<PAGE>
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [_]
Check the appropriate box:
[_] Preliminary Proxy Statement [_] CONFIDENTIAL, FOR USE OF THE
COMMISSION ONLY (AS PERMITTED BY
RULE 14A-6(E)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[_] Definitive Additional Materials
[_] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12
DIALOGIC CORPORATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(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)(4) 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:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes:
<PAGE>
LOGO
DIALOGIC CORPORATION
March 31, 1998
Dear Shareholder:
On behalf of the Board of Directors and management, I am pleased to invite
you to the 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Dialogic Corporation. The
meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 29, 1998 at 10:00 a.m. at the Hanover
Marriott Hotel, 1401 Route 10 East, Whippany, New Jersey. A notice of meeting,
proxy statement and proxy card are enclosed for your review.
I urge you to read the enclosed materials carefully and to complete, sign
and mail promptly the proxy card contained with this letter to assure that
your vote will be counted.
The officers, directors and staff of Dialogic sincerely appreciate your
continuing support.
Very truly yours,
Nicholas Zwick
Chairman of the Board
<PAGE>
DIALOGIC CORPORATION
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Dialogic Corporation (the "Company")
will be held at the Hanover Marriott Hotel, 1401 Route 10 East, Whippany, New
Jersey on Wednesday, April 29, 1998 at 10:00 a.m. to consider and act upon the
following:
1. Election of three directors to serve for a term of three years;
2. The transaction of such other business as may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Only shareholders of record at the closing of business on March 9, 1998 are
entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting.
Theodore M. Weitz
Secretary
Parsippany, NJ
March 31, 1998
TO ASSURE THAT YOUR SHARES ARE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE,
DATE, SIGN, AND MAIL PROMPTLY THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD IN THE RETURN ENVELOPE
PROVIDED.
<PAGE>
DIALOGIC CORPORATION
1515 U.S. ROUTE 10
PARSIPPANY, NEW JERSEY 07054
PROXY STATEMENT
The Board of Directors of Dialogic Corporation (the "Company") is soliciting
proxies for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at the
Hanover Marriott Hotel, 1401 Route 10 East, Whippany, New Jersey on Wednesday,
April 29, 1998 at 10:00 a.m., and for use at any adjournments thereof (the
"Annual Meeting"). This Proxy Statement and the enclosed form of proxy are
first being sent to shareholders on or about March 31, 1998.
RECORD DATE AND QUORUM. Only shareholders of record at the close of business
on March 9, 1998 (the "Record Date") will be entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting. On that date, there were outstanding 16,155,876 shares of Common
Stock of the Company ("Common Stock"). Each share of Common Stock is entitled
to one vote on each matter to be voted on at the Annual Meeting. The presence
at the Annual Meeting, in person or by proxy, of holders as of the Record Date
of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock will
constitute a quorum.
VOTING PROCEDURES. Directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes
cast. Approval of any other matter to be submitted to the shareholders will
require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast thereon at the
Annual Meeting. Properly executed proxies will be voted as directed in the
proxy; however, if no direction is given, a properly executed proxy will be
voted FOR the election of the nominees described below. Votes will not be
considered "cast" if the shares are not voted for any reason, including if an
abstention is indicated as such on a written proxy or ballot or if votes are
withheld by a broker. Accordingly, abstentions and broker non-votes will be
counted only for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present; if a
quorum is present, abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect upon
the election of directors or any other matters submitted to shareholders at
the Annual Meeting.
PROXIES AND REVOCATION. A proxy card is enclosed. Any shareholder giving a
proxy may revoke it at any time before it is exercised. In order to revoke a
proxy, the shareholder must give a written notice of such revocation to the
Secretary of the Company or to the Secretary of the Annual Meeting or vote the
shares of Common Stock subject to the proxy by a later dated proxy or by
written ballot at the Annual Meeting. The presence at the Annual Meeting of
any shareholder who has given a proxy will not in and of itself revoke the
proxy.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY
The Company's Board of Directors is divided into three classes, with each
class serving staggered terms of three years, so that only one class is
elected in any one year. At present there are seven directors on the Board.
Three directors are to be elected at the Annual Meeting to serve until the
2001 Annual Meeting and until their respective successors are elected and have
qualified.
Each of the nominees for director is presently a director of the Company.
Each has consented to being named as a nominee in this Proxy Statement and has
agreed to serve as a director if elected at the Annual Meeting. It is the
intention of the persons named as proxies to vote the shares represented by
the accompanying form of proxy for the election of each of the nominees listed
below. If any nominee shall become unable or unwilling to serve as a director,
the persons named as proxies will cast their votes for the remaining nominees
and have discretion to vote for other persons designated by the Board of
Directors. The Board of Directors has no reason to believe that any of the
nominees will be unavailable for election.
<PAGE>
The following describes the current and past five years' business
experience, certain directorships and age of each nominee for director and of
each director whose term extends beyond 1998 and thus is continuing in office.
The following information is given as of January 31, 1998 and was furnished to
the Company by the respective nominees and continuing directors:
Nominees
. HOWARD G. BUBB: President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company
(June 1993 to present); Executive Vice President (July 1991 to June 1993)
and Chief Operating Officer (August 1992 to June 1993) of the Company;
Consultant (February 1991 to July 1991); currently on the Board of
Directors at Pairgain Technologies, Inc. Director since 1998. Age: 43.
. KENNETH J. BURKHARDT, JR.: Co-founder of the Company; Executive Vice
President of New Business Development of the Company (October 1992 to
present); Executive Vice President of Operations of the Company (prior
years). Director since 1983. Age: 52.
. JOHN N. LEMASTERS: Chairman and CEO of Augat Inc., during 1996. Retired
senior executive and board member; retired in 1994 as Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Computer Products, Inc. (multi-national electronics
manufacturer) (prior years); formerly senior executive of Contel
Corporation and Harris Corporation; current member of the board of
directors of Thomas & Betts Corporation. Director since 1993. Age: 64.
Continuing Directors Serving Until 1999
. FRANCIS G. "BUCK" RODGERS: Author and lecturer (more than the past five
years); former Vice President, Marketing, of IBM Corporation; current
member of the boards of directors of Bergen Brunswig Corporation,
Mercantile Stores, Inc. and Milliken and Company. Director since 1993.
Age: 71.
. NICHOLAS ZWICK: Co-founder of the Company; Chairman of the Board of the
Company (March 1993 to present); President and Chief Executive Officer of
the Company (prior years to May 1993). Director since 1983. Age: 45.
Continuing Directors Serving Until 2000
. MASAO KONOMI: Chief Executive Officer of Konomi, Inc. (Tokyo-based
international investment banking firm) (more than the past five years);
President, Pan Communications, Inc. (Tokyo-based communications device
developer) (more than the past five years). Director since 1993. Age: 54.
. JAMES J. SHINN: Co-founder of the Company; Senior Fellow, Council on
Foreign Relations (February 1994 to June 1997); Executive Vice President,
International Marketing, of the Company (June 1993 to August 1994);
Executive Vice President, International Group, of the Company (August
1992 to June 1993); Vice President of Sales of the Company (August 1991
to August 1992); Vice President of Sales and Marketing of the Company
(prior years). Director since 1983. Age: 46.
During 1997, the Board of Directors held six meetings, the Audit Committee
held three meetings and the Compensation Committee held six meetings. During
1997, no director attended less than 75 percent of the aggregate number of
meetings of the Board of Directors of the Company and committees of the Board
of which he was a member. There are no relationships by blood, marriage, or
adoption, not more remote than first cousin, between any nominee for director,
continuing director or executive officer of the Company and any other nominee
for director, continuing director or executive officer of the Company.
Audit Committee--The functions of the Audit Committee include recommending
the appointment of a firm of independent public accountants to audit the books
and records of the Company and its subsidiaries, discussing with management
and auditors the results of annual and other audits, monitoring the Company's
internal
2
<PAGE>
accounting and management controls, appraising the scope of proposed audits,
analyzing audit fees, reviewing the Company's financial plans and budgets,
monitoring the procedures and systems used in preparing the Company's
consolidated financial statements, assessing compliance with applicable
financial reporting statutes and regulations and monitoring the staffing of
the Company's accounting and financial departments. The Audit Committee is
composed of four directors who are not officers or employees of the Company or
its subsidiaries. The current members of the Audit Committee are Mr.
Lemasters, Chairman, and Messrs. Konomi, Rodgers and Shinn.
Compensation Committee--The functions of the Compensation Committee include
reviewing and approving salary policy and management incentive compensation
plans, administering the Company's stock benefit plans, reviewing and
approving changes in certain other benefit plans and reviewing other
management benefits. The Compensation Committee is composed of four directors
who are not officers or employees of the Company or its subsidiaries. The
current members of the Compensation Committee are Mr. Rodgers, Chairman, and
Messrs. Konomi, Lemasters and Shinn.
The Board has no nominating committee; the functions of a nominating
committee are performed by the entire Board. No procedures have been developed
with respect to obtaining nominations from shareholders.
SECURITIES OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS
The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of shares of Common
Stock as of February 1, 1998, by the directors of the Company, by the
executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table below and by all
directors and executive officers of the Company as a group. Information in
this table was furnished to the Company by the respective directors and
executive officers.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES OF
COMMON STOCK PERCENTAGE
BENEFICIAL OWNER BENEFICIALLY OWNED(1)(2) BENEFICIALLY OWNED
---------------- ------------------------ ------------------
<S> <C> <C>
John G. Alfieri.................... 41,750 *
Thomas G. Amato.................... 3,500 *
Howard G. Bubb..................... 311,773 1.93
Kenneth J. Burkhardt, Jr........... 1,622,550(3) 10.07
Darrayl E. Cannon.................. 10,428 *
Masao Konomi....................... 23,142 *
John N. Lemasters.................. 23,198 *
Francis G. Rodgers................. 23,198 *
James J. Shinn..................... 1,277,240(4) 7.93
Charles H. House................... 21,333(5) *
Nicholas Zwick..................... 3,124,899(6) 19.39
All executive officers and direc-
tors as a group (15 persons)...... 6,505,916 40.68
</TABLE>
- --------
* Represents less than 1% of the outstanding Common Stock. There were
16,122,367 shares outstanding on February 1, 1998.
(1) Except as set forth below, the persons named in the table, to the
Company's knowledge, have sole voting power and sole investment power with
respect to all shares of Common Stock shown as beneficially owned by them,
subject to community property laws where applicable. All directors and
executive officers beneficially owning more than 5% of the Company's
Common Stock have a business address c/o Dialogic Corporation, 1515 Route
10, Parsippany, New Jersey 07054.
(2) Includes, for the following persons or group, the following number of
shares that may be obtained through the exercise of stock options which
were exercisable as of February 1, 1998 or within 60 days of such date:
Mr. Alfieri, 41,250 shares;; Mr. Bubb 309,625 shares; Mr. Cannon, 10,000
shares; Mr. Konomi, 22,500 shares; Mr. Lemasters, 11,250 shares; Mr.
Rodgers, 16,875 shares; and all executive officers and directors
3
<PAGE>
as a group, 445,750 shares. Includes, for the following persons or group,
the following number of shares held for such persons or group pursuant to
the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan: Mr. Bubb, 2,148 shares; Mr.
Cannon, 428 shares; Mr. House, 733 shares and all executive officers and
directors as a group, 3,424 shares.
(3) Includes 103,500 shares held by Mr. Burkhardt's wife as trustee of trusts
for the benefit of their children.
(4) Includes 80,000 shares held by Mr. Shinn's wife as trustee of trusts for
the benefit of their children.
(5) Includes 4,000 shares subject to a restricted stock award granted on
1/1/98.
(6)Includes 138,000 shares held by a charitable trust.
Other than Messrs. Burkhardt, Shinn and Zwick, the only shareholders known
by the Company to beneficially own more than five percent of the outstanding
Common Stock are Kopp Investment Advisors, Inc. ("Kopp") 6600 France Avenue
South Edina, MN 55435, and Fidelity Management & Research Co. (FMR) 82
Devonshire Street Boston, MA 02105. Kopp has advised the Company that as of
December 31, 1997, it beneficially owned 2,860,818 shares of Common Stock
(i.e. approximately 17.8% of the outstanding shares as of that date). FMR has
advised the Company that as of December 31, 1997, it beneficially owned
1,381,300 shares of Common Stock (i.e. approximately 8.6% of the outstanding
shares as of that date.)
SECTION 16 (A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16 (a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's
directors, executive officers and 10% shareholders to file with the Securities
and Exchange Commission certain reports regarding such persons' ownership of
the Company's securities. The Company is required to disclose any failures to
file such reports on a timely basis. During the year ended December 31, 1997,
Mr. James Shinn, a director of the Company, reported an additional sale which
he made in May 1996. The failure to report this sale on a timely basis was
inadvertent. The sale was reported promptly after the failure to report was
discovered.
4
<PAGE>
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION
SUMMARY OF CASH AND CERTAIN OTHER COMPENSATION
The following table and accompanying footnotes set forth certain summary
information, relating to the three years ended December 31, 1997, with respect
to the Company's Chief Executive Officer and the Company's four other most
highly compensated executive officers during 1997 (the "Named Officers"):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG-TERM
COMPENSATION
ANNUAL COMPENSATION AWARDS
--------------------------------------- ----------------
BONUS SECURITIES ALL OTHER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL SALARY ($) (2) OTHER ANNUAL UNDERLYING COMPENSATIONS ($)
POSITION YEAR ($) (3) COMPENSATION ($) OPTIONS/SARS (#) (5)
- ------------------ ---- -------- -------- ---------------- ---------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Howard G. Bubb.......... 1997 $263,096 $101,750 -- 50,000 $6,494
President and Chief 1996 206,725 76,266 -- 25,000 6,825
Executive Officer 1995 161,339 58,960 -- 20,000 7,065
John G. Alfieri......... 1997 140,192 55,975 -- 15,000 7,094
Vice President, Sales 1996 115,300 92,784 -- 10,000 7,163
and Service the Americas 1995 96,138 82,568 -- 10,000 7,232
Thomas G. Amato (1)..... 1997 137,049 72,135 87,793 (4) 40,000 2,096
Chief Financial Officer
Darrayl E. Cannon (1)... 1997 190,046 21,151 -- 10,000 5,766
Vice President, 1996 150,000 36,597 58,109 (4) 5,000 2,671
Operations 1995 46,200 73,372 -- 40,000 148
Charles H. House (1).... 1997 243,346 70,382 35,477 (4) 15,000 5,545
Vice President 1996 200,000 83,228 -- 50,000 4,217
1995 3,846 -- -- --
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Mr. Amato was only employed by Dialogic for seven months during 1997. Mr.
Cannon was only employed by Dialogic for four months in 1995. Mr. House
became an employee of Dialogic as of December 11, 1995.
(2) For all Named Officers other than Mr. Alfieri for a given year, includes
bonuses paid after year-end, with respect to performance during such year
and excludes bonuses paid during such year for performance during the
prior year.
(3) For Mr. Alfieri, for a given year, includes sales commissions and bonuses
paid after year-end with respect to performance during such year and
excludes sales commissions and bonuses paid during such year for
performance during the prior year.
(4) Represents reimbursement to Mr. Cannon, Mr. Amato and Mr. House for
relocation expenses. During the years presented, no other Named Officer
received personal benefits from the Company in excess of 10% of such
individual's reported salary and bonus. Amounts below this threshold are
not included in the table.
(5) For 1997, represents contributions made by the Company to the Company's
401(k) plan on behalf of the Named Officers to match 1997 pre-tax deferral
contributions (included under "Salary") made by the Named Officers to such
plan, as follows: Mr. Bubb, $3,200; Mr. Alfieri, $3,800; Mr. Amato,
$1,758; Mr. Cannon, $3,785; Mr. House, $3,800. For 1997, also includes
$3,294, $3,294, $338, $1,981, and $1,745, respectively, paid to Messrs.
Bubb, Alfieri, Amato, Cannon, and House, respectively, pursuant to certain
profit-sharing arrangements (including amounts paid in 1998 relating to
1997 and excluding amounts paid in 1997 relating to 1996.)
EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTIONS
The Company presently maintains the 1997 Incentive Benefit Plan and the 1988
Incentive Compensation Plan for employees. The Company also has outstanding
stock option programs for former employees of
5
<PAGE>
GammaLink, Spectron Microsystems, Inc. ("Spectron") and Dianatel Corporation
("Dianatel") who held stock options granted by GammaLink, Spectron, and
Dianatel that were outstanding at the time that these corporations were
acquired by the Company (collectively, the "Existing Option Plans"). As of
December 31, 1997, options to purchase approximately 2.6 million shares of
Common Stock were outstanding under the Existing Option Plans. The options
granted under the Existing Options Plans generally have terms of eight or ten
years and terminate at or within a specified period of time after the
Optionee's employment with the Company ends. Options are exercisable in
installments determined at the date of grant. However, options granted to
executive officers and certain other officers of the Company will accelerate
(i.e., become fully exercisable) if they undergo a "Termination Event" within
twelve months after a "Change in Control" occurs. In general, a "Change in
Control" means the acquisition of 50.1% or more of the Common Stock by a third
party, merger of the Company or certain substantial changes in the composition
of the Board of Directors.
The following table and accompanying footnotes contain information regarding
the grant of stock options to the Named Officers during 1997 under the
Existing Option Plans.
OPTIONS/SAR GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
------------------------------------------------
PERCENT OF POTENTIAL REALIZABLE VALUE AT
NUMBER OF TOTAL ASSUMED ANNUAL RATES OF STOCK
SECURITIES OPTIONS/SARS PRICE APPRECIATION FOR OPTION
UNDERLYING GRANTED TO EXERCISE OR TERM (1)
OPTIONS/SARS EMPLOYEES IN BASE PRICE EXPIRATION ------------------------------
NAME GRANTED (#) 1997 ($/SH.) DATE 5% ($) 10% ($)
- ---- ------------ ------------ ----------- ---------- -------------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Howard G. Bubb.......... 50,000 7.0% $37.8125 8/8/05 $ 902,689 $2,162,075
John G. Alfieri......... 15,000 2.1% 37.8125 8/8/05 270,807 648,623
Thomas G. Amato......... 40,000 5.6% 19.00 4/28/05 362,864 869,124
Darrayl E. Cannon....... 10,000 1.4% 37.8125 8/8/05 180,538 432,415
Charles H. House........ 15,000 2.1% 35.0625 8/8/05 330,759 838,209
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Amounts represent hypothetical gains that could be achieved if the options
described in the table were exercised at the end of the option term. These
gains are based on assumed rates of stock price appreciation of 5% and
10%, compounded annually from the date the options were granted to their
expiration date, based upon the fair market value of the Common Stock as
of the date the options were granted. Actual gains, if any, on stock
option exercises and Common Stock holdings are dependent upon the future
performance of the Company and overall financial market conditions. There
can be no assurance that amounts reflected in this table will be achieved.
The following table and accompanying footnotes set forth certain information
regarding stock options exercised by the Named Officers during 1997 and stock
options held by the Named Officers as of December 31, 1997.
6
<PAGE>
AGGREGATE OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEARAND FISCAL YEAR-END
OPTION/SAR VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SECURITIES
UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
OPTIONS/SARS AT YEAR- IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS/SARS
END(#) AT YEAR-END(1)($)
---------------------- -------------------------
SHARES ACQUIRED VALUE
NAME ON EXERCISE(#) REALIZED($) EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
- ---- --------------- ----------- ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Howard G. Bubb.......... 10,000 349,444 309,625 114,000 $4,154,715 $3,078,625
John G. Alfieri......... 2,000 79,208 41,250 44,250 256,284 1,100,693
Thomas G. Amato......... -- -- -- 40,000 -- 760,000
Darrayl E. Cannon....... -- -- 10,000 45,000 272,500 1,326,875
Charles H. House........ -- -- 12,500 52,500 456,250 1,935,938
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Based upon the closing price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq National
Market System on December 31, 1997 ($43.75), less the exercise price,
multiplied by the number of shares covered by the option; options with
exercise prices equal to or greater than $43.75 were excluded from the
calculation of the value of unexercised options.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
The Company has entered into an employment agreement with Howard G. Bubb as
President and Chief Executive Officer which runs for an initial term through
January 1, 2000, at an initial base salary of $275,000 subject to annual
increase. He is also eligible for bonuses and stock options in accordance with
Company plans. The agreement is terminable for upon six months notice. Under
the agreement, Mr. Bubb received the salaries reflected in the table under the
caption "Summary of Cash and Certain Other Compensation" and is entitled to
receive cash bonuses based upon Company and individual performance. He is also
entitled to the use of a Company-supplied automobile and to receive such
insurance, vacation, disability and other benefits as were generally available
to the Company's executive officers. He also received various stock options
pursuant to that agreement.
7
<PAGE>
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Compensation Committee is responsible for implementing, overseeing and
administering the Company's overall compensation policy. The basic objectives
of that policy are to (a) provide compensation levels that are fair and
competitive with peer companies, (b) align pay with performance and (c( where
appropriate, provide incentives which link executive and stockholder interests
and long-term corporate objectives through the use of equity-based incentives.
Overall, the Company's compensation program is designed to attract, retain and
motivate high quality and experienced employees at all levels of the Company.
The principal elements of executive officer compensation are base pay, bonus,
profit-sharing and stock options, together with 401(k) and health benefits.
The various aspects of the compensation program, as applied to the Company's
Chief Executive Officer and the Company's other executive officers, are
outlined below.
Executive officer compensation is, in large part, determined by the
individual officer's ability to achieve his or her performance objectives.
Each of Dialogic's executive officers participates in the development of an
annual business strategy from which individual objectives are established and
performance goals are measured quarterly. Initially, the objectives are
proposed by the particular officer involved. Those objectives are then
determined by the Chief Executive Officer or, in case of Mr. Bubb's
objectives, by the Chairman of the Board.
BASE PAY
The Company determines base pay for its executive officers through an
evaluation of the extent to which such individuals have achieved their
performance objectives and a comparative analysis of total compensation for
similar positions within other surveyed companies. Four specific categories of
comparable companies were considered by the Compensation Committee in 1997.
First, the Committee considered a peer group of companies that were utilized
by the Company's underwriters in its 1994 initial public offering as a base
group of comparable businesses. Second, the Committee analyzed compensation
paid to a group of high technology, high growth companies that are positioned
in their fields in a manner comparable to the Company's position within the
computer telephony industry. Third, the Company participated in a total
compensation survey and utilized the results of that survey to further
validate information from the other two surveys. Fourth, the Committee
performed a comparative analysis and assessment of Dialogic's equity incentive
program as compared with comparable programs of a selected group of
telecommunications and networking firms.
The Chief Executive Officer's performance is analyzed against his objectives
by the full Board of Directors (other than Mr. Bubb). Mr. Bubb, in turn,
reviews the performance of his "direct reports" (including each of the
Company's executive officers other than directors Burkhardt and Zwick) against
their performance objectives on a quarterly basis. Salaries are reviewed on an
annual basis after consideration of performance analyses and compensation paid
by surveyed companies. In 1997, the Compensation Committee reviewed Mr. Bubb's
performance and decided to increase his base salary to $275,000 per annum.
Of the Named Officers, Mr. Alfieri is the only officer whose cash
compensation includes commissions. Commission-based compensation is considered
to be appropriate for Mr. Alfieri in light of his sales responsibilities.
BONUS
Each executive officer of the Company is eligible to receive a quarterly
bonus if such officer achieves his or her individual performance objectives
and the Company achieves its quarterly performance goal. The Company's
performance goal is based upon earnings before interest and taxes. The Board's
quarterly review of the Chief Executive Officer's performance determines
whether he will receive a quarterly bonus. The Chief Executive Officer, in
turn, reviews his "direct reports" to determine whether quarterly bonuses have
been earned. Mr. Bubb received bonuses of $101,750 for 1997 performance
pursuant to this quarterly bonus program.
PROFIT-SHARING
The Company has established a quarterly profit-sharing program pursuant to
which a portion of the Company's quarterly profits are allocated among all
employees. Under this formula approach, payments are
8
<PAGE>
made if the Company reaches 85% of its quarterly after-tax earnings objective
(as established by the Chief Executive Officer). In that event, the Company
pays seven percent of its quarterly after-tax earnings in the form of profit-
sharing payments. Amounts are allocated based upon months of service and
salary, subject to certain limitations. During 1997, Mr. Bubb earned $3,294
pursuant to the Company's profit-sharing arrangements.
STOCK OPTIONS
The Compensation Committee believes that a stock option plan provides
capital accumulation opportunities to participants in a manner that fosters
the alignment of the participants' interests and risks with the interests and
risks of the Company's public shareholders. The Compensation Committee further
believes that stock options can function to assure the continuing retention
and loyalty of employees. Many of the options that have been granted to
executive officers carry long-term (i.e., five year or eight year) vesting
schedules. Officers who leave the Company's employ before their options are
fully vested will lose a portion of the benefits that they might otherwise
receive if they remain in the Company's employ for the entire vesting period.
Historically, stock option grants for existing employees have been based upon
a comparative analysis of equity-based compensation among peer companies and
an analysis of the performance of the employees involved in light of the
objectives established for such employees.
The Company issues options and other incentives under the 1988 Incentive
Compensation Plan and the 1997 Incentive Benefit Plan. At December 31, 1997,
approximately 1,886,231 million shares of common stock remained available for
future stock grants under the 1988 Incentive Compensation Plan and the 1997
Incentive Benefit Plan. The Committee believes that these plans enable the
Company to link employee incentives with shareholder interests.
During 1997, Mr. Bubb was granted a stock option, covering 50,000 shares, at
an exercise price equal to the then current market price of the Company's
Common Stock, $37.8125
The Compensation Committee believes that an appropriate compensation program
can help in fostering a continuation of profitable operations if the program
reflects a suitable balance between providing appropriate awards to key
employees while at the same time effectively controlling compensation costs,
principally by establishing cash compensation at competitive levels and
emphasizing supplemental compensation that correlates to the performance of
individuals, the Company and the Company's Common Stock.
This report has been furnished by the Compensation Committee of Dialogic's
Board of Directors.
Francis G. Rodgers, Chairman
Masao Konomi
John N. Lemasters
James J. Shinn
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
During 1994, James J. Shinn became a member of the Company's Compensation
Committee, after he ceased serving as an executive officer and employee of the
Company. Mr. Shinn is a co-founder of the Company, was an executive officer
and employee of the Company for several years and has served on the Board of
Directors of the Company since its inception. No other member of the
Compensation Committee has ever been employed by the Company.
9
<PAGE>
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph compares the percentage change in the cumulative total
shareholder return on the Company's Common Stock with the cumulative total
return of the Nasdaq Stock Market--United States Index and the Hambrecht &
Quist Technology Index for the period from April 12, 1994 (the date on which
the Common Stock was first publicly traded) through December 31, 1997. For
purposes of the graph, it is assumed that the value of the investment in the
Company's Common Stock and each index was 100 on April 12, 1994 and that all
dividends were reinvested.
COMPARISON OF 45 MONTH CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
AMONG DIALOGIC CORPORATION, THE NASDAQ
STOCK MARKET(US INDEX AND THE
HAMBRECHT & QUIST TECHNOLOGY INDEX*
HAMBRECHT & QUIST MASDAQ STOCK
YEAR DIALOGIC CORPORATION TECHNOLOGY MARKET (U.S.)
- ---- -------------------- ---------- -------------
4/12/94 100 100 100
6/94 102 94 96
9/94 121 107 104
12/94 165 119 103
3/95 199 133 112
6/95 125 166 128
9/95 174 188 143
12/95 270 178 145
3/96 296 182 152
6/96 418 195 164
9/96 249 207 170
12/96 221 221 178
3/97 136 211 169
6/97 187 254 199
9/97 308 302 234
12/97 307 260 219
- --------
* $100 INVESTED ON 04/12/94 IN COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK OR ON 4/1/94 IN INDEX
INCLUDING REINVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS
10
<PAGE>
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Employee directors do not receive any compensation for serving on the Board.
Non-employee directors receive an annual retainer of $12,000, $1,000 for each
Board meeting that they attend in person, $500 for each Board meeting attended
by telephone and for each committee meeting attended in person, and $250 for
each committee meeting attended by telephone. On April 29, 1997, the
shareholders of the Company approved the Director Stock Election/Deferral Plan
which permits those directors who receive director fees from the Company to
elect to receive their fees in Company Common Stock and, if they choose to
receive their fees in the form of Common Stock, to defer such receipt for a
period of five years. During 1997 the following shares were granted in lieu of
director's fees:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
James Shinn............................ 690 shares
Francis Rodgers........................ 698 shares
Masao Konomi........................... 642 shares
John Lemasters......................... 698 shares
</TABLE>
Approximately 37,000 shares remain available for future grant pursuant to such
plan.
The Company maintains a stock option plan (the 1993 Non-Employee Director
Stock Option Plan) for non-employee directors. As initially adopted, this plan
provided for the automatic grant of options covering 22,500 shares of Common
Stock to be made on a one-time basis when non-employee directors commenced
their service on the Company's Board of Directors. The plan as initially
adopted also provided that options granted thereunder would vest in equal
installments over a four-year period, commencing one year after service on the
Board commenced. Messrs. Konomi, Lemasters and Rodgers have each been granted
options pursuant to this plan, all of which options are now fully vested.
Amendments to this Plan were approved by the shareholders of the Company on
April 29, 1997. The plan as amended provides for options covering 2,000 shares
of Common Stock to each outside director for each year that he or she serves
on the Board beyond the period that his or her initial options fully vest. The
size of initial grants for new outside directors was also reduced to options
covering 10,000 shares of Common Stock.
11
<PAGE>
OTHER MATTERS
COSTS
The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company. In addition to
solicitation by mail, proxies may be solicited personally or by telephone or
telegraph by regular employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. Brokerage
houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries will be requested to
forward soliciting material to their principals, and the Company will, upon
request, reimburse them for the reasonable expense of doing so.
RELATIONSHIP WITH INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
Deloitte and Touche, LLP, certified public accountants, have been selected
by the Board of Directors to audit and report on the Company's financial
statements for the year ending December 31, 1998. A representative of that
firm is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and will have an
opportunity to make a statement if he or she so desires. The representative is
expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions from
shareholders.
OTHER MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED
The Board of Directors does not know of any matter, other than the election
of directors, to be presented at the Annual Meeting for action by
shareholders. However, if any other matter is properly brought before the
Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof, it is intended that votes will be
cast with respect to such matter, pursuant to the proxies, in accordance with
the best judgment of the persons acting under the proxies.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
If a shareholder of the Company wishes to have a proposal included in the
Company's proxy statement for the 1999 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the
proposal must be received at the Company's principal executive offices by
November 30, 1998.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Theodore M. Weitz, Secretary
March 31, 1998
A COPY OF THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 1997, INCLUDING CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, ACCOMPANIES
THIS PROXY STATEMENT. THE ANNUAL REPORT IS NOT TO BE REGARDED AS PROXY
SOLICITING MATERIAL OR AS A COMMUNICATION BY MEANS OF WHICH ANY SOLICITATION
IS TO BE MADE.
12
<PAGE>
PROXY
DIALOGIC CORPORATION
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS, APRIL 29, 1998
The undersigned hereby appoints Howard G. Bubb, Thomas G. Amato and Theodore
M. Weitz, and each of them, attorneys and proxies, with power of substitution
in each of them, to vote for and on behalf of the undersigned at the annual
meeting of the shareholders of the Company to be held on April 29, 1998, and at
any adjournment thereof, upon matters properly coming before the meeting, as
set forth in the related Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement, both of which
have been received by the undersigned. Without otherwise limiting the general
authorization given hereby, said attorneys and proxies are instructed to vote
as follows:
1.Election of the Board's nominees for Director.
[_] FOR ALL NOMINEES [_] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY FOR ALL NOMINEES
(THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR")
Nominees: Howard G. Bubb, Kenneth J. Burkhardt and John N. Lemasters
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, write
that name in the space provided above.
Adoption of the following Proposals (the Board of Directors recommends a vote
"FOR" with respect to the following):
2. Upon all such other matters as may properly come before the meeting and/or
any adjournment or adjournments thereof, as they in their discretion may
determine. The Board of Directors is not aware of any such other matters.
<PAGE>
Signed:
------------------------------
Dated:
---------------------- , 1997
NOTE: Please sign this proxy and
return it promptly whether or
not you expect to attend the
meeting. You may nevertheless
vote in person if you attend.
Please sign exactly as your name
appears hereon. Give full title
if an Attorney, Executor, Admin-
istrator, Trustee, Guardian,
etc. For an account in the name
of two or more persons, each
should sign, or if one signs, he
should attach evidence of his
authority.
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED IN THE SQUARES OR SPACE PROVIDED IN THIS PROXY, THIS
PROXY, IF EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED FOR THE BOARD'S NOMINEES AND FOR ADOPTION OF
EACH OF THE ABOVE-MENTIONED PLAN PROPOSALS.
