SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14A-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Filed by the Registrant |X|
Filed by a party other than the Registrant | |
Check the appropriate box:
|X| Preliminary proxy statement |_| Confidential, for Use of the
Commission Only (as permitted
|_| Definitive proxy statement by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
|_| Definitive additional materials
|_| Soliciting material under Rule 14a-12
NETWORK-1 SECURITY SOLUTIONS, INC.
----------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
--------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):
|X| No fee required.
|_| Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant
to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
calculated and state how it was determined):
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5) Total fee paid:
|_| Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
|_| Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
(3) Filing Party:
(4) Date Filed:
<PAGE>
NETWORK-1 SECURITY SOLUTIONS, INC.
1601 TRAPELO ROAD, RESERVOIR PLACE
WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS 02451
---------------------------------------------------
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON APRIL 28, 2000
----------------------------------------------------
To the Stockholders of Network-1 Security Solutions, Inc.:
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of
Network-1 Security Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), will
be held at its executive offices located at 1601 Trapelo Road, Reservoir Place,
Waltham, Massachusetts, on Friday, April 28, 2000 at 10:00 A.M., local time, for
the following purposes:
1. To elect directors;
2. To approve the conversion feature of certain promissory notes
issued by the Company in connection with a financing in
December 1999 (the "December Notes");
3. To ratify the selection of Richard A. Eisner & Company, LLP as
independent auditors of the Company for the fiscal year
commencing January 1, 2000; and
4. To transact such other business as may properly come before
the meeting or any adjournments thereof.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on February 28,
2000 as the record date for the meeting. Only holders of record of shares at
that time will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting or any
adjournments thereof.
Management requests all stockholders to sign and date the enclosed form
of proxy and return it in the postage paid, self-addressed envelope provided for
your convenience. Please do this whether or not you plan to attend the meeting.
Should you attend, you may, if you wish, withdraw your proxy and vote your
shares in person.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Murray P. Fish
Chief Financial Officer & Secretary
Waltham, Massachusetts
March ___, 2000
<PAGE>
PRELIMINARY COPIES
------------------
NETWORK-1 SECURITY SOLUTIONS, INC.
---------------------------------
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2000
---------------------------------------
This Proxy Statement is furnished by the Board of Directors of Network-1
Security Solutions, Inc. (the "Company") in connection with the solicitation of
proxies to be voted at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be held at
the Company's offices located at 1601 Trapelo Road, Reservoir Place, Waltham,
Massachusetts, on April 28, 2000, at 10:00 A.M., local time, and at all
adjournments thereof.
Any stockholder giving a proxy will have the right to revoke it at any
time prior to the time it is voted. A proxy may be revoked by written notice to
the Company, Attention: Secretary, by execution of a subsequent proxy or by
attendance and voting in person at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Attendance at the meeting will not automatically revoke the proxy. All shares
represented by effective proxies will be voted at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders, or at any adjournment thereof. Unless otherwise specified in the
proxy, shares represented by proxies will be voted (i) FOR the election of the
nominees for director listed below, (ii) FOR the conversion feature in the
December Notes, and (iii) FOR the ratification of the selection of the
independent auditors.
The Company's executive offices are located at 1601 Trapelo Road,
Reservoir Place, Waltham, Massachusetts, and its phone number is (781) 522-3400.
On or about March __, 2000 this Proxy Statement and the accompanying form of
proxy, together with a copy of the Annual Report on Form 10-KSB of the Company
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999, including financial statements, are
to be mailed to each stockholder of record at the close of business on February
28, 2000 (the "Record Date").
VOTING SECURITIES
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on the Record Date
are entitled to vote at the meeting. As of the Record Date, the Company had
issued and outstanding and entitled to vote 5,350,753 shares of common stock,
par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock") and 491,803 shares of Series D
Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock"). Each share of Common Stock and
Preferred Stock entitles the holder thereof to one vote, except that the shares
of Preferred Stock are not permitted to vote on Proposal No. 2 and such shares
of Preferred Stock shall not be deemed outstanding for the purposes of
calculating the votes needed for such proposal. The presence at the meeting, in
person or by proxy, of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to
vote is necessary to constitute a quorum for the meeting. For purposes of the
quorum and the discussion below regarding the vote necessary to take stockholder
action, stockholders of record who are present at the meeting in person or by
proxy and who abstain, including brokers holding customers' shares of record who
cause abstentions to be recorded at the meeting, are considered stockholders who
are present and entitled to vote and they count toward the quorum, except that
shares of Preferred Stock are not entitled to vote on Proposal No. 2 and will
not count towards the quorum in connection with such vote.
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<PAGE>
Brokers holding shares of record for customers generally are not
entitled to vote on certain matters unless they receive voting instructions from
their customers. As used herein, "uninstructed shares" means shares held by a
broker who has not received instructions from its customers on such matters and
the broker has so notified the Company on a proxy form in accordance with
industry practice or has otherwise advised the Company that it lacks voting
authority. As used herein, "broker non-votes" means the votes that could have
been cast on the matter in question by brokers with respect to uninstructed
shares if the brokers had received their customers' instructions. In connection
with the treatment of abstentions and broker non-votes, the Company intends to
apply the following principles:
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS: Directors are elected by the affirmative vote of
a plurality of the shares, present in person or represented by proxy at the
meeting and entitled to vote. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be taken
into account in determining the outcome of the election.
APPROVAL OF THE CONVERSION FEATURE IN THE DECEMBER NOTES: To be
approved, this proposal must receive the affirmative vote of the majority of the
shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to
vote. Uninstructed shares are not entitled to vote on this matter, and therefore
broker non-votes do not affect the outcome. Abstentions have the effect of
negative votes.
APPROVAL OF AUDITORS: To be approved, this matter must receive the
affirmative vote of the majority of the shares present in person or represented
by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote. Uninstructed shares are entitled
to vote on this matter. Therefore, abstentions and broker non-votes have the
effect of negative votes.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
(PROPOSAL NO. 1)
The Company's Board of Directors consists of five members. All five
directors are to be elected at the Annual Meeting to constitute the Board of
Directors of the Company, to hold office until the next Annual Meeting of
Stockholders and until the election and qualification of their respective
successors. If no other choice is specified in the accompanying proxy, the
persons named therein have advised management that it is their present intention
to vote the proxy for the election of the nominees set forth below. Each of the
nominees is presently a director of the Company. Should any of such nominees
become unable to accept nomination or election, it is intended that the persons
named in the accompanying proxy will vote for the election of such other person
as management may recommend in the place of such nominee.
DIRECTOR NOMINEES
Set forth below for each nominee is his name, age, the year in which he
became a director of the Company, his principal occupations during the last five
years and any additional directorships in publicly-held companies. The
information is as of March 1, 2000.
AVI A. FOGEL, age 45, has served as a director since May 1998. Mr.
Fogel has also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company
since May 1998. From March 1998 until May 1998, Mr. Fogel served as a consultant
to the Company. From June 1997 until the consummation of the Company's initial
public offering in November 1998, Mr. Fogel served as President and Chief
Executive Officer of CommHome Systems Corporation, a development stage company
engaged in the business of developing residential networking solutions, which he
co-founded in June 1997. From January 1997 to June 1997, Mr. Fogel was engaged
in pre-incorporation activities related to CommHome Systems
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<PAGE>
Corporation. From October 1995 to December 1996, Mr. Fogel was employed by
Digital Equipment Corp. as Vice President, Global Marketing. From July 1994 to
October 1995, Mr. Fogel was Executive Vice President, Global Marketing and
Business Development of LANNET Data Communications, Ltd., a manufacturer of LAN
switching hubs located in Tel Aviv, Israel. From July 1990 to July 1994, Mr.
Fogel served as President and Chief Executive Officer of LANNET, Inc., the U.S.
subsidiary of LANNET Data Communications, Ltd.
WILLIAM HANCOCK, age 43, has served as a director since inception of
the Company (July 1990). Mr. Hancock, co-founded the Company and served as its
Chief Technology Officer from May 1998 until February 2000. Since February 2000,
Mr. Hancock has served as the Vice President of Security and Chief Security
Officer of Exodus Communications, Inc. From the Company's inception until May
1998, Mr. Hancock served as Executive Vice President and Secretary of the
Company. From June 1982 to July 1990, Mr. Hancock was an independent computer
and networking consultant to Fortune 500 companies, including Digital Equipment
Corporation, AT&T and IBM. Mr. Hancock participated in the operating system and
network design teams at both Digital Equipment Corporation and IBM.
COREY M. HOROWITZ, age 45, became Chairman of the Board of Directors of
the Company in January 1996 and has been a member of the Board of Directors
since April 1994. Mr. Horowitz is a private investor and President and sole
shareholder of CMH Capital Management Corp., a New York investment advisory and
merchant banking firm, which he founded in September 1991. From January 1986 to
February 1991, Mr. Horowitz was a general partner in charge of mergers and
acquisitions at Plaza Securities Co., a New York investment partnership.
MARCUS J. RANUM, age 37, has served as a director of the Company since
June 1998. Mr. Ranum currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer
of Network Flight Recorder, Inc., a development stage networking software
company which he founded in March 1996. From October 1994 to February 1996, Mr.
Ranum served as Chief Scientist and Executive Manager of V-One Corporation, a
company engaged in the development and marketing of network security products.
From June 1994 to October 1994, he served as a consultant in network security,
software analysis and testing, software development and related matters. From
November 1992 to June 1994, Mr. Ranum served as Senior Scientist of Trusted
Information Systems, Inc. From August 1991 to November 1993, Mr. Ranum served as
a consultant to Digital Equipment Corporation.
EMANUEL R. PEARLMAN, age 39, has served as a director of the Company
since December 1999. Since June 1998, Mr. Pearlman has served as manager of both
Beach Lane Capital LLC, a financial advisory and consulting firm, and Beach Lane
Opportunity LLC, an investment partnership. Since August 1997, Mr. Pearlman has
also served as a consultant to Bally Total Fitness Corporation. In addition,
since June 1995, Mr. Pearlman has served as President of M.E.P. Capital
Corporation, a financial advisory and consulting firm. From October 1992 until
December 1996, Mr. Pearlman was a consultant to Bally Entertainment Corporation.
OTHER EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY
ROBERT P. OLSEN, age 46, has served as Vice President of Marketing
since March 1999. From May 1998 until March 1999, Mr. Olsen served as Vice
President of Product Management. From March 1998 until May 1998, Mr. Olsen
served as a consultant to the Company. From July 1997 to December 1997, Mr.
Olsen served as Vice President of Marketing of CommHome Systems Corporation.
From July 1996 to July 1997, Mr. Olsen was Vice President of Marketing for
Netphone, Inc., a developer of computer servers. From December 1991 to June
1996, Mr. Olsen was Vice President of Marketing for Agile
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<PAGE>
Networks, Inc., a company engaged in the design manufacturing, marketing and
support of ethernet and ATM switches, which he co-founded.
MURRAY P. FISH, age 48, has served as Chief Financial Officer since May
1998 and as Secretary since February 2000. From August 1997 to May 1998, Mr.
Fish was an independent financial consultant. From April 1991 to August 1997,
Mr. Fish served as President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of
RealWorld Corporation, a manufacturer of accounting software. From March 1989 to
April 1991, Mr. Fish served as Vice President and Controller of Goldman
Financial Group, Inc., a manufacturer of chemical and machine tools.
JOSEPH A. DONOHUE, age 45, has served as Vice President of Engineering
since July 1998. From April 1987 to July 1998, Mr. Donohue was employed by
Stratus Computer Inc., having held the positions of Director - Windows/NT
Software Development from November 1997 to July 1998, Director - Proprietary OS
from July 1994 to November 1997 and Manager - Kernel Development from July 1993
to July 1994. From April 1987 to July 1993, Mr. Donohue was employed by Stratus
Computer, Inc. in various engineering positions.
ADVISORY BOARD
In December 1999, the Board of Directors established an advisory board,
consisting of Barry Rubenstein and Irwin Lieber, for the purpose of providing
strategic advice to the Company. Set forth below, for each member, is his age,
principal occupations during the last five years. The information is as of March
1, 2000.
BARRY RUBENSTEIN, age 57, served as a director of the Company from July
1998 until December 1999 and has served as a member of the advisory board of the
Company since December 1999. Since June 1994, Mr. Rubenstein has served as
President, a director and a shareholder of InfoMedia Associates, Ltd., which is
a general partner of the 21st Century Communications Partners, L.P. and
affiliated partnerships. Mr. Rubenstein also serves as Chief Executive Officer
of Wheatley Partners, L.L.C., the general partner of Wheatley Partners, L.P. and
a general partner of Wheatley Foreign Partners, L.P. He is also a general
partner of Wheatley Partners II, L.P., Seneca Ventures, Woodland Venture Fund
and Woodland Partners, each of which is an investment partnership. Prior to his
experience as an investor, Mr. Rubenstein served as a co-founder of several
technology companies, including Applied Digital Data Systems, Inc., Cheyenne
Software, Inc. and Novell, Inc.
IRWIN LIEBER, age 60, served as a director of the Company from July
1998 until December 1999 and has served as a member of the advisory board of the
Company since December 1999. Since 1979, he has served as Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of GeoCapital LLC, an investment advisory firm which he
founded. Mr. Lieber is also a general partner of Wheatley Partners II, L.P., and
a principal of Wheatley Partners, L.P. and 21st Century Communications, L.P.,
each of which is an investment partnership. Mr. Lieber also serves as President
of Wheatley Partners, LLC, the general partner of Wheatley Partners, L.P. and a
general partner of Wheatley Foreign Partners, both of which are investment
partnerships.
MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
In August 1998, the Board of Directors established an Audit Committee
and a Compensation Committee, both currently consisting of Corey M. Horowitz and
Emanuel R. Pearlman. The Audit Committee reviews the qualifications of the
Company's independent auditors, makes recommendations to the Board of Directors
regarding the selection of independent auditors, reviews the scope, fees and
results of any audit, and reviews non-audit services and related fees provided
by the independent auditors. The
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<PAGE>
Compensation Committee is responsible for determining compensation for the
executive officers of the Company, including bonuses and benefits, and will
administer the Company's compensation programs, including the Company's Stock
Option Plan.
The Board of Directors does not have a nominating committee. The
selection of nominees for the Board of Directors is made by the entire Board of
Directors. The Board of Directors may from time to time establish other
committees to facilitate the management of the Company.
During the past fiscal year, the Company's Board of Directors held 6
meetings. The Board of Directors' Compensation Committee met 5 times during the
past fiscal year. The Audit Committee did not formally meet during the past
fiscal year. No incumbent director failed to participate in at least 75% of all
meetings of the Board of Directors and the committees on which he served during
the past fiscal year. The Company has compensated each director, who is not also
an employee of the Company, by granting to each such outside director stock
options to purchase 20,000 shares of Common Stock, at an exercise price equal to
the closing price of the Company's Common Stock on the date of grant, with the
option shares vesting over a one year period in equal quarterly amounts. In
addition, each non-employee director will receive an automatic option grant to
purchase 5,000 shares of Common Stock on each year anniversary that such
director is a member of the Board of Directors with the option shares vesting
over a one year period in equal quarterly amounts. No additional amounts are
payable for committee participation or special assignments.
5
<PAGE>
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table summarizes compensation paid to the Company's Chief
Executive Officer and to each of its executive officers who received
compensation in excess of $100,000 for services rendered in all capacities to
the Company during each of the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997.
None of the Company's other employees received in excess of $100,000 in
compensation during the year ended December 31, 1999.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG TERM
COMPENSATION
ANNUAL COMPENSATION AWARDS
SHARES
YEAR ENDED OTHER ANNUAL UNDERLYING
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION DECEMBER 31 SALARY ($) BONUS ($) COMPENSATION(1) OPTIONS(#)
- --------------------------- ----------- ---------- --------- ------------ ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Avi A. Fogel 1999 $150,000 $28,375 - 122,116
President & Chief Executive 1998 $128,192(2) $24,986 - 383,343
Officer
Robert Russo 1999 $120,000(3) $16,000 - 56,250
President and Chief 1998 $153,746(4) $5,000 - 25,000
Operating Officer, Vice 1997 $145,000(5) - - -
President of Professional
Services
William Hancock 1999 $160,000(6) - - 56,250
Chief Technology Officer, 1998 $160,000 - - 25,000
Executive Vice President 1997 $160,000(7) - - -
Robert P. Olsen 1999 $120,000 $24,975 - 52,758
Vice President of Marketing 1998 $ 94,154(8) $14,992 - 94,362
Vice President of Product
Management
Murray P. Fish 1999 $120,000 $25,500 - 52,714
Chief Financial Officer, 1998 $ 75,692(9) $14,926 - 94,185
Secretary
Joseph A. Donohue 1999 $120,000 $22,125 - 52,605
Vice President of 1998 $ 53,077(10) $10,060 - 93,750
Engineering
</TABLE>
- --------------
(1) The Company has concluded that the aggregate amount of perquisites
and other personal benefits paid to each of the executive officers
listed above did not exceed the lesser of ten percent (10%) of such
officer's annual salary and bonus for each fiscal year indicated or
$50,000.
(2) Mr. Fogel was first employed as President and Chief Executive
Officer in May 1998 and served as a consultant to the Company from
March 1998 to May 1998. Mr. Fogel received $33,000 as a consultant.
Mr. Fogel's annual base salary during 1998 was $150,000.
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<PAGE>
(3) In January 1999, Mr. Russo became Vice President of Professional
Services. Effective February 2000, Mr. Russo is no longer employed
by the Company.
(4) Mr. Russo served as President and Chief Operating Officer until May
1998 at which time he became Vice President of Business
Development. Includes $19,925 of deferred salary.
(5) Includes $51,692 of deferred salary.
(6) Effective February 2000, Mr. Hancock is no longer employed by the
Company.
(7) Includes $6,154 of deferred salary.
(8) Mr. Olsen served as Vice President of Product Management from May
1998 until March 1999 at which time he became Vice President of
Marketing. Mr. Olsen served as a consultant to the Company from
March 1998 to May 1998. Mr. Olsen received $18,000 as a consultant.
Mr. Olsen's annual base salary during 1998 was $120,000.
(9) Mr. Fish joined the Company in May 1998.
(10) Mr. Donohue joined the Company in July 1998.
OPTION GRANTS IN 1999
The following stock options were granted to the Company's executive
officers during the year ended December 31, 1999:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF % OF TOTAL
SHARES OPTIONS GRANTED TO EXERCISE
UNDERLYING EMPLOYEES PRICE PER EXPIRATION
OPTIONS GRANTED IN 1999(1) SHARE (2) DATE
--------------- ------------- ------------ ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Avi A. Fogel 40,000 4.7% $3.75 6/22/09
32,116 3.8% $1.50 10/25/09
50,000 5.9% $2.91 11/08/09
Robert Russo 20,000 2.3% $3.75 6/22/09
11,250 1.3% $1.50 10/25/09
25,000 2.9% $2.91 11/08/09
William Hancock 20,000 2.3% $3.75 6/22/09
11,250 1.3% $1.50 10/25/09
25,000 2.9% $2.91 11/08/09
Robert P. Olsen 20,000 2.3% $3.75 6/22/09
28,591 3.4% $1.50 10/25/09
4,167 0.5% $2.91 11/08/09
Murray P. Fish 20,000 2.3% $3.75 6/22/09
28,546 3.3% $1.50 10/25/09
4,168 0.5% $2.91 11/08/09
</TABLE>
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<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Joseph Donohue 20,000 2.3% $3.75 6/22/09
28,438 3.3% $1.50 10/25/09
4,167 0.5% $2.91 11/08/09
</TABLE>
- ---------------------------
(1) The number of options granted to employees during the year ended
December 31, 1999 used to compute this percentage is based on
604,152 incentive stock options and 247,541 non-qualified stock
options.
(2) All options were granted at an exercise price equal to the fair
market value of the Company's Common Stock at the date of grant, as
determined by the Board of Directors.
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN FISCAL YEAR 1999 AND 1999 FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION
VALUES
No options were exercised by an executive officer of the Company during
the year ended December 31, 1999. The following table sets forth information
relating to the fiscal year-end value of unexercised options held by executive
officers on an aggregated basis:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SECURITIES VALUE OF
UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED
UNEXERCISED OPTIONS IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS
AT 12/31/99 (#) AT FISCAL YEAR-END ($) (1)
NAME EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
---- ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Avi A. Fogel 256,191 248,467 $1,956,356 $1,920,854
Robert Russo(2) 24,625 56,625 $151,020 $412,870
William Hancock(2) 24,625 56,625 $151,020 $412,870
Robert P. Olsen 70,780 76,340 $417,264 $500,877
Murray P. Fish 70,666 76,233 $416,544 $500,147
Joseph Donohue 70,386 75,969 $401,919 $488,261
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
(1) Options are "in-the-money" if the market price of the Common Stock
on December 31, 1999 ($10.8125) exceeds the exercise price of such
options. The value of such options is calculated by determining the
difference between the aggregate market price of the Common Stock
underlying the options on December 31, 1999 and the aggregate
exercise price of such options.
(2) On February 8, 2000, Messrs. Russo and Hancock entered into
termination agreements with the Company pursuant to which the
vesting of certain of their options were accelerated so that each
of them currently has 41,250 exercisable options and 15,000
unexercisable options, with values at fiscal year-end of $264,459
and $118,538, respectively.
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<PAGE>
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS, TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT AND
CHANGE-IN-CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
On May 18, 1998, the Company entered into an employment agreement with
Avi A. Fogel, pursuant to which Mr. Fogel serves as the Company's Chief
Executive Officer and President for a four year term at an annual base salary of
$150,000 per year subject to annual increases in base salary of up to 20% at the
discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Mr. Fogel is
eligible to receive an additional annual cash bonus of up to $50,000 as
determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors in its
discretion. In addition, upon execution of his employment agreement, Mr. Fogel
received five year options to purchase 294,879 shares of the Company's Common
Stock at an exercise price of $2.42 per share. The options granted to Mr. Fogel
vested as to 34% of the shares covered thereby at the time of execution of his
employment agreement and vest as to 22% of the shares covered thereby on each of
the first three anniversaries thereafter, subject to acceleration upon a change
of control of the Company. In the event Mr. Fogel's employment agreement is
terminated "other than for cause" (as defined in the agreement), he shall be
entitled to (i) the vesting of all options in the year of termination and 50% of
the options that would have vested in the year following termination and (ii)
the lesser of one year's base salary or the base salary for the balance of the
term of the agreement. Mr. Fogel has agreed not to disclose any confidential
information of the Company during the term of his employment or at any time
thereafter or to compete with the Company during the term of his agreement and
for a period of two years thereafter in the event of termination for cause.
On June 30, 1998, the Company entered into an employment agreement with
William Hancock pursuant to which Mr. Hancock agreed to continue to serve as the
Company's Chief Technology Officer for a three year term at an annual salary of
$160,000 per annum, subject to additional bonus compensation as determined by
the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors in its discretion. Mr.
Hancock has agreed not to disclose any confidential information of the Company
during the term of his employment or at any time thereafter. On February 7,
2000, the Company entered into a termination agreement with Mr. Hancock pursuant
to which he received an additional option to purchase 25,000 shares of Common
Stock and options to purchase 6,625 shares of Common Stock held by Mr. Hancock
were accelerated to vest upon the closing of the sale by the Company of its
Professional Services business which was consummated on February 9, 2000 (the
"Closing Date"). The Company also agreed to extend the time period to exercise
the vested incentive stock options from 30 days to 90 days. In addition, the
Company agreed to pay Mr. Hancock a special bonus within 10 days of the one-year
anniversary of the Closing Date, conditioned upon his still being employed by
the acquiror at such time, in an amount equal to 3% of the net funds ($1,000,000
held in escrow) received by the Company from the acquiror following the first
anniversary of the Closing Date, subject to certain adjustments. Furthermore,
the Company secured an agreement with Wheatley to release Mr. Hancock's founder
shares from a lockup over a period of time. Effective on the Closing Date, Mr.
Hancock was no longer employed by the Company.
On May 18, 1998, the Company entered into an employment agreement with
Robert P. Olsen pursuant to which Mr. Olsen serves as the Company's Vice
President of Marketing for a three year term at an annual salary of $120,000 per
annum, subject to an additional cash bonus of up to $30,000 as determined by the
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors in its discretion. Upon
execution of his employment agreement, Mr. Olsen received an incentive stock
option to purchase 58,976 shares of the Company's Common Stock at an exercise
price of $5.60 per share. The options granted to Mr. Olsen vested as to 34% of
the shares covered thereby upon execution of the agreement and 22% of the shares
covered thereby on each of the first three anniversaries thereafter, subject to
acceleration upon a change
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<PAGE>
of control of the Company. In the event Mr. Olsen's employment agreement is
terminated "other than for cause" (as defined in the agreement), he shall be
entitled to (i) the vesting of all options in the year of termination and 50% of
the options that would have vested in the year following termination and (ii)
the lesser of one year base salary or the base salary for the balance of the
term of the agreement. Mr. Olsen has agreed not to disclose any confidential
information of the Company during the term of his employment or at any time
thereafter or to compete with the Company during the term of his agreement and
for a period of two years thereafter in the event of termination for cause.
On May 19, 1998, the Company entered into an employment agreement with
Murray P. Fish pursuant to which Mr. Fish agreed to serve as the Company's Chief
Financial Officer for a three year term at an annual salary of $120,000 per
annum, subject to an additional cash bonus of $30,000 as determined by the
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors in its discretion. Upon
execution of his employment agreement, Mr. Fish received an incentive stock
option to purchase 58,500 shares of the Company's Common Stock at an exercise
price of $5.60 per share. The options granted to Mr. Fish vested as to 34% of
the shares covered thereby upon execution of the agreement and vest as to 22% on
each of the first three anniversaries thereafter, subject to acceleration upon a
change of control of the Company. In the event Mr. Fish's employment agreement
is terminated "other than for cause" (as defined in the agreement), he shall be
entitled to (i) the vesting of all options in the year of termination and 50% of
the options that would have vested in the year following termination and (ii)
the lesser of six months base salary or the base salary for the balance of the
term of the agreement. Mr. Fish has agreed not to disclose any confidential
information of the Company during the term of his employment or at any time
thereafter or to compete with the Company during the term of his agreement and
for a period of two years thereafter in the event of termination for cause.
On July 31, 1998, the Company entered into an employment agreement with
Joseph A. Donohue pursuant to which Mr. Donohue agreed to serve as the Company's
Vice President of Engineering for a three year term at an annual salary of
$120,000 per annum, subject to an additional cash bonus of $30,000 as determined
by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors in its discretion. In
connection with his employment, Mr. Donohue received an incentive stock option
to purchase 62,500 shares of the Company's Common Stock at an exercise price of
$6.00 per share. The options granted to Mr. Donohue vested as to 34% of the
shares covered thereby upon execution of the agreement and 22% of the shares
covered thereby on each of the first three anniversaries thereafter, subject to
acceleration upon a change of control of the Company. In the event Mr. Donohue's
employment agreement is terminated "other than for cause" (as defined in the
agreement), he shall be entitled to (i) the vesting of all options in the year
of termination and 50% of the options that would have vested in the year
following termination and (ii) the lesser of six months base salary or the base
salary for the balance of the term of the agreement. Mr. Donohue has agreed not
to disclose any confidential information of the Company during the term of his
employment or at any time thereafter or to compete with the Company during the
term of his agreement and for a period of two years thereafter in the event of
termination for cause.
On May 15, 1999, the Company entered into an employment agreement with
Robert Russo pursuant to which Mr. Russo agreed to continue to serve as the
Company's Vice President of Professional Services for a two year term at an
annual salary of $120,000, subject to additional bonus compensation as
determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors in its
discretion. Mr. Russo agreed not to disclose any confidential information of the
Company during the term of his employment or at any time thereafter. On February
7, 2000, the Company entered into a termination agreement with Mr. Russo
pursuant to which he received an additional option to purchase 25,000 shares of
Common Stock and options to purchase 6,625 shares of Common Stock held by Mr.
Russo were accelerated to vest upon the closing of the sale by the Company of
its Professional Services business which was consummated on February 9, 2000
(the "Closing Date"). The Company also agreed to extend the time period to
exercise the vested incentive stock options from 30 days to 90 days. In
addition, the Company agreed to pay Mr.
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Russo a special bonus within 10 days of the one-year anniversary of the Closing
Date, conditioned upon his still being employed by the acquiror at such time, in
an amount equal to 3% of the net funds ($1,000,000 held in escrow) received by
the Company from the acquiror following the first anniversary of the Closing
Date, subject to certain adjustments. Furthermore, the Company secured an
agreement with Wheatley to release Mr. Russo's founder shares from a lockup over
a period of time. Effective on the Closing Date, Mr. Russo was no longer
employed by the Company.
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial
ownership of the Company's shares of Common Stock as of the Record Date by (i)
each person known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (ii) each director and nominee, (iii)
each of the executive officers of the Company, and (iv) all executive officers
and directors of the Company as a group.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND ADDRESS OF NUMBER OF SHARES PERCENTAGE OF SHARES
BENEFICIAL OWNER BENEFICIALLY OWNED BENEFICIALLY OWNED(1)
---------------- ------------------ ---------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Wheatley Partners II, L.P. (2) 1,194,659 22.3
Corey M. Horowitz(3) 1,146,189 20.2
CMH Capital Management Corp.
Pisces Investors, L.P.
Security Partners, L.P.
Barry Rubenstein(4) 445,526 7.8
Woodland Venture Fund
Seneca Ventures
Woodland Partners
Robert Russo(5) 298,424 5.6
William Hancock(6) 224,557 4.2
Avi A. Fogel(7) 322,022 5.7
Murray P. Fish(8) 40,682 *
Joseph A. Donohue(9) 25,150 *
Marcus Ranum(10) 4,375 *
Emanuel R. Pearlman(11) 21,392 *
All officers and directors as a group 1,784,467 29.4
(7 persons)
</TABLE>
- -------------------------------------
* Less than 1%.
(1) Unless otherwise indicated, the Company believes that all persons
named in the above table have sole voting and investment power with
respect to all shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by them. A
person is deemed to be the beneficial owner of securities that can
be acquired by such person within 60 days from the date hereof upon
the exercise of options, warrants or convertible securities. Each
beneficial owner's percentage ownership is determined by assuming
that options, warrants and convertible securities held by such
person (but not those held by any other person)
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<PAGE>
and which are exercisable or convertible within 60 days have been
exercised and converted. For purposes of calculating shares assumed
outstanding pursuant to the previous sentence, (a) the Company has
deemed as outstanding 491,803 shares of Series D Preferred Stock
and warrants to purchase 491,803 shares of Common Stock, which are
issuable upon conversion of outstanding promissory notes issued by
the Company in the aggregate principal amount of $1,500,000 and (b)
the Company has not deemed as outstanding any shares of Series D
Preferred Stock or warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock
which would be issuable upon conversion of the interest on such
notes. The conversion of such promissory notes is subject to
approval by the Company's stockholders of Proposal No. 2. Assumes a
base of 5,350,753 shares of Common Stock outstanding. Except as
otherwise indicated, the address for each beneficial owner is c/o
Network-1 Security Solutions, Inc., 1601 Trapelo Road, Reservoir
Place, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451.
(2) Does not include (i) 31,040, 23,280, 31,040, 4,656 and 3,104 shares
of Common Stock beneficially owned by Barry Rubenstein, Irwin
Lieber, Barry Fingerhut, Seth Lieber and Jonathan Lieber,
respectively, each of whom is a general partner of Wheatley
Partners II, L.P. ("Wheatley") and (ii) an aggregate of 583,528
shares of Common Stock subject to currently exercisable warrants
and options and convertible securities beneficially owned by Barry
Rubenstein (350,078 shares), Irwin Lieber (151,486 shares), Barry
Fingerhut (65,572 shares) and Jonathan Lieber (16,392 shares). Each
of Messrs. Rubenstein, I. Lieber, Fingerhut, S. Lieber and J.
Lieber disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by
Wheatley, except to the extent of their equity interest therein.
Wheatley's business address is 80 Cuttermill Road, Great Neck, New
York 11021.
(3) Includes (i) 382,752 shares of common stock held by Mr. Horowitz,
(ii) 33,750 shares of common stock subject to currently exercisable
stock options held by Mr. Horowitz, (iii) 206,933 shares of common
stock held by Pisces Investors, L.P., a limited partnership whose
general partner is CMH Capital Management Corp., a corporation
whose sole stockholder and officer is Mr. Horowitz, (iv) 145,887
shares of common stock owned by Security Partners, L.P., a limited
partnership whose general partner is CMH and one of whose limited
partners is Mr. Horowitz, (v) 87,995 shares of common stock held by
CMH, (vi) 124,936 shares of common stock subject to currently
exercisable warrants held by CMH, (vii) 40,984 shares of common
stock subject to currently exercisable warrants held by Mr.
Horowitz, (viii) 40,984 shares of common stock issuable upon
conversion of Series D Preferred Stock held by Mr. Horowitz, (ix)
40,984 shares of common stock subject to warrants underlying
certain promissory notes held by Mr. Horowitz and (x) 40,984 shares
of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series D Preferred
Stock underlying certain promissory notes held by Mr. Horowitz.
Does not include 3,750 shares of common stock subject to stock
options which are not currently exercisable. Mr. Horowitz disclaims
beneficial ownership of the shares held by Pisces Investors, L.P.
and Security Partners, L.P., except to the extent of his equity
interest therein. The address of CMH Capital Management Corp. is
885 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022 and the address of
Pisces Investors, L.P. and Security Partners, L.P. is c/o CMH
Capital Management Corp., 885 Third Avenue, New York, New York
10022.
(4) Includes (i) 31,040 shares of Common Stock held by Mr. Rubenstein,
(ii) 36,250 shares of common stock subject to currently exercisable
stock options held by Mr. Rubenstein, (iii) 49,898 shares of common
stock subject to currently exercisable warrants held by Mr.
Rubenstein, (iv) 41,128 and 23,280 shares of common stock held by
Woodland Venture Fund and Seneca Ventures, respectively, (v)
32,787, 16,393, 16,393 and 234 shares of common stock subject to
currently exercisable warrants held by Woodland Venture Fund,
Seneca Ventures, Woodland Partners and Marilyn Rubenstein,
respectively, (vi) 32,787, 16,393, 16,393, 234 and 234 shares of
common stock issuable upon conversion of Series D Preferred Stock
held by Woodland Venture
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<PAGE>
Fund, Seneca Ventures, Woodland Partners, Barry Rubenstein and
Marilyn Rubenstein, respectively, (vii) 32,787, 16,393, 16,393, 234
and 234 shares of common stock subject to warrants underlying
certain promissory notes held by Woodland Venture Fund, Seneca
Ventures, Woodland Partners, Barry Rubenstein and Marilyn
Rubenstein, respectively, and (viii) 32,787, 16,393, 16,393, 234
and 234 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series D
Preferred Stock underlying certain promissory notes held by
Woodland Venture Fund, Seneca Ventures, Woodland Partners, Barry
Rubenstein and Marilyn Rubenstein, respectively. Barry Rubenstein
and Woodland Services Corp. are the general partners of Woodland
Venture Fund and Seneca Ventures. Barry Rubenstein is the President
and sole director of Woodland Services Corp. Barry Rubenstein is
the general partner of Woodland Partners. Barry Rubenstein is a
general partner of Wheatley Partners II, L.P. Marilyn Rubenstein is
the wife of Barry Rubenstein. Does not include 11,250 shares of
common stock subject to stock options held by Mr. Rubenstein which
are not currently exercisable. Mr. Rubenstein disclaims beneficial
ownership of the shares of common stock held by Wheatley Partners
II, L.P., except to the extent of his equity interest therein. The
address of Barry Rubenstein is 68 Wheatley Road, Brookville, New
York 11545. The address for Wheatley Partners II, L.P., Woodland
Venture Fund, Seneca Ventures and Woodland Partners is c/o Barry
Rubenstein, 68 Wheatley Road, Brookville, New York 11545.
(5) Includes 24,250 shares of Common Stock subject to currently
exercisable stock options issued to Mr. Russo pursuant to the Stock
Option Plan. Does not include 15,000 shares of Common Stock subject
to stock options which are not currently exercisable.
(6) Includes 19,500 shares of Common Stock subject to currently
exercisable stock options issued to Mr. Hancock pursuant to the
Stock Option Plan. Does not include 15,000 shares of Common Stock
subject to stock options which are not currently exercisable.
(7) Includes (i) 256,191 shares of common stock subject to currently
exercisable stock options, (ii) 8,197 shares of common stock
subject to currently exercisable warrants, (iii) 8,197 shares of
common stock issuable upon conversion of Series D Preferred Stock,
(iv) 8,197 shares of common stock subject to warrants underlying
certain promissory notes and (v) 8,197 shares of common stock
issuable upon conversion of Series D Preferred Stock underlying
certain promissory notes. Does not include 249,268 shares subject
to stock options which are not currently exercisable.
(8) Includes 40,682 shares of Common Stock subject to currently
exercisable stock options issued to Mr. Fish pursuant to the Stock
Option Plan. Does not include 76,233 shares of Common Stock subject
to stock options which are not currently exercisable.
(9) Includes 25,150 shares of Common Stock subject to currently
exercisable stock options issued to Mr. Donohue pursuant to the
Stock Option Plan. Does not include 75,969 shares of Common Stock
subject to stock options which are not currently exercisable.
(10) Includes 4,375 shares of Common Stock subject to currently
exercisable stock options issued to Mr. Ranum pursuant to the Stock
Option Plan. Does not include 3,750 shares of Common Stock subject
to stock options which are not currently exercisable.
(11) Includes (i) 5,000 shares of common stock subject to currently
exercisable options issued to Mr. Pearlman pursuant to the Stock
Option Plan, (ii) 4,098 shares of common stock subject to currently
exercisable warrants, (iii) 4,098 shares of common stock issuable
upon conversion of Series D Preferred, (iv)
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<PAGE>
4,098 shares of common stock subject to currently exercisable
warrants underlying certain promissory notes and (v) 4,098 shares
of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series D Preferred
Stock underlying certain promissory notes. Does not include 15,000
shares of common stock subject to options not currently
exercisable.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
From March 2, 1998 through May 14, 1998, the Company issued an
aggregate principal amount of $1,750,000 of notes, bearing interest at the rate
of 8% per annum, and warrants to purchase up to 325,919 shares of Common Stock
at an exercise price of $4.83 per share (the "1998 Private Financing"). In
connection with the 1998 Private Financing, Wheatley Partners II, L.P.
("Wheatley") (formerly Applewood Associates, L.P.) purchased a $1,300,000
principal amount note and warrants to purchase 242,111 shares of Common Stock,
CMH Capital Management Corp. ("CMH") purchased a $50,000 principal amount note
and warrants to purchase 9,312 shares of Common Stock, Corey M. Horowitz
purchased a $50,000 principal amount note and warrants to purchase 9,312 shares
of Common Stock and Herb Karlitz purchased a $25,000 principal amount note and
warrants to purchase 4,656 shares of Common Stock, at purchase prices of
$1,300,000, $50,000, $50,000, and $25,000, respectively. In connection with the
1998 Private Financing, Robert Russo (then President and Chief Operating Officer
of the Company) and William Hancock (then Chief Technology Officer of the
Company) delivered to the Company for cancellation 38,800 and 23,280 shares of
Common Stock, respectively, for an aggregate consideration of $1,000. Barry
Rubenstein, then a director of the Company and a principal stockholder of the
Company and Irwin Lieber, then a director of the Company, are general partners
of Wheatley. Corey M. Horowitz, Chairman of the Board of Directors and a
principal stockholder of the Company, is president and sole stockholder of CMH.
Herb Karlitz is the brother-in-law of Corey M. Horowitz.
As part of the 1998 Private Financing, in consideration of Wheatley's
investment of $1,000,000 in May 1998, the Company, CMH and Wheatley entered into
an advisory agreement, which amended a prior advisory agreement with CMH,
pursuant to which the Company agreed to increase the cash fee payable to CMH, if
the Company completes a merger or sale of all or substantially all its assets at
any time up to January 15, 2001, from 2% to 3% of the value of the total
consideration received by the Company, and CMH agreed to share such
consideration with Wheatley. As further consideration for Wheatley's $1,000,000
investment in May 1998, each of CMH, Mr. Horowitz, Security Partners, L.P.,
Pisces Investors, L.P. (entities in which CMH is the general partner), Messrs.
Russo, Hancock and Conquest agreed that for a period of 24 months from the
consummation of the Company's initial public offering (until November 17, 2000),
they would not sell in the public market any securities of the Company owned by
them without the consent of Wheatley, unless 60% of the securities owned by
Wheatley and affiliated parties have been sold.
On May 14, 1998, the Company and CMH Capital Management Corp. agreed to
convert accrued fees of $200,000 into 31,250 shares of Common Stock of the
Company in full satisfaction of the Company's fee obligation to CMH under an
advisory agreement, dated August 30, 1996, as amended.
On July 8, 1998, the Company entered into an exchange agreement with
certain holders of outstanding warrants and options pursuant to which the
Company issued an aggregate of 596,741 shares of its Common Stock in exchange
for cancellation of outstanding warrants and options to purchase 789,521 shares
of the Company's Common Stock. Pursuant to such agreement, Wheatley exchanged
warrants to purchase 339,111 shares of Common Stock, at exercise prices of $4.83
and $6.44 per share, for 261,565 shares of Common Stock, Mr. Horowitz and CMH,
exchanged warrants to purchase an aggregate of 151,652 shares of Common Stock,
at exercise prices ranging from $1.61 to $4.83, for
15
<PAGE>
131,267 shares of Common Stock and Herb Karlitz exchanged warrants to purchase
11,640 shares of Common Stock, at exercise prices of $4.83 and $6.44 per share,
for 8,572 shares of Common Stock.
On September 11, 1998, the Company entered into a merger agreement with
CommHome Systems Corp. ("CommHome"), effective upon consummation of the
Company's initial public offering on November 17, 1998 (the "Public Offering"),
pursuant to which the CommHome stockholders exchanged all of the outstanding
common stock of CommHome for 35,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company. The
Company assumed liabilities of CommHome on the effective date of the merger of
approximately $185,000, which included $55,000 and $50,000 owed to Avi A. Fogel
and Robert P. Olsen, respectively. Messrs. Fogel and Olsen received 6,875 and
6,250 shares, respectively, of the Company's Common Stock in full satisfaction
of such indebtedness. Avi A. Fogel, President, Chief Executive Officer and a
director of the Company, was also President and Chief Executive Officer of
CommHome and owned 51% of the outstanding shares of CommHome.
On October 1, 1998, the Company entered in an agreement with CMH to
provide additional financial advisory services for the three-month period ending
December 31, 1998 for which CMH received 10,000 shares of Common Stock.
On October 19, 1998, Wheatley loaned the Company $75,000 at an interest
rate of 10% per annum which was repaid upon consummation of the Public Offering.
On October 20, 1998, the Company entered into an agreement, effective
upon consummation of the Public Offering, with certain of its holders of
outstanding promissory notes, including accrued interest, of $3,204,888,
pursuant to which the Company issued 562,836 shares of Series C Preferred Stock
in exchange for the cancellation of promissory notes, including accrued
interest, of $2,954,888. In accordance with the agreement, Wheatley received
382,696 shares of Series C Preferred Stock in exchange for the cancellation of
promissory notes, including accrued interest, of $2,009,156, Mr. Horowitz and
CMH received an aggregate of 40,521 shares of Series C Preferred Stock in
exchange for the cancellation of promissory notes, including accrued interest,
of $212,734, Herb Karlitz received 12,260 shares of Series C Preferred Stock in
exchange for the cancellation of promissory notes, including accrued interest,
of $64,364 and Robert Graifman received 3,967 shares of Series C Preferred stock
in exchange for the cancellation of promissory notes, including accrued
interest, of $20,828. The balance of the promissory notes in the principal
amount of $250,000 was repaid from the proceeds of the Public Offering,
including indebtedness owed to Mr. Horowitz and CMH in the aggregate amount of
$56,235.
Upon consummation of the Public Offering, 333,334 shares of Series B
Preferred Stock owned by Pisces Investors, L.P. ("Pisces") and 100,000 shares of
Series B Preferred Stock owned by Security Partners, L.P. ("Security Partners")
automatically converted into 206,933 shares and 62,080 shares of Common Stock,
respectively. CMH is the general partner of Pisces and Security Partners. Mr.
Horowitz and Herb Karlitz are limited partners of Security Partners. In
addition, Robert Graifman, the brother-in-law of Mr. Horowitz, is a limited
partner of Pisces and Security Partners.
On January 13, 1999, the Company entered into an agreement with Robert
Russo, pursuant to which $71,615 of deferred salary owed to Mr. Russo was
satisfied in full by the payment of $40,000 in cash and the issuance of 5,855
shares of the Company's Common Stock at a price per share of $5.40.
On March 10, 1999, the Company entered into an agreement with William
Hancock, pursuant to which the Company agreed to loan to Mr. Hancock up to
$100,000, at an interest rate of 6.5% per annum, to be used by Mr. Hancock to
satisfy certain outstanding personal tax obligations. In consideration for such
loan, Mr. Hancock pledged 50,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company as
security for the
16
<PAGE>
repayment of the loan. As of February 28, 2000, Mr. Hancock had an outstanding
balance of $68,352 due the Company with respect to the loan.
On December 22, 1999, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase
Agreement for the private sale of $3,000,000 of preferred stock, warrants and
notes to a group of 39 investors, including entities affiliated with Barry
Rubenstein, Corey M. Horowitz, a principal stockholder of the Company, Avi
Fogel, a director, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and
Emanuel R. Pearlman, a director of the Company. In this transaction the Company
issued 491,803 shares of Series D Preferred Stock at $3.05 per share and
warrants to purchase 491,803 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of
$3.00 per share, subject to certain adjustments based on the level of product
revenue achieved by the Company during the three month period ended March 31,
2000 (so that beginning at product revenue of less than $500,000 the exercise
price shall be adjusted to $1.00 per share and increasing to a maximum exercise
price of $4.00 per share for product revenue equal to or greater than $4.0
million). The Company also issued convertible promissory notes in the principal
amount of $1.5 million at an interest rate of 8% per year. Subject to
stockholder approval of Proposal No. 2, the promissory notes are convertible
into an additional 491,803 shares of Series D Preferred Stock (up to 570,492
shares if you include potential interest through maturity of such notes) and
warrants to purchase an additional 491,803 shares of Common Stock (up to 570,492
shares if you include interest through maturity of such notes) at an exercise
price of $3.00 per share, subject to the same adjustments based on Company
product revenue as noted above. If the stockholders do not approve the
conversion, then the notes will not be convertible and the interest rate on the
notes will increase to 12% per year. See "Proposal No. 2."
The Company believes that the aforementioned transactions with its
officers, directors and principal stockholders and their affiliates were on
terms no less favorable than could have been obtained from unaffiliated third
parties. However, prior to July 1998, the Company lacked sufficient
disinterested independent directors at the time of certain of such transactions.
All transactions beginning thereafter, including loans, between the Company and
its officers, directors and stockholders beneficially owning 5% or more of the
Company's outstanding voting securities, or affiliates of such persons, have
been and will continue to be for bona fide business purposes and will be on
terms no less favorable to the Company than could be obtained in arm's length
transactions from unaffiliated third parties. Further, all such transactions and
loans and any forgiveness of indebtedness owed by such persons to the Company
must be approved by a majority of the Company's independent directors who do not
have an interest in the transactions and who have access, at the Company's
expense, to the Company's counsel or independent legal counsel.
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company's executive
officers, directors, and persons who own more than 10% of the Company's
outstanding Common Stock to file initial reports of ownership and changes in
ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Officers, directors and
greater than 10% stockholders are required by Commission regulations to furnish
the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. The Company
believes that its executive officers, directors, and greater than 10%
stockholders complied during the year ended December 31, 1999 with the reporting
requirements of Section 16(a).
17
<PAGE>
APPROVAL OF THE CONVERTIBLE FEATURE OF
CERTAIN OUTSTANDING PROMISSORY NOTES OF THE COMPANY
(PROPOSAL NO. 2)
At the Annual Meeting, the Company's stockholders will be asked to
approve the conversion feature of certain outstanding promissory notes issued by
the Company in connection with its December 1999 financing. THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THIS
PROPOSAL. THE APPROVAL REQUIRES THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE HOLDERS OF A
MAJORITY OF THE SHARES OF THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK PRESENT, OR REPRESENTED,
AND ENTITLED TO VOTE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING. THE 491,803 OUTSTANDING SHARES OF
SERIES D PREFERRED STOCK MAY NOT BE VOTED WITH RESPECT TO THIS PROPOSAL AND
SHALL NOT BE DEEMED OUTSTANDING FOR THE PURPOSES OF CALCULATING THE VOTES NEEDED
TO APPROVE SUCH PROPOSAL.
HISTORY OF DECEMBER FINANCING; REASONS FOR APPROVAL
In September 1999, the Company began an aggressive effort to secure
private financing necessary to continue to support its operations. As disclosed
in its 10-QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 1999, based on its then
current cash position and anticipated revenues and expenses the Company would
have had sufficient funds to continue to support its existing operations through
December 1999. The Company's efforts to secure financing culminated in November
1999 when the Company received a financing proposal from a third party with
respect to a $1.5 million financing which involved the Company issuing to the
investor "floating" convertible preferred stock and warrants. The "floating"
preferred stock would be convertible into common stock based upon the lesser of
(i) 110% of the closing bid price of the Common Stock on the closing date or
(ii) 80% of the market price of the Common Stock and not at a fixed price
conversion rate. On December 2, 1999, the Company brought before the Board of
Directors the proposed "floating" convertible preferred stock financing. At this
meeting, certain Board members found the terms of the proposed financing
objectionable. In addition, Barry Rubenstein, a board member at the time and a
principal stockholder of the Company, expressed a desire to put together a
financing for the Company. The Board requested that Mr. Rubenstein submit a
proposal to the Board within days because of its immediate need to consummate a
financing. On December 14, 1999, Mr. Rubenstein together with Corey M. Horowitz,
also a member of the Board of Directors and a principal stockholder of the
Company, presented a proposal to the Company with respect to a $3.0 financing.
After considering the merits of this proposal as compared to the prior proposal,
the financing proposal submitted by Messrs. Rubenstein and Horowitz was approved
by the Board of Directors which included the unanimous approval of the
disinterested directors. Mr. Rubenstein and Irwin Lieber (both general partners
of Wheatley Partners, the largest stockholder of the Company), did not
participate in the vote on approval of the financing proposal and subsequently
resigned from the Board on December 16, 1999 upon agreeing to serve on the
Company's advisory board.
On December 22, 1999, the Company consummated the private sale of
$3,000,000 of convertible preferred stock, warrants to purchase Common Stock and
promissory notes to a group of 39 investors (the "December Financing"), which
included Barry M. Rubenstein, through affiliated entities, Irwin Lieber, Corey
M. Horowitz, Avi Fogel, President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the
Company and Emanuel Pearlman, a newly elected director of the Company. In this
transaction the Company issued 491,803 shares of its Series D Preferred Stock
(the "Preferred Stock") at $3.05 per share (20% discount of the prior 30 day
trading average) and warrants to purchase 491,803 shares of Common Stock at an
exercise price of $3.00 per share, subject to certain adjustments based on the
level of product revenue achieved by the Company during the three month period
ended March 31, 2000 (so that beginning at product revenue of less than $500,000
the exercise price shall be adjusted to $1.00 per share and increasing to a
maximum exercise price of $4.00 per share from product revenue equal to or
greater than $4.0 million). The Company also issued promissory notes in the
principal amount of $1.5 million at an interest rate of 8% per year (the
"December Notes"). Subject to stockholder approval of this Proposal No. 2, the
December Notes are convertible into an additional 491,803 shares of Preferred
Stock (up to
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570,492 shares if you include potential interest through maturity of the
December Notes) and warrants to purchase an additional 491,803 shares of Common
Stock (up to 570,492 shares if you include potential interest through maturity
of the notes) at an exercise price of $3.00 per share, subject to the same
adjustments for product revenue as stated above. Each share of the Preferred
Stock is convertible into one share of Common Stock, subject to certain
adjustments.
The reason the December Financing included promissory notes (subject to
conversion upon stockholder approval) was because of a Nasdaq Stock Market rule
that requires stockholder approval prior to the sale or issuance by a company of
common stock (or securities convertible into common stock) at a price less than
market value which equals 20% or more of the voting power of such company. In
order to comply with this rule and consummate the $3.0 financing offered to the
Company, the Company issued (i) shares of convertible preferred stock and
warrants in the aggregate equal to less than 20% of the voting power and (ii)
the December Notes. As part of the December Financing, management agreed to use
its best efforts to support a proposal at the next annual meeting of
stockholders (or earlier upon a request of a majority of the December
Noteholders) to approve the conversion feature of the December Notes.
If the stockholders do not approve the conversion feature, then the
December Notes will not be convertible and the entire principal and interest on
the notes will be due in December 2001. In addition, the interest rate on the
notes will increase to 12% per annum. The Board of Directors recommends that the
stockholders vote for the approval of this proposal. First, at the time of
maturity (December 2001) there can be no assurance that the Company will have
the ability to pay off the notes at such time, or, if it does, the payment could
represent a material portion of the Company's then cash reserves. As of March 1,
2000, the Company had a cash position of approximately $7.1 million based upon
the December Financing ($3.0 million), the sale of professional services group
($2.7 million) and the exercise of options ($2.2 million). The Company, however,
continues to incur substantial operating losses as it has not achieved
significant product revenue. In addition, in the event the Company requires
additional financing in the future, management believes that the Company may
receive more favorable terms without this debt reflected on its balance sheet.
TERMS OF DECEMBER FINANCING
The following is a summary of material terms of the December Notes,
Series D Preferred Stock and warrants issued in the December Financing:
CONVERTIBLE PROMISSORY NOTES
The principal amount of the December Notes, along with the accrued
interest, is due on December 22, 2001. The December Notes have an interest rate
of 8% per annum. If the stockholders do not approve the conversion feature, then
the notes will not be convertible and the interest rate on the notes will
increase to 12% per annum.
An "event of default" under the December Notes will occur if, among
other things, the Company (1) fails to pay interest or principal when due, or
(2) breaches any of its representations or warranties under the Securities
Purchase Agreement. Upon an event of default, the entire indebtedness and
accrued interest may become immediately due and payable. The Company may prepay
any amount outstanding under the December Notes at any time beginning May 22,
2001.
Subject to stockholders' approval of this Proposal No. 2, all or any
part of the principal amount of the December Notes may be converted into shares
of Preferred Stock and five-year warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock. If
a holder of a note elects to convert it, the holder will receive the number of
shares of Preferred Stock and warrants determined by dividing the principal
amount of that portion of the
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note being converted (plus accrued and unpaid interest) by $3.05. The conversion
price and the number of shares received upon conversion may be adjusted in the
event of a stock split, dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger,
consolidation or sale of Company assets, or the issuance by the Company of
shares of Common Stock at a price less than the then adjusted conversion price.
Pursuant to the terms of the December Financing, the Company is
required to seek stockholder approval for the conversion of the December Notes
at this annual meeting of stockholders.
SERIES D PREFERRED STOCK
The shares of Series D Preferred Stock may be converted into an equal
number of shares of Common Stock at any time at the option of the holders,
subject to adjustment in the event of a merger or consolidation of the Company,
reclassification of the Company's securities or a stock split, subdivision or
combination of the Company's securities. The Series D Preferred Stock is
entitled to vote on all matters which stockholders are entitled to vote (except
for this Proposal No. 2 as required by Nasdaq Stock Market rules), together with
the holders of Common Stock. Each share of Series D Preferred Stock is entitled
to the number of votes equal to the number of shares of Common Stock into which
such shares may be converted.
Holders of the Series D Preferred Stock shall receive dividends and
other distributions, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of
funds legally available therefor. Holders of the Series D Preferred Stock shall
be entitled to equivalent dividends and distributions on those paid on shares of
Common Stock. The holders of the Series D Preferred Stock will be entitled to a
liquidation preference of $3.05 plus any declared but unpaid dividends before
any payments are made to holders of the Common Stock in the event of a
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company.
WARRANTS
At any time until December 22, 2004, the holder of a warrant is
entitled to purchase the number of shares of Common Stock listed in such
warrant, at a price of $3.00 per share, which may be adjusted based on the level
of product revenues the Company achieves during the three-month period ending
March 31, 2000 (so that beginning at product revenue of less than $500,000 the
exercise price shall be adjusted to $1.00 and increasing to a maximum exercise
price of $4.00 for product revenue equal to or greater than $4,000,000). The
exercise price and the number of shares received upon exercise may also be
adjusted in the event of a stock split, dividend, recapitalization,
reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale of Company assets, or the issuance
by the Company of shares of Common Stock at a price less than the then adjusted
exercise price.
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
(PROPOSAL NO. 3)
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF THE
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTING FIRM OF RICHARD A. EISNER & COMPANY, LLP AS AUDITORS OF
THE COMPANY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING JANUARY 1, 2000. THE RATIFICATION
REQUIRES THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE HOLDERS OF A MAJORITY OF THE SHARES OF THE
COMPANY'S VOTING STOCK PRESENT, OR REPRESENTED, AND ENTITLED TO VOTE AT THE
ANNUAL MEETING. A representative of Richard A. Eisner & Company, LLP is expected
to attend the meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement should he
or she desire to do so, and is expected to be available to respond to
appropriate questions.
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GENERAL AND OTHER MATTERS
Management knows of no matter other than the matters described above
that will be presented to the meeting. However, if any other matters properly
come before the meeting, or any of its adjournments, the person or persons
voting the proxies will vote them in accordance with his or their best judgment
on such matters.
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
The cost of proxy solicitations will be borne by the Company. In
addition to solicitations of proxies by use of the mails, some officers or
employees of the Company, without additional remuneration, may solicit proxies
personally or by telephone. The Company will also request brokers, dealers,
banks and their nominees to solicit proxies from their clients, where
appropriate, and will reimburse them for reasonable expenses related thereto.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Any stockholder who intends to present a proposal for action at the
Company's 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and to be included in our proxy
statement and form of proxy relating to the 2001 Annual Meeting, must deliver
such proposal to the Company at its principal executive office, 1601 Trapelo
Road, Reservoir Place, Waltham, Massachusetts by November 17, 2000.
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PRELIMINARY COPIES
NETWORK-1 SECURITY SOLUTIONS, INC.
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
-----------------------------
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints Avi A. Fogel and Corey M. Horowitz,
and each of them, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to vote
all shares of common stock and Series D preferred stock of Network-1 Security
Solutions, Inc. (the "Company") that the undersigned is entitled to vote at the
Company's Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 1601 Trapelo Road,
Reservoir Place Waltham, Massachusetts 02451, on April 28, 2000, at 10:00 a.m.
local time, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof, hereby ratifying all
that said proxies or their substitutes or resubstitutes may do by virtue hereof,
and the undersigned authorizes and instructs said proxies to vote as follows:
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS: To elect Avi A. Fogel, William Hancock, Corey M.
Horowitz, Marcus Ranum and Emanuel R. Pearlman to the Board of Directors of
the Company.
FOR all nominees listed (except as marked to the contrary above) |_|
WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees |_|
(INSTRUCTION: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE,
STRIKE A LINE THROUGH THE NOMINEE'S NAME ABOVE)
2. APPROVAL OF CONVERSION FEATURE OF NOTES: To approve the conversion feature
of certain promissory notes issued by the Company in connection with a
financing in December 1999.
FOR |_| AGAINST |_| ABSTAIN |_|
3. RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS: To ratify the selection of Richard A.
Eisner & Company, LLC as independent auditors of the Company for the fiscal
year commencing January 1, 2000.
FOR |_| AGAINST |_| ABSTAIN |_|
and in his discretion, upon any other matters that may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
(continued on back)
<PAGE>
THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED
HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL
BE VOTED FOR PROPOSALS 1, 2 AND 3.
PLEASE DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THIS PROXY PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
Receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting and of the Proxy Statement
and Annual Report on Form 10-KSB of the Company annexed to the same is hereby
acknowledged.
Dated: ______________________, 2000
------------------------------------------
(Signature of Stockholder)
-------------------------------------------
(Signature of Stockholder)
Your signature should appear the same as
your name appears herein. If signing as
attorney, executor, administrator,
trustee or guardian, please indicate the
capacity in which signing. When signing
as joint tenants, all parties to the
joint tenancy must sign. When the proxy
is given by a corporation, it should be
signed by an authorized officer.
