation Committee. The board of directors created the Corporate Governance, Nomination and Compensation Committee and adopted a new charter in November 2007 in order to expanded the responsibilities of our compensation committee to include oversight of our corporate governance principles and our Board nomination process. Our committees generally meet in connection with regularly scheduled quarterly and annual meetings of the board of directors, with additional meetings held as often as its members deem necessary to perform its responsibilities. From time to time, depending on the circumstances, the board may form a new committee or disband a current committee.

        The audit committee currently consists of Mr. Schwartz, Mr. Karp and Dr. Morrisett, all of whom are independent directors as defined in Section 121A of the AMEX listing standards.

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        The audit committee held five meetings during the 2007 fiscal year. The audit committee's purposes are:

        Each of the members of our audit committee is an independent director and satisfies the independence standards specified in Section 121A of the AMEX listing requirements and Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements. Additionally, the board of directors has determined that Mr. Schwartz qualifies is an "audit committee financial expert" as defined under Item 407(d)(v) of Regulation S-K. The board of directors has adopted a written charter for the audit committee, which the audit committee has reviewed and determined to be in compliance with the rules set forth in the AMEX listing requirements. For further information concerning the audit committee, please see the Audit Committee Report on page 18.

        The corporate governance, nomination and compensation committee currently consists of Mr. Stern, Mr. Schwartz, Dr. Morrisett and Mr. Karp, all of whom are independent directors as defined in Section 121A of the AMEX listing standards.

        Mr. Karp was appointed to the committee effective November 8, 2007. This committee was formerly known as the compensation committee, and effective November 8, 2007 had its roles and responsibilities expanded to include the corporate governance and nomination responsibilities. This committee adopted a formal charter which is available on http://about.tucows.com.

        The committee held two meetings during the 2007 fiscal year. The corporate governance, nomination and compensation committee has responsibility for the oversight, review and approval of senior management's compensation philosophy and practices. To assist it in meeting this mandate the corporate governance, nomination and compensation committee has the authority to hire its own independent advisors and is authorized to delegate responsibilities to management, independent accountants and internal and outside lawyers.

        The corporate governance, nomination and compensation committee makes recommendations to the board of directors on compensation for the chief executive officer and approves the compensation for individuals that report directly to the chief executive officer, including the named executive officers, to ensure that they meet corporate objectives. For this purpose, named executive officers' are defined as the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer and our three other most highly compensated executive officers. The board of directors and the corporate governance, nomination and compensation committee also review, approve and evaluate short-term and long-term incentive designs and incentive awards for our senior management. The board as a whole reviews the recommendations of the corporate governance, nomination and compensation committee and gives final approval on the compensation for the chief executive officer.

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Director nomination process.

        Our board of directors will consider any candidate proposed in good faith by one of our shareholders and has adopted a resolution that requires a shareholder to timely submit, to the attention of our Secretary at 96 Mowat Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M6K 3M1 Canada, the following:

        In order to be considered by the board of directors, a shareholder's nomination must be delivered to our secretary at least 120 days before the date on which we first mailed our proxy materials for our prior year's annual meeting of shareholders. Subject to compliance with statutory or regulatory requirements, our board of directors does not expect that candidates recommended by shareholders will be evaluated in a different manner than other candidates.

        In considering candidates for nomination, our board of directors shall seek individuals who evidence strength of character, mature judgment and the ability to work collegially with others. Furthermore, it is the policy of our board of directors that it endeavor to have directors who collectively possess a broad range of skills, expertise, industry and other knowledge and business and other experience useful to the effective oversight of our business; therefore, in considering whether to nominate a person for election as a director, the independent directors and our board of directors will consider, among other factors, the contribution such person can make to the collective competencies of the board based on such person's background. In determining whether to nominate a current director for re-election, the board will take into account these same criteria as well as the director's past performance, including his or her participation in and contributions to the activities of the board. Because we do not have a standing nominating committee, the seven nominees that are currently serving as directors were selected for re-election by our whole board.

Ethics policy for senior officers.

        Our board of directors has adopted an ethics policy for our senior officers, including our Chief Executive Officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. A copy of the ethics policy for senior officers can be obtained from our Internet web site at http://about.tucows.com, without charge.

Communications with the board of directors.

        We provide an informal process for shareholders to send communications to our board of directors. If you wish to communicate with our board of directors, you may send correspondence to the attention of our Secretary at 96 Mowat Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M6K 3M1 Canada. The Secretary will submit your correspondence to the chairman of the board of directors, the chairman of the appropriate committee, or the appropriate individual director, as applicable.

Director compensation.

        Directors who are employees receive no additional or special compensation for serving as directors. The Board of Directors determines the total amount of the annual retainer as well as the amounts of any meeting or committee fee based upon recommendations from the corporate governance, nomination and compensation committee of the board and input from the chief executive officer.

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        Under the terms of our current equity compensation plan, we make formula grants of nonqualified stock options to our non-employee directors and members of committees of our Board of Directors as described below. All stock-based compensation for our Non-employee directors is governed by our 2006 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan (the "2006 Plan") or its predecessor, our 1996 Equity Compensation Plan (the "1996 Plan"). All options granted under the formula grants are immediately exercisable, have an exercise price equal to the fair market value per share of our common stock as determined by the per share price as of the close of business on the date of grant and have a five-year term. Options are granted to directors under the 2006 Plan as follows:

Effective January 1, 2008, options are granted to directors under the 2006 Plan as follows:

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        Effective as of January 1, 2007, non-employee directors who serve as members of our audit committee receive an annual fee of $12,000 and non-employee directors who serve on our corporate governance, nomination and compensation committee, receive an annual fee of $6,000. In addition, all non-employee directors receive the following meeting attendance fees:

        Effective as of January 1, 2008, the Chairman of our Board of Directors and all non-employee directors receive an annual fee of $10,000. In addition, the Chairman receives an additional annual fee of $10,000. Non-employee directors who serve as members of our audit committee receive an annual fee of $8,000 and non-employee directors who serve on our corporate governance, nomination and compensation committee, receive an annual fee of $8,000. In addition, all non-employee directors receive the following meeting attendance fees:

Director meeting attendance fee (Beginning fiscal 2007)
   

Board Meeting Personal Attendance Fees (per meeting, including any Audit or Corporate Governance, Nomination and Compensation Committee Meeting)

  $ 3,000

Regularly Scheduled Telephonic Board Meeting Attendance Fees (per meeting)

  $ 500

Regularly Scheduled Telephonic Audit Committee Meeting Attendance Fees (per meeting)

  $ 250

Regularly Scheduled Telephonic Corporate Governance, Nomination and Compensation Committee Meeting Attendance Fees (per meeting)

  $ 250

        All annual fees are paid to our directors in quarterly installments.

        We also purchase directors and officers liability insurance for the benefit of our directors and officers as a group in the amount of $10 million. We also reimburse our directors for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings of our Board of Directors or its committees. No fees are payable to directors for attendance at specially called meetings of the board.

        The table below shows all compensation paid to each of our non-employee directors during 2007. Each of the directors listed below served for the entire year:

Name
  Fees earned or
paid in cash ($)
  Option
awards ($)(1)
  All other
compensation ($)
  Total ($)  
(a)
  (b)
  (d)
  (g)
  (h)
 

Stanley Stern

    12,250     3,720         15,970  

Eugene Fiume

    8,500     1,860         10,360  

Erez Gissin

    8,000     1,860         9,860  

Allen Karp

    20,750     3,720         24,470  

Lloyd Morrisett

    27,750     5,580         33,330  

Jeffrey Schwartz

    27,750     5,580         33,330  
                   

    105,000     22,320         127,320  
                   

(1)
On June 7, 2007 under the 2006 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan (the "2006 Plan"), our non-employee directors were awarded these automatic option grants. Under the 2006 Plan these options vested immediately and carry an exercise price of $0.372. All these options remained outstanding at December 31, 2007 and have a five year term. The Grant Date Fair Value of the Option Grants was based on the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and used the same assumptions that are set forth in Note 9 to our audited consolidated financial statements included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, as filed with the SEC on March 28, 2008.

11



EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Summary compensation table.

        The following Summary Compensation table provides a summary of the compensation earned by the chief executive officer, Elliot Noss, and our two other most highly compensated executive officers for services rendered in all capacities during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007. Specific aspects of this compensation are dealt with in further detail in the tables that follow. All dollar amounts below are shown in U.S. dollars. If necessary, amounts that were paid in Canadian dollars during the 2007 fiscal year were converted into U.S. dollars based upon the exchange rate of 1.0743 Canadian dollars for each U.S. dollar, which represents the average Bank of Canada exchange rate for the 2007 fiscal year.

 
 
  Name and Principal Position
   
  Year
   
  Salary
($)

   
  Bonus(1)
($)

   
  Option
Awards(2)
($)

   
  All Other
Compensation(3)
($)

   
  Total
($)

   

 

(a)

        (b)         (c)         (d)         (f)         (i)         (j)    

 

Elliot Noss

        2007         279,252         89,081         45,499         9,774         423,606    

 

    President and Chief Executive

        2006         242,739         45,513         32,769         9,268         330,289    

 

    Officer

                                                               

 

Michael Cooperman

        2007         218,747         61,435         35,878         11,449         327,509    

 

    Chief Financial Officer

        2006         194,192         36,648         26,277         10,857         267,974    

 

David Woroch

        2007         167,551         70,651         18,192         6,981         263,375    

 

    Vice President, Sales

        2006         150,058         27,309         10,465         6,620         194,452    
(1)
Represents bonus earned during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006. Of the Fiscal 2007 amount, the following amounts were only paid in February 2008:

Elliot Noss

  $ 38,467  

Michael Cooperman

  $ 26,529  

David Woroch

  $ 30,508  
(2)
Represents the dollar amount we recognized in our 2007 and 2006 income statements for option awards to the named executive officers, calculated in accordance with FAS 123R, and thus include amounts from awards granted in 2007 and in prior years. Please see note 9 entitled "Stock Options" in the notes to our audited financial statements below, for a discussion of the assumptions underlying these calculations.

(3)
Amounts reported in this column are comprised of the following items:

 
 
   
   
  Year
   
  Additional
Health
Spending
Credits
($)

   
  Car
Allowance
($)

   
  Health
Club
Membership
($)

   
  All Other
Compensation
($)

   

 

Elliot Noss

        2007         1,396         8,378                 9,774    

            2006         1,324         7,944                 9,268    

 

Michael Cooperman

        2007         1,396         7,819         2,234         11,449    

            2006         1,324         7,415         2,118         10,857    

 

David Woroch

        2007         1,396         5,585                 6,981    

            2006         1,324         5,296                 6,620    

12


Grants of Plan Based Awards

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

        The following table sets forth information concerning stock options held by the named executive officers as of December 31, 2007:

 
 
  Name and Principal Position
   
  Number of Securities
Underlying
Unexercised Options
(#) Exercisable

   
  Number of Securities
Underlying
Unexercised Options
(#) Unexercisable

   
  Option
Exercise
Price ($)

   
  Option
Expiration
Date

   

 

Elliot Noss

        60,000                 0.44         7/1/12    

            214,575                 0.37         8/5/13    

            278,948                 0.37         8/5/13    

            1,394,738                 0.37         8/5/13    

            76,500                 0.36         8/4/13    

            166,667         33,333         0.58         8/10/14    

                    150,000         0.85         3/18/14    

                                           

            2,191,428         183,333                        

 

Michael Cooperman

        50,000                 0.44         7/1/12    

            643,725                 0.37         8/5/13    

            76,500                 0.36         8/4/13    

            125,000         25,000         0.58         8/10/14    

                    120,000         0.85         3/18/14    

                                           

            895,225         145,000                        

 

David Woroch

        42,915                 0.49         6/30/12    

            20,000                 0.44         7/1/12    

            30,000                 0.36         8/4/13    

            50,000         10,000         0.58         8/10/14    

                    80,000         0.85         3/18/14    

                                           

            142,915         90,000                        

        The stock options grants listed in the above table were issued under our 1996 Equity Compensation Plan as well as under our 2006 Equity Compensation Plan.

        Under the 1996 Equity Compensation Plan, these options vest over a period of four years and have a 10 year term. These options are not exercisable for one year after the grant. Thereafter they become exercisable at the rate of 25% after the first year, with the remaining 75% vesting evenly at each month end over the next thirty six months, becoming fully exercisable after the fourth year.

        Under the 2006 Equity Compensation Plan, these options vest over a period of four years and have a 7 year term. These options are not exercisable for one year after the grant. Thereafter they become exercisable at the rate of 25% per annum, becoming fully exercisable after the fourth year.

13


Potential Payments on Termination or Change In Control

        We have certain agreements that require us to provide compensation to our named executive officers in the event of a termination of employment or a change in control of the Company. These agreements are summarized following the table below and do not include any payment for termination for cause. The tables below show estimated compensation payable to each named executive officer upon various triggering events. Actual amounts can only be determined upon the triggering event.

 
  2007   Termination without Cause   Change in Control  

Elliot Noss(1)

                   

Compensation

                   

Base Salary/Severance(2)

        $ 279,252   $ 979,252  

Bonus Plan(3)

          134,972     134,972  

Acceleration of Unvested Equity Awards(4)

          3,667     3,667  

Benefits(5)

                   

Car Allowance

          8,378     8,378  

Healthcare Flexible Spending Account

          1,396     1,396  

Healthclub

               
                 

        $ 427,665   $ 1,127,665  
                 

 

 
  2007   Termination
without Cause
  Change in
Control
 

Michael Cooperman(1)

                   

Compensation

                   

Base Salary/Severance(2)

        $ 218,747   $ 568,747  

Bonus Plan(3)

          93,084     93,084  

Acceleration of Unvested Equity Awards(4)

          2,750     2,750  

Benefits(5)

                   

Car Allowance

          7,819     7,819  

Healthcare Flexible Spending Account

          1,396     1,396  

Healthclub

          2,234     2,234  
                 

        $ 326,030   $ 676,030  
                 

 

 
  2007   Termination
without Cause
  Change in
Control
 

David Woroch(1)

                 

Compensation

                 

Base Salary/Severance(2)

      $ 167,551   $ 167,551  

Bonus Plan(3)

        107,046     107,046  

Acceleration of Unvested Equity Awards(4)

        1,100     1,100  

Benefits(5)

                 

Car Allowance

        5,585     5,585  

Healthcare Flexible Spending Account

        1,396     1,396  

Healthclub

             
               

      $ 282,678   $ 282,678  
               

(1)
For the purpose of the table we assumed an annual base salary at the executive's level as of December 31, 2007.

14


(2)
Severance for Mr. Noss is compensation for one year plus one month additional compensation for each completed year of service capped at 18 months. For Messrs. Cooperman and Woroch, severance compensation is for six months plus one month additional compensation for each completed year of service.

(3)
For the purpose of the table we assumed that the annual incentive bonus target as of December 31, 2007 had been achieved and that no overachievement bonus or special bonuses would be payable.

(4)
For purposes of the above table, we have assumed that if we terminate Mr. Noss without cause all his unvested options vest automatically and that for Messrs. Cooperman or Woroch, that their options continue to vest through any severance period. On a change in control we have assumed that all unvested options for Messrs. Noss or Cooperman vest automatically and that for Mr. Woroch, that his options continue to vest through and until the end of any severance period. Amounts disclosed in this table equal the closing market value of our common stock as of December 31, 2007, minus the exercise price, multiplied by the number of unvested shares of our common stock that would vest. The closing market value of our common stock on December 31, 2007 was $0.69.

(5)
Pay for unused vacation, extended health, matching registered retirement savings plan benefit, life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance are standard programs offered to all employees and are therefore not reported.

        Employment contracts are currently in place for each of the named executive officers, which contracts detail the severance payments that will be provided on termination of employment and the consequent obligations of non-competition and non-solicitation.

        The following details the cash severance payment that will be paid to each of the named executive officers in the event of termination without cause or termination for good reason.

        Upon termination without cause, Mr. Woroch is entitled to a severance payment in the amount of six months' compensation plus one months' compensation for each additional completed year of service. Severance payments can be made in equal monthly installments. Mr. Woroch is bound by a standard non-competition covenant for a period of twelve months following their termination.

        Messrs Noss and Cooperman's employment agreements are subject to early termination by us due to:

        If we terminate Mr. Noss without "cause," he is entitled to receive 12 months of compensation plus one month of compensation for each year of service, to a maximum of 18 months of compensation.

        If we terminate Mr. Cooperman's employment without "cause," he is entitled to receive six months of compensation plus one month of compensation for each year of service.

        For purposes of the employment agreements, "cause" is defined to mean the executive's conviction (or plea of guilty or nolo contendere) for committing an act of fraud, embezzlement, theft or other act constituting a felony or willful failure or an executive's refusal to perform the duties and responsibilities of his position, which failure or refusal is not cured within 30 days of receiving a written notice thereof from our Board of Directors.

15


        Under their employment agreements, both Mr. Noss and Mr. Cooperman are also entitled to the change in control benefits described in the following paragraph if:


        If an executive's employment is terminated following a change in control under the circumstances described in the preceding paragraph, the executive is entitled to receive a lump sum payment based upon the fair market value of the Company on the effective date of the "change in control" as determined by our Board of Directors in the exercise of good faith and reasonable judgment taking into account, among other things, the nature of the "change in control" and the amount and type of consideration, if any, paid in connection with the "change in control." Depending on the fair market value of the company, the lump sum payments range from $375,000 to $2 million in the case of Mr. Noss, and from $187,500 to $1 million in the case of Mr. Cooperman. In addition to the lump sum payments, all stock options held by the executive officers will be immediately and fully vested and exercisable as of the date of termination.

        A "change in control" is generally defined as:

        "Good reason" is defined to include the occurrence of one or more of the following:

16



AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

        The audit committee operates pursuant to a formal written charter that was most recently reviewed, approved and adopted by the audit committee in July 2008.

        In accordance with that charter and the independence criteria prescribed by applicable law and the rules and regulations of the SEC for audit committee membership, each of the members of the audit committee is an independent director and meets AMEX's financial sophistication requirements. Mr. Schwartz has been designated by our board of directors as an "audit committee financial expert" pursuant to Item 407(d)(v) of Regulation S-K.

        The purposes of the audit committee are described on page 9 of this proxy statement under the caption "Corporate Governance—Committees" and in the charter of the audit committee. In particular, it is the audit committee's duty to review the accounting and financial reporting processes of the company on behalf of the board. In fulfilling our responsibilities, the audit committee has reviewed and discussed the audited consolidated financial statements to be contained in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, as amended, with our management and also with KPMG LLP, our independent auditors. Management is responsible for the financial statements and the reporting process, including the system of internal controls, and has represented to the audit committee that such financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The independent auditors are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

        The audit committee has also discussed with KPMG LLP the matters that are required to be discussed by the auditors with the audit committee under Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, AU § 380), as may be modified or supplemented. Furthermore, the audit committee discussed with KPMG LLP their independence from management and the company and KPMG LLP provided the audit committee with the written disclosures and the letter required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees), as may be modified or supplemented.

        Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the audit committee has recommended to our board of directors that our audited consolidated financial statements be included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 as filed with the SEC.

        In performing all of these functions, the audit committee acts in an oversight capacity. The audit committee reviews our earnings releases before issuance and the annual report on Form 10-K, as amended, prior to filing with the SEC. In its oversight role, the audit committee relies on the work and assurances of our management, which has the primary responsibility for financial statements and reports, and of the independent auditors, who, in their report, express an opinion on the conformity of our annual financial statements to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

17



PROPOSAL NO. 2
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

Ratification of appointment.

        KPMG LLP has served as our independent auditors since our merger with Tucows Delaware in August 2001. The audit committee of our board of directors has appointed KPMG LLP as the independent auditors of the company and our subsidiaries for the year ending December 31, 2008. Although shareholder approval is not required, the board of directors desires to obtain shareholder ratification of this appointment. If the appointment is not ratified at the annual meeting, the board of directors will review its future selection of auditors. A representative of KPMG LLP is expected to be present at the annual meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement, if he or she desires to do so, and to respond to appropriate questions.

        The board of directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent auditors.

18


AUDIT FEES AND ALL OTHER FEES

        A summary of the fees of KPMG LLP for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 are set forth below:

 
  2007 Fees   2006 Fees  

Audit Fees(1)

  $ 266,000   $ 273,900  

Audit-Related Fees

         

Tax Fees(2)

    112,000     61,900  

All Other Fees

         
           

Total Fees

  $ 378,000   $ 335,800  
           

Audit committee pre-approval of audit and permissible non-audit services of independent auditors.

        The audit committee has adopted a pre-approval policy that provides guidelines for the audit, audit-related, tax and other non-audit services that may be provided to us by our independent auditors. Under this policy, the audit committee pre-approves all audit and certain permissible accounting and non-audit services performed by the independent auditors. These permissible services are set forth on an attachment to the policy that is updated at least annually and may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. For audit services, the independent auditor provides the audit committee with an audit plan including proposed fees in advance of the annual audit. The audit committee approves the plan and fees for the audit.

        With respect to non-audit and accounting services of our independent auditors that are not pre-approved under the policy, the employee making the request must submit the request to our chief financial officer. The request must include a description of the services, the estimated fee, a statement that the services are not prohibited services under the policy and the reason why the employee is requesting our independent auditors to perform the services. If the aggregate fees for such services are estimated to be less than or equal to $25,000, our chief financial officer will submit the request to the chairman of the audit committee for consideration and approval, and the engagement may commence upon the approval of the chairman. The chairman is required to inform the full audit committee of the services at its next meeting. If the aggregate fees for such services are estimated to be greater than $25,000, our chief financial officer will submit the request to the full audit committee for consideration and approval, generally at its next meeting or special meeting called for the purpose of approving such services. The engagement may only commence upon the approval of full audit committee.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

        The members of the corporate governance, nominating and compensation committee of our board of directors during the 2007 fiscal year were Mr. Schwartz, Mr. Stern, Mr. Karp and Dr. Morrisett. To ensure that our compensation policies are administered in an objective manner, our corporate governance, nominating and compensation committee is comprised entirely of independent directors. None of the members of our corporate governance, nominating and compensation committee has ever been an officer or employee of the company or its subsidiaries. None of our executive officers serves as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers on our board of directors or compensation committee.

19


SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

        Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires our directors and executive officers and persons who own more than 10 percent of a registered class of our equity securities to file with the SEC reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our common stock and our other equity securities. These persons are required by SEC regulation to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file.

        We believe that, under the SEC's rules and based solely upon our review of the copies of the Forms 3, 4 and 5 furnished to us, or written representations from certain reporting persons that any such Forms have been filed in a timely manner and that all of our executive officers, directors and persons who own more than 10 percent of a registered class of our equity securities complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to them during 2007, with the exceptions noted herein. Mr Karp inadvertently filed an untimely form 4 to report an automatic stock option grant in June 2007, awarded to him on his appointment to the Corporate Governance, Nomination and Compensation Committee.

OTHER MATTERS TO BE DECIDED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING

        All of the matters we knew about as of the time of the mailing of this proxy statement to be brought before the annual meeting are described in this proxy statement. If any matters properly come before the annual meeting that are not specifically set forth on your proxy and in this proxy statement, the persons appointed to vote the proxies will vote on such matters in accordance with their best judgment.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Shareholder proposals for the 2009 annual meeting.

        If you would like to submit a proposal for inclusion in the proxy materials for our annual meeting of shareholders in 2009 you may do so by following the procedures prescribed in SEC Rule 14a-8 under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. To be eligible for inclusion, shareholder proposals must be received by the Secretary at Tucows Inc., 96 Mowat Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M6K 3M1, Canada, at any time before April 7, 2009.

        If you would like to present a proposal at the 2009 annual meeting, but do not want to include the proposal in our proxy statement, you will have to comply with the advance notice procedures set forth in our current bylaws. The bylaws require that a shareholder submit a written notice of intent to present such a proposal to our secretary no more than 90 days and no less than 60 days prior to the anniversary of the date on which we first mailed our proxy materials for the preceding year's annual meeting. Therefore, we must receive notice of such proposal for the 2009 annual meeting no earlier than May 10, 2009 and no later than June 9, 2009. If the notice is received before May 10, 2009 or after June 9, 2009, it will be considered untimely and we will not be required to present it at the 2009 annual meeting.

        If we do not receive notice by that date, the persons named as proxies in the proxy materials relating to that meeting will use their discretion in voting the proxies when these matters are raised at the meeting.

20


Cost of proxy solicitation.

        We will pay the expenses of the preparation of the proxy materials and the solicitation by the board of directors of your proxy. We will make solicitations primarily by mail or by facsimile and our regular employees may solicit proxies personally or by telephone but will not be specifically compensated for such services. We will ask brokerage houses and other nominees, custodians and fiduciaries to forward proxy soliciting material and our annual report on Form 10-K to the beneficial owners of the shares of our common stock held of record by them, and we will reimburse these record holders for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in doing so.


 

 

By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

 

GRAPHIC

Michael Cooperman
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

21


PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS—September 9, 2008

This proxy is solicited by the board of directors of Tucows Inc.

This proxy is solicited by the board of directors of Tucows Inc. for the annual meeting of shareholders to be held on September 9, 2008, at 4:30 p.m. EST at the offices of the company: 96 Mowat Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The undersigned having duly received notice of the annual meeting and the proxy statement therefor, and revoking all prior proxies, hereby appoints Elliot Noss and Michael Cooperman, and each of them, proxies, with the powers the undersigned would possess if personally present, and with full power of substitution, to vote all common shares held of record by the undersigned in Tucows Inc., upon all subjects that may properly come before the annual meeting, including the matters described in the proxy statement furnished herewith, subject to any directions indicated on this card. The shares represented by this proxy will be voted as directed by the undersigned. If no directions are given, the proxies will be voted in accord with the Directors' recommendations on the subjects listed on this card and at their discretion on any other matter that may properly come before the annual meeting or any adjournment thereof.

If you do not sign and return a proxy, or attend the annual meeting and vote by ballot, your shares cannot be voted, nor your instructions followed.

Proposal 1:   Election of the following nominees as Directors: Stanley Stern, Eugene Fiume, Erez Gissin, Allen Karp, Lloyd N. Morrisett, Elliot Noss and Jeffrey Schwartz.
Authority withheld for the following only: (Please strike through name above)


 


 


The board of directors unanimously recommends a vote "FOR" each of the nominees.

FOR

 

o

 

AUTHORITY WITHHELD
FOR ALL NOMINEES

 

o

Proposal 2:

 

Ratification of KPMG LLP as Auditors

 

 

The board of directors unanimously recommends a vote "FOR" ratification.

FOR

 

o

 

AGAINST

 

o

 

ABSTAIN

 

o

In their discretion, the proxy holders are authorized to vote upon such other matters as may properly come before the annual meeting.

Attendance of the undersigned at the annual meeting or at any adjournment thereof, will not be deemed to revoke this proxy unless the undersigned shall affirmatively indicate at such meeting the intention of the undersigned to revoke said proxy in person. If the undersigned hold(s) any of the shares of Tucows Inc. in a fiduciary, custodial or joint capacity or capacities, this proxy is signed by the undersigned in every such capacity, as well as individually.

    PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND PROMPTLY RETURN THIS PROXY CARD IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. Please sign exactly as name or names appear on this proxy. If stock is held jointly, each holder should sign. If signing as attorney, trustee, executor, administrator, custodian, guardian or corporate officer, please give full title.

 

 

DATE

 

 

 

, 2008
       
 
   

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

 

 

 
       
 
   

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

 

 

 
       
 
   
        Votes must be indicated (X) in Black    



QuickLinks

BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS
PROPOSAL NO. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
PROPOSAL NO. 2 RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS