Definitive Proxy Statement

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

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Definitive Proxy Statement

    

 

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Definitive Additional Materials

    

 

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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-11(c) or §240.14a-12

DSP Group, 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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DSP GROUP, INC.

Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders

To Be Held May 19, 2008

To the Stockholders of DSP GROUP, INC.:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual meeting of stockholders of DSP Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, will be held at the New York Marriott East Side Hotel, 525 Lexington Avenue, New York City, New York, on Monday, May 19, 2008, at 8:30 a.m., local time, for the following purposes:

1. Election of Directors. To elect two Class II directors, Yair Seroussi and Yair Shamir, to serve until the 2011 annual meeting of stockholders or until his successor is elected and qualified;

2. Amendment and Restatement of the 1993 Director Stock Option Plan. To ratify and approve an amendment and restatement of the Company’s 1993 Director Stock Option Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance thereunder from 1,380,875 shares to 1,680,875 shares;

3. Amendment and Restatement of the 1993 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. To ratify and approve an amendment and restatement to the Company’s 1993 Employee Stock Purchase Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance thereunder from 1,000,000 shares to 1,500,000 shares;

4. Selection of Independent Auditors. To ratify the appointment of Kost, Forer, Gabbay & Kasierer, a member of Ernst & Young Global, as our independent auditors for the year ending December 31, 2008; and

5. To transact such other business as may properly come before the annual meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof.

The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the proxy statement which is attached and made a part hereof.

Our board of directors has fixed the close of business on March 28, 2008 as the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof.

Whether or not you expect to attend the annual meeting in person, you are urged to mark, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card as promptly as possible in the postage-prepaid envelope provided to ensure your representation and the presence of a quorum at the annual meeting. Should you receive more than one proxy because your shares are registered in different names and addresses, each proxy should be returned to ensure that all of your shares will be voted. If you send in your proxy card and then decide to attend the annual meeting to vote your shares in person, you may still do so. Your proxy is revocable in accordance with the procedures set forth in the proxy statement.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors,

/s/ Eliyahu Ayalon

Eliyahu Ayalon

Chief Executive Officer

Santa Clara, California

April 1, 2008


Mailed to Stockholders

on or about April 10, 2008

DSP GROUP, INC.

2580 North First Street, Suite 460

San Jose, CA 95131

PROXY STATEMENT

FOR 2008 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

General Information

This proxy statement is furnished to the stockholders of DSP Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, in connection with the solicitation by our board of directors of proxies in the accompanying form for use in voting at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held on May 19, 2008, at 8:30 a.m., local time, at the New York Marriott East Side Hotel, 525 Lexington Avenue, New York City, New York, and any adjournment or postponement thereof. The shares represented by proxies received, properly marked, dated, executed and not revoked will be voted at the annual meeting.

Solicitation, Record Date and Voting Procedures

The solicitation of proxies will be conducted by mail and we will bear all attendant costs. These costs will include the expense of preparing and mailing proxy materials for the annual meeting and reimbursements paid to brokerage firms and others for their expenses incurred in forwarding solicitation material regarding the annual meeting to beneficial owners of our common stock. We may conduct further solicitation personally, telephonically or by facsimile through our officers, directors and regular employees, none of whom will receive additional compensation for assisting with the solicitation. We have retained the services of D.F. King, a professional proxy solicitation firm, to assist in the solicitation of proxies; and we will pay approximately $8,000 for its services, in addition to a fee of $5 per call and reimbursement of its out-of-pocket expenses.

The close of business on March 28, 2008 has been fixed as the record date for determining the holders of shares of our common stock entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting. As of the close of business on the record date, we had 29,434,000 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the annual meeting. The presence at the annual meeting of a majority of these shares of our common stock, either in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the annual meeting. An automated system administered by our transfer agent will tabulate votes cast by proxy, and a representative from our transfer agent will act as the inspector of elections to tabulate votes cast in person at the annual meeting. Each outstanding share of common stock on the record date is entitled to one vote on all matters.

Under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, an abstaining vote and a broker “non-vote” are counted as present and are, therefore, included for purposes of determining whether a quorum of shares is present at the annual meeting. Abstentions are included in determining the number of shares voted on the proposals submitted to stockholders (other than the election of directors) and will have the same effect as a “no” vote on such proposals. A broker “non-vote” occurs when a nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular matter because the nominee does not have the discretionary voting power with respect to that matter and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner. Broker “non-votes,” and shares as to which proxy authority has been withheld with respect to any matter, are generally not deemed to be entitled to vote for purposes of determining whether stockholders’ approval of that matter has been obtained.

With respect to our proposal 1 of this proxy statement, the director nominee will be elected by a plurality of the votes of shares of our common stock represented and voted at the annual meeting, and abstentions and broker “non-votes” will have no effect on the outcome of the election of the director nominee. With respect to proposals 2, 3 and 4 of this proxy statement, the affirmative vote of a majority of shares of our common stock represented and voted at the annual meeting is required for approval. Abstentions will have the same effect as “no” votes on proposals 2, 3 and 4, whereas broker “non-votes” will have no effect on such proposals.

 

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The Proxy

The persons named as proxy holders, Eliyahu Ayalon and Dror Levy, were selected by our board of directors and currently serve as our executive officers.

All shares represented by each properly executed, unrevoked proxy received in time for the annual meeting will be voted in the manner specified therein. If no specification is made on the proxy as to any one or more of the proposals, the common stock represented by the proxy will be voted as to the proposal for which no specification is given as follows: (1) FOR the election of the Class II director nominees named in this proxy statement; (2) FOR the increase of 300,000 shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the Company’s 1993 Director Stock Option Plan; (3) FOR the increase of 500,000 shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the Company’s 1993 Employee Stock Purchase Plan; (4) FOR the ratification of the selection of Kost, Forer, Gabbay & Kasierer, a member of Ernst & Young Global, as our independent auditors for the 2008 fiscal year; and (5) with respect to any other matters that may come before the annual meeting, at the discretion of the proxy holders. We do not presently know of any other business to be conducted at the annual meeting.

Revocability of Proxy

If the shares of common stock are held in your name, you may revoke your proxy given pursuant to this solicitation at any time before the proxy card is voted by: (i) delivering to us (to the attention of Dror Levy, our Secretary), at the address of our principle executive offices, a written notice of revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, or (ii) attending the annual meeting and voting in person. If your shares are held in “street name,” you should follow the directions provided by your broker regarding how to revoke your proxy. Your attendance at the annual meeting after having executed and delivered a valid proxy card will not in and of itself constitute a revocation of your proxy. You will be required to give oral notice of your intention to vote in person to the inspector of elections at the annual meeting.

 

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PROPOSAL NO. 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Our bylaws authorize the number of directors to be not less than five or more than nine. The number of directors on our board of directors is currently fixed at eight. The board is divided into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. Each director serves a three-year term. The board is currently composed of three Class I directors (Messrs. Eliyahu Ayalon, Zvi Limon and Louis Silver), whose terms will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2010; two Class II directors (Messrs. Yair Seroussi and Yair Shamir), whose terms will expire at this year’s annual meeting of stockholders, and three Class III directors (Messrs. Gerrit Johan Frederik Kaat, Patrick Tanguy and Avigdor Willenz), whose terms will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2009. At each annual meeting of stockholders, directors will be elected for full terms of three years to succeed those directors whose terms are expiring.

At this annual meeting, the stockholders will elect two Class II directors. Messrs. Seroussi and Shamir have been nominated to serve a three-year term, until the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2011, or until their successors are elected or appointed and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal. Our board has no reason to believe that each of Messrs. Seroussi and Shamir will be unable or unwilling to serve as a nominee or as a director if elected.

Class II Director Nominees

Yair Seroussi has served as one of our directors since February 2002. Mr. Seroussi is currently the Managing Director of Amdeal Holdings Ltd., an entity acting as the advisory director of Morgan Stanley in charge of its activities in Israel since 1993. Mr. Seroussi also serves as a director of Israel Corp., an Israeli holding company; and Frutarom Industries, a multinational flavor and fragrance house; each of which is traded on The Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange. Mr. Seroussi is also a director of Wintegra, Inc. and on the Board of Governors of the Hebrew University.

Yair Shamir has served as one of our directors since October 1996 and is also the Chairman of our compensation committee. Mr. Shamir serves as Chairman of I.A.I. (Israel Aircraft Industries) since July 2005 and is Chairman of Catalyst Fund L.P., an Israeli Venture Capital firm since 2000. From 2005 to 2007, Mr. Shamir served as Chairman of Shamir Optical Industry Ltd, a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of progressive spectacle lenses for presbyopia. Mr. Shamir was the Chairman of El-Al, Israel Airlines from April 2004 to January 2005. Since 1997, he has served as Chairman of VCON Telecommunications Ltd., a developer and marketer of video conference systems and was its Chief Executive Officer from 1997 to 2005.

Director Independence

Our board of directors has determined that the director nominees, Messrs. Seroussi and Shamir, are “independent” as that term is defined in Rule 4200 of the listing standards of the National Association of Securities Dealers.

Required Vote

The nominees will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not counted toward the nominee’s total.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR

THE ELECTION OF THE DIRECTOR NOMINEE NAMED ABOVE.

 

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to our executive officers and directors as of March 10, 2008:

 

Name

   Age   

Position

Eliyahu Ayalon

   65    Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer

Brian Robertson

   38    President

Boaz Edan

   49    Chief Operating Officer

Dror Levy

   34    Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

Eli Fogel

   60    Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer

Gerrit Johan Frederik Kaat

   55    Director

Zvi Limon (1)(2)

   49    Director

Yair Seroussi (2)(3)

   52    Director

Yair Shamir (1)(2)

   62    Director

Louis Silver (1)(3)

   54    Director

Patrick Tanguy (2)(3)

   47    Director

Avigdor Willenz (3)

   51    Director

 

(1) Member of the compensation committee
(2) Member of the audit committee
(3) Member of the nomination and corporate governance committee

Eliyahu Ayalon joined us in April 1996 as President, Chief Executive Officer and director. In January 2000, Mr. Ayalon was appointed to serve as Chairman of our board. Between April 2005 and January 2006, Mr. Ayalon stepped down as Chief Executive Officer and became our Executive Chairman. Mr. Ayalon resumed as our Chief Executive Officer in January 2006. Mr. Ayalon is also a member of the board of directors of CEVA, Inc., a developer and licensor of DSP cores and related platform-level IP to the semiconductor industry, as of November 2002, and was the Chairman until February 2005. Mr. Ayalon previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Mennen from May 1992 to April 1996. Mr. Ayalon is a member of the Board of Governors of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and a member of the executive committee of the University Center of Ariel, Israel.

Brian Robertson joined us in October 2007 in connection with the acquisition of the Cordless and VoIP Terminals Business of NXP B.V. Prior to joining us, Mr. Robertson was the General Manager of the Cordless and IP Terminals business line at NXP B.V. beginning in December 2006. From July 2005 to September 2006, Mr. Robertson was the Regional Marketing Director – Asia Pacific of the Business Unit Mobile & Personal of NXP B.V. and also at Philips Semiconductors B.V. prior to the founding of NXP B.V. From January 2004 to July 2005, Mr. Robertson led Philips Semiconductors B.V.’s regional marketing and sales for Identification Asia. From April 2003 to January 2004, he led the Global Marketing & Applications Mobile and Personal division at Philips Semiconductors B.V. From September 2001 to March 2003, Mr. Robertson was a Global Account Director (Sales) at Philips Semiconductors B.V.

Boaz Edan joined us in May 1999 as Vice President, Operations and served as Senior Vice President, Products Division Manager until October 2002 whereby he became our Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Edan previously served as Material Director of Tower Semiconductor Ltd., a foundry manufacturer of semiconductor integrated circuits, from 1996 to May 1999.

Dror Levy joined us in August 2002 as Corporate Controller and was promoted to the position of Vice President of Finance in January 2006 and as our Chief Financial Officer and Secretary in July 2006. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Levy worked at Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer, a member of Ernst & Young Global,

 

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where he served as an account manager in the high-tech practice. Mr. Levy is a certified public accountant and holds an M.B.A. from Tel Aviv University and a B.A. in Business and Accounting from the Israeli College of Management.

Eli Fogel joined us in July 2003 as Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer. Mr. Fogel served as Senior Vice President for Engineering & Chief Technology Officer at DSP Communication from 1996 to 1999 (later acquired by Intel). At Intel, Mr. Fogel served as the Chief Technology Officer of the Cellular Communication Division.

Gerrit Johan Frederik Kaat has served as one of our directors since October 2007. Mr. Kaat is Senior Vice President of NXP Semiconductors B.V. and responsible for strategy and technology in the Business Unit Mobile and Personal. NXP B.V. was formed after the disentanglement of Philips Semiconductors from Philips in September 2006. Mr. Kaat served in several research and development, and business management functions with Philips Semiconductors B.V. since February 1980. He was the General Manager of the Business Unit Mobile and Personal of Philips Semiconductors from October 2003 until September 2006 and for the same business unit until April 2007 within NXP Semiconductors. From 1996 to 2003, Mr. Kaat worked in the Business Unit Mobile Communications of Philips Semiconductors as the General Manger of the Business Line Cellular.

Zvi Limon has served as one of our directors since February 1999. Mr. Limon has been a partner at Magnum Communications Fund, a consulting and investment advisory firm, since 1998 and a partner of Rimon Fund, an investment fund, since September 2006. He served as Chairman of Limon Holdings Ltd., a consulting and investment advisory firm, from October 1993 to July 2000. The Company elected and agreed to nominate Mr. Limon to the board of directors as a representative of Magnum Technology, Ltd. under certain conditions pursuant to the terms of a stock purchase agreement, dated February 11, 1999, with Magnum, filed as an exhibit to our quarterly report on form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. Mr. Limon also serves as a member of the board of directors of CEVA, Inc. and GVT SA, the parent company of Global Village Telecom in Brazil.

Yair Seroussi has served as one of our directors since February 2002. Mr. Seroussi is currently the Managing Director of Amdeal Holdings Ltd., an entity acting as the advisory director of Morgan Stanley in charge of its activities in Israel since 1993. Since 2002, Mr. Seroussi also has served as Chairman of Eyal Microwave, a designer and manufacturer of microwave applications. Mr. Seroussi also serves as a director of Israel Corp., an Israeli holding company; Frutarom Industries, a multinational flavor and fragrance house; and Aspen Real Estate, a real estate company, each of which is traded on The Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange. Mr. Seroussi is also on the Board of Governors of the Hebrew University.

Yair Shamir has served as one of our directors since October 1996 and is also the Chairman of our compensation committee. Mr. Shamir serves as Chairman of I.A.I. (Israel Aircraft Industries) since July 2005 and is Chairman of Catalyst Fund L.P., an Israeli Venture Capital firm since 2000. Mr. Shamir is also Chairman of Shamir Optical Industry Ltd, a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of progressive spectacle lenses for presbyopia since August 2005. Mr. Shamir was the Chairman of El-Al, Israel Airlines from April 2004 to January 2005. From 1997 to date, he serves as Chairman of VCON Telecommunications Ltd., a developer and marketer of video conference systems and was its CEO from 1997 to 2005. Mr. Shamir currently serves as a director of Mercury Interactive, a provider of performance management solutions; and Orckit Communications, Limited, a developer and manufacturer of local loop communications systems.

Louis Silver has served as a member of our board of directors since November 1999. He is a Principal of RP Capital Group, an alternative investment firm focused on investment opportunities in EEMEA and has served as an advisor to RP Capital Group since April 2005. From January 2005 until January 2006, he acted as a private banking consultant. From August 2002 until April 2005, he acted as a legal and business development advisor to companies and individuals. From September 1996 until June 2002, he served as an advisor and counsel to Discount Bank & Trust Company. Mr. Silver is a member of the board of directors of CEVA, Inc., Scopus Video Networks Ltd. a developer of digital video networking products and AxisMobile plc, a provider of consumer mobile email technology to communication service providers.

 

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Patrick Tanguy has served as one of our directors since November 1999. Since September 2007, Mr. Tanguy has been a Managing Director at Wendel, a French-listed investment company. From February 2006 to September 2007, Mr. Tanguy was the Chief Executive Officer of Prezioso S.A., an industrial coating and insulation specialist. From April 2004 to February 2006, Mr. Tanguy was the Chief Executive Officer of Monne-Decroix, a real estate development company. He served as Chief Executive Officer of Technal Group, an aluminum building systems company, from 1999 to March 2004. From May 1998 to September 1999, Mr. Tanguy served as a director of Hays DX France, an express transport services company. From August 1993 to April 1998, he served as the Chairman of Groupe DAFSA, a supplier of economic data and financial information.

Avigdor Willenz has served as one of our directors since February 2008. Mr. Willenz served as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the board of directors of Galileo Technology Ltd. from 1992 until 2001. He served as a director in Marvell(R) Technology Group Ltd. from 2001 to 2002 following the merger of Galileo Technology with Marvell. From 1988 to 1992, Mr. Willenz was Corporate Product Definition Manager/Chief Engineer for Integrated Device Technology (IDT). Mr. Willenz currently serves as a member of the board of directors of Wintegra, Inc. and Pixer Ltd. Mr. Willenz previously served as a member of the board of directors of Radware Ltd. Mr. Willenz holds a B.Sc.E.E. from Technion, Israel Institute of Technology.

Director Independence

Our board of directors has determined that all non-employee directors of the board, consisting of Messrs. Kaat, Limon, Seroussi, Shamir, Silver, Tanguy and Willenz, are “independent” as that term is defined in the NASDAQ listing standards. In making this determination, our board of directors considered transactions and relationships between each director or his immediate family and the company and our subsidiaries, including those reported in the section below captioned, “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.” The purpose of this review was to determine whether any such relationships or transactions were material and, therefore, inconsistent with a determination that the director is independent. As a result of this review, our board affirmatively determined, based on its understanding of such transactions and relationships, that all of our non-employee directors are independent of the company and, therefore, a majority of the members of our board is independent, under the standards set forth by the NASDAQ listing standards.

Relationships among Directors or Executive Officers

There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.

Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors

During 2007, our board of directors met 8 times in meetings or telephonically. No director attended fewer than 75% of the aggregate of either (i) the total number of board meetings held during the period for which he was a director, or (ii) the total number of committee meetings of the board held in 2007 on which he served. Mr. Kaat was appointed to our board in October 2007 and therefore only attended two meetings of our board of directors in 2007. In light of the geographic dispersion of our directors, the directors’ attendance at the annual meeting of stockholders is encouraged but not required. Director attendance at each annual stockholder’s meeting will be posted on our web site at www.dspg.com. It is also the policy of our board that at the conclusion of each meeting of the board the independent directors shall meet separately with no members of management present, and that the Chairman of our nomination and corporate governance committee shall act as the chair of such meetings of the independent directors.

Compensation Committee

The compensation committee met 2 times in meetings or telephonically in 2007. The compensation committee currently consists of Messrs. Limon, Shamir and Silver. Our board of directors has determined that all current members of the compensation committee are “independent” as that term is defined in the NASDAQ

 

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listing standards. The committee’s functions are to establish and apply our compensation policies with respect to our executive officers. Additional duties and powers of the compensation committee are set forth in its charter, which was adopted and approved in January 2005, and a copy of which is available on our website at www.dspg.com.

Audit Committee

The audit committee met 5 times in meetings or telephonically in 2007. The audit committee currently consists of Messrs. Limon, Seroussi, Shamir and Tanguy. The audit committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of our independent auditors. In addition, the audit committee is responsible for approving the audit and non-audit services performed by our independent auditors and for reviewing and evaluating our accounting principles and our system of internal accounting controls. Additional duties and powers of the audit committee are set forth in its amended and restated charter, which was adopted and approved in November 2002 and further amended in July 2003 and January 2005, and a copy of which is available on our website at www.dspg.com. The audit committee has also established procedures for (a) the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by us regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, and (b) the confidential, anonymous submission by our employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.

After considering transactions and relationships between each member of the audit committee or his immediate family and the company and our subsidiaries and reviewing the qualifications of the members of the audit committee, our board of directors has determined that all current members of the audit committee are (1) “independent” as that term is defined in Section 10A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”); (2) “independent” as that term is defined in the NASDAQ listing standards; and (3) financially literate and have the requisite financial sophistication as required by the NASDAQ listing standards. Furthermore, our board of directors has determined that Mr. Tanguy qualifies as an audit committee financial expert, as defined by the applicable rules of the Exchange Act, pursuant to the fact that, among other things, he is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Prezioso S.A., and was the Chief Executive Officer of Monne-Decroix and Technal Group, and in those capacities has acquired the relevant experience and expertise and has the attributes set forth in the applicable rules as being required for an audit committee financial expert.

Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee

The nomination and corporate governance committee met once in 2007. The nomination and corporate governance committee consists of Messrs. Seroussi, Silver and Tanguy. Mr. Willenz was appointed to the nomination and corporate governance committee in February 2008. Our board of directors has determined that all current members of the nomination and corporate governance committee are “independent” as that term is defined in the NASDAQ listing standards. The nomination and corporate governance committee is to assist the board in all matters relating to the establishment, implementation and monitoring of policies and processes regarding the recruitment and nomination of candidates to the board and committees of the board, and the development, evaluation and monitoring of our corporate governance processes and principles. The committee also is responsible for developing, implementing and monitoring compliance of our code of business conduct and ethics and making recommendations to the board of revisions to the code from time to time as appropriate. Additional duties and powers of the nomination and corporate governance committee are set forth in its charter, which was adopted and approved in January 2005, and a copy of which is available on our website at www.dspg.com.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

Our compensation committee during 2007 consisted of Messrs. Limon, Shamir and Silver; Mr. Shamir served as its Chairman. No member of this committee is a present or former officer or employee of the company or any of our subsidiaries. Mr. Silver is a member of the board of directors and a member of the compensation

 

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committee of the board of CEVA, Inc. and Mr. Ayalon, our Chairman of the board of directors and Chief Executive Officer, is a member of the board of directors of CEVA, Inc. Other than as noted with respect to Mr. Ayalon, none of our executive officers served on the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity which has one or more executive officers serving as a member of our board or compensation committee.

Qualifications of Directors

Our board of directors has not established any special qualifications or any minimum criteria for director nominees. In considering candidates for the board, the nomination and corporate governance committee will consider the entirety of each candidate’s credentials. However, as specified in the charter for the nomination and corporate governance committee, the nomination and corporate governance committee shall consider certain qualifications such as the nominee’s personal and professional integrity, ability, judgment, broad experience in business, finance or administration, familiarity with our industry, ability to serve the long-term interests of our stockholders and sufficient time available to devote to our affairs. The nomination and corporate governance committee will also use its best efforts to seek to ensure that the composition of our board of directors at all times adheres to the independence requirements applicable to companies listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, as well as other regulatory requirements applicable to us.

Director Nomination Process

We do not have a formal director nomination process.

Continuing Directors

Generally, the nomination and corporate governance committee identifies nominees by first evaluating the current members of the board willing to continue in service. Current members of the board with skills and experience that are relevant to our business and who are willing to continue in service are considered for renomination. The nomination and corporate governance committee will balance the value of continuity of service by existing members of the board with that of obtaining a new perspective.

New Directors

Generally, once a need to add a new board member is identified, the nomination and corporate governance committee will initiate a search by working with staff support, seeking input from board members and senior management and, if necessary, hiring a consultant or search firm. After a slate of possible candidates is identified, members of the nomination and corporate governance committee, other members of the board and senior management have the opportunity to interview the prospective candidate(s). The remaining members of the board who do not interview the prospective candidate(s) are kept informed of the progress. A potential new director also may be recommended by a current director, after which the input of the nomination and corporate governance committee and the other members of the board on the merits of his or her appointment to the board would be sought. The nomination and corporate governance committee ultimately recommends the best candidate(s) the committee members determine after the selection process for approval by the full board.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors, executive officers and persons who own more than 10% of our common stock (collectively, “Reporting Persons”) to file initial reports of ownership and changes in ownership of our common stock with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these reports are also required to be delivered to us.

We believe, based solely on our review of the copies of such reports received or written representations from the Reporting Persons, that during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, all Reporting Persons complied with all applicable filing requirements.

 

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Communications with the Board

Our board of directors believes that full and open communication between stockholders and members of our board is in our best interests and the best interests of our stockholders. Stockholders can contact any director or committee of the board by writing to the Chairman of the nomination and corporate governance committee, c/o DSP Group, Inc., 2580 North First Street, Suite 460, San Jose, CA 95131. The Chairman of the nomination and corporate governance committee will determine the extent to which such stockholder communications should be disseminated to other members of the board and what response, if any, should be made to such communications. Comments or complaints relating to our accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters may be referred directly to our audit committee by writing to the Chairman of the audit committee, c/o DSP Group, Inc., 2580 North First Street, Suite 460, San Jose, CA 95131.

Stockholder Proposals

The nomination and corporate governance committee will consider stockholder proposals properly submitted to us, including recommendations of qualified director nominee(s), in accordance with the procedures set forth below. In order to have a proposal considered by the nomination and corporate governance committee for the 2009 annual meeting, a stockholder must submit its proposal and other relevant information in writing to the attention of our Secretary at our principle executive offices no later than December 11, 2008. The stockholder must submit the following relevant information: (1) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting; (2) the name and address, as they appear on our books, of the stockholder proposing such business; (3) the class and number of shares of our common stock which are beneficially owned by the stockholder; (4) any material interest of the stockholder in such business; and (5) any other information that is required to be provided by the stockholder pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, in the stockholder’s capacity as a proponent to the proposal.

With respect to recommendations of director nominee(s), the stockholder must submit the following relevant information in writing to the attention of our Secretary at our principle executive offices no later than December 11, 2008: (1) the name, age, business and residence address of the prospective candidate; (2) a brief biographical description of the prospective candidate, including employment history for the past five years, and a statement of the qualifications of the prospective candidate; (3) the class and number of shares of our common stock, if any, which are beneficially owned by the prospective candidate; (4) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder and the prospective candidate pursuant to which the nomination is to be made by the stockholder if the stockholder and the prospective candidate are different individuals; (5) the candidate’s signed consent to serve as a director if elected and to be named in the proxy statement; and (6) any other information that is required to be provided by the stockholder pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act. Once the nomination and corporate governance committee receives the stockholder recommendation, it may deliver to the prospective candidate a questionnaire that requests additional information about the candidate’s independence, qualifications and other matters that would assist the nomination and corporate governance committee in evaluating the candidate, as well as certain information that must be disclosed about the candidate in our proxy statement or other regulatory filings, if nominated.

The nomination and corporate governance committee will not evaluate candidates differently based on who has made the proposal. The committee will consider candidates for the board from any reasonable source, including stockholder recommendations. The committee has the authority under its charter to hire and pay a fee to consultants or search firms to assist in the process of identifying and evaluating candidates. No such consultants or search firms were used for the slate of director nominees at this annual meeting since all directors nominated are for re-election, and, accordingly, no fees have been paid to consultants or search firms in the past fiscal year.

Greater detail about the submission process for stockholder proposals are set forth in our bylaws, a copy of which may be obtained by making a written request to our Secretary at the address of our principal executive offices.

 

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We have not received a director nominee recommendation from any stockholder (or group of stockholders) that beneficially owns more than five percent of our common stock.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

Our board of directors adopted a code of business conduct and ethics in July 2003 and further amended it in January 2005. This code applies to all of our employees and is posted on our web site at www.dspg.com. The code satisfies the requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as NASDAQ rules applicable to issuers listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. The code, among other things, addresses issues relating to conflicts of interests, including internal reporting of violations and disclosures, and compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations. The purpose of the code is to deter wrongdoing and to promote, among other things, honest and ethical conduct and to ensure to the greatest possible extent that our business is conducted in a legal and ethical manner. Any waivers to the code with respect to our executive officers and directors may be granted only by the audit committee. Any waivers to the code with respect to the remainder of the employees may be granted by the corporate compliance officer, which is currently our Chief Financial Officer. Any waivers to the code and any amendments to the code applicable to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, principal accounting officer, controller or persons performing similar functions, will be posted on our web site. Our audit committee has also established procedures for (a) the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by us regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, and (b) the confidential, anonymous submission by our employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.

 

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF

CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth certain information known to us with respect to beneficial ownership of our common stock as of March 10, 2008, by (i) each stockholder known to us to own beneficially more than 5% of our common stock; (ii) each of our directors; (iii) the Named Executive Officers; and (iv) all of our directors and executive officers as a group.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner (1)

  Shares
Beneficially Owned (2)
  Approximate Percent
Beneficially Owned (3)
 

NXP B.V.
KASLION Acquisition B.V.
KASLION Holding B.V.
KASLION S.à r.l.
High Tech Campus 60, 5656 AG
Eindhoven, the Netherlands (4)

  4,186,603   13.9 %

Wellington Management Company, LLP
75 State Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109 (5)

  3,021,700   10.1 %

Artisan Partners Limited Partnership
Artisan Investment Corporation
ZFIC, Inc.
Andrew A. Ziegler
Carlene Murphy Ziegler
Artisan Funds, Inc.
875 East Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 800
Milwaukee, WI 53202 (6)

  2,245,000   7.5 %

ClearBridge Advisors, LLC
Smith Barney Fund Management LLC
399 Park Avenue New York, NY 10022 (7)

  1,753,200   5.8 %

Barclays Global Investors (Deutschland) AG
Barclays Global Investors, NA.
Apianstrasse 6, D-85774 Unterfohring, Germany (8)

  1,750,254   5.8 %

Eliyahu Ayalon (9)

  291,143   *  

Brian Robertson

  —     —    

Boaz Edan (10)

  195,662   *  

Dror Levy (11)

  45,539   *  

Eli Fogel (12)

  136,066   *  

Tal Simchony (13)

  28,125   *  

Gerrit Johan Frederik Kaat

  —     —    

Zvi Limon (14)

  219,317   *  

Yair Seroussi (15)

  85,303   *  

Yair Shamir (16)

  112,651   *  

Louis Silver (17)

  148,007   *  

Patrick Tanguy (18)

  123,256   *  

Avigdor Willenz

  —     —    

All directors and executive officers as a group (13 persons) (19)

  1,413,694   4.5 %

 

* Less than 1%
(1) Except as otherwise indicated, the address of each of the executive officers and directors is c/o DSP Group, Inc., 2580 North First Street, Suite 460, San Jose, CA 95131.

 

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(2) To our knowledge, except as set forth in the footnotes to this table, and subject to applicable community property laws, each person named in this table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares set forth opposite such person’s name.
(3) Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to the securities. Shares of our common stock, subject to options currently exercisable or that will become exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2008 are deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of the person holding such options, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of any other person. Percentages are based on 30,049,176 shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 10, 2008.
(4) Based on a Schedule 13D filed by NXP B.V. on September 14, 2007, with the Securities and Exchange Commission on behalf of itself, KASLION Acquisition B.V., KASLION Holding B.V. and KASLION Sàrl.
(5) Based on a Schedule 13G filed by Wellington Management Company, LLP on February 14, 2008, with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(6) Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed by Artisan Partners Limited Partnership on February 13, 2008, with the Securities and Exchange Commission on behalf of itself, Artisan Investment Corporation, ZFIC, Inc., Andrew A. Ziegler, Carlene Murphy Ziegler, Artisan Funds, Inc., as a reporting group. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership reported beneficial ownership of 2,245,000, of our common stock, including 1,088,300 shares held by Artisan Funds.
(7) Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed by ClearBridge Advisors, LLC on February 14, 2008 with the Securities and Exchange Commission on behalf of itself and Smith Barney Fund Management LLC. ClearBridge Advisors, LLC reported beneficial ownership of 1,710,000 shares and Smith Barney Fund Management LLC reported beneficial ownership of 43,200, shares of our common stock.
(8) Based on a Schedule 13G filed by Barclays Global Investors, NA. on behalf of Barclays Global Investors (Deutschland) AG on February 5, 2008, with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(9) Includes 290,000 shares of our common stock subject to options and stock appreciation rights that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of March 10, 2008. Each stock appreciation right award is exercisable for a number of shares of our common stock equal to up to fifty percent of the units subject to the award. The number of shares of our common stock subject to a stock appreciation right award represented in the table is calculated based on 50% of the units subject to such an award.
(10) Represents 195,662 shares of our common stock subject to options and stock appreciation rights that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of March 10, 2008. Each stock appreciation right award is exercisable for a number of shares of our common stock equal to up to fifty percent of the units subject to the award. The number of shares of our common stock subject to a stock appreciation right award represented in the table is calculated based on 50% of the units subject to such an award.
(11) Represents 45,539 shares of our common stock subject to options and stock appreciation rights that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of March 10, 2008. Each stock appreciation right award is exercisable for a number of shares of our common stock equal to up to fifty percent of the units subject to the award. The number of shares of our common stock subject to a stock appreciation right award represented in the table is calculated based on 50% of the units subject to such an award.
(12) Represents 136,066 shares of our common stock subject to options and stock appreciation rights that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of March 10, 2008. Each stock appreciation right award is exercisable for a number of shares of our common stock equal to up to fifty percent of the units subject to the award. The number of shares of our common stock subject to a stock appreciation right award represented in the table is calculated based on 50% of the units subject to such an award.
(13) Mr. Simchony resigned as our President on October 31, 2007. He has options and stock appreciation rights to purchase 28,250 shares of our common stock exercisable until March 30, 2008. Each stock appreciation right award is exercisable for a number of shares of our common stock equal to up to fifty percent of the units subject to the award. The number of shares of our common stock subject to a stock appreciation right award represented in the table is calculated based on 50% of the units subject to such an award. To our knowledge, he has no outstanding shares.
(14) Represents 219,317 shares of our common stock subject to options that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of March 10, 2008.
(15) Represents 85,303 shares of our common stock subject to options that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of March 10, 2008.

 

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(16) Represents 112,651 shares of our common stock subject to options that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of March 10, 2008.
(17) Includes 147,507 shares of our common stock subject to options that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of March 10, 2008.
(18) Represents 123,256 shares of our common stock subject to options that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of March 10, 2008.
(19) See footnotes (9) through (18). Includes 1,411,551 shares of our common stock subject to options and stock appreciation rights that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of March 10, 2008. Each stock appreciation right award is exercisable for a number of shares of our common stock equal to up to fifty percent of the units subject to the award. The number of shares of our common stock subject to the stock appreciation right awards represented in the table is calculated based on 50% of the units subject to such an award.

 

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EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

The following table sets forth certain information regarding our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2007.

 

     (a)    (b)    (c)  

Plan category

   Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
   Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights
   Number of securities
remaining available
for future issuance under
equity compensation
plans (excluding securities
reflected in column (a))
 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

   983,034    23.08    640,693 (1)

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders (2)

   4,229,730    22.25    1,991,683  

Total

   5,212,764    22.40    2,632,376  

 

(1) The amount includes 193,000 shares of common stock available for future issuance under our 1993 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
(2) Neither the Amended and Restated 1998 Non-Officer Employee Stock Option Plan (the “1998 Plan”) nor the Amended and Restated 2003 Israeli Share Incentive Plan (the “2003 Plan”) was previously approved by our stockholders. The total number of shares of common stock available for the grant of options under the 2003 Plan is increased on the first day of each calendar year beginning in 2004 by a number of shares equal to three percent of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of such date or a lesser number as determined by the administrator of the plan. In 2004, we granted stock options to purchase a total of 239,000 shares of common stock outside of stockholder-approved stock option plans in connection with our acquisition of the Wi-Fi assets of Bermai, Inc., of which 144,125 were outstanding as of December 31, 2007. Further, in 2007, we granted stock options to purchase a total of 235,000 shares of common stock outside of stockholder-approved stock option plans in connection with our acquisition of the cordless and VoIP terminals business of NXP B.V. of which 235,000 were outstanding as of December 31, 2007.

1998 Non-Officer Employee Stock Option Plan

Our board of directors adopted the 1998 Plan in November 1998. As of December 31, 2007, a maximum of 703,425 shares of common stock is currently available for issuance under the 1998 Plan. The board of directors, or a committee designated by the board of directors, administers the 1998 Plan. The administrator has the sole discretion to interpret any provision of the 1998 Plan, and to determine the terms and conditions of awards of non-qualified stock options or stock appreciation rights under the 1998 Plan. Options and stock appreciation rights currently may be granted to our employees and employees of any of our subsidiaries. Officers may not be granted options or stock appreciation rights under the 1998 Plan. The material features of the 1998 Plan are summarized below.

Term.    The term of each option or stock appreciation right shall be stated in the applicable option or stock appreciation right agreement.

Exercise Price or Base Appreciation Right.    The exercise price per share of common stock for an option and the base appreciation amount for a stock appreciation right shall be determined by the administrator.

Vesting.    Each option or stock appreciation right shall vest in accordance with a schedule as determined by the administrator.

Early Exercise.    An option may include a provision whereby the participant may elect to exercise any part or all of the option prior to vesting of the option. Any unvested shares received pursuant to such exercise may be subject to a repurchase right in favor of the Company or any other restriction the administrator determines to be appropriate.

 

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Transferability.    Options and stock appreciation rights are transferable to the extent provided in the applicable option agreement or stock appreciation right agreement.

Termination of Employment.    A participant may not exercise an option or stock appreciation right after the termination of the participant’s employment, director or consulting relationship with us or with any of our subsidiaries, except to the extent specified in the applicable option or stock appreciation right agreement. Where the option or stock appreciation right agreement permits the exercise of the option or stock appreciation right following termination of the participant’s employment or other service relationship with us or any of our subsidiaries, the option or stock appreciation right shall terminate to the extent not exercised on the last day of the specified period or the last day of the term of the option or stock appreciation right, which ever occurs first.

Acquisition of the Company.    If we are acquired whether by sale, transfer of assets, merger or similar transaction, the administrator shall have the authority to provide for the full automatic vesting and exercisability of one or more outstanding unvested options or unvested stock appreciation rights under the 1998 Plan on such terms and conditions as the administrator may specify.

Amendment and Termination of the Plan.    The 1998 Plan will continue until it is terminated by the board of directors. The board may amend the 1998 Plan at any time or from time to time or may suspend or terminate it, without approval of the stockholders, except as required by law. However, no action by the board of directors or stockholders may alter or impair any option or stock appreciation right previously granted under the 1998 Plan. No option or stock appreciation right may be granted during any suspension of or after termination of the 1998 Plan.

2003 Israeli Share Incentive Plan

Our board of directors adopted the 2003 Plan in November 2002. As of December 31, 2007, the maximum number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2003 Plan was 1,288,258 shares. Pursuant to the plan terms, the number of shares authorized for issuance is increased annually on the first business day of each calendar year equal to three percent of the number of shares of our common stock issued and outstanding as of such date or a lesser number of shares as determined by the board of directors. The board of directors, or a committee designated by the board of directors, administers the 2003 Plan. The administrator has the sole discretion to interpret any provision of the 2003 Plan and to determine the terms and conditions of the options and stock appreciation rights issued under the 2003 Plan. Options and stock appreciation rights currently may be granted to our employees and other service providers and employees and other service providers of any of our subsidiaries. The material features of the 2003 Plan are summarized below.

Term.    The term of each option or stock appreciation right shall be stated in the applicable option agreement or stock appreciation right agreement.

Exercise Price or Base Appreciation Right.    The exercise price per share of common stock for an option and the base appreciation amount for a stock appreciation right shall be determined by the administrator and will be set forth in the applicable option or stock appreciation right agreement.

Vesting.    Each option or stock appreciation right shall vest in accordance with a schedule as determined by the administrator.

Transferability.    Options and stock appreciation rights are non-transferable except as provided in the option or stock appreciation right agreement. During the lifetime of the participant, the option or stock appreciation right may be exercised only by the participant.

Termination of Employment. In the event a participant’s employment relationship with us or any of our subsidiaries is terminated other than for cause or as a result of death or disability, the vested portion of the option or stock appreciation right shall be exercisable for 90 days after the date of termination. In the event a

 

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participant’s employment relationship with us or any of our subsidiaries is terminated as a result of death or disability, the vested portion of the option or stock appreciation right shall be exercisable for 12 months after the date of termination. In the event a participant’s employment relationship with us or any of our subsidiaries is terminated for cause, the option or stock appreciation right shall immediately terminate and cease to be exercisable. In no event shall an option or stock appreciation right be exercisable after the expiration date of the option or stock appreciation right.

Acquisition of the Company.    The terms of an option or stock appreciation right agreement may provide for the full automatic vesting and exercisability of the option or stock appreciation right in the event we are acquired by sale, transfer of assets, merger or similar transaction.

Amendment and Termination of the 2003 Plan.    The 2003 Plan will terminate in November 2012. The board of directors may amend the 2003 Plan at any time or from time to time or may suspend or terminate it, without approval of the stockholders, except as required by law. However, no action by the board of directors or stockholders may alter or impair any option or stock appreciation right previously granted under the 2003 Plan.

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion & Analysis

Overview of Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

We operate in a very competitive, dynamic and challenging industry. Our compensation policy, as established by the compensation committee of our board of directors, is designed to attract, motivate and retain highly talented individuals who will contribute to our long-term success, reward our executive officers who contribute to our financial performance and provide a strong link between our executive officers’ compensation and long-term interests of our stockholders. We believe that our executive officers’ compensation should not be based on the short-term performance of our stock, whether favorable or unfavorable, but rather that the price of our stock will, in the long-term, reflect our operating performance and ultimately the management of the company by our executive officers. The various compensation levels for our executive officers are set based on the scope of their responsibilities and performance. Our policy for allocating between long-term and currently paid compensation is to ensure adequate base compensation to attract and retain key personnel, while providing incentives to maximize long-term value for our company and our stockholders. We further believe that the executive officers’ total annual cash compensation should vary with the company’s performance and that the higher an executive officer’s level of responsibility within the company, the greater the percentage of such executive officer’s compensation should be tied to the company’s performance. However, notwithstanding the above principles, we rely upon judgment and not upon rigid guidelines or formulas in determining the amount and mix of compensation elements for each executive officer.

The compensation committee, which is comprised solely of independent, non-employee board members, has the authority and responsibility to establish the overall compensation strategy for the company, including reviewing, analyzing and approving the compensation structure for our Chief Executive Officer, our executive and non-executive officers and other key employees each year; and administer our incentive compensation and benefit plans, 401(k) plan, and stock option and purchase plans. The compensation committee regularly updates the board of directors with respect to its undertakings in establishing the company’s overall compensation strategy. Messrs. Limon, Shamir and Silver were the members of the compensation committee in 2007, with Mr. Shamir acting as the Chairman.

Role of Chief Executive Officer and Compensation Consultants in Compensation Decisions

Mr. Ayalon, our Chief Executive Officer, annually reviews the performance of each executive officer (other than himself whose performance is reviewed solely by the compensation committee). Mr. Ayalon’s assessment of the performance of each such executive officer, their accomplishments, and individual and corporate performance of each such executive officer and his conclusions thereon, including with respect to salary adjustments and annual award amounts, are then presented to the compensation committee in connection with the committee’s annual review of each executive officer’s total compensation. The compensation committee evaluates, discusses and modifies or approves the recommendations provided by Mr. Ayalon.

The charter of the compensation committee authorizes the committee to engage the services of consultants to assist in the determination of our executive officers’ compensation. The compensation committee did not engage the services of a compensation consultant in determining our executive officers’ compensation in 2007.

Principal Elements of Executive Compensation

Compensation of our executive officers consists of three principal components: base salary, bonus and long-term incentive compensation consisting of grants of stock options and stock appreciation rights.

Base Salary.    The base salaries of our executive officers are set by the compensation committee. When setting base salary levels, the compensation committee considers competitive market conditions for executive compensation, the company’s performance, the performance of the individual executive officer for the then

 

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completed year and any promotion or other change in job responsibility of the individual executive officer. The base salaries of Mr. Edan, our Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Levy, our Chief Financial Officer, and Mr. Fogel, our Chief Technology Officer, were increased in 2007 in consideration of salaries paid to executive officers in the same positions in similarly-situated Israeli companies, as well as the devaluation of the U.S. dollar against the NIS, the Israeli currency, which had a negative impact on Messrs. Edan, Levy and Fogel, whose base salaries are paid in U.S. dollars but who reside in Israel. Also, as a result of exchange rate fluctuations, the compensation committee determined to restate the base salaries of Messrs. Edan, Levy and Fogel in NIS and link annual base salary increases to the Israeli consumer prices index.

Bonus.    In consideration of the small size of our management team, the flexibility offered by a less formula-based bonus plan and the recognition that the long-term success of the company is achieved by the attainment of various strategic goals and not singular focus on specific financial metrics, the compensation committee annually evaluates the performance of, and set the cash bonuses payable to, our Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers based on a broad set of corporate and personal performance goals. The performance factors utilized by the compensation committee include the following: (1) increased sales of our products and changes in our profitability during the year; (2) our performance in penetrating new markets for our products; (3) the success in executing on our long-term strategic goals; (4) each executive officer’s overall individual performance in his position and his relative contribution to our corporate performance during the year; and (5) the desire of the board of directors to retain the executive officer in the face of considerable competition for executive talent within the industry. The compensation committee also considers each executive officer’s base salary, with higher ranked executive officers being compensated at a higher percentage of base salary. The board of directors or the compensation committee in the future may modify the foregoing criteria or select other performance factors with respect to bonuses paid to executive officers for any given year.

Long-term Incentive Compensation.    Stock option grants and the grant of stock appreciation rights are made from time to time to our employees, including executive officers, whose contributions have or will have a significant impact on our long-term performance. We began to grant stock appreciation rights to our executive officers beginning in 2006 with a view to conserve the number of shares of our common stock authorized for issued under our various equity incentive plans. We believe that the grant of stock options and stock appreciation rights (1) align our executive officers’ interests with stockholder interests by creating a direct link between compensation and stockholder return; (2) give executive officers a significant, long-term interest in our success; and (3) help retain key executive officers in a competitive market for executive talent. We grant stock options and stock appreciation rights to our executive officers pursuant to our Amended and Restated 2001 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2001 Stock Plan”) and Amended and Restated 2003 Israeli Share Incentive Plan (the “2003 Stock Plan”). In 2007, we provided long-term awards to our executive officers through the grant of stock appreciation rights, which vest based on continued employment consistent with the general vesting schedules discussed below.

Compensation of Chief Executive Officer.    The determination by the compensation committee of the remuneration of Mr. Ayalon generally was based upon methods consistent with those used for the other executive officers. The compensation committee additionally considered the following factors in evaluating the performance of, and setting the compensation for, Mr. Ayalon: (1) changes in revenues and net income from the previous year; (2) changes in our market share as compared both to our industry peers and to the previous year; (3) changes in the stock price of our common stock as compared both to our industry peers and to the previous year; (4) his contribution to an enhanced research and development strategy in response to changing market trends; (5) his contribution to the hiring and retention of top management personnel; and (6) the time and effort that Mr. Ayalon individually applied in connection with the execution of his duties. The compensation committee believes that the salary and long-term incentive compensation paid to Mr. Ayalon during 2007 were appropriate based on the above criteria.

 

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Equity Incentive Programs

We intend that our equity incentive awards be the primary vehicle for offering long-term incentives and rewarding our executive officers and key employees. We also regard our equity incentive awards as a key retention tool. This is a very important factor in our determination of the type of award to grant and the number of underlying shares that are granted in connection with that award.

Equity incentive awards are granted based upon individual performance measures established for each individual by the compensation committee. The size of each grant is generally set at a level that the compensation committee deems appropriate to create a meaningful opportunity for stock ownership, the individual’s position with the company and the individual’s potential for future responsibility and promotion. In the grant of awards, the compensation committee further considers the executive officer’s past performance, the total compensation being paid to the executive officer, the number of options awarded to the executive officer during previous years and the vesting status of such options, and the comparability with option grants made to our other executives officers and similarly situated executive officers at peer companies. All awards of stock options and stock appreciation rights are made at the market price at the time of the awards.

Stock Option Awards Granted.    We grant stock option awards to our executive officers and key employees based upon the criteria discussed above. However, there is no set formula for the granting of stock option awards to individual executive officers. Generally, stock options previously granted to our executive officers vest as to 25% of the grant on the first anniversary of the grant date with the remaining options vesting quarterly over the next three years and expiring seven years from the grant date. Stock options previously granted to our Chief Executive Officer vest as to 25% of the grant on the grant date with the remaining options vesting annually over the next three years and expiring seven years from the grant date. During 2007, only a stock option to purchase 50,000 shares of our common stock was granted to Mr. Robertson in connection with his appointment as our President in October 2007.

Stock Appreciation Right Awards Granted.    Due to the evolution of regulatory, tax and accounting treatment of equity incentive programs and because it is important for us to retain our executive officers and key employees, we realized that it is important that we explore the use of other forms of equity awards. During 2006, we began to grant our executive officers a new equity-based award instrument—a share appreciation right, capped with a ceiling. The stock appreciation right confers upon our executive officers the right to stock appreciation over a preset price during a specified period of time. When the stock appreciation right is exercised, the appreciation amount is paid by the issuance of shares. The ceiling limits the maximum income for each stock appreciation right such that when the fair market value of our common stock is equal to or greater than two times the exercise price of the stock appreciation right, the portion of the stock appreciation rights that is vested on such date is automatically exercised on the next trading day and the appreciation amount is paid to the executive officer by the issuance of the respective number of shares of our common stock. Stock appreciation rights granted to our executive officers generally vest as to 25% of the grant on the first anniversary of the grant date with the remaining stock appreciation rights vesting quarterly over the next three years and expiring seven years from the date of grant. Stock appreciation rights granted to our Chief Executive Officer vest as to 25% of the grant on the grant date with the remaining stock appreciation rights vesting annually over the next three years and expiring seven years from the date of grant. Grant of stock appreciation rights to our executive officers are made based upon the criteria discussed above. However, there is no set formula for the grant of stock appreciation rights to individual executive officers. During 2007, 1,683,650 stock appreciation right units were granted to our employees. Our named executive officers received 330,000 stock appreciation right units or 20% of the total stock appreciation right units granted in 2007.

Timing of Grants.    Equity incentive awards to our executive officers and other key employees are typically granted annually in conjunction with the compensation committee’s review of their individual performance during the prior year. Options and stock appreciation rights are not necessarily granted to each employee every year. Grants of stock options and/or stock appreciation rights to newly hired executive officers who are eligible to receive them generally are made at the next regularly scheduled compensation committee or board meeting following their hire date.

 

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Stock Ownership Guidelines.    We do not current require our executive officers and members of our board to own a minimum number of shares of our common stock. The compensation committee is satisfied that stock and option holdings among our executive officers and directors are sufficient at this time to provide motivation and to align this group’s interests with those of our stockholders.

Retirement Benefits and Perquisites

We do not offer any retirement benefits to our Israeli-based executive officers except for social benefits required pursuant to Israeli labor laws, or are common practice in Israel and are generally available to all Israeli employees. Specifically, based on Israeli labor laws, an Israeli employee is entitled to severance pay upon termination of employment for any reason, including retirement, based on the most recent monthly salary of such employee multiplied by the number of years of employment of such employee. We make a payment of 8.333% of each employee’s monthly base salary to an insurance fund to pay for this future liability owed to Israeli employees upon termination of their employment. In addition, we make a payment of 5% of each employee’s monthly base salary to another insurance fund, which accrued amount may be withdrawn by the employee after retirement or, subject to various tax restrictions in Israel, after leaving our employment.

With respect to Mr. Robertson, our President, who is based on Switzerland, we pay half of the contributions to AHV (Old Age and Survivors’ Insurance), IV (Invalidity Insurance), EO (Loss of Earnings) and ALV (Unemployment Insurance) on Mr. Robertson’s behalf and he pays the other half of the contributions. Mr. Robertson also participate in our Swiss pension plan, which was formerly the NXP Semiconductors Switzerland AG pension plan that was transferred to us in connection with our acquisition of the cordless and VoIP terminals business of NXP B.V. in September 2007. The contributions and the benefits under the Swiss pension plan are determined by the rules and regulations in force at any given time of the relevant pension plan. We do not offer Mr. Robertson any retirement benefits that are not generally available to our Swiss employees in a managerial function.

We currently do not provide any material benefits to our executive officers that are not generally available to our employees.

Post-Termination Protection

The compensation committee also recognizes that, from time to time, it is appropriate to enter into agreements with certain key employees to ensure that we continue to retain their services and to promote stability and continuity within our company. We have entered into employment agreements with our Named Executive Officers. The varied terms of their employment agreements reflect the importance of retaining their services and their potential contributions to the attainment of our long-term goals. Their employment agreements are described beginning on page 30 of this proxy statement.

Financial Restatements

The compensation committee has not adopted a policy with respect to whether we will make retroactive adjustments to any cash- or equity-based incentive compensation paid to executive officers (or others) where the payment was predicated upon the achievement of financial results that were subsequently the subject of a restatement. Our compensation committee believes that this issue is best addressed when the need actually arises, when all of the facts regarding the restatement are known.

Tax and Accounting Treatment of Compensation

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, enacted in 1993, generally disallows a tax deduction to publicly held companies for compensation exceeding $1 million paid to certain of the corporation’s executive officers. The limitation applies only to compensation which is not considered to be performance-based. Only our

 

20


2001 Stock Plan is structured so that any compensation deemed paid to an executive officer in connection with the exercise of option grants made under the plan will qualify as performance-based compensation which will not be subject to the $1 million limitation. Generally, our executive officers are granted stock options and stock appreciation rights 2001 Stock Plan and the 2003 Stock Plan. The compensation committee is aware of the limitations imposed by Section 162(m), and the exemptions available therefrom, and will address the issue of deductibility when and if circumstances warrant, and may use such exemptions in addition to the exemption contemplated under the 2001 Stock Plan. The compensation committee also reserves the right to use its judgment to authorize compensation payments that do not comply with the exemptions in Section 162(m) when the committee believes that such payments are appropriate and in the best interests of our stockholders, after taking into account changing business conditions or the executive officer’s performance. In addition, the compensation committee cannot ensure that compensation intended to qualify for deductibility under Section 162(m) will in fact be deductible because: (1) a number of requirements must be satisfied in order for the compensation to qualify; and (2) uncertainties as to the application and interpretation surrounding this section currently exist.

Compensation Committee Report

The compensation committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis set forth above with our management. Based on its review and discussions, the committee recommended to our board of directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this report.

Submitted by the compensation committee:

Zvi Limon

Yair Shamir

Louis Silver

 

21


2007 Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth the total compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to our principal executive officer, former president, principal financial officer and the three other highest paid executive officers whose total compensation in fiscal year 2007 exceeded $100,000 for the periods presented. We refer to these executive officers as our “Named Executive Officers.”

 

Name and Principal Position

   Year    Salary ($)    Bonus ($) (5)    Option Awards
($) (6)
    All Other Compensation
($) (7)
   Total
($)

Eliyahu Ayalon (1)

   2007    350,000    290,000    472,036 (8)   139,480    1,251,516

    Executive Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

   2006    350,000    200,000    315,268     126,693    991,961

Brian Robertson (2)

    President

   2007    130,000    —      20,888 (9)   34,726    185,614

Tal Simchony (3)

   2007    220,000    70,000    377,629 (10)   91,691    759,320

    Former President

   2006    201,667    110,000    591,128     72,452    975,247

Boaz Edan

   2007    192,454    150,000    258,264 (11)   68,268    668,986

    Chief Operating Officer

   2006    160,000    100,000    236,451     60,966    557,417

Dror Levy (4)

   2007    142,604    90,000    147,579 (12)   61,125    441,308

    Vice President, Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

   2006    113,788    40,000    71,000     58,221    283,009

Eli Fogel

   2007    173,105    90,000    147,579 (13)   70,964    481,648

    Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer

   2006    152,482    50,000    157,634     69,400    429,516

 

(1) Mr. Ayalon was our Chief Executive Officer from 1996 to April 2005 and resumed such position again on January 25, 2006.
(2) Mr. Robertson became our President on October 31, 2007.
(3) Mr. Simchony was our President from February 1, 2006 to October 31, 2007.
(4) Mr. Levy became our Chief Financial Officer on July 19, 2006.
(5) Represents the bonus amount awarded to the Named Executive Officer in 2007 at the discretion of the board of directors.
(6) Represents the fair value of the stock appreciation rights as of the date they were granted, computed in accordance with SFAS 123(R), disregarding adjustments for forfeiture assumptions. The amounts above represent the expenses recognized pursuant to SFAS 123(R) in 2007 only.
(7) See the table captioned “2007 All Other Compensation” below for greater detail.
(8) Relates to a grant of 100,000 stock appreciation right units on January 24, 2007 to purchase up to 50,000 shares of our common stock pursuant to our Amended and Restated 2003 Israeli Share Incentive Plan.
(9) Relates to an option grant to purchase 50,000 shares of our common stock on October 31, 2007.
(10) Relates to a grant of 80,000 stock appreciation right units on January 24, 2007 to purchase up to 40,000 shares of our common stock pursuant to our Amended and Restated 2003 Israeli Share Incentive Plan.
(11) Relates to a grant of 70,000 stock appreciation right units on January 24, 2007 to purchase up to 35,000 shares of our common stock pursuant to our Amended and Restated 2003 Israeli Share Incentive Plan.
(12) Relates to a grant of 40,000 stock appreciation right units on January 24, 2007 to purchase up to 20,000 shares of our common stock pursuant to our Amended and Restated 2003 Israeli Share Incentive Plan.
(13) Relates to a grant of 40,000 stock appreciation right units on January 24, 2007 to purchase up to 20,000 shares of our common stock pursuant to our Amended and Restated 2003 Israeli Share Incentive Plan.

 

22


2007 All Other Compensation

The following table sets forth all other compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to each of our Named Executive Officers during fiscal year 2007.

 

Name

  Israeli Social
Benefits ($)
(1)
  Car
Allowance
($) (2)
  Education
Fund

($) (3)
  Vacation (4)   Social Security
Payments (5)
  Disability
Insurance
Payments (6)
  Other (7)   Total ($)

Eliyahu Ayalon

  46,577   29,620   26,207   21,525   5,730   8,735   1,086   139,480

Boaz Edan

  25,654   18,711   14,435   959   5,730   1,431   1,347   68,268

Dror Levy

  19,010   11,952   10,696   11,489   5,730   998   1,250   61,125

Eli Fogel

  23,075   16,683   12,983   10,270   5,730   964   1,259   70,964

Tal Simchony

  30,641   22,444   16,473   12,660   5,730   1,318   2,426   91,691

 

(1) Based on Israeli labor laws, an Israeli employee is entitled to severance pay upon termination of employment by the employer for any reason, including retirement, based on the most recent monthly base salary of such employee multiplied by the number of years of employment of such employee. We make a payment of 8.333% of each employee’s monthly base salary to an insurance fund to pay for this future liability payable to our employees upon termination of their employment. In addition, we make a payment of 5% of each employee’s monthly base salary to another insurance fund, which accrued amount may be withdrawn by the employee after retirement or, subject to various tax restrictions in Israel, after leaving our employment. The amounts represent the above referenced contributions we made on behalf of each of the Named Executive Officers in 2007.
(2) We generally provide all of our Israeli employees with a car for business-related purposes and pay the associated expenses.
(3) As is customary in Israel applicable to all Israeli employees, we provide our Israeli employees with a certain amount of monthly contributions (7.5% of their base salary) for the benefit of each employee’s study and training purposes, which amounts contributed by us to each of the Named Executive Officers in 2007 are as specified.
(4) Represents the dollar value of the difference between the vacation days to which the Named Executive Officer is entitled in 2007 and the vacation days used by such Named Executive Officer in 2007.
(5) Represents payments we made to the Israeli government that the employees will receive in the event of unemployment or other disability.
(6) As is customary in Israel, we make a payment of up to 2.5% of each employee’s monthly base salary to cover employer liability associated with employment disability.
(7) Represents tax reimbursements and convalescence pay.

 

Name

   Pension Fund
Contributions
($) (1)
   Car
Allowance
($) (2)
   Vacation (3)    Insurance
Contributions (4)
   Other (5)    Total ($)

Brian Robertson

   10,576    7,727    5,446    6,477    4,500    34,726

 

(1) Mr. Robertson participate in our Swiss pension plan, which was formerly the NXP Semiconductors Switzerland AG pension plan that was transferred to us in connection with our acquisition of the cordless and VoIP terminals business of NXP B.V. in September 2007. The contributions and the benefits under the Swiss pension plan are determined by the rules and regulations in force at any given time of the relevant pension plan.
(2) We generally provide to Swiss employees above a certain managerial level with a car for business-related purposes and pay the associated expenses.
(3) Represents the dollar value of the difference between the vacation days to which Mr. Robertson was entitled in 2007 and the vacation days used by Mr. Robertson in 2007.
(4) Represents half of the contributions we made to AHV (Old Age and Survivors’ Insurance), IV (Invalidity Insurance), EO (Loss of Earnings) and ALV (Unemployment Insurance) on Mr. Robertson’s behalf. Mr. Robertson pays the other half of the contributions.
(5) Represents a prorated portion of an allowance of EUR 8,370 (approximately $13,200 per year) payable to Mr. Robertson in 4 quarterly installments at the end of the last month of each quarter.

 

23


2007 Grants of Plan Based Awards

The following table sets forth each equity award granted to our Named Executive Officers during fiscal year 2007.

 

Name

  Grant Date   Approval
Date
  Estimated Future
Payouts Under
Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
  All
Other
Stock
Awards:
Number
of
Shares
of Stock
or Units
(#)
  All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options (#)
    Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards
($/Sh)
  Closing
Price
on
Grant
Date
($/Sh)
  Grant
Date
Fair
Value of
Stock
and
Option
Awards
(3)
      Threshold
(#)
  Target
(#)
  Maximum
(#)
         

Eliyahu Ayalon

  01/24/2007             100,000 (1)   21.70   21.70   696,460

Brian Robertson

  10/31/2007             50,000 (2)   15.79   15.79   214,634

Boaz Edan

  01/24/2007             70,000 (1)   21.70   21.70   481,740

Dror Levy

  01/24/2007             40,000 (1)   21.70   21.70   275,280

Eli Fogel

  01/24/2007             40,000 (1)   21.70   21.70   275,280

Tal Simchony

  01/24/2007             80,000 (1)   21.70   21.70   557,168

 

(1) Represents grants of stock appreciation right units made pursuant to our Amended and Restated 2003 Israeli Share Incentive Plan. Stock appreciation rights granted to our executive officers generally vest as to 25% of the grant on the first anniversary of the grant date with the remaining stock appreciation rights vesting quarterly over the next three years and expiring seven years from the date of grant. Stock appreciation rights granted to our Chief Executive Officer vest as to 25% of the grant on the grant date with the remaining stock appreciation rights vesting annually over the next three years and expiring seven years from the date of grant. All stock appreciation rights have a ceiling of 200%. When the vested stock appreciation rights are exercised, the number of underlying shares that may be received upon exercise cannot exceed 50% of the number of stock appreciation right units granted. For example, the stock appreciation right grant of 100,000 units to Mr. Ayalon is exercisable for up to 50,000 shares of our common stock.
(2) Represents an option grant to purchase 50,000 shares of our common stock on October 31, 2007 in connection with Mr. Robertson’s appointment as our President.
(3) Represents the fair value of the stock appreciation rights as of the date they were granted, computed in accordance with SFAS 123(R) but disregarding adjustments for forfeiture assumptions.

 

24


Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End 2007

The following table sets forth information concerning unexercised options held by each of our Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2007. None of our Named Executive Officers had any stock awards outstanding at fiscal year-end 2007.

 

     Option Awards

Name

   Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
    Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned Options (#)
   Option
Exercise
Price ($)
(6)
   Option
Expiration
Date (7)

Eliyahu Ayalon

   125,000

82,500

40,000

25,000

(1)(3)

(1)(3)

(2)(4)

(2)(4)

  —  

27,500

40,000

75,000

 

(1)(3)

(2)(4)

(2)(4)

  —  

—  

—  

—  

   24.16

23.88

28.59

21.70

   12/4/2010

7/4/2012

4/5/2013

1/24/2014

Brian Robertson

   —       50,000 (3)(5)   —      15.79    10/31/2014

Tal Simchony

   56,250 (2)(4)   —       —      28.59    3/30/2008

Boaz Edan

   12,500

45,100

75,000

30,375

22,500

—  

(1)(3)

(1)(3)

(1)(3)

(1)(3)

(2)(4)

 

  —  

—  

—  

23,625

37,500,000

70,000

 

 

 

(1)(3)

(2)(4)

(2)(4)

  —  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

   17.82

16.79

24.16

23.88

28.59

21.70

   2/4/2009

1/22/2010

12/4/2010

7/4/2012

4/5/2013

1/24/2014

Dror Levy

   2087

636

21,250

8,440

7,500

—  

(1)(3)

(1)(3)

(1)(3)

(1)(3)

(2)(4)

 

  —  

—  

—  

6,560

12,500

40,000

 

 

 

(1)(3)

(2)(4)

(2)(4)

  —  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

   13.35

11.48

22.42

23.88

28.59

21.70

   8/26/2009

10/30/2009

5/13/2010

7/4/2012

4/5/2013

1/24/2014

Eli Fogel

   11,250

90,000

15,190

15,000

—  

(1)(3)

(1)(3)

(1)(3)

(2)(4)

 

  —  

—  

11,810

25,000

40,000

 

 

(1)(3)

(2)(4)

(2)(4)

  —  

—  

—  

—  

—  

   21.80

24.40

23.88

28.59

21.70

   7/11/2010

7/21/2010

7/4/2012

4/5/2013

1/24/2008

 

(1) The stock options were granted pursuant to our Amended and Restated 1991 Employee and Consultant Stock Plan, Amended and Restated 2001 Stock Incentive Plan and Amended and Restated 2003 Israeli Share Incentive Plan.
(2) The stock appreciation rights were granted pursuant to our Amended and Restated 2003 Israeli Share Incentive Plan.
(3) Stock options granted to our executive officers generally vest as to 25% of the grant on the first anniversary of the grant date with the remaining options vesting quarterly over the next three years and expiring seven years from the grant date. Stock options previously granted to our Chief Executive Officer vest as to 25% of the grant on the grant date with the remaining options vesting annually over the next three years and expiring seven years from the grant date.
(4) Stock appreciation rights granted to our executive officers generally vest as to 25% of the grant on the first anniversary of the grant date with the remaining stock appreciation rights vesting quarterly over the next three years and expiring seven years from the date of grant. Stock appreciation rights granted to our Chief Executive Officer vest as to 25% of the grant on the grant date with the remaining stock appreciation rights vesting annually over the next three years and expiring seven years from the date of grant. The table sets forth the number of units granted pursuant to a stock appreciation right award. All stock appreciation rights have a ceiling of 200%. When the vested stock appreciation rights are exercised, the number of underlying shares that may be received upon exercise cannot exceed 50% of the number of stock appreciation right units granted.
(5) The stock option was granted as an inducement of employment in connection with Mr. Robertson’s appointment as our President in October 2007 and was granted outside of a stockholder-approved plan.
(6) All stock options and stock appreciation rights were granted at fair market value on the grant date.
(7) All stock options and stock appreciation rights have a maximum term of seven years.

 

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2007 Option Exercises and Stock Vested

None of our Named Executive Officers exercised any options during fiscal year 2007. None of our Named Executive Officers has received any stock awards and therefore no shares were acquired upon vesting of any stock awards.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

We do not provide any nonqualified defined contribution or other deferred compensation plans to our Named Executive officers.

Employment Agreements

Each of our Named Executive Officers has a written employment agreement with us.

In April 1996, Mr. Ayalon entered into an employment agreement with DSP Group, Ltd., our wholly-owned subsidiary in Israel (“DSP Israel”), pursuant to which Mr. Ayalon was to serve as our President and Chief Executive Officer. The term of the agreement is indefinite. Effective January 1, 2003, Mr. Ayalon’s annual salary was increased to $350,000, subject to adjustment from time to time. Mr. Ayalon is also entitled to an annual bonus, the amount of which is determined in the sole discretion of the board. The agreement may be terminated by us or Mr. Ayalon, without cause, upon a six-month advance written notice. Mr. Ayalon’s employment agreement was amended in November 1997 to provide for the following: (i) Mr. Ayalon’s base compensation shall be fixed at the commencement of each year, but shall not be subject to reduction during the term of the agreement, (ii) if Mr. Ayalon terminates the agreement without good reason or if we terminate the agreement for cause, then no further payments shall be made to Mr. Ayalon pursuant to the agreement and he shall be subject to a one-year prohibition against competition in addition to the customary prohibitions against disclosure of trade secrets, (iii) upon our change of control or if the agreement is terminated by Mr. Ayalon for good reason or by us without cause, then all rights of Mr. Ayalon under the agreement would continue for two years and all options held by Mr. Ayalon shall accelerate and immediately vest and be exercisable in whole or in part at any time during the remaining two-year term of the agreement, and (iv) in the event of death or permanent disability of Mr. Ayalon, all options shall accelerate and immediately vest. The board further amended Mr. Ayalon’s agreement in November 1999 to provide that if Mr. Ayalon terminates the agreement voluntarily at any time, provided that he gives a 12-months advance written notice, then all rights of Mr. Ayalon under the agreement would continue during the notice period and for two years and all options held by Mr. Ayalon shall be fully vested six months after the date of the notice. Additionally, these amendments provide that all vested options held by Mr. Ayalon upon the date of his cessation of employment with us for any reason shall be exercisable for a period of two years.

In connection with Mr. Robertson’s initial employment as Vice President & BL Manager, Cordless & Internet Protocol Terminals after out acquisition of the cordless and VoIP terminals business of NXP B.V., he entered into an employment agreement with DSP Group Switzerland AG, one of our wholly-owned subsidiaries (“DSP Switzerland”), effective September 1, 2007. The agreement remains unchanged notwithstanding Mr. Robertson’s appointment as our President. The agreement provides for a fixed salary of CHF 312,531.25 (was approximately U.S. $270,000 at the date of signing) (the “Annual Salary”) to be paid in 13 monthly installments and Mr. Robertson is entitled to an annual bonus, the amount of which is determined in the sole discretion of our board of directors. In connection with Mr. Robertson’s initial employment, he is entitled to a one-time performance bonus of 80% of the Annual Salary (the “Performance Bonus”) payable as follows: (1) 40% of the Performance Bonus is payable on September 1, 2008; and (2) the remaining 40% is payable in four equal installments on the last day of each completed quarter thereafter. Each payment of Performance Bonus is payable only if Mr. Robertson has not resigned from DSP Switzerland and DSP Switzerland has not terminated his employment for a justified reason at the time that any payment of Performance Bonus is due. Mr. Robertson’s employment with us may be terminated at any time by either party and for any reason upon three months prior notice.

 

26


In May 1999, Mr. Edan entered into an employment agreement with DSP Israel, pursuant to which Mr. Edan was to serve as our Vice President of Operations. In October 2002, Mr. Edan became our Chief Operating Officer. In May 2007, the compensation committee determined to restate Mr. Edan’s base salary in NIS, the Israeli currency, and link annual base salary increases to the Israeli consumer prices index. Also as of May 2007, Mr. Edan’s annual salary was increased to 840,000 NIS (approximately $250,000), subject to adjustment from time to time. The term of the agreement is indefinite. Mr. Edan also is entitled to an annual bonus, the amount of which is determined in the sole discretion of the board. The agreement may be terminated by us or Mr. Edan upon a 90-days advance written notice. However, we have the right to terminate Mr. Edan’s employment without prior notice. In such a case, Mr. Edan shall be paid the amount due to him under the prior notice period at the rate of his then current salary for such period. In July 2003, we agreed to amend all of Mr. Edan’s outstanding option agreements to provide that in the event of his termination by us without cause, all of his options would vest upon termination and could be exercised for a period of two years following termination. Also, in the event Mr. Edan’s employment was terminated because of his death or permanent disability, all of his options would accelerate and immediately vest.

In June 2002, in connection with Mr. Levy’s initial employment as our Controller, he entered into an employment agreement with DSP Israel. No further agreement was entered into with Mr. Levy when he became our Chief Financial Officer. In May 2007, the compensation committee determined to restate Mr. Levy’s base salary in NIS, the Israeli currency, and link annual base salary increases to the Israeli consumer prices index. Also as of October 2007, Mr. Levy’s annual salary was increased to approximately 600,000 NIS ($170,000), subject to adjustment from time to time. Mr. Levy also is entitled to an annual bonus, the amount of which is determined in the sole discretion of the board. Mr. Levy is employed at will. However, if we wish to terminate his employment but fails to provide him with a three-months advance written notice, Mr. Levy would be entitled to receive an amount equal to three-months of his then-effective salary. Further, if Mr. Levy’s employment is terminated for specified reasons (as defined in the employment agreement), in accordance with Israeli law, he would be entitled to a severance pay of one month for each year of employment. Mr. Levy’s employment agreement does not provide for any additional compensation in the event of termination of his employment or the change in control of our company.

In July 2003, Mr. Fogel entered into an employment agreement with DSP Israel, pursuant to which Mr. Fogel was to serve as our Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. Mr. Fogel became an executive officer in January 2005. The term of the agreement is indefinite. In May 2007, the compensation committee determined to restate Mr. Fogel’s base salary in NIS, the Israeli currency, and link annual base salary increases to the Israeli consumer prices index. Also as of May 2007, Mr. Fogel’s annual salary was increased to 720,000 NIS (approximately $210,000), subject to adjustment from time to time. Mr. Fogel also is entitled to an annual bonus, the amount of which is determined in the sole discretion of the board. The agreement may be terminated by us or Mr. Fogel upon two-month advance written notice. However, if we wish to terminate his employment but fails to provide him with a two-month advance written notice, Mr. Fogel would be entitled to receive an amount equal to two-months of his then-effective salary. Further, if Mr. Fogel’s employment is terminated for specified reasons (as defined in the employment agreement), in accordance with Israeli law, he would be entitled to a severance pay of one month for each year of employment. Mr. Fogel’s employment agreement does not provide for any additional compensation in the event of termination of his employment or the change in control of our company.

In February 2006, Mr. Simchony entered into an employment agreement with DSP Israel, pursuant to which Mr. Simchony was to serve as our President. Pursuant to the Agreement, Mr. Simchony was entitled to an annual salary of $220,000, subject to adjustment from time to time. Mr. Simchony also was entitled to an annual bonus, the amount of which was determined in the sole discretion of the board. Mr. Simchony was employed at will. However, if we wish to terminate his employment but failed to provide him with a three-month advance written notice, Mr. Simchony would be entitled to receive an amount equal to three-months of his then-effective salary. Further, if Mr. Simchony’s employment was terminated for specified reasons (as defined in the employment agreement), in accordance with Israeli law, he would be entitled to a severance pay of one month for each year of employment. Mr. Simchony’s employment agreement did not provide for any additional compensation in the

 

27


event of termination of his employment or the change in control of our company. Mr. Simchony resigned from the company in October 2007, and his employment agreement was terminated.

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control

The following table sets forth the amount of compensation to each of Messrs. Ayalon, Robertson, Edan, Levy and Fogel in the event termination of such executive officer’s employment or a change in control of our company occurred as of December 31, 2007.

 

Name: Eliyahu Ayalon

   Termination
for Cause ($)
   Voluntary
Termination by
Employee After
Provision of
Requisite Notice ($)
   Termination
upon Death
of Employee ($)
   Termination
w/o Cause or
for Good Reason ($)
   Upon a
Change in
Control ($)

Base Salary

   —      951,801    —      951,801    951,801

Vested and Unvested Options/SARs (1)

   —      —      —      —      —  

Accrued Vacation Pay

   110,692    110,692    110,692    110,692    110,692

Total

   110,692    1,063,493    110,692    1,063,493    1,063,493

 

(1) As of December 31, 2007 (the last trading day of fiscal 2007), Mr. Ayalon had no “in-the-money” options outstanding.

 

Name: Brian Robertson

   Termination for
Cause ($)
   Termination
After Provision of
Requisite Notice ($)
   Termination
w/o Provision of
Requisite Notice ($)
   Termination
upon Death

of Employee ($)

Base Salary

   —      46,625    117,295    71,670

Vested and Unvested Options (1)

   —      —      —      —  

Accrued Vacation Pay

   5,446    5,446    5,446    5,446

Total

   5,446    52,071    122,741    77,116

 

(1) As of December 31, 2007 (the last trading day of fiscal 2007), Mr. Robertson had no “in-the-money” options outstanding.

 

Name: Boaz Edan

   Termination
for Cause ($)
   Termination by
Company After
Provision of

Requisite Notice ($)
   Termination by
Company w/o
Provision of
Requisite Notice ($)
   Termination
upon Death
of Employee ($)
   Termination
w/o Cause ($)

Base Salary

   —      —      52,405    —      —  

Vested and Unvested Options/SARs (1)

   —      —      —      —      —  

Accrued Vacation Pay

   46,109    46,109    46,109    46,109   

Total

   46,109    46,109    98,514    46,109   

 

(1) As of December 31, 2007 (the last trading day of fiscal 2007), Mr. Edan had no “in-the-money” options outstanding.

 

Name: Dror Levy

   Termination
for Cause ($)
   Termination After
Provision of
Requisite Notice ($)
   Termination w/o
Provision of
Requisite Notice ($)
   Termination
upon Death
of Employee ($)

Base Salary

   —      —      42,500    —  

Vested and Unvested Options/SARs (1)

   458    458    458    458

Accrued Vacation Pay

   50,575    50,575    50,575    50,575

Total

   51,033    51,033    93,533    51,033

 

(1) The value realized is based on the difference between the exercise price of the stock options/SARs and the closing price of our common stock on December 31, 2007 (the last trading day of fiscal 2007). Mr. Levy does not receive any acceleration of his stock options/SARs upon termination of his employment.

 

28


Name: Eli Fogel

   Termination
for Cause ($)
   Termination After
Provision of
Requisite Notice ($)
   Termination w/o
Provision of
Requisite Notice ($)
   Termination
upon Death
of Employee ($)

Base Salary

   —      —      26,578    —  

Vested and Unvested Options/SARs (1)

   —      —      —      —  

Accrued Vacation Pay

   39,778    39,778    39,778    39,778

Total

   39,778    39,778    66,356    39,778

 

(1) As of December 31, 2007 (the last trading day of fiscal 2007), Mr. Fogel had no “in-the-money” options outstanding.

 

29


DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

We use a combination of cash and stock-based incentive compensation to attract and retain qualified candidates to serve on our board. In setting director compensation, we consider the significant amount of time that directors expend in fulfilling their duties to the company as well as the skill-level we require of members of our board. We do not currently have a minimum share ownership requirement for our directors.

Cash Compensation Paid to Board Members

Directors who are also employees do not receive any additional compensation for their services as directors. Directors who are not employees receive an annual retainer of $32,000, payable in quarterly installments of $8,000 each. The retainer contemplates attendance at four board meetings per year. Additional board meetings of a face-to-face nature are compensated at a rate of $1,000 per meeting. In addition, committee meetings of a face-to-face nature and on a telephonic basis are compensated at a rate of $1,000 per meeting. All directors are reimbursed for expenses incurred in connection with attending board and committee meetings.

Stock Option Program

Each of our non-employee directors is also entitled to participate in our 1993 Director Stock Option Plan. The director option plan provides for the grant of non-statutory options to our non-employee directors. The director option plan is designed to work automatically; however, to the extent administration is necessary, it will be provided by our board of directors. The director option plan provides that each eligible director is granted an option to purchase 30,000 shares of our common stock on the date on which he first becomes a director (the “First Option”). Thereafter, each non-employee director is granted a subsequent option to purchase 15,000 shares of our common stock on January 1 of each year if, on such date, he shall have served on our board of directors for at least six months (a “Subsequent Option”). In addition, an additional option to purchase 15,000 shares of our common stock (a “Committee Option”) is granted on January 1 of each year to each non-employee director for each committee of the board on which he shall have served as a chairperson for at least six months.

The following table sets forth the compensation paid to each of our non-employee directors during fiscal year 2007.

 

Name

   Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash ($)
   Stock
Awards ($)
   Option
Awards ($) (1)
    Total ($)

Gerrit Johan Frederik Kaat (2)

   8,000       24,356     32,356

Zvi Limon (3)

   38,000       205,180     243,180

Yair Seroussi (4)

   39,000       102,590     141,590

Yair Shamir (5)

   40,000       205,180     245,180

Louis Silver (6)

   36,000       205,180     241,180

Patrick Tanguy (7)

   39,000       109,244 (8)   148,244

 

(1) Represent the fair value of the stock option as of the date it was granted, computed in accordance with SFAS 123(R), disregarding adjustments for forfeiture assumptions. The amounts shown above represent the expenses recognized pursuant to SFAS 123(R) in 2007 only.
(2) On October 31, 2007, Mr. Kaat was granted a First Option (30,000) at an exercise price of $15.79 per share under the 1993 Director Stock Option Plan. Mr. Kaat disclaims ownership of the First Option Grant, Mr. Kaat is an employee of NXP B.V. and was nominated by NXP to serve on our board. Pursuant to NXP’s corporate policy, all remunerations payable to Mr. Kaat for his services as a director of our board are to be transferred to NXP.
(3) On January 1, 2007, Mr. Limon was granted a Subsequent Option (15,000) and a Committee Option (15,000), each at an exercise price of $21.70 per share under the 1993 Director Stock Option Plan. As of December 31, 2007, Mr. Limon had outstanding stock options to purchase 249,317 shares of our common stock.

 

30


(4) On January 1, 2007, Mr. Seroussi was granted a Subsequent Option (15,000) at an exercise price of $21.70 per share under the 1993 Director Stock Option Plan. As of December 31, 2007, Mr. Seroussi had outstanding stock options to purchase 100,303 shares of our common stock.
(5) On January 1, 2007, Mr. Shamir was granted a Subsequent Option (15,000) and a Committee Option (15,000), each at an exercise price of $21.70 per share under the 1993 Director Stock Option Plan. As of December 31, 2007, Mr. Shamir had outstanding stock options to purchase 142,651 shares of our common stock.
(6) On January 1, 2007, Mr. Silver was granted a Subsequent Option (15,000) and a Committee Option (15,000), each at an exercise price of $21.70 per share under the 1993 Director Stock Option Plan. As of December 31, 2007, Mr. Silver had outstanding stock options to purchase 177,507 shares of our common stock.
(7) On January 1, 2007, Mr. Tanguy was granted a Subsequent Option (15,000) at an exercise price of $21.70 per share under the 1993 Director Stock Option Plan. As of December 31, 2007, Mr. Tanguy had outstanding stock options to purchase 148,256 shares of our common stock.
(8) The value represents the fair value of the Subsequent Option on the date it was granted, as well as the fair value of an option to purchase 10,000 shares of our common stock granted to Mr. Tanguy on October 31, 2007 at an exercise price of $15.79 under our 2001 Stock Incentive Plan for his service solely in his capacity as a board member to advise us in matters relating to the French operations and employees we acquired in connection with the acquisition of the cordless and VoIP terminals business of NXP B.V. in consideration of Mr. Tanguy’s experience in running a French company and his understanding of the French labor laws. In consideration for his service, our board of directors also authorized an additional board compensation of $100,000 to be paid to Mr. Tanguy upon completion of his work relating to the French operations and employees. This amount has not been paid.

 

  On February 15, 2008, Mr. Willenz joined our board of directors and was granted a First Option (30,000) at an exercise price of $11.76 per share under the 1993 Director Stock Option Plan.

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

On September 4, 2007, we acquired the cordless and VoIP terminals business (the “CIPT Business”) of NXP B.V. (“NXP”). As partial consideration for the acquisition, we issued to NXP 4,186,603 shares of our common stock, representing 13.9% of our outstanding common stock as of March 10, 2008. Also in connection with the acquisition, Gerrit Johan Frederik Kaat, a nominee of NXP and a non-executive officer of NXP, was appointed to our board of directors. As part of the acquisition, we, together with our Israeli subsidiary, entered into a number of ancillary agreements with NXP, including (1) a Manufacturing Services Collaboration Agreement pursuant to which NXP agreed to provide us and our affiliates with specified manufacturing, pre-testing, assembling and final-testing services relating to the CIPT Business products at agreed upon prices for up to seven years following the closing of the acquisition; (2) a Intellectual Property Transfer and License Agreement according to which we agreed to license-back specified intellectual property rights to NXP, including business know-how and business software; (3) Intellectual Property Library Services and R&D Agreement pursuant to which NXP agreed to provide us and our affiliates with specified design, maintenance and support services, and (4) an Umbrella Transitional Services Agreement pursuant to which NXP agreed to provide us and our affiliates with other specified transitional services at agreed upon prices for a limited period to assist us and our affiliates in achieving a smooth transition of the CIPT Business. As a result of our business arrangements with NXP, as of December 31, 2007, other accounts receivable and prepaid expenses with NXP and its affiliates were $468,000, trade payables with NXP and its affiliates were $10,247,000 and accrued expenses and other accounts payable were $1,567,000. As of December 31, 2007, we had purchase obligations in the amount of $5,735,000 payable to NXP for purchase of finished goods.

We also entered into a Stockholders Agreement with NXP pursuant to which we granted NXP specified registration rights, including demand and piggyback registration rights, for the shares it received as part of the acquisition. The agreement also sets forth specified restrictions on transfer of the shares by NXP and specified the appointment of a designee nominated by NXP to our board of directors.

We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. Such agreements require us to indemnify such individuals to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law.

All transactions between us and our officers, directors, principal stockholders and affiliates have been and will be approved by a majority of our board of directors, including a majority of our disinterested, non-employee directors on the board, and have been or will be on terms no less favorable to us than could be obtained from unaffiliated third parties.

Review, Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons

We have adopted a written policy regarding related person transactions which is incorporated in the Charter of the Audit Committee. Pursuant to this policy, our Audit Committee must review and approve any such transactions.

 

32


PROPOSAL 2:

AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF THE 1993 DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN

The Company’s stockholders are being asked to vote on the proposed amendment and restatement of the Company’s 1993 Director Stock Option Plan (the “Director Option Plan”) to increase the number of shares of common stock of the Company reserved for issuance under the Director Option Plan from 1,380,875 shares to 1,680,875 shares. The purpose of amending and restating the Director Option Plan is to enable the Company to continue to attract and retain talented personnel for service as non-employee directors of the Company by offering them participation in the Director Option Plan.

The board of directors of the Company has approved the proposed amendment and restatement of the Director Option Plan as described above.

Subject to stockholder approval, the Company plans to register the additional 300,000 shares reserved under the Director Option Plan on a Registration Statement on Form S-8.

A general description of the principal terms of the amended and restated Director Option Plan as proposed is set forth below. However, the summary does not purport to be a complete description of all of the provisions of the Director Option Plan. Only non-employee directors, currently consisting of Messrs. Kaat, Limon, Seroussi, Shamir, Silver, Tanguy and Willenz, are eligible to participate in the Director Option Plan.

General Description.

In November 1993, the board of directors of the Company adopted the Director Option Plan, which was approved by the stockholders in January 1994. A total of 1,380,875 shares are currently reserved for issuance under the Director Option Plan. Options granted under the Director Option Plan are nonstatutory stock options. See “Federal Income Tax Information” below for information concerning the tax treatment of nonstatutory stock options. As of March 10, 2008, options to purchase approximately 862,480 shares of common stock were outstanding under the Director Option Plan, a total of approximately 435,123 options to purchase shares of common stock had been exercised under the Director Option Plan, and approximately 83,272 shares of common stock remained available for issuance thereunder. As of March 10, 2008, the fair market value of a share of the Company’s common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market was $11.57.

Purposes of Director Option Plan.

The purposes of the Director Option Plan are to attract and retain the best available personnel for service as non-employee directors of the Company, to provide additional incentive to the non-employee directors of the Company, and to encourage their continued service on the board of directors.

Administration.

The Director Option Plan is administered by the board of directors, but all grants of options under the Director Option Plan are automatic and nondiscretionary and are made strictly in accordance with the terms of the Director Option Plan.

Automatic Option Grants.

The Director Option Plan currently provides that each eligible non-employee director is granted an option to purchase 30,000 shares of common stock on the date on which the non-employee director first becomes a director of the Company (the “First Option”). Thereafter, each non-employee director is granted an option to purchase 15,000 additional shares of common stock on January 1 of each year if, on such date, he shall have

 

33


served on the Company’s board of directors for at least six months (a “Subsequent Option”). In addition, an option to purchase 15,000 shares of common stock is granted on January 1 of each year to each non-employee director for each committee of the board of directors on which he shall have served as a chairperson for at least six months (a “Committee Option”). The board of directors has the authority, in its discretion, to interpret the terms of the Director Option Plan. All decisions, determinations and interpretations of the board of directors are final and binding.

Eligibility.

The Director Option Plan provides that options may be granted only to non-employee directors of the Company.

Terms of Stock Options.

Each option granted under the Director Option Plan is to be evidenced by a written stock option agreement between the Company and the optionee and is subject to the following additional terms and conditions:

 

  Exercise of the Options.    Any stock option granted under the Director Option Plan shall vest and become exercisable as to one-third of the shares of common stock subject to the option 12 months from the date of grant and shall vest and become exercisable as to an additional one-third of the shares of common stock subject to the option at the end of each 12 month period thereafter. The board of directors may accelerate the unvested portion of any option granted under the Director Option Plan and held by a director whose service to the Company as a director has terminated prior to the option being fully exercisable.

 

  Exercise Price.    The exercise price of options granted under the Director Option Plan shall be 100% of the fair market value per share of common stock on the date of grant of the option.

 

  Termination.    If a non-employee director ceases to serve as a director of the Company, he may, but only within three months after the date he ceases to be a director, exercise his options as to all or part of the shares as to which he was entitled to exercise at the date of such termination. The board of directors may extend the exercise period of an option held by a director whose term is expiring to any date prior to the option’s expiration date. In no event may an option be exercised after its expiration date.

 

  Disability.    If a director is unable to continue his service as a non-employee director with the Company as a result of total and permanent disability, he may exercise, but only within six months from the date of such termination of service as a non-employee director, his options to the extent such options were exercisable at the date of termination. The board of directors may extend the exercise period of an option held by a director whose service to the Company as a director has terminated due to disability. In no event may an option be exercised after its expiration date.

 

  Death.    If a director should die during his service to the Company, options may be exercised at any time within 12 months after the date of death by the director’s estate or a person who acquired the right to exercise the option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent of the right to exercise that would have accrued had the director continued living and remained in continuous service as a director for six months after the date of death. The board of directors may extend the exercise period of an option held by a director whose service to the Company as a director has terminated due to death. If a director should die within three months after the termination of his service to the Company as a director, the options may be exercised at any time within 12 months after the date of death by the director’s estate or a person who acquired the right to exercise the option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent that such options were exercisable at the date of termination, provided that the option is exercised no later than its expiration date. The board of directors may extend the exercise period of an option held by a director who dies within three months after the termination of his service to the Company as a director. In no event may an option be exercised after its expiration date.

 

  Term of Options.    The term of each option shall be 10 years from the date of the grant.

 

34


  Nontransferability of Options.    An option is not transferable by a director, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and is exercisable during the director’s lifetime only by the director.

 

  Other Provisions.    The option agreement may contain such other terms, provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the Director Option Plan as may be determined by the board of directors.

 

  Israeli Option Grant Program.    Effective January 1, 2003, stock options may be granted to eligible directors who are residents of Israel pursuant to a certain program under the Director Option Plan. Options granted pursuant to the program are eligible for favorable tax treatment under Israeli tax law. The option grants under the program to eligible directors who are Israeli residents are subject to the general terms of the Director Option Plan.

Adjustments, Dissolutions, Mergers and Asset Sales.

In the event any change, such as a stock split or dividend, is made in the Company’s capitalization which results in an increase or decrease in the number of outstanding shares of common stock without receipt of consideration by the Company, an appropriate adjustment shall be made in the number of shares under the Director Option Plan and the price per share covered by each outstanding option. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, all outstanding options will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action. However, the board of directors may, in its discretion, make provision for accelerating the exercisability of options outstanding under the Director Option Plan in the event of such a proposed dissolution or liquidation.

In the event of any of the following corporate transactions, each outstanding option under the Director Option Plan automatically shall become fully vested and exercisable immediately prior to the effective date of such corporate transaction:

 

   

the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company;

 

   

a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving entity; or

 

   

any reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving entity but in which securities possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities are transferred to a person or persons different from those who held such securities immediately prior to such merger.

Upon the consummation of any of the foregoing corporate transactions, all outstanding options under the Director Option Plan will terminate and be cancelled, unless the options are assumed by the successor corporation.

In the event of any change in control described below, each outstanding option under the Director Option Plan automatically shall become fully vested and exercisable:

 

   

the direct or indirect acquisition of 50% or more of the stock of the Company by any individual or entity which a majority of the directors do not recommend the stockholders accept, including a tender offer; or

 

   

a change in composition of the board of directors over a period of thirty-six months such that a majority of the board members ceases to be comprised of board members who (a) have been board members for a period of at least thirty-six months, or (b) have been board members for less than thirty-six months but were elected or nominated for election as board members by at least a majority of the board members described in clause (a) who were still in office at the time such election or nomination was approved by the board of directors.

In the event of a change in control as described above, all outstanding options shall remain exercisable until the termination of the applicable option term.

 

35


Amendment and Termination of the Director Option Plan.

The board of directors may amend the Director Option Plan at any time or from time to time or may terminate the Director Option Plan without approval of the stockholders; provided, however, that stockholder approval is required for any amendment to the Director Option Plan for which stockholder approval would be required under applicable law, as in effect at the time. In addition, no action by the board of directors or stockholders may alter or impair any option previously granted under the Director Option Plan. The Director Option Plan will terminate in January 2014.

Amended Director Option Plan Benefits.

Each of our non-employee directors receives automatic option grants under our Director Option Plan. The details of such grants are set forth above in the section entitled “Compensation of Directors.” The following table sets forth information with respect to options granted under the Director Option Plan during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007. For purposes of describing the 2007 benefits below, the non-executive director group in 2007 consisted of Messrs. Kaat, Limon, Seroussi, Shamir, Silver and Tanguy. Mr. Willenz, a non-executive director, joined our board in February 2008.

In accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, we are required to disclose options granted under the Director Option Plan to the individuals and groups included in the table below. Please note, however, that the Director Option Plan only provides for grants to non-employee directors (as described above). Therefore, our executives and employees are not eligible to receive grants under the Director Option Plan.

 

Identity of Group

   Options Granted   

% of Total
Options Granted (1)

  

Weighted Average
Exercise Price Per Share

Eliyahu Ayalon

Executive Chairman of the Board

   —     

—  

  

—  

Brian Robertson

President

   —     

—  

  

—  

Boaz Edan

Chief Operating Officer

   —     

—  

  

—  

Dror Levy

Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

   —     

—  

  

—  

Eli Fogel

Senior Vice President and

Chief Technology Officer

   —     

—  

  

—  

Tal Simchony

Former President

   —     

—  

  

—  

Executive Group

   —     

—  

  

—  

Non-Executive Director Group

   150,000   

100%

  

—  

Non-Executive Employee Group (2)

   —     

—  

  

—  

 

(1) Based on a total of 150,000 shares of common stock granted to our non-employee directors under the Director Option Plan during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.
(2) Consisted of (1) a Subsequent Option granted to each of Messrs. Limon, Seroussi, Shamir, Silver and Tanguy, (2) a Committee Option granted to each of Messrs. Limon, Shamir and Silver, and (3) a First Option to Mr. Kaat.

U.S. Federal Income Tax Information.

The grant of a nonstatutory stock option under the Director Option Plan will not result in any federal income tax consequences to the director or to the Company. Upon exercise of a nonstatutory stock option, the director will recognize taxable income generally measured as the excess of the then fair market value of the shares

 

36


purchased over the purchase price. The Company will be entitled to a tax deduction in the same amount as the ordinary income recognized by a director with respect to shares acquired upon exercise of an option. Any gain or loss on the director’s subsequent disposition of the shares of common stock will receive long or short-term capital gain or loss treatment, depending on whether the shares are held for more than one year following exercise. The Company does not receive a tax deduction for any such gain.

Absent special limitations on exercisability, in the event a nonqualified stock option is granted with an exercise price less than 100% of the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant or amended in certain respects, such option may be considered deferred compensation and subject to Section 409A of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, which provide rules regarding the timing of payment of deferred compensation. An option subject to Section 409A of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code which fails to comply with the rules of Section 409A, can result in the acceleration of income recognition, an additional 20% tax obligation, plus potential penalties and interest.

The foregoing summary of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of Director Option Plan transactions is based upon federal income tax laws in effect on the date of this Proxy Statement. Reference should be made to the applicable provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. This summary does not purport to be complete and the summary does not discuss the tax consequences of a director’s death or the income tax laws of any municipality, state or foreign country to which the director may be subject.

Required Vote

The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the Company’s common stock present or represented at the annual meeting is required to approve the amendment and restatement of the Director Option Plan. Abstentions will have the same effect as “no” votes on this proposal, whereas broker “non-votes” will have no effect.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF THE 1993 DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN

 

37


PROPOSAL NO. 3

AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF THE

1993 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

The Company’s stockholders are being asked to approve an amendment and restatement of the Company’s 1993 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Purchase Plan”). The proposed amendment and restatement of the Purchase Plan will increase the number of shares reserved for issuance under the Purchase Plan from 1,000,000 shares to 1,500,000 shares.

The purpose of the Purchase Plan is to provide employees of the Company and its subsidiaries with an opportunity to purchase common stock of the Company through accumulated payroll deductions. The Purchase Plan is intended to qualify as an “Employee Stock Purchase Plan” under Section 423 of the Code. Accordingly, the provisions of the Purchase Plan will be construed so as to extend and limit participation in the Purchase Plan in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Code. The Purchase Plan is intended to enable the Company and its subsidiaries to attract and retain the best available personnel, to provide additional incentive to current employees, and to promote the success of the Company’s business. The Company also is seeking an increase in the number of shares reserved for issuance under the Purchase Plan to accommodate the participation of an increased number of employees in the Purchase Plan as a result of the Company’s hiring of the former employees of the cordless and VoIP terminals business of NXP B.V. that the Company acquired in September 2007. The Board of Directors believes that the Company’s long-term success is dependent upon the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to attract and retain superior individuals who, by virtue of their ability and qualifications, make important contributions to the Company.

Subject to stockholder approval, the Company plans to register the additional 500,000 shares reserved under the Purchase Plan on a Registration Statement on Form S-8.

A general description of the principal terms of the Amended and Restated Purchase Plan as proposed is set forth below. However, the summary does not purport to be a complete description of all of the provisions of the Purchase Plan.

General Description

The Purchase Plan was adopted by the Company’s board of directors and approved by the Company’s stockholders in 1993. There are currently 1,000,000 shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the Purchase Plan. If the amendment and restatement of the Purchase Plan is approved by the stockholders, the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the Purchase Plan will be increased by 500,000 shares from 1,000,000 shares to 1,500,000 shares. As of March 10, 2008, a total of approximately 888,695 shares have been purchased under the Purchaser Plan, and approximately 111,305 shares of common stock remained available for purchase thereunder. As of March 10, 2008, the fair market value of a share of the Company’s common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market was $11.57.

The number of shares of the Company’s common stock reserved for issuance under the Purchase Plan is also subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split, stock dividend or other similar change in the common stock or the capital structure of the Company.

The Purchase Plan is administered by the Board of Directors, or a committee of the Board as designated by the Board from time to time (the “Plan Administrator”), which has the authority to determine the terms and conditions under which purchase rights are to be granted under the Purchase Plan for any offering period during the term of the Purchase Plan, and to resolve all questions relating to the administration of the plan.

The purpose of the Purchase Plan is to provide employees of the Company who participate in the Purchase Plan with an opportunity to purchase common stock of the Company through payroll deductions. The Purchase Plan is intended to qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under the provisions of Section 423 the Code.

Employees, including officers, of the Company and its subsidiaries are eligible to participate in the Purchase

 

38


Plan. Payroll deductions may be up to 10% (in whole percentage increments) of a participant’s compensation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent necessary to comply with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code, a participant’s payroll deductions may be decreased to zero percent (0%) during any offering period or purchase period.

Any person who is employed by the Company or any subsidiary for at least 20 hours per week and more than five months in a calendar year is eligible to participate in the Purchase Plan, provided that the employee is employed on the first trading day of an offering period and subject to certain limitations imposed by Section 423(b) of the Code. Eligible employees become participants in the Purchase Plan by delivering to the Company a subscription agreement authorizing payroll deductions prior to the commencement of the applicable offering period. At December 31, 2007, the Company had 502 employees.

The Purchase Plan has consecutive, overlapping offering periods of 24 months’ duration commencing each January 1 and July 1. The Plan Administrator may alter the duration of the offering periods if such change is announced at least 15 days prior to the scheduled beginning of the first offering period to be affected thereafter. The maximum duration of an offering period is 27 months.

The price per share at which shares are sold under the Purchase Plan is equal to 85% of the fair market value of the common stock on the purchase date. The fair market value of the common stock on a given date is the closing sale price of the common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market of the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC as of such date. The number of shares of common stock which may be purchased is subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split, stock dividend or other similar change in the common stock or the capital structure of the Company. The Company makes no cash contributions to the Purchase Plan, but bears the expenses of administration.

At the beginning of an offering period, each participant will be granted the right to purchase the number of shares determined by dividing up to 10% of the participant’s compensation receivable during the offering period by the applicable purchase price. No employee shall be granted a purchase right under the Purchase Plan (1) if immediately after the grant of the purchase right, the employee would own 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or of a parent or subsidiary of the Company (including stock which may be purchased under the Purchase Plan or issued pursuant to any other options) or (2) which would permit the employee to buy more than $25,000 worth of stock (determined at the fair market value of the shares at the time the purchase right is granted) in any calendar year. No fractional shares will be purchased; any payroll deductions accumulated in a participant’s account which are not sufficient to purchase a full share shall be carried over to the next purchase period or offering period, whichever applies, or returned to the participant, if the participant withdraws from the Purchase Plan.

A participant may increase or decrease the rate of his or her payroll deduction for the remainder of an offering period by filling out a change of status notice and delivering it to the Company (or its designee). The participant’s subscription agreement (as modified by any change of status notice) will remain in effect for the entire offering period and each subsequent offering period, unless further the participant further modifies his subscription or terminates his participation in the Purchase Plan.

A participant’s interest in a given offering period may be terminated in whole, but not in part, by delivering to the Company a change of status notice which indicates the participant’s withdrawal from the Purchase Plan. Such withdrawal may be elected at any time prior to the end of the applicable offering period. Any withdrawal by the participant of accumulated payroll deductions for a given offering period automatically terminates the participant’s interest in that offering period. If a participant withdraws from an offering period, payroll deductions will not resume at the beginning of the succeeding offering period unless the participant delivers to the Company a new subscription agreement.

Upon termination of a participant’s employment relationship, the payroll deductions credited to such participant’s account during the offering period but not yet used to exercise the option will be returned to such

 

39


participant or, in the case of his or her death, to the person or persons entitled thereto, and such participant’s option will be automatically terminated.

No rights or accumulated payroll deductions of a participant under the Purchase Plan may be pledged, assigned or transferred for any reason and any such attempt may be treated by the Company as an election to withdraw from the Purchase Plan.

Subject to any required action by the Company’s stockholders, in the event any change, such as a stock split or dividend, is made in the Company’s capitalization which results in an increase or decrease in the number of outstanding shares of common stock without receipt of consideration by the Company, an appropriate adjustment shall be made in the number of shares under the Purchase Plan and the price per share covered by each outstanding option. In the event of a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the offering periods in progress will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such dissolution or liquidation. In the event of a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the merger of the Company with or into another corporation, each option under the Purchase Plan shall be assumed by such successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation, unless the Plan Administrator determines, in the exercise of its sole discretion and in lieu of such assumption, to shorten the offering period then in progress by setting a new exercise date (the “New Exercise Date”). If the Plan Administrator shortens the offering period then in progress in lieu of assumption in the event of a sale of assets or merger as described above, the Plan Administrator shall notify each participant in writing, at least ten business days prior to the New Exercise Date, that the exercise date for his or her option has been changed to the New Exercise Date and that his or her option will be exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date he or she has withdrawn from the offering period.

Amendment and Termination of the Purchase Plan.

The Plan Administrator may amend the Purchase Plan at any time or from time to time or may terminate the Purchase Plan without approval of the stockholders. To the extent necessary to comply with applicable provisions of federal securities laws, state corporate and securities laws, the rules of any applicable stock exchange or national market system, and the rules of any foreign jurisdiction applicable to purchase rights granted to residents therein, the Company will obtain stockholder approval of any amendment to the Purchase Plan in such a manner and to such a degree as required. No action by the Plan Administrator or stockholders may alter or impair any option previously granted under the Purchase Plan without the consent of affected participants, provided that the Purchase Plan or any one or more offering periods may be terminated by the Plan Administrator on any exercise date or by the Plan Administrator establishing a new exercise date with respect to any offering period then in progress if the Plan Administrator determines that the termination of the Purchase Plan or such one or more offering periods is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Without stockholder consent and without regard to whether any participant rights may be considered to have been “adversely affected,” the Plan Administrator shall be entitled to limit the frequency and/or number of changes in the amount withheld during offering periods, change the length of purchase periods within any offering period, change the length of subsequent offering periods, determine whether subsequent offering periods shall be consecutive or overlapping, establish the exchange ratio applicable to amounts withheld in a currency other than U.S. dollars, establish additional terms, conditions, rules or procedures to accommodate the rules or laws of applicable foreign jurisdictions, permit payroll withholding in excess of the amount designated by a participant in order to adjust for delays or mistakes in the Company’s processing of properly completed withholding elections, establish reasonable waiting and adjustment periods and/or accounting and crediting procedures to ensure that amounts applied toward the purchase of common stock for each participant properly correspond with amounts withheld from the participant’s compensation, and establish such other limitations or procedures as the Plan Administrator determines in its sole discretion advisable and which are consistent with the Purchase Plan. The Purchase Plan will remain in effect until terminated by the Board.

 

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Amended Purchase Plan Benefits.

The benefits to be received by the Company’s employees pursuant to the amended and restated Purchase Plan are not determinable at this time.

The following table sets forth information with respect to purchases under the Purchase Plan during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007. The executive group in 2007 consisted of Messrs. Ayalon, Robertson, Edan, Levy, Fogel and Simchony. The non-executive director group in 2007 consisted of Messrs. Kaat, Limon, Seroussi, Shamir, Silver and Tanguy. Mr. Willenz, a non-executive director, joined our board in February 2008. Please note, however, that directors, other than our Executive Chairman, Mr. Ayalon, are not allowed to participate in the Purchase Plan.

 

Identity of Group

   Purchases    % of Total
Purchases
(1)
   Weighted Average
Purchase Price Per Share

Eliyahu Ayalon Executive Chairman of the Board

   1,337    1    15.64

Brian Robertson President

   —      —      —  

Boaz Edan Chief Operating Officer

   1,533    1    12.67

Dror Levy Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

   1,124    1    12.79

Eli Fogel Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer

   1,360    1    12.83

Tal Simchony Former President

   1,704    1    12.97

Executive Group

   7,058    5    13.35

Non-Executive Director Group

   —      —      —  

Non-Executive Employee Group

   123,610    95    12.98

 

(1) Based on a total of 130,668 shares of common stock purchased under the Purchase Plan during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.

Certain Federal Income Tax Information.

The following summarizes the federal income tax consequences of participation under the Purchase Plan and certain tax effects to the Company based upon federal income tax laws in effect on the date of this proxy statement. This summary does not purport to be complete, and does not discuss any non-U.S., state or local tax consequences. In addition, the discussion does not address tax consequences which may vary with, or are contingent on, a participant’s individual circumstances. Each participant in the Purchase Plan is strongly urged to consult with his or her tax advisor regarding participation in the Purchase Plan.

The Purchase Plan and the right of participants to make purchases thereunder are intended to qualify under the provisions of Section 423 of the Code. Under these provisions, no income will be taxable to a participant at the time of grant of the purchase right or purchase of shares. Amounts deducted from a participant’s pay under the Purchase Plan are part of the employee’s regular compensation and remain subject to federal, state and local income and employment withholding taxes.

Taxable income will not be recognized until there is a sale or other disposition of the shares acquired under the Purchase Plan or in the event the participant should die while still owning the purchased shares.

If the participant sells or otherwise disposes of the purchased shares within two years after the start date of the offering period in which such shares were acquired or within one year after the actual purchase date of those shares, then the participant will recognize ordinary income in the year of such sale or disposition equal to the amount by which the fair market value of the shares on the purchase date exceeded the purchase price paid for those shares, and the Company will be entitled to an income tax deduction, for the taxable year in which such sale or disposition occurs, equal in amount to such excess.

If the participant sells or disposes of the purchased shares more than two years after the start date of the offering period in which such shares were acquired and more than one year after the actual purchase date of those

 

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shares, then the participant will recognize ordinary income in the year of such sale or disposition equal to the lesser of (i) the amount by which the fair market value of the shares on the sale or disposition date exceeds the purchase price paid for those shares or (ii) 15% of the fair market value of the shares on the start date of the offering period, and any additional gain upon the disposition will be taxed as long-term capital gain. The Company will not be entitled to any income tax deduction with respect to such sale or disposition.

If the participant still owns the purchased shares at the time of his or her death, the lesser of (i) the amount by which the fair market value of the shares on the date of death exceeds the purchase price or (ii) 15% of the fair market value of the shares on his or her entry date into the offering period in which those shares were acquired will constitute ordinary income in the year of death.

Required Vote

The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the Company’s common stock present or represented at the annual meeting is required to approve the amendment and restatement of the Purchase Plan. Abstentions will have the same effect as “no” votes on this proposal, whereas broker “non-votes” will have no effect.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF THE 1993 EMPLOYEE PURCHASE PLAN

 

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PROPOSAL NO. 4

RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

Our Audit Committee has selected Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer (a member of Ernst & Young Global) as our auditors for the current fiscal year, subject to ratification by our stockholders at the annual meeting. We expect a representative of Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer (a member of Ernst & Young Global) to be available via teleconference to respond to appropriate questions and to make a statement if he or she so desires, but no representative will be present at the annual meeting.

Neither our bylaws nor other governing documents or law require stockholder ratification of the selection of Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer (a member of Ernst & Young Global) as our independent accountants. However, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is submitting the selection of Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer (a member of Ernst & Young Global) to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the stockholders fail to ratify the selection, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors will reconsider whether or not to retain that firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors in its discretion may direct the appointment of different independent accountants at any time during the year if they determine that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

In connection with the audit of the 2007 financial statements, we entered into an engagement agreement with Kost, Forer, Gabbay & Kasierer which set forth the terms by which Kost, Forer, Gabbay & Kasierer will perform audit services for us. That agreement is subject to alternative dispute resolution procedures and an exclusion of punitive damages.

Required Vote

The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock present or represented at the annual meeting is required to approve the ratification of the selection of Kost, Forer, Gabbay & Kasierer as our independent auditors for fiscal year 2008. Abstentions will have the same effect as “no” votes on this proposal, whereas broker “non-votes” will have no effect.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF KOST, FORER, GABBAY AND KASIERER.

 

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Report of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of the Company’s previous filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or the Exchange Act of 1934, that might incorporate future filings, including this proxy statement, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in whole or in part, the following report shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any such filings, nor shall the following report be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any future filings under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

The audit committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the Company’s independent auditors. Additionally, the audit committee must approve all audit and non-audit services performed by the Company’s independent auditors. Furthermore, the audit committee is responsible for reviewing and evaluating the Company’s accounting principles and the Company’s system of internal accounting controls. Management is responsible for the financial reporting process, including the system of internal controls and for the preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The Company’s independent auditors, Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer, a member of Ernst & Young Global, are responsible for auditing those financial statements. However, the members of the audit committee are not professionally engaged in the practice of accounting or auditing and are not experts in the fields of accounting or auditing. The audit committee relies, without independent verification, on the information provided to the committee and on the representations made by management and the independent auditors.

The audit committee hereby reports as follows:

 

  1. The audit committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with the Company’s management and Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer, the Company’s independent auditors.

 

  2. The audit committee has discussed with Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer (a) their judgments as to the quality of the Company’s accounting policies, and (b) the matters required to be discussed with the committee under auditing standards generally accepted in the United States, including Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, “Communication with Audit Committees.”

 

  3. The audit committee met with management periodically during the year to consider the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls and the quality of its financial reporting and discussed these matters with the Company’s independent auditors and with appropriate Company financial personnel and internal auditors.

 

  4. The audit committee discussed with the Company’s senior management, Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer and internal auditors the process used for the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to make the certifications required by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 in connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K and other periodic filings with the Commission.

 

  5. The audit committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with audit committees). The audit committee considered whether the audit and non-audit services provided by Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer were compatible with maintaining its independence from the Company. Based on discussions with Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer, the audit committee determined that the audit and non-audit services provided to the Company by Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer were compatible with maintaining the independence of Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer.

 

  6. Based on the reviews and discussions referred to in paragraphs (1) through (5) above, the audit committee recommended to the Company’s board of directors, and the board approved, the audited financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 17, 2008.

 

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  7. The audit committee has also recommended the selection of Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer and, based on the committee’s recommendation, the board of directors has selected Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007. The board of directors is submitting the selection of Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer to the stockholders for ratification.

Submitted by the audit committee:

Zvi Limon

Yair Seroussi

Yair Shamir

Patrick Tanguy

 

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PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

Audit Fees

Kost, Forer, Gabbay & Kasierer performed services for us in fiscal 2006 and 2007 related to financial statement audit work, quarterly reviews, Forms S-8 reviews, tax services, special projects and other ongoing consulting projects. Fees paid to Kost, Forer, Gabbay & Kasierer in fiscal 2006 and 2007 were as follows:

 

     2006    2007

Audit Fees (1)

   $ 196,500    $ 414,000

Audit-Related Fees (2)

   $ 15,500    $ 186,000

Tax Fees (3)

   $ 24,500    $ 379,000

All Other Fees

     —        —  

 

(1) Audit fees represent fees for the audit of consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007 and the review of financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.
(2) Audit-related fees represent fees for accounting professional services on actual or contemplated transactions.
(3) Tax fees represent fees for professional services rendered by our auditors for tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice on actual or contemplated transactions and advisory services for other tax compliance matters.

The audit committee approved 100% of the above set forth fees in 2006 and 2007.

Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre-Approval Policy

Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, all audit and non-audit services performed by Kost, Forer, Gabbay & Kasierer, our independent auditors, must be approved in advance by the audit committee to assure that such services do not impair the auditors’ independence from the company. In January 2004, the audit committee adopted an audit and non-audit services pre-approval policy which sets forth the procedures and conditions pursuant to which audit and non-audit services to be performed by the independent auditors are to be pre-approved. Pursuant to the policy, certain services or category of services described in detail in the policy may be pre-approved generally on an annual basis together with pre-approved maximum fee levels for such services. The services eligible for annual pre-approval consist of audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. If not pre-approved on an annual basis, proposed services must otherwise be separately approved prior to being performed by the independent auditors. The audit committee may also pre-approve particular services on a case-by-case basis. In addition, any services that receive annual pre-approval but exceed the pre-approved maximum fee level also will require separate approval by the audit committee prior to being performed. The audit committee may delegate authority to pre-approve audit and non-audit services to any member of the audit committee, but may not delegate such authority to management. Our independent auditors and Director of Finance are required to periodically report to the audit committee regarding the extent of services provided by the independent auditors in accordance with the pre-approval policy and the fees for the services performed to date.

 

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STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

Requirements for Stockholder Proposals to Be Brought Before an Annual Meeting and Considered for Inclusion in our Proxy Materials.    Pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and the Company’s bylaws, stockholder proposals intended for consideration by the Company for presentation and inclusion in its proxy materials for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2009 must be received by Dror Levy, Secretary, DSP Group, Inc., 2580 North First Street, Suite 460, San Jose, CA 95131, no later than December 11, 2008 in order to be considered for inclusion in our proxy materials for that meeting.

Discretionary Authority.    The proxies to be solicited by our board of directors for the 2009 annual meeting will confer discretionary authority on the proxy holders to vote on any stockholder proposal presented at such annual meeting if we fail to receive notice of such stockholder’s proposal for the meeting by February 24, 2009.

OTHER MATTERS

Annual Report

Our annual report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 has been mailed concurrently with the mailing of these proxy materials to all stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting.

Form 10-K

Our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 is included in the annual report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, which is mailed concurrently with the mailing of these proxy materials. Upon written request to our Secretary, Dror Levy, at the address of our principal executive offices, the exhibits set forth on the exhibit index of the Form 10-K may be made available at a reasonable charge.

Householding of Annual Meeting Materials

In December 2000, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted new rules that permit us to send a single set of annual reports and proxy statements to any household at which two or more stockholders reside if we believe they are members of the same family. Each stockholder will continue to receive a separate proxy card. Upon written request to our Secretary, Dror Levy, at the address of our principal executive offices or by phone at (408) 986-4300, you may revoke your decision to household, and we will deliver a separate copy of the annual report or proxy statement, as applicable, to you at the shared address within 30 days of your request.

A number of brokerage firms have already instituted householding. If your family has multiple accounts of our stock, you may have received householding notification from your broker. Please contact your broker directly if you have questions, require additional copies of the proxy statement or annual report, or wish to revoke your decision to household, and thereby receive multiple reports.

Other Matters

Our board of directors knows of no other business which will be presented at the annual meeting. If any other business is properly brought before the annual meeting, it is intended that proxies in the enclosed form will be voted in respect thereof in accordance with the judgments of the proxy holders.

 

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It is important that the proxies be returned promptly and that your shares are represented. Stockholders are urged to mark, date, execute and promptly return the accompanying proxy card in the enclosed envelope.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors,

/s/ Eliyahu Ayalon

Eliyahu Ayalon

Chief Executive Officer

April 1, 2008

Santa Clara, California

 

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THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF DSP GROUP, INC.

FOR THE 2008 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

 

The undersigned stockholder of DSP GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement, each dated April 1, 2008, the Company’s Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2007 and the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and hereby appoints Eliyahu Ayalon and Dror Levy, or either of them, proxies, with full power to each of substitution, on behalf and in the name of the undersigned, to represent the undersigned at the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held on Monday, May 19, 2008, at 8:30 a.m., local time, at the New York Marriott East Side Hotel, 525 Lexington Avenue, New York City, New York, and at any postponement or adjournment thereof, and to vote all shares of common stock of the Company which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if then and there personally present, on the matters set forth below.

THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO CONTRARY DIRECTION IS INDICATED, WILL BE VOTED FOR (1) THE ELECTION OF THE CLASS II DIRECTORS, (2) THE INCREASE OF 300,000 SHARES UNDER THE 1993 DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN, (3) THE INCREASE OF 500,000 SHARES UNDER THE 1993 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN, AND (4) THE RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF KOST, FORER, GABBAY & KASIERER AS INDEPENDENT AUDITORS, AND AS SAID PROXIES DEEM ADVISABLE ON SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING.

1. ELECTION OF THE DIRECTORS:

 

    

FOR the nominees listed below

(except as indicated)

      

WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for

the nominees listed below

       

If you wish to withhold authority to vote for the following nominees, strike a line through such nominee’s name listed below.

Yair Seroussi

Yair Shamir

2. PROPOSAL TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHARES AUTHORIZED UNDER THE 1993 DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN BY 300,000 SHARES:

 

_________    FOR   _________    AGAINST   _________    ABSTAIN

3. PROPOSAL TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHARES AUTHORIZED UNDER THE 1993 EMPLOYEE PURCHASE PLAN BY 500,000 SHARES:

 

_________    FOR   _________    AGAINST   _________    ABSTAIN


4. PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE SELECTION OF KOST, FORER, GABBAY & KASIERER AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR FISCAL 2008:

 

_________    FOR   _________    AGAINST   _________    ABSTAIN

The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement.

 

DATED:                                                              , 2008

 

(Signature)

 

(Signature)
This Proxy should be marked, dated and signed by the stockholder(s) exactly as his or her name appears hereon, and returned promptly in the enclosed envelope. Persons signing in a fiduciary capacity should so indicate. If shares are held by joint tenants or as community property, both should sign.