<PAGE> 1
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 by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[ ] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
BACKWEB TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
- - - - - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(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> 2
[BACKWEB LOGO]
April 28, 2000
Dear Shareholder:
It is my pleasure to invite you to attend the BackWeb Technologies Ltd.
Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The meeting will be held on May 30, 2000, at 3
Abba Hillel Street, Ramat Gan, Israel.
At the meeting, we will vote on expanding our Board of Directors to six
members, electing four members to our Board of Directors, ratifying the
appointment of our independent accountants, approving the proposed distribution
relationship with and investment in DeliverEx, Inc., making additional shares
available under out 1998 U.S. Employee Stock Option Plan, and electing Eli
Barkat as the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. In
addition, we will review our performance during fiscal 1999 and answer your
questions. Detailed information as to the business to be transacted at the
meeting is contained in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy
Statement.
The vote of every shareholder is important. So, regardless of whether you
plan to attend the meeting, please vote by signing and returning the enclose
proxy/ballot card as soon as possible in the envelope provided.
On behalf of BackWeb Technologies Ltd.'s Board of Directors and management
team, I look forward to greeting you and other valued shareholders that are able
to attend.
Sincerely,
ELI BARKAT
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE> 3
[BACKWEB LOGO]
BACKWEB TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
------------------------
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD MAY 30, 2000
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF BACKWEB TECHNOLOGIES LTD.:
The 2000 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of BackWeb Technologies Ltd. (the
"Company") will be held on May 30, 2000, at [hour] local time, at 3 Abba Hillel
Street, Ramat Gan, Israel for the following purposes:
1. To expand the Company's Board of Directors to six members;
2. To elect four members to serve on the Company's Board of Directors;
3. To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent
accountants;
4. To approve the Company's proposed distribution relationship with and
investment in DeliverEx;
5. To make additional shares available under the Company's 1998 U.S.
Employee Stock Option Plan; and
6. To elect Eli Barkat as the Company's Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman of the Board of Directors for three years.
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on April 25, 2000 are
entitled to attend and vote at the meeting. Shareholders are cordially invited
to attend the meeting in person. However, to ensure your representation at the
meeting, you are urged to mark, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy/ballot
card as promptly as possible in the postage-prepaid envelope enclosed for that
purpose. Any shareholder attending the meeting may vote in person even if such
shareholder has returned a proxy.
FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Hanan Miron
Secretary
Ramat Gan, Israel
April 28, 2000
IMPORTANT: Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, you are
requested to complete and promptly return the enclosed proxy/ballot in the
envelope provided.
<PAGE> 4
BACKWEB TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
------------------------
PROXY STATEMENT
SHAREHOLDERS OWNING BACKWEB TECHNOLOGIES LTD. SHARES OF RECORD AT THE CLOSE OF
BUSINESS ON APRIL 25, 2000 ARE ENTITLED TO ATTEND AND VOTE AT THE MEETING
The Board of Directors of BackWeb Technologies Ltd. (the "Company") is
soliciting proxies for the 2000 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Annual
Meeting will be held at 3 Abba Hillel Street, Ramat Gan, Israel. The telephone
number of the Company's principal offices in Ramat Gan, Israel is
011.972.3.751.8464. The telephone number of the Company's subsidiary BackWeb
Technologies, Inc.'s principal offices in the United States is (408) 933-1700.
This Proxy Statement contains important information for you to consider
when deciding how to vote on the matters brought before the meeting. Please read
it carefully.
The Board of Directors of BackWeb Technologies Ltd. set April 25, 2000 as
the record date for the meeting. Shareholders who owned the Company's Ordinary
Shares of record at the close of business on that date are entitled to vote at
and attend the meeting. Each share is entitled to one vote. There were
of the Company's Ordinary Shares outstanding on the record date.
On the record date, the closing price of the Company's Ordinary Shares on the
Nasdaq National Stock Market was per share.
This Proxy Statement and the Company's Annual Report to Shareholders for
the year ended December 31, 1999, including financial statements, were mailed on
or about April 28, 2000 to shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting.
SOLICITATION AND VOTING PROCEDURES
REVOCABILITY OF PROXIES
Any proxy given pursuant to this solicitation may be revoked by the person
giving it any time before its use by delivering to the Secretary of the Company
at the above address of the Company written notice of revocation or a duly
executed proxy bearing a later date, or by attending the meeting and voting in
person.
VOTING AND SOLICITATION
Proxies properly executed, duly returned to the Company and not revoked,
will be voted in accordance with the specifications made. Where no
specifications are given, such proxies will be voted as the management of the
Company may propose.
Each shareholder is entitled to one vote for each Ordinary Share on all
matters presented at the meeting. The required quorum for the transaction of
business at the Annual Meeting is two or more members present in person or by
proxy and holding in the aggregate more than fifty percent of the Company's
Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding on the Record Date.
The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company. The Company
may also reimburse brokerage firms and other persons representing beneficial
owners of shares for their expenses in forwarding solicitation materials to such
beneficial owners. Proxies may also be solicited by certain of the Company's
directors, officers, and employees, without additional compensation, personally
or by telephone, facsimile or telegram.
DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
One or more shareholders of the Company, holding at least 1% of the
Company's voting rights may submit proper proposals for inclusion in the
Company's agenda at the next annual meeting of its shareholders by submitting
their proposals in writing to the Secretary of the Company in a timely manner.
In order to be included in the Company's proxy materials for the annual meeting
of shareholders to be held in the year 2001,
<PAGE> 5
shareholder proposals must be received by the Secretary of the Company no later
than December 30, 2000, and must otherwise comply with the requirements of Rule
14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act").
RECORD DATE AND PRINCIPAL SHARE OWNERSHIP
Shareholders of record at the close of business on April 25, 2000 are
entitled to notice of the meeting and to vote at the meeting. At the record
date, shares of the Company's Ordinary Shares were issued,
outstanding and eligible to be voted at the meeting. This Table shows the number
of the Company's Ordinary Shares beneficially owned, as of March 31, 2000, by
each beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company's Ordinary Shares.
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission and includes voting or investment power with
respect to the securities.
Except as indicated by footnote, the persons named in the table have sole
voting and investment power with respect to all ordinary shares shown as
beneficially owned by them. The number of ordinary shares outstanding used in
calculating the percentage in the table below includes the ordinary shares
underlying options or warrants held by such person that are exercisable within
60 days of March 31, 2000, but excludes ordinary shares underlying options or
warrants held by any other person. Percentage of beneficial ownership is based
on 37,010,502 ordinary shares outstanding as of March 27, 2000.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF PERCENTAGE OF
ORDINARY SHARES ORDINARY SHARES
BENEFICIAL OWNER BENEFICIALLY OWNED BENEFICIALLY OWNED
---------------- ------------------ ------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Eli Barkat.................................................. 3,702,342 10.0%
Joseph Gleberman............................................ 3,272,676 8.9%
Yuval 63 Holdings (1995) Ltd................................ 3,352,342 9.1%
c/o BRM Technologies, Ltd.
P.O. Box 45065
5 Kiryat Madas Har Hotzvim Jerusalem 91450 Israel
Nir Barkat Holdings Ltd..................................... 3,352,342 9.1%
c/o BRM Technologies, Ltd.
P.O. Box 45065
5 Kiryat Madas Har Hotzvim Jerusalem 91450 Israel
United States Trust Company of New York..................... 3,272,677 8.9%
West 47th Street, 25th Floor
New York, New York 10036
The Goldman Sachs Group..................................... 3,272,676 8.9%
85 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
</TABLE>
Yuval Rakavy, a former BackWeb director, owns substantially all of the
equity and voting power of Yuval Rakavy Ltd., the parent company of Yuval 63
Holdings (1995) Ltd.
Nir Barkat, a former BackWeb director, owns substantially all of the equity
and voting power of Nir Barkat Ltd., the parent company of NirBarkat Holdings
Ltd. Nir Barkat is the brother of Eli Barkat, our Chief Executive Officer.
The shares listed in the table above represent 3,272,676 shares owned by
investment partnerships, of which affiliates of The Goldman Sachs Group are the
general partner, managing general partner or investment manager, including:
- 1,955,591 ordinary shares held by GS Capital Partners II, L.P.;
- 777,427 ordinary shares held by GS Capital Partners II Offshore, L.P.;
- 72,132 ordinary shares held by Goldman, Sachs & Co. Verwaltungs GmbH;
- 278,594 ordinary shares held by Stone Street Fund 1996, L.P.; and
- 188,932 ordinary shares held by Bridge Street Fund 1996, L.P.
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<PAGE> 6
The Goldman Sachs Group disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares owned
by such investment partnerships to the extent attributable to partnership
interests therein held by persons other than The Goldman Sachs Group and its
affiliates. Each of such investment partnerships shares voting and investment
power with certain of its respective affiliates. Mr. Gleberman, a Managing
Director of Goldman, Sachs & Co. and a director of BackWeb, disclaims beneficial
ownership of ordinary shares which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by The
Goldman Sachs Group except to the extent of his pecuniary interest arising from
his interest in The Goldman Sachs Group.
The shares listed in the table above for Joseph Gleberman include 3,272,676
shares held by entities affiliated with the Goldman Sachs Group. Mr. Gleberman
is a Managing Partner of Goldman Sachs & Co.
PROPOSAL ONE:
EXPAND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO SIX MEMBERS
Article 38 of our Articles of Association provides that the Board of
Directors of the Company shall consist of five members, or such other number
which is no less than four and no more than seven, as may be determined by an
ordinary resolution of the shareholders. There are currently five directors on
our Board. We propose to increase the size of the Board of Directors to six
members.
THE COMPANY'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS VOTING "FOR" THE
INCREASE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF DIRECTORS TO SIX.
PROPOSAL TWO:
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
NOMINEES
Our Articles of Association provide for a board of directors of not less
than four members nor more than seven. There are currently five directors on our
Board. We currently have a classified Board of Directors as set forth in the
following table:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AGE POSITION CLASS
---- --- -------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Eli Barkat..................... 36 Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Class III
Gil Shwed...................... 32 Director Class III
Charles Federman............... 43 Director Class II
William Larson................. 44 Director Class II
Joseph Gleberman............... 42 Director Class I
</TABLE>
These directors have been elected to serve until the annual meetings of
shareholders to be held in 2000 for the Class I director, 2001 for the Class II
directors and 2002 for the Class III directors. In addition, the new Israeli
Companies Law requires Israeli companies with shares that have been offered to
the public in or outside of Israel to appoint at least two outside directors by
August 1, 2000. No person may be appointed as an outside director if the person
or the person's relative, partner, employer or any entity under the person's
control has or had, on or within the two years preceding the date of the
person's appointment to serve as outside director, any affiliation with the
company or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with
the company. The term affiliation includes:
- an employment relationship;
- a business or professional relationship maintained on a regular basis;
- control; and
- service as an office holder.
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<PAGE> 7
No person may serve as an outside director if the person's position or
other business activities create, or may create, a conflict of interest with the
person's responsibilities as an outside director or may otherwise interfere with
the person's ability to serve as an outside director. If, at the time outside
directors are to be appointed, all current members of the board of directors are
of the same gender, then at least one outside director must be of the other
gender. The initial term of an outside director is three years and may be
extended for an additional three years. Outside directors may be removed only by
the same percentage of shareholders as is required for their election, or by a
court, and then only if the outside directors cease to meet the statutory
qualifications for their appointment or if they violate their duty of loyalty to
the company. Each committee of a company's board of directors must include at
least one outside director.
The names of the nominees for director and certain information about each
of them are set forth in the table below. Two of the directors, Mr. Gil Shwed
and Mr. William Larson are nominated to serve as outside directors, under
Israeli corporate law, for an initial term of three years, and the other
director, Mr. Joseph Gleberman, is nominated for re-election as Class I director
for an additional term of three years. If elected, Mr. Shwed and Mr. Larson will
serve three-year terms as outside directors. The three-year term for each such
designated outside director shall commence on May 30, 2000. Upon such election,
the Class I director position currently held by Mr. Shwed shall be deemed
vacant, unless such position is filled by Ms. . If elected to
replace Mr. Shwed as a Class III director, Ms. shall serve as a
Class III director to complete the balance of Mr. Shwed's current term as a
Class III director, which expires in 2002.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AGE PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION
---- ----- --------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Joseph Gleberman..................... 42 Managing Director, Goldman Sachs & Co.
Gil Shwed............................ 32 Chief Executive Officer, Check Point Software
Technologies, Ltd.
William Larson....................... 44 Chief Executive Officer, Network Associates, Inc.
[ADDITIONAL FEMALE DIRECTOR]......... [Age] [Occupation]
</TABLE>
BIOGRAPHIES OF NOMINEES FOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JOSEPH GLEBERMAN has served as a director of BackWeb since November 1998.
Since November 1996, Mr. Gleberman has served as a Managing Director in the
Principal Investment Area of Goldman, Sachs & Co., an investment banking firm.
From November 1990 to November 1996, Mr. Gleberman served as a partner of
Goldman, Sachs & Co., a company he joined in 1982. Mr. Gleberman serves on the
Board of Directors of Applied Analytical Industries, a pharmaceutical service
and development organization and Ticketmaster Online-CitySearch, Inc., a
provider of locally-developed online information and transaction services. Mr.
Gleberman holds a bachelor of arts and a master of arts degree from Yale
University and an M.B.A. from Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
Mr. Gleberman's term as a director expires at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders.
WILLIAM LARSON has been a director of BackWeb since September 1997. Since
September 1993, Mr. Larson has served as Chief Executive Officer of Networks
Associates, Inc., a software company, where he currently also serves as
President and Chairman of the Board. Mr. Larson has a bachelor of science degree
from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from
Stanford University.
GIL SHWED has served as a director of BackWeb since March 1999. Since July
1993, Mr. Shwed has served as Chief Executive Officer of Check Point Software
Technologies Ltd., a software company, where he currently also serves as
Chairman of the Board and President. From June 1992 to June 1993, Mr. Shwed
served as a Software Manager of Heliogram, a software development company.
[Biography of additional female director]
BIOGRAPHIES OF CURRENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ELI BARKAT has served as our Chief Executive Officer since 1996. From 1988
to February 1996, Mr. Barkat served as a Managing Director and Vice President of
Business Development of BRM Technologies, Ltd., a technology venture firm. Prior
to 1988, Mr. Barkat held various positions with the Aurec Group, a
4
<PAGE> 8
communications media and information company, and Daizix Technologies, a
computer assisted design applications company. In addition Mr. Barkat served as
a paratrooper in the Israel Defense Forces where he attained the rank of
lieutenant. Mr. Barkat has a bachelor of science degree in computer science and
mathematics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
CHARLES FEDERMAN has served as a director of BackWeb since November 1996.
Since January 1998, Mr. Federman has served as Managing Director of BRM
Technologies, Ltd. From 1983 to January 1998, Mr. Federman served in various
positions at Broadview Associates LLC, a financial advisory company, most
recently serving as Chairman. Mr. Federman serves on the Board of Directors of
Phoenix Technologies Ltd., a software company, Mathsoft, Inc., a software
company, and International Microcomputer Software, Inc., a software company. Mr.
Federman holds a bachelor of science degree from the Wharton School of the
University of Pennsylvania.
JOSEPH GLEBERMAN'S biography appears above.
WILLIAM LARSON'S biography appears above.
GIL SHWED'S biography appears above.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Directors do not receive cash compensation from BackWeb for services they
provide as directors, although they are reimbursed for certain expenses in
connection with attendance at board and committee meetings. From time to time,
certain directors who are not employees of BackWeb may receive grants of options
to purchase BackWeb's ordinary shares.
VOTE REQUIRED
The Class I director and replacement Class III director are to be elected
by a simple majority vote at the shareholders' meeting.
The outside directors are to be elected by a majority vote at a
shareholders' meeting, provided that either:
- the majority of shares voted at the meeting, including at least one-third
of the shares held by non-controlling shareholders voted at the meeting,
vote in favor of election of the director; or
- the total number of shares held by non-controlling shareholders voted
against the election of the director does not exceed one percent of the
aggregate voting rights in the company.
The initial term of an outside director is three years and may be extended
for an additional three years.
THE COMPANY'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS VOTING "FOR" THE
NOMINEES SET FORTH HEREIN.
PROPOSAL THREE:
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Board of Directors has selected Ernst & Young LLP, independent
auditors, to audit the financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year
2000, and to serve as auditors, within the meaning of the Israeli Companies Law,
and recommends that the shareholders vote for ratification of such appointment.
Ernst & Young LLP has served as the Company's independent auditors since
the Company's inception in August 1995. If the shareholders do not approve the
selection of Ernst & Young LLP, the Board of Directors will reconsider its
selection. Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP are expected to be present at
the Annual Meeting of Shareholders and will have the opportunity to make a
statement if they so desire. The representatives also are expected to be
available to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders.
5
<PAGE> 9
THE COMPANY'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS VOTING "FOR" THE
RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP AS THE COMPANY'S
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2000.
PROPOSAL FOUR:
RATIFICATION AND APPROVAL OF THE DELIVEREX TRANSACTION
TRANSACTIONS WITH DELIVEREX, INC.
We have entered into various transactions with DeliverEx, Inc., a company
in which some of our major shareholders currently own interests. These
shareholders include EliBarkat Holdings Ltd., NirBarkat Holdings Ltd., Yuval 63
Holdings (1995) Ltd., BARE, L.L.C., a company controlled by Charles Federman
(who is a BackWeb director), affiliates of the Goldman Sachs Group, L.P. (which
is a principal shareholder of BackWeb), and Intel Corporation (which is also a
principal shareholder of BackWeb). As a group, such shareholders have a
controlling interest in DeliverEx, Inc. In addition, Charles Federman currently
serves as the chairman of the board of directors of DeliverEx, Inc. and Joseph
Gleberman is a member of the board of directors of DeliverEx, Inc.
In September 1999, BackWeb Technologies Ltd. granted a nonexclusive license
in the ordinary course of business to DeliverEx to use the BackWeb Foundation
program for DeliverEx's consumer-oriented DeliverEx Lite services. In December
1999, BackWeb Technologies Ltd. granted an additional nonexclusive license in
the ordinary course of business to DeliverEx to use the BackWeb Foundation
program for DeliverEx's business-oriented DeliverEx Pro services. DeliverEx will
use the BackWeb Foundation product to enable its customers to deliver digital
data through the Internet. Both of these licenses were granted on customary
commercial terms.
In addition, in December 1999, BackWeb, through BackWeb Technologies Ltd.,
and DeliverEx also entered into a binding letter of intent to define the terms
and conditions under which DeliverEx would be granted the right to use the
BackWeb Foundation program on a royalty basis in the operation of its various
web delivery services, including the DeliverEx Lite service and the DeliverEx
Pro service. Such rights would be granted subject to negotiation and
finalization of a definitive license agreement between BackWeb and DeliverEx.
The letter of intent specified that DeliverEx would be able to use BackWeb
Foundation program to operate DeliverEx's web-based delivery services. It is
planned that such services would be differentiated from each other based on
factors such as package delivery limits, limits on the number of recipients of
packages, use of advertising, use of legends or stickers to create differences
in the user experience. The binding letter of intent also provides that
DeliverEx shall have certain product development participation and support
rights. The binding letter of intent and finalization of definitive agreements
based on such letter of intent is subject to approval and ratification by
BackWeb's Board of Directors, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and
BackWeb's shareholders.
In February 2000, various investors, including BackWeb and certain of our
principal shareholders, entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement and other
related agreements with DeliverEx, Inc. to acquire Series B Convertible
Preferred Stock of DeliverEx. BackWeb agreed to invest $2,500,000 in DeliverEx
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, on the same terms as the other investors.
The closing of the investments by the other investors will occur upon approval
of such transaction by BackWeb's shareholders. Under the agreement, BackWeb's
agreement to invest in DeliverEx is contingent upon the approval of BackWeb's
shareholders. If this approval is obtained and BackWeb makes the investment,
BackWeb would own 10% of the outstanding shares of DeliverEx, on a fully diluted
basis.
VOTE REQUIRED
BackWeb's shareholders are being asked to ratify the binding letter of
intent with DeliverEx and any transactions that are based upon the binding
letter of intent, as well as the agreements relating to BackWeb's investment in
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock of DeliverEx. Under Israeli corporate law,
extraordinary
6
<PAGE> 10
transactions (that is, transactions that are not in the ordinary course of
business, or that may materially affect the assets or income of BackWeb) with a
director, executive officer or controlling shareholder, or in which a director,
executive officer or a controlling shareholder has a personal interest, require
certain corporate approvals, including shareholder approval. Since certain of
the directors and principal shareholders of BackWeb also own interests in
entities that are shareholders of DeliverEx, they may be deemed to have a
personal interest in the DeliverEx transactions. BackWeb's Audit Committee and
board of directors approved the DeliverEx transactions. The shareholder approval
must be by a simple majority, including at least one-third of the disinterested
shareholders who are present, in person or by proxy/ballot, and voting at the
meeting or, alternatively, the total shareholdings of the disinterested
shareholders who vote against the transaction must not represent more than one
percent of the voting rights in the company.
Any shareholder voting on the foregoing proposal must notify the Company in
advance whether he or she has a personal interest in the approval of such
transaction. A shareholder who votes on the foregoing proposal pursuant to the
Proxy/Ballot shall be deemed to have notified the Company that such shareholder
does not have a personal interest in the approval of such transaction, unless
such shareholder checks the box next to the statement indicating that the
shareholder does have a personal interest.
THE COMPANY'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS VOTING "FOR" THE
DELIVEREX TRANSACTIONS.
PROPOSAL FIVE:
INCREASE IN SHARES AVAILABLE
UNDER 1998 U.S. OPTION PLAN
1998 U.S. OPTION PLAN
Our 1998 U.S. Option Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options
to employees and nonstatutory stock options and share purchase rights to
employees, directors and consultants. The number of shares reserved for issuance
under this plan will be subject to an annual increase on each anniversary
beginning July 1, 2000 equal to the lesser of (a) 1,400,000 shares, (b) 3% of
the outstanding shares on such date or (c) an amount determined by the Board.
The 1998 U.S. Option Plan is currently administered by the Board of Directors,
although the Board may designate certain committees to administer the 1998 U.S.
Option Plan with respect to different groups of service providers.
Options and share purchase rights granted under the 1998 U.S. Option Plan
will vest as determined by the relevant administrator, and if not assumed or
substituted by a successor corporation will accelerate and become fully vested
in the event of an acquisition of BackWeb. The exercise price of options and
share purchase rights granted under the 1998 U.S. Option Plan will be as
determined by the relevant administrator, although the exercise price of
incentive stock options must be at least equal to the fair market value of our
ordinary shares on the date of grant. Options granted under the 1998 U.S. Option
Plan generally vest over a four-year period. The Board of Directors may amend,
modify or terminate the 1998 U.S. Option Plan at any time as long as such
amendment, modification or termination does not impair vesting rights of plan
participants. The 1998 U.S. Option Plan will terminate in 2008, unless
terminated earlier by the Board of Directors.
In addition to the automatic annual increase on July 1, 2000 described
above, the Board of Directors proposes an additional increase in the 1998 U.S.
Option Plan by 1,110,315 shares, which is 3% of the shares outstanding on March
27, 2000. The Board of Directors presently plans to allocate substantially all
of these shares to the Company's senior management as an incentive to continue
their services. Any grant from such shares to the Company's Chief Executive
Officer shall be deemed granted with a grant date of May 30, 2000 and the
exercise price for such shares shall be equal to the closing price per share
specified on the NASDAQ National Markets system on May 29, 2000.
THE COMPANY'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS VOTING "FOR" THE
INCREASE IN THE 1998 U.S. OPTION PLAN BY 1,110,315 SHARES.
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<PAGE> 11
PROPOSAL SIX:
ELECTION OF ELI BARKAT AS THE COMPANY'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND AS THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THREE YEARS.
BACKGROUND
Pursuant to the Israeli Companies Law 5759-1999, the Chairman of the Board
of Directors of a public company may not serve also as the Chief Executive
Officer of such company, unless the Company's shareholders have resolved that
the Chairman shall serve also as a Chief Executive Officer, and provided that he
shall serve both as the Chairman and as the Chief Executive Officer for a period
of no more than three years, beginning on the date of such resolution.
PROPOSAL
Mr. Eli Barkat currently serves as the Company's Chief Executive Officer,
as well as the Chairman of the Board. It is hereby proposed to elect Mr. Eli
Barkat to serve as the Company's Chief Executive Officer and as the chairman of
the Board of Directors of the Company for a three year term.
VOTE REQUIRED
Under Israeli corporate law, the shareholder approval for such an election
must include at least two-thirds of the shareholders who are unaffiliated with
the controlling shareholders of the Company and who vote on the issue, without
taking into account the abstained votes.
THE COMPANY'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS VOTING "FOR" THE
ELECTION OF MR. ELI BARKAT AS THE COMPANY'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND AS THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THREE YEARS.
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<PAGE> 12
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
SHARE OWNERSHIP BY PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS AND MANAGEMENT
This Table shows the number of the Company's Ordinary Shares beneficially
owned, as of March 31, 2000, by (i) each beneficial owner of more than 5% of the
Company's Ordinary Shares, (ii) each director and each nominee, (iii) each Named
Officer and (iv) all directors and executive officers as a group. Beneficial
ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission and includes voting or investment power with respect to the
securities.
Except as indicated below, the address for each listed director and officer
is c/o BackWeb Technologies Ltd., 3 Abba Hillel Street, Ramat Gan, Israel.
Except as indicated by footnote, the persons named in the table have sole voting
and investment power with respect to all ordinary shares shown as beneficially
owned by them. The number of ordinary shares outstanding used in calculating the
percentage in the table below includes the ordinary shares underlying options or
warrants held by such person that are exercisable within 60 days of March 31,
1999, but excludes ordinary shares underlying options or warrants held by any
other person. Percentage of beneficial ownership is based on 37,010,502 ordinary
shares outstanding as of March 27, 2000.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF PERCENTAGE OF
ORDINARY SHARES ORDINARY SHARES
BENEFICIAL OWNER BENEFICIALLY OWNED BENEFICIALLY OWNED
---------------- ------------------ ------------------
<S> <C> <C>
5% SHAREHOLDERS
Yuval 63 Holdings (1995) Ltd................................ 3,352,342 9.1%
c/o BRM Technologies, Ltd.
P.O. Box 45065
5 Kiryat Madas Har Hotzvim
Jerusalem 91450 Israel
Nir Barkat Holdings Ltd..................................... 3,352,342 9.1%
c/o BRM Technologies, Ltd.
P.O. Box 45065
5 Kiryat Madas Har Hotzvim
Jerusalem 91450 Israel
United States Trust Company of New York..................... 3,272,677 8.9%
West 47th Street, 25th Floor
New York New York 10036
The Goldman Sachs Group..................................... 3,272,676 8.9%
85 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Eli Barkat.................................................. 3,702,342 10.0%
Joseph Gleberman............................................ 3,272,676 8.9%
Charles Federman............................................ 768,264 2.1%
Hanan Miron................................................. 316,666 *
Gwen Spertell............................................... 313,147 *
Roni Or..................................................... 62,013 *
William Larson.............................................. 38,889 *
Gil Shwed................................................... 25,000 *
All executive officers and directors as a group (8
persons).................................................. 8,498,997 23.0%
</TABLE>
Yuval Rakavy, a former BackWeb director, owns substantially all of the
equity and voting power of Yuval Rakavy Ltd., the parent company of Yuval 63
Holdings (1995) Ltd.
9
<PAGE> 13
Nir Barkat, a former BackWeb director, owns substantially all of the equity
and voting power of Nir Barkat Ltd., the parent company of NirBarkat Holdings
Ltd. Nir Barkat is the brother of Eli Barkat, our Chief Executive Officer.
The shares listed in the table above represent 3,272,676 shares owned by
investment partnerships, of which affiliates of The Goldman Sachs Group are the
general partner, managing general partner or investment manager, including:
- 1,955,591 ordinary shares held by GS Capital Partners II, L.P.;
- 777,427 ordinary shares held by GS Capital Partners II Offshore, L.P.;
- 72,132 ordinary shares held by Goldman, Sachs & Co. Verwaltungs GmbH;
- 278,594 ordinary shares held by Stone Street Fund 1996, L.P.; and
- 188,932 ordinary shares held by Bridge Street Fund 1996, L.P.
The Goldman Sachs Group disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares owned
by such investment partnerships to the extent attributable to partnership
interests therein held by persons other than The Goldman Sachs Group and its
affiliates. Each of such investment partnerships shares voting and investment
power with certain of its respective affiliates. Mr. Gleberman, a Managing
Director of Goldman, Sachs & Co. and a director of BackWeb, disclaims beneficial
ownership of ordinary shares which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by The
Goldman Sachs Group except to the extent of his pecuniary interest arising from
his interest in The Goldman Sachs Group.
The shares listed in the table above for all executive officers and
directors as a group include 1,836,900 ordinary shares held by executive
officers and directors subject to the right of repurchase in favor of BackWeb
during a vesting period of four years and 200,346 ordinary shares held by
executive officers and directors subject to options which are exercisable within
60 days of March 31, 1999.
The shares listed in the table above for Joseph Gleberman include 3,272,676
shares held by entities affiliated with the Goldman Sachs Group. Mr. Gleberman
is a Managing Partner of Goldman Sachs & Co.
The shares listed in the table above for Charles Federman include 539,691
shares held by Bare LLC, an entity substantially controlled by Charles Federman.
The shares listed in the table above for Hanan Miron include vested but
unexercised options to purchase 138,333 ordinary shares.
The shares listed in the table above for Roni Or represent vested but
unexercised options to purchase 62,013 ordinary shares.
10
<PAGE> 14
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth the compensation earned for services
rendered to us in all capacities for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 by
our Chief Executive Officer and the four next most highly compensated executive
officers who earned more than aggregate cash compensation of $100,000 during the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 (collectively, our "Named Executive
Officers"):
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ANNUAL COMPENSATION LONG TERM COMPENSATION AWARDS
----------------------------------- ------------------------------------
OTHER ANNUAL SECURITIES ALL OTHER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION SALARY($) BONUS($) COMPENSATION UNDERLYING OPTIONS COMPENSATION($)
--------------------------- --------- -------- ------------ ------------------ ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Eli Barkat..................... $220,008 $130,000 -- -- --
Chief Executive Officer
Hanan Miron.................... 166,667 39,500 -- 138,333 --
Chief Financial Officer
Roni Or........................ 115,355 18,500 -- 62,013 22,378
Vice President, Product
Development
Gwen Spertell.................. 197,917 78,750 -- -- --
Senior Vice President, Sales,
Marketing and Business
Development
</TABLE>
STOCK OPTION GRANTS IN FISCAL 1999
The following table sets forth each grant of stock options during the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1999, to each of the executive officers named in
the Summary Compensation Table. No stock appreciation rights were granted during
this period.
The exercise price of each option was equal to the fair market value of our
Ordinary Shares as valued by the board of directors on the date of grant. The
exercise price may be paid in cash, in shares of our Ordinary Shares valued at
fair market value on the exercise date or through a cashless exercise procedure
involving a same-day sale of the purchased shares. We may also finance the
option exercise by loaning the optionee sufficient funds to pay the exercise
price for the purchased shares, together with any federal and state income tax
liability incurred by the optionee in connection with such exercise. The fair
market value of our Ordinary Shares was estimated by the board of directors on
the basis of the purchase price paid by investors for shares of our preferred
stock, the liquidation preferences and other rights, privileges and preferences
associated with the preferred stock and an evaluation by the board of our
revenues, operating history and prospectus.
The following table presents the grants of stock options to each of the
named officers under our 1998 Stock Option Plan during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1999, including the potential realizable value of the options at
assumed 5% and 10% annual rates over the term of the option, compounded
annually. These rates of returns are mandated by the rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission and do not represent our estimate or projections of our
future stock prices. Actual gains, if any, on stock option exercises will be
dependent on the future performance of our ordinary shares.
11
<PAGE> 15
Percentages shown under "Percent of Total Options Granted to Employees in
the Last Fiscal Year" are based on an aggregate of 2,690,586 options to
employees of BackWeb under its 1996 and 1998 Stock Option Plans during the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1999.
OPTION GRANTS IN FISCAL 1999
INDIVIDUAL OPTIONS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
POTENTIAL REALIZABLE VALUE
AT ASSUMED ANNUAL RATE
OF STOCK PRICE
PERCENT OF APPRECIATION
TOTAL OPTIONS GRANTED EXERCISE FOR OPTION TERM
NUMBER OF SECURITIES TO EMPLOYEES OR PRICE EXPIRATION --------------------------
NAME UNDERLYING OPTIONS GRANTED IN FISCAL YEAR ($/SHARE) DATE 5% 10%
---- -------------------------- --------------------- --------- ---------- ---------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Eli Barkat..... 350,000 13.0% $5.49 3/25/09 518,809 1,054,903
Hanan Miron.... 316,666 11.8% $3.00 3/02/09 142,499 411,666
Roni Or........ -- -- -- -- -- --
Gwen
Spertell..... -- -- -- -- -- --
</TABLE>
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FISCAL YEAR END OPTION
VALUES
The following table sets forth options exercised by each of the executive
officers named in the Summary Compensation Table during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1999, and the number and value of securities underlying unexercised
options that are held by these executive officers as of December 31, 1999.
Amounts shown under the column "Value Realized" are equal to the fair
market value of the purchased shares on the option exercise date, less the
exercise price paid for such shares.
Amounts shown under the column "Value of Unexercised In-the-Money Options
at Fiscal Year End" are based on the fair market value of our Ordinary Shares at
December 31, 1999, $42.13 per share, less the exercise price payable for such
shares.
AGGREGATE OPTION EXERCISES IN FISCAL 1999
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SECURITIES VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS
SHARES OPTIONS AT JANUARY 28, 2000 AT JANUARY 28, 2000
ACQUIRED VALUE ---------------------------- ----------------------------
NAME ON EXERCISE REALIZED EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
---- ----------- -------- ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Eli Barkat........... 350,000 $84,000 -- -- -- --
Hanan Miron.......... 158,333 71,250 138,333 -- 5,412,970 --
Roni Or.............. 30,000 896,250 62,013 207,988 2,482,380 8,125,610
Gwen Spertell........ 369,208 695,674 -- 122,458 -- 4,901,993
</TABLE>
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act") requires the Company's executive officers and directors and
persons who own more than 10 percent of a registered class of the Company's
equity securities to file an initial report of ownership on Form 3 and changes
in ownership on Form 4 or 5 with the SEC and the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. Executive officers, directors and greater than 10
percent shareholders are also required by SEC rules to furnish the Company with
copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received by it, or
written representations from certain reporting persons, the Company believes
that, with respect to fiscal year 1999, all filing requirements applicable to
its officers, directors and 10 percent shareholders were met.
12
<PAGE> 16
DEADLINE FOR FUTURE PROPOSALS OF SHAREHOLDERS
Proposals that shareholders desire to have included in the Company's proxy
materials for the 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company must be
received by the Secretary of the Company at its principal office (address,
Attention Corporate Secretary) no later December 30, 2000 in order to be
considered for possible inclusion in such proxy materials.
FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Hanan Miron
Secretary
Dated: April 28, 2000
San Jose, California
13
<PAGE> 17
BACKWEB TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS, MAY 30, 2000
P R O X Y B A L L O T
THIS PROXY/BALLOT IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
BACKWEB(R) TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
PROXY
The undersigned revokes all previous proxies, acknowledges receipt of
the notice of the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 30, 2000 and the
proxy statement related thereto and appoints Eli Barkat and Hanan Miron, jointly
and severally, the proxy of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to
vote all Ordinary Shares of BackWeb Technologies Ltd. which the undersigned is
entitled to vote, either on his or her own behalf or on behalf of an entity or
entities, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to be held at 3
Abba Hillel Street, Ramat Gan, Israel on May 30, 2000 at [hour] local time, and
at any adjournment or postponement thereof, with the same force and effect as
the undersigned might or could do it personally present thereat. The shares
represented by this proxy shall be voted in the manner set forth on the reverse
side.
VOTING BALLOT
This card also serves as a ballot for shareholders of BackWeb
Technologies Ltd. who have addresses in Israel and who direct the Company to
consider this card as a ballot (as described in the proxy statement) by checking
the box below. If any such shareholder does not check the box this proxy/ballot
will be treated as a proxy.
I direct the Company to treat this proxy/ballot as a ballot. I hereby vote my
ordinary shares of BackWeb Technologies Ltd. as specified on the reverse side of
this card.
-------------------------
SEE REVERSE
CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE SIDE
-------------------------
<PAGE> 18
DETACH HERE
Please mark votes as in this example.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR each of the matters listed
below. This Proxy/Ballot, when properly executed, will be voted as specified
below. This Proxy/Ballot will be voted FOR Proposals No. 1, 2, 3, and 4 if no
specification is made.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
1. To expand the Board of Directors to six members
2. Election of Directors:
Nominees: FOR WITHHOLD
Joseph Gleberman, Class I Director AUTHORITY
William Larson, Outside Director
Gil Schwed, Outside Director
[Female nominee], Outside Director
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
3. To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent
auditors for the 2000 fiscal year
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
4. To approve the Company's proposed distribution relationship
with and investment in DeliverEx, Inc.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
5. To make 1,110,315 additional shares available under the 1998
U.S. Employee Stock Option Plan
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
6. To elect Eli Barkat as the Company's Chief Executive Officer
and Chairman of the Board of Directors for a period of
three years
</TABLE>
MARK HERE FOR
ADDRESS CHANGE
Address Change Information: AND NOTE AT LEFT
Please sign your name exactly as it appears hereon. If acting as attorney,
executor, trustee or in other representative capacity, sign name and title. By
signing below, the undersigned confirms that he/she/it does not have a personal
interest in the transaction described in Proposal Four, unless the box to the
right is checked.
Signature: Date:
------------------------------- ---------------
Signature: Date:
------------------------------- ---------------
