ITEM 10.
|
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.
|
DIRECTORS
Name
|
Age
|
Director Since
|
Shannon Zimmerman
|
45
|
February 2010
|
Angela (Angel) Zimmerman
|
44
|
February 2010
|
Benjamin F. Allen
|
52
|
April 2011
|
Thomas Magne
|
64
|
June 2016
|
Michael W. Rogers
|
61
|
February 2010
|
Benno G. Sand
|
62
|
August 2001
|
Biographical information
about the members of our Board of Directors (the “Board”) follows:
Shannon
Zimmerman.
Mr. Zimmerman became the Company’s President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman on February 23, 2010, and
continues to hold these positions. Mr. Zimmerman served from August 2012 until August 2013 as our Chief Financial Officer. He co-founded
Sajan’s predecessor in 1998 along with Angela Zimmerman, and served as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from its
inception until February 23, 2010. Mr. Zimmerman is the spouse of Angela Zimmerman. Mr. Zimmerman has served in technology-focused
and strategic business leadership roles in the telecommunications, healthcare, manufacturing and service industries.
The Board believes
that Mr. Zimmerman’s experience as Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Sajan’s predecessor, as well as his prior
technology-focused and leadership experience in the telecommunication, healthcare, manufacturing and service industries, gives
him unique insights into the Company’s challenges, opportunities and operations, which qualifies him to serve as a director
of the Company.
Angela (Angel) Zimmerman.
Ms. Zimmerman became a director on February 23, 2010. She previously served as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer
until her retirement effective June 8, 2015. Following her retirement, Ms. Zimmerman assisted with the transition of a new Chief
Operating Officer by serving as a full-time employee of the Company and then as an advisor to the Chief Executive and Chief Operating
Officers. She co-founded Sajan’s predecessor in 1998, and served as its President, Chief Operating Officer, Treasurer and
a director from inception until February 23, 2010. Ms. Zimmerman is the spouse of Shannon Zimmerman.
The Board believes
Ms. Zimmerman’s experience as the Company’s former Chief Operating Officer and co-founder of Sajan’s predecessor
and her expertise in service level quality gives her unique insights into the Company’s challenges, opportunities and operations,
which qualifies her to serve as a director of the Company.
Benjamin F. Allen.
Mr. Allen has been a director of the Company since April 4, 2011. Mr. Allen is currently president of Marsh & McLennan
Agency, LLC, and was formerly president and chief executive officer of Kroll, Inc., an operating unit of Marsh & McLennan Companies,
Inc., the global professional services firm, until it was sold by Marsh & McLennan in August 2010. Mr. Allen was
responsible for the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of Kroll’s global business. Prior to his appointment as
CEO of Kroll, Inc. in March 2008, Mr. Allen served as chief operating officer of Kroll. From 2002 until being named COO in 2007,
he was president of Kroll Ontrack, Kroll’s legal technologies and data recovery subsidiary. Prior to Kroll’s acquisition
of Ontrack, Mr. Allen served as president and CEO of Ontrack Data International, Inc. Preceding his appointment as president
and CEO, he served in several other international roles for Ontrack, including chief operating officer and general manager of the
U.K. and France offices. Mr. Allen also currently serves as a director of H5, a provider of E-discovery and technology-assisted
review, and Toutatis Aztec Solutions, LLC, an IT solutions service provider.
Mr. Allen provides
the Board with extensive global operations and expansion expertise, as well as substantial experience with technology oriented
sales and marketing operations, capital markets and mergers and acquisitions, which makes him uniquely qualified to serve as a
director of the Company.
Thomas Magne.
Mr. Magne became a director of the Company on June 9, 2016. Since 2001, Mr. Magne has been a private investor, focusing on small-cap
companies. Prior to 2001, Mr. Magne was a senior vice president in Institutional Trading at Dain Rauscher Wessels, a partner at
Wessels, Arnold & Henderson, and a vice president and institutional trader at Dain Bosworth. Mr. Magne has also previously
served on the board of directors of several non-profits.
Among other attributes,
skills, and qualifications, the Board believes Mr. Magne is qualified to serve as a director of the Company in light of his significant
experience as an investor focused on small-cap companies and the expertise that he brings regarding the current small-cap market.
Michael W. Rogers.
Mr. Rogers became a director of the Company on February 23, 2010. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of Sajan’s
predecessor from April 2006 until February 23, 2010. He is currently a Senior Management Consultant to entrepreneurs of emerging
companies in the computer software industry and has worked in this capacity since 2002. From March 2002 until 2006, he served as
a consultant to several early-stage technology companies. In 1985, Mr. Rogers founded Ontrack Data International, Inc., a once
publicly-held provider of computer data recovery services and electronic discovery services located in Eden Prairie, Minnesota,
which was acquired by Kroll, Inc. in May 2002. He served as Chief Executive Officer of Ontrack Data International, Inc. from 1986
to 2001, and as Chairman from 1989 to 2002. During his tenure with Ontrack Data International, Inc., he identified opportunities
for and successfully led the Company’s expansion into England, Japan, Germany, France and elsewhere internationally as well
as within the United States. During the same period, Ontrack grew from 6 employees to over 400 employees.
Among other
attributes, skills, and qualifications, the Board believes Mr. Rogers is qualified to serve as a director in light of the entrepreneurial
experience he brings to the Board in early-stage technology companies and due to his expertise in transitioning companies from
single location entities to global enterprises.
Benno G. Sand.
Mr. Sand has been a director of the Company since August 2001. Since April 2014, Mr. Sand has been President of Strategic Vision,
LLC, a company that provides consulting services to Exosite, LLC, a SaaS-based provider of Internet of Things (“IoT”)
solutions to industrial and consumer markets. Mr. Sand was also appointed Secretary of Exosite, LLC in August 2015. Since January
2015, Mr. Sand has served on the Executive Committee of Invenshure LLC, a venture capital firm that targets investment toward early-state
personalized medicine technologies. Until October 2013, he was Executive Vice President, Business Development, at TEL FSI, Inc.,
a global supplier of wafer-cleaning equipment and technology. From January 2000 until October 2012, when FSI International, Inc.
was acquired by Tokyo Electron Ltd., he was Executive Vice President, Business Development, Investor Relations and Secretary at
FSI, a global supplier of wafer-cleaning equipment and technology. During his 31 year tenure at FSI, Mr. Sand served in several
executive and financial management roles, including Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, and Chief Financial
Officer. He also served on the boards of several United States, Asian and European based subsidiaries of FSI, Apprecia Technology,
Inc., the Company's Japanese distributor, and other privately-held companies. Throughout his career, he has served as a director
of various public and private companies and several community organizations.
Mr. Sand’s extensive
knowledge of the capital markets, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions and accounting issues from his 31 year career
at FSI and experience as a board member of other public and private companies qualifies him to be a director of our Board and brings
to our Board the perspective of a leader facing a similar set of current external economic, social and governance issues.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table
identifies our current executive officers, the positions they hold, and their current age. Our executive officers are appointed
by our Board of Directors to hold office until their successors are elected or their earlier death, resignation or removal.
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Positions
|
Shannon Zimmerman
|
|
44
|
|
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
|
Thomas P. Skiba
|
|
60
|
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
For biographical information
about Shannon Zimmerman, please reference the information provided above under “Directors.” Biographical information
about Thomas Skiba follows:
Thomas P. Skiba.
Mr.
Skiba became the Company’s Chief Financial Officer on August 29, 2013. From September 2011 through September 2012, Mr. Skiba
was a Senior Vice President and the Chief Financial Officer of Regency Beauty Institute, a nationally recognized cosmetology education
provider. Mr. Skiba also served as the Chief Financial Officer of Kroll Ontrack, a provider of data recovery, electronic discovery,
and computer forensics services and software, from May 1996 through July 2011. Mr. Skiba currently sits on the board of directors
of two non-profit organizations, Ave Maria Academy and TLC Options for Women. Mr. Skiba holds a B.S. in Accounting from St. Joseph’s
College in Indiana.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Board of Directors
Our Board has six members.
The Board has determined that Benjamin F. Allen, Thomas Magne, Michael W. Rogers and Benno G. Sand are independent directors under
the NASDAQ Rules. Under our corporate bylaws, a director elected for an indefinite term serves until the next regular meeting of
the stockholders and until the director’s successor is elected, or until the earlier death, resignation or removal of the
director.
Board Leadership Structure
Mr. Zimmerman serves
as the Chairman of the Board. Mr. Zimmerman is also the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. The Board believes
this leadership structure is appropriate given Mr. Zimmerman’s extensive knowledge of Sajan and the language translation
industry, and because this combination has served, and is serving, Sajan well by providing unified leadership and direction. In
order to ensure independent oversight and a strong corporate governance structure, the Board has also appointed Michael Rogers
as Lead Independent Director. The responsibilities of the Lead Independent Director include presiding at all meetings of the Board
at which the Chairman is not present, including executive sessions of the independent directors, and serving as principal liaison
of Board-wide issues between the independent directors and the Company’s management, including the Chairman. The Board periodically
reviews its leadership structure in order to ensure the most appropriate governance in light of the Company’s then-current
circumstances.
Family Relationships
Shannon Zimmerman,
the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, and Angela Zimmerman, a Company director, are spouses. Mr. Zimmerman’s sister-in-law,
who is also Ms. Zimmerman’s sister, is the Company’s Vice President, Corporate Controller. The Vice President, Corporate
Controller’s husband is the Company’s Vice President of Global Operations.
Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings
During the past ten
years, no officer, director, director nominee, control person or promoter of the Company has been involved in any legal proceedings
respecting: (i) any bankruptcy petition filed by or against any business of which such person was a general partner or executive
officer either at the time of the bankruptcy or within two years prior to that time; (ii) any conviction in a criminal proceeding
or being subject to a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses); (iii) being subject
to any order, judgment, or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently
or temporarily enjoining, barring, suspending or otherwise limiting his involvement in any type of business, securities or banking
activities; (iv) being found by a court of competent jurisdiction (in a civil action), the SEC or the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission to have violated a federal or state securities or commodities law, and the judgment has not been reversed, suspended,
or vacated; (v) being subject to any federal or state judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree, or finding, not subsequently
reversed, suspended or vacated, relating to an alleged violation of any federal or state securities or commodities laws or regulations,
any laws or regulations relating to financial institutions or insurance companies, or any law or regulation relating to fraud in
connection with a business entity; or (vi) being subject to any sanction or order, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated,
of any self-regulatory organization or any equivalent organization that has disciplinary authority over its members.
Risk Oversight
The Audit Committee
is responsible for overseeing the Company’s risk management structure on behalf of the full Board. The Audit Committee and
the full Board assess the primary risks facing the Company, the Company’s risk management strategy and management’s
plan for addressing these risks.
In connection with
its oversight of compensation-related risks, the Compensation Committee annually evaluates whether Sajan’s compensation policies
and practices create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on Sajan. For fiscal 2016, the Compensation
Committee evaluated the current risk profile of Sajan’s compensation policies and programs for all of its employees, with
particular emphasis on annual and long-term incentive compensation. In its evaluation, the Compensation Committee reviewed the
executive compensation structure, identified important business risks that could materially affect Sajan, and assessed how Sajan
managed or mitigated these risks in the design of its compensation structure. The Compensation Committee also considered the ability
of Sajan’s officers and other employees to affect changes in their incentive compensation that could create risk for Sajan.
Based on this evaluation, Sajan determined that its compensation programs do not encourage risk-taking that is reasonably likely
to have a material adverse effect on Sajan.
Code of Ethics
We adopted a Code of
Ethics on March 30, 2010, as amended on August 1, 2014, which governs the conduct of our officers, directors and employees in order
to promote honesty, integrity, loyalty and the accuracy of our financial statements. You may obtain a copy of the Code of Ethics
without charge by writing us and requesting a copy at Sajan, Inc., Attention: Lori Bechtel, 625 Whitetail Drive, River Falls, Wisconsin
54022 or by calling us at (715) 426-9505. Our Code of Ethics is also available on our website at
http://www.sajan.com/company/investor-relations/corporate-governance/
.
Any amendment to, or waiver from, the provisions of the Code of Ethics for the CEO and other executive officers that applies to
any of those officers will be posted to the same location on our website.
MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
During 2016, our Board
met seven times. During 2016, all directors attended at least 75% of the meetings that occurred during each director’s service
on the Board.
The standing committees
of our Board are the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Governance and Nominating Committee. During 2016, the
Audit Committee met five times, the Compensation Committee met once and the Governance and Nominating Committee met once, and all
directors attended at least 75% of the meetings of each committee on which they served.
Executive Sessions; Attendance at Annual Meeting of Stockholders
The independent
members of the Board periodically meet outside the presence of management. The Audit Committee has adopted a policy of meeting
in executive session, without management being present, on a regular basis. During 2016, the members of the Audit Committee met
in executive session five times.
It is the policy of
the Board that each member of the Board should attend Sajan’s annual meeting of stockholders whenever practical and that
at least one member of the Board must attend each annual meeting. Four directors attended the 2016 annual meeting.
Audit Committee
Sajan has a separate
standing Audit Committee, established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Audit
Committee is responsible, among its other duties and responsibilities, for overseeing our accounting and financial reporting processes,
the audits of our consolidated financial statements, the qualifications of our independent registered public accounting firm, and
the performance of our internal audit function and independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee reviews and
assesses the qualitative aspects of our financial reporting, our processes to manage business and financial risk, and our compliance
with significant applicable legal, ethical, and regulatory requirements. The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment,
compensation, retention, and oversight of our independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee also oversees
our policies regarding related party transactions.
The members of our
Audit Committee are Benno Sand, who serves as chair of the committee, Benjamin Allen, Thomas Magne and Michael Rogers. Our Board
has determined that Mr. Sand is an “audit committee financial expert,” as that term is defined under the SEC rules
implementing Section 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Our Board has determined that each member of our Audit Committee is
independent under the NASDAQ Rules and each member of our Audit Committee is independent pursuant to Rule 10A-3 of the Securities
and Exchange Act of 1934.
The Board has determined
that each of the Audit Committee members is able to read and understand fundamental consolidated financial statements and that
at least one member of the Audit Committee has past employment experience in finance or accounting.
The Board adopted
the Audit Committee Charter on March 30, 2010, and most recently amended the Audit Committee Charter on August 1, 2014. A current
copy of the Audit Committee Charter is available on our website, free of charge, at
http://www.sajan.com/company/investor-relations/corporate-governance/
.
References to our website are not intended to and do not incorporate information found on the website into this Proxy Statement.
You may also obtain a copy of the charter, free of charge, by writing to us at Sajan, Inc., Attention: Lori Bechtel, 625 Whitetail
Boulevard, River Falls, Wisconsin 54022.
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee
is responsible, among its other duties and responsibilities, for establishing the compensation and benefits of our Chief Executive
Officer and other executive officers, monitoring compensation arrangements applicable to our Chief Executive Officer and other
executive officers in light of their performance, effectiveness, and other relevant considerations, and administering our equity
incentive plans. The Chief Executive Officer does not participate in Compensation Committee discussions regarding his own compensation
or performance, but may participate in discussions and make recommendations regarding the compensation of other executive officers.
The members of our Compensation Committee are Benjamin Allen, who serves as chair of the committee, Thomas Magne, Michael Rogers
and Benno Sand. Our Board has determined that the composition of our Compensation Committee meets the NASDAQ independence requirements
for approval of the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers. The Compensation Committee may, in
its discretion, delegate some of its duties and responsibilities to a subcommittee, which shall consist of a member or members
of the Compensation Committee and shall be delegated by unanimous vote by the members of the Compensation Committee.
The Board adopted the
Compensation Committee Charter on March 30, 2010, and most recently amended the Compensation Committee Charter on August 1, 2014.
A current copy of the Compensation Committee Charter is available on our website, free of charge, at
http://www.sajan.com/company/investor-relations/corporate-governance/
.
You may also obtain a copy of the charter, free of charge, by writing to us at Sajan, Inc., Attention: Lori Bechtel, 625 Whitetail
Boulevard, River Falls, Wisconsin 54022.
Governance and Nominating Committee
The Governance and
Nominating Committee is responsible for recommending candidates for election to the Board. The Governance and Nominating Committee
is also responsible, among its other duties and responsibilities, for making recommendations to the Board or otherwise acting with
respect to corporate governance policies and practices, including board size and membership qualifications, new director orientation,
committee structure and membership, succession planning of our Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers, and communications
with stockholders. The members of our Governance and Nominating Committee are Michael Rogers, who serves as the chair of the committee,
Benjamin Allen, Thomas Magne and Benno Sand. Our Board has determined that the composition of our Governance and Nominating Committee
meets the NASDAQ independence requirements for director nominations.
The Board adopted
the Governance and Nominating Committee Charter on March 30, 2010, and most recently amended the Governance and Nominating Committee
Charter on August 1, 2014. A current copy of the Governance and Nominating Committee Charter is available on our website, free
of charge, at
http://www.sajan.com/company/ investor-relations/corporate-governance/
. You may also obtain a copy of the
charter, free of charge, by writing to us at Sajan, Inc., Attention: Lori Bechtel, 625 Whitetail Boulevard, River Falls, Wisconsin
54022.
QUALIFICATIONS OF CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION
TO THE BOARD
The Governance and
Nominating Committee identifies and recommends candidates it believes are qualified to stand for election as directors of Sajan
or to fill any vacancies on the Board. In identifying director candidates, the Governance and Nominating Committee may retain third
party search firms.
In order to evaluate
and identify director candidates, the Governance and Nominating Committee considers the suitability of each director candidate,
including the current members of the Board, in light of the current size, composition and current perceived needs of the Board.
The Governance and Nominating Committee seeks highly qualified and experienced director candidates and considers many factors in
evaluating such candidates, including issues of character, judgment, independence, background, age, expertise, diversity of experience,
length of service and other commitments. Additionally, while the Governance and Nominating Committee does not have a formal policy
with respect to diversity, it seeks to have a Board that is diverse in these factors and gives due consideration to contributions
to diversity on the Board when evaluating the qualifications of any potential director candidate. The Governance and Nominating
Committee does not assign any particular weight or priority to any of these factors. The Governance and Nominating Committee has
established the following minimum requirements for director candidates: being able to read and understand fundamental consolidated
financial statements; having at least 10 years of relevant business experience; having no identified conflicts of interest as a
director of Sajan; having not been convicted in a criminal proceeding other than traffic violations during the ten years before
the date of selection; and being willing to comply with the Sajan Code of Ethics. The Governance and Nominating Committee retains
the right to modify these minimum qualifications from time to time. Exceptional candidates who do not meet all of these criteria
may still be considered.
The Governance and
Nominating Committee may review director candidates by reviewing information provided to it, through discussions with persons familiar
with the candidate, or other actions that the Governance and Nominating Committee deems proper. After such review and consideration,
the Governance and Nominating Committee designates any candidates who are to be interviewed and by whom they are to be interviewed.
After interviews, the Governance and Nominating Committee recommends for Board approval any new directors to be nominated.
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING
COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company’s officers, directors and persons considered to be beneficial owners
of more than ten percent of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities to file reports of ownership and changes
in ownership with the SEC and NASDAQ. Officers, directors and greater-than-ten-percent stockholders are required by SEC regulations
to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely on a review of the copies of such forms furnished
to the Company, or written representations that no applicable filings were required, the Company believes that all such filings
were filed on a timely basis for the fiscal year 2016, except that Angela Zimmerman filed one Form 4 on July 1, 2016 to report
one acquisition of stock options occurring June 10, 2016 and Benno Sand filed one Form 4 on June 1, 2016 to report one sale of
common stock occurring May 23, 2016.
ITEM 11.
|
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
|
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table
The following table
summarizes the compensation for fiscal 2016 and 2015 of Sajan’s Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers.
Name and Principal Position
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary
|
|
|
Option Awards
(2)
|
|
|
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation
|
|
|
All Other Compensation
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shannon Zimmerman
|
|
2016
|
|
$
|
185,000
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
16,913
|
(3)
|
|
$
|
201,913
|
|
President and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
2015
|
|
$
|
185,000
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
25,766
|
|
|
$
|
11,365
|
(4)
|
|
$
|
222,131
|
|
Thomas P. Skiba
|
|
2016
|
|
$
|
182,000
|
|
|
$
|
34,900
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
4,419
|
(5)
|
|
$
|
221,319
|
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
2015
|
|
$
|
182,000
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
20,278
|
|
|
$
|
4,067
|
(6)
|
|
$
|
206,345
|
|
Paul P. Rome
|
|
2016
|
|
$
|
162,903
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
60,176
|
(7)
|
|
$
|
223,079
|
|
Former Chief Operating Officer
(1)
|
|
2015
|
|
$
|
96,811
|
|
|
$
|
76,968
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
5,578
|
(8)
|
|
$
|
179,357
|
|
|
(1)
|
Mr. Rome’s employment with the Company commenced on June 8, 2015 and his position was eliminated
effective November 9, 2016.
|
|
(2)
|
Reflects the aggregate full grant date value as determined under ASC Topic 718 – Compensation
– Stock Compensation. Refer to “Note 2 – Stock-Based Compensation” in the audited financial statements
included in Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 for a discussion of the assumptions used
in calculating the award amount.
|
|
(3)
|
Figure includes $7,400 in employer-paid retirement contributions and $9,513 for benefits.
|
|
(4)
|
Figure includes $7,400 in employer-paid retirement contributions and $3,965 for benefits.
|
|
(5)
|
Figure includes $4,419 in benefits.
|
|
(6)
|
Figure includes $4,067 in benefits.
|
|
(7)
|
Figure includes $43,750 in severance pay, $7,656 in employer-paid retirement contributions and
$8,770 in benefits
|
|
(8)
|
Figure includes $2,917 in employer-paid retirement contributions and $2,662 in benefits.
|
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End 2016
There were no unexercised options that were
held at December 31, 2016 by Shannon Zimmerman.
|
|
|
|
OPTION AWARDS
|
Name and Position
|
|
Grant Date
|
|
|
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable
|
|
|
|
Option Exercise Price ($)
|
|
|
Option Expiration Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas P. Skiba
|
|
8/29/2013
(1)
|
|
|
46,875
|
|
|
|
15,625
|
|
|
$
|
5.12
|
|
|
8/29/2023
|
Chief Financial
|
|
9/15/2014
(2)
|
|
|
6,250
|
|
|
|
6,250
|
|
|
$
|
5.32
|
|
|
9/15/2024
|
Officer
|
|
5/16/2016
(3)
|
|
|
2,500
|
|
|
|
7,500
|
|
|
$
|
4.69
|
|
|
5/16/2026
|
Paul P. Rome
|
|
6/12/2015
(4)
|
|
|
4,500
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
5.81
|
|
|
6/12/2025
|
Former Chief Operating Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
This option becomes exercisable in four equal installments of
15,625 shares on 9/1/14, 9/1/15, 9/1/16 and 9/1/17.
|
|
(2)
|
This option becomes exercisable in four equal installments of 3,125 shares on 9/15/15, 9/15/16,
9/15/17, and 9/15/18.
|
|
(3)
|
This option becomes exercisable in four equal installments of 2,500 shares on 5/16/17, 6/16/18,
5/16/19, and 5/16/20.
|
|
(4)
|
This option expired on February 9, 2017, three months following the last day of Mr. Rome’s
service as Chief Operating Officer.
|
Employee Benefit Plans
2014 Equity Incentive
Plan.
Our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2014 Incentive Plan”), adopted by our stockholders on June 12, 2014
allows our Board, or a committee of the Board, to grant awards to our employees (including our named executive officers), directors,
or consultants of the Company and its affiliates. The awards may take the form of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock
options, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, performance awards, or stock appreciation rights.
2004 Amended and
Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan
. Prior to adopting the 2014 Incentive Plan, the Company awarded equity incentives to its
employees under our 2004 Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2004 Incentive Plan”). Our 2004 Incentive
Plan allowed our Board, or a committee of the Board, to grant awards to our employees (including our named executive officers),
directors, or consultants of the Company and its affiliates. The awards could take the form of qualified or non-qualified incentive
stock options, non-qualified stock options, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, performance awards, stock appreciation
rights, shares of restricted stock, other stock-based awards or cash-based awards. As of June 12, 2014, no further awards are granted
pursuant to the 2004 Incentive Plan.
Retirement Savings
Plans.
Sajan maintains an employee benefit plan qualified under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
At the discretion of the Board, the Company may make discretionary profit-sharing contributions into the 401(k) plan for all eligible
employees, including our named executive officers. The Company will make matching contributions equal to each participant’s
contribution, up to a maximum matching contribution of 4% of each participant’s compensation. For the year ended December
31, 2016, the Company’s matching contributions totaled $227,090.
2016 Short-Term
Incentive Plan.
On December 10, 2015, the Compensation Committee approved the Sajan Short-Term Incentive Plan for fiscal year
2016 (the “2016 Short Term Plan”) covering Sajan employees, including the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial
Officer and Chief Operating Officer. The aggregate amount available for quarterly distribution under the 2016 Short Term Plan was
based on the Company’s 2016 quarterly actual adjusted EBITDA. Under the 2016 Short Term Plan, the Chief Executive Officer
was eligible to earn incentive compensation of up to 75% of his quarterly compensation for each quarter of fiscal year 2016, the
Chief Financial Officer was eligible to earn incentive compensation of up to 60% of his quarterly compensation for the same quarters,
and the Chief Operating Officer was eligible to earn incentive compensation of up to 50% of his quarterly compensation for the
same quarters. There were no amounts earned in 2016 due to the Company not meeting its quarterly adjusted EBITDA targets.
2015 Short-Term
Incentive Plan.
On December 10, 2014, the Compensation Committee approved the Sajan Short-Term Incentive Plan for fiscal year
2015 (the “2015 Short Term Plan”) covering Sajan employees, including the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial
Officer and Chief Operating Officer. The aggregate amount available for quarterly distribution under the 2015 Short Term Plan was
based on the Company’s 2015 quarterly actual adjusted EBITDA. Under the 2015 Short Term Plan, the Chief Executive Officer
was eligible to earn incentive compensation of up to 75% of his quarterly compensation for each quarter of fiscal year 2015, the
Chief Financial Officer was eligible to earn incentive compensation of up to 60% of his quarterly compensation for the same quarters,
and the Chief Operating Officer was eligible to earn incentive compensation of up to 50% of her or his quarterly compensation for
the same quarters. The amount earned by the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, Angela Zimmerman, the Chief Operating
Officer until June 8, 2015, and Paul Rome, the Chief Operating Officer starting on June 8, 2015, pursuant to the 2015 Short Term
Plan was $25,766, $20,278, $14,770, and $0, respectively.
Employment and Change-in-Control Agreements
Under the employment
agreement between Shannon Zimmerman and Sajan, dated May 19, 2006, as amended February 1, 2010 and January 5, 2017, Mr. Zimmerman
receives an annual base salary of $185,000. Mr. Zimmerman’s base salary was increased to $210,000 as of January 1, 2017.
The employment agreement requires the Company to pay severance in an amount equal to the then-current annual salary upon termination
of employment by the Company other than for cause or upon termination of employment by the employee for the Company’s breach
and requires the Company to pay for one year of Company-funded health insurance coverage, not to exceed $5,000 for the annual period.
The employment agreement contains confidentiality, invention assignment, non-solicitation and non-competition provisions.
On August 20, 2013, the Company entered
into an employment agreement with Tom Skiba. Under the employment agreement, as amended March 9, 2015 and January 5, 2017, Mr.
Skiba receives an annual base salary of $182,000. Mr. Skiba’s base salary was increased to $190,000 as of January 1, 2017.
Mr. Skiba will be eligible to receive bonus payments from time to time, in an amount determined in the sole discretion of the Compensation
Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. In addition, Mr. Skiba was granted stock options to purchase 62,500 shares
of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the Company’s 2004 Incentive Plan. The stock options are exercisable at 100%
of the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant, vest in equal installments on each of September
1, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 and expire 10 years from the date of the grant. Upon a Change of Control (as such term is defined
in the 2004 Incentive Plan), all unvested stock options will become vested. Under the employment agreement, Mr. Skiba is subject
to traditional confidentiality, non-competition and employee non-solicitation restrictions during the term of his employment with
the Company and for one year following his termination of employment with the Company for any reason. The employment agreement
may be terminated by either party upon three months’ written notice. In the event the Company terminates Mr. Skiba’s
employment for any reason not constituting Cause or Mr. Skiba terminates his employment for Good Reason (as such terms are defined
in the Employment Agreement), the Company will pay his base salary through the date of termination and will provide the following
benefits: (i) severance pay equal to twelve months of his ending base salary, (ii) one year of Company-funded health insurance
coverage, not to exceed $5,000 for the annual period, and (ii) immediate vesting of all stock options that are due to be vested
within twelve months from the date of termination.
Pursuant to Mr. Rome’s
offer letter, dated May 14, 2015, Mr. Rome received an annual base salary of $175,000 and was eligible to participate in the Company’s
Short-Term Incentive Plan, pursuant to which Mr. Rome was eligible to earn a maximum bonus equal to fifty percent of his eligible
quarterly earnings based on the Company’s quarterly EBITDA goals. In addition, on June 8, 2015 Mr. Rome received stock options
to purchase 18,000 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the Company’s 2014 Equity Incentive Plan. The stock
options were exercisable at 100% of the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant, were to vest
in equal installments on the first four anniversaries of the date of the grant and were to expire 10 years from the date of the
grant. Upon the end of Mr. Rome’s service as Chief Operating Officer, all unvested options expired. Upon the three month
anniversary of the end of Mr. Rome’s service as Chief Operating Officer, all vested options that had not previously been
exercised expired.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
The table below delineates
director compensation for the Board of Directors for the year ended December 31, 2016. Compensation received by the Chief Executive
Officer, Mr. Zimmerman, is included in the respective executive compensation tables above. Mr. Zimmerman was not compensated for
his services as a director.
Name
|
|
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash
|
|
|
Option Awards
(1)(2)
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Benjamin F. Allen
|
|
$
|
12,000
|
|
|
$
|
8,400
|
|
|
$
|
20,400
|
|
Thomas Magne
|
|
$
|
5,000
|
|
|
$
|
12,600
|
|
|
$
|
17,600
|
|
Michael W. Rogers
|
|
$
|
14,500
|
|
|
$
|
8,400
|
|
|
$
|
22,900
|
|
Benno G. Sand
|
|
$
|
12,500
|
|
|
$
|
8,400
|
|
|
$
|
20,900
|
|
Angela (Angel) Zimmerman
|
|
$
|
10,000
|
|
|
$
|
8,400
|
|
|
$
|
18,400
|
|
|
(1)
|
The amounts shown for option awards reflect the aggregate full grant date value as determined under
ASC Topic 718 –
Compensation – Stock Compensation
. Refer to “Note 2 – Stock-Based Compensation”
in the audited financial statements included in Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 for
a discussion of the assumptions used in calculating the award amount. On June 10, 2016, all non-employee directors, other than
Thomas Magne, were automatically granted a 10-year option under the 2014 Incentive Plan to purchase 2,500 shares of common stock
at an exercise price of $4.50 per share with a grant date fair value of $8,400. These options vest ratably over eleven months,
but only if the director is then a director of the Company. Thomas Magne, as a newly elected director, was granted 10-year option
under the 2014 Incentive Plan to purchase 3,750 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $4.50 per share with a grant date
fair value of $12,600. This option vests ratably over three years, but only if the director if then a director of the Company.
|
|
(2)
|
As of December 31, 2016, Mr. Allen had outstanding options to purchase 12,500 shares, which
were vested as to 11,362 shares and not vested as to 1,138 shares; Mr. Magne had outstanding options to purchase 3,750 shares,
none of which were vested; Mr. Rogers had outstanding options to purchase 13,750 shares, which were vested as to 12,612 shares
and not vested as to 1,138 shares; Mr. Sand had outstanding options to purchase 13,250 shares, which were vested as to 12,112
shares and not vested as to 1,138 shares; and Ms. Zimmerman had outstanding options to purchase 2,500 shares, which were vested
as to 1,362 shares and not vested as to 1,138 shares.
|
ITEM 13.
|
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
|
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Sajan is a party to
an office lease agreement with River Valley Business Center, LLC (“RVBC”). RVBC owns a two-story commercial office
building located near River Falls, Wisconsin. RVBC is owned and operated by Shannon Zimmerman and Angela Zimmerman, both of whom
are directors and significant stockholders of Sajan. In addition, Mr. Zimmerman is currently, and Ms. Zimmerman was for part of
fiscal year 2015, an executive officer of Sajan. Under the terms of a lease agreement dated December 13, 2016, Sajan leases 24,000
square feet of space, which comprises the entire building, and pays monthly rent of $28,606. The lease expires on January 31, 2022.
Sajan was previously a party to three office lease agreements with RVBC for the same property. Under the terms of a lease agreement
dated February 1, 2010, Sajan leased 12,000 square feet of space, which comprised the entire second floor of the building, and
paid monthly rent of approximately $19,000. Under the terms of a lease agreement dated February 1, 2010, Sajan leased an additional
4,100 square feet of space, which comprised a portion of the first floor of the building, and paid monthly rent of approximately
$6,500. Under the terms of a lease agreement effective February 28, 2012, Sajan leased an additional 3,850 square feet of space,
which comprised a portion of the first floor of the building, and paid monthly rent of approximately $5,000. All three of these
leases were to expired on January 31, 2017, but were replaced by the current lease agreement dated December 13, 2016.
Sajan may not assign
the lease agreement without the prior written consent of RVBC. In the lease agreement, Sajan granted RVBC a security interest in
all goods, chattels, fixtures and personal property of Sajan located in the premises to secure rents and other amounts that may
be due under the lease agreements. Management of Sajan believes, based on an informal assessment conducted by a commercial real
estate agent familiar with commercial properties in the River Falls, Wisconsin area, that the rent paid for the leased premises
is competitive with rents paid for similar commercial office space in the River Falls, Wisconsin market. The foregoing lease agreement
was authorized by the disinterested members of the Board.
In February 2010, Shannon
Zimmerman and Angela Zimmerman received a promissory note from the Company in the aggregate principal amount of $1.0 million in
lieu of $1.0 million of cash consideration. The interest rate on this note was 8%. This note was amended on February 22, 2011 to
provide for the immediate payment of $250,000 plus accrued interest and to extend the payment date for the remaining principal
of $750,000 until August 23, 2012. On March 26, 2012, this note was again amended to extend the payment date for the $750,000 principal
amount until August 23, 2013 and, on March 21, 2013, this note was again amended to further extend the payment date for the $750,000
principal amount until August 23, 2015. On August 20, 2015, the note payable, including accrued interest of $8,000, was paid in
full.
Lori Bechtel is the
sister of Angela Zimmerman and the sister-in-law of Shannon Zimmerman, and is currently employed as the Company’s Vice President,
Corporate Controller. During fiscal year 2016, Ms. Bechtel earned $123,492 as base salary and $9,877 in employer-paid retirement
contributions and benefits. Ms. Bechtel was also granted options to purchase 5,000 shares of common stock, with a grant date fair
value of $4.69 per share. During fiscal year 2015, Ms. Bechtel earned $118,965 as base salary, $4,290 as bonus compensation, and
$13,940 in employer-paid retirement contributions and benefits.
Joe Bechtel is the
husband of Lori Bechtel and the brother-in-law of Angela Zimmerman, and is currently employed as the Company’s Vice President
of Global Operations. During fiscal year 2016, Mr. Bechtel earned $139,060 as base salary and $11,001 in employer-paid retirement
contributions and benefits. Mr. Bechtel was also granted options to purchase 5,000 shares of common stock, with a grant date fair
value of $4.69 per share. During fiscal year 2015, Mr. Bechtel earned $136,000 as base salary, $6,252 as bonus compensation, and
$6,459 in employer-paid retirement contributions and benefits.
All ongoing
and future transactions between us and any of our officers or directors or their respective affiliates, including loans made to
the Company by our officers or directors, will be on terms believed by us to be no less favorable than are available from unaffiliated
third parties and such transactions or loans, including any forgiveness of loans, will require prior approval in each instance
by a majority of our “independent” directors or the members of our board who do not have an interest in the transaction,
in either case who had access, at our expense, to our attorneys or independent legal counsel.
DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The Board
has determined that Benjamin F. Allen, Thomas Magne, Michael W. Rogers and Benno G. Sand are independent directors under the NASDAQ
Rules.