<PAGE>
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 Rule 14(a)-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
Sound Source Interactive, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Board of Directors of Sound Source Interactive, Inc.
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)
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
previously paid. 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:
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<PAGE>
SOUND SOURCE INTERACTIVE, INC.
----------------
Notice of 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
to be held Wednesday, December 29, 1999
----------------
To the Stockholders of Sound Source Interactive, Inc.:
The 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Sound Source Interactive, Inc.
(the "Company") will be held on Wednesday, December 29, 1999 at 10:00 a.m.
local time at the Company's offices at 26115 Mureau Road, Suite B, Calabasas,
California, for the following purposes:
1. To elect five directors, each to hold office for a term ending in
December 2000 or when their successors are elected and qualified.
2. To approve the Sound Source Interactive, Inc. 1999 Director Stock
Plan, and the payment of all nonemployee director fees for the period
ending June 30, 2000 in shares of the Company's common stock.
3. To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company's
independent auditors for 2000.
4. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual
Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Only stockholders of record as shown on the books of the Company at the
close of business on November 24, 1999, the record date and time fixed by the
Board of Directors, will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting and any
adjournment thereof.
Eugene Code
Secretary
Calabasas, California
November 29, 1999
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN YOUR PROXY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN THE
ENCLOSED ENVELOPE, WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING
IN PERSON. STOCKHOLDERS WHO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING MAY REVOKE THEIR
PROXIES AND VOTE IN PERSON IF THEY DESIRE.
<PAGE>
SOUND SOURCE INTERACTIVE, INC.
26115 Mureau Road, Suite B
Calabasas, California 91302
----------------
PROXY STATEMENT
----------------
GENERAL INFORMATION
Solicitation of Proxies
This Proxy Statement is furnished to holders of the common stock, par value
$.001 per share, of Sound Source Interactive, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), in connection with the solicitation by the Company's Board of
Directors of proxies for use at the Company's 1999 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") to be held on Wednesday, December 29, 1999
at 10:00 a.m. local time at the Company's offices at 26115 Mureau Road, Suite
B, Calabasas, California, and any and all adjournments thereof. The purpose of
the Annual Meeting and the matters to be acted on there are set forth in the
accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Solicitations of proxies will be made by preparing and mailing the Notice of
Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and proxy to stockholders of record as of the
close of business on November 24, 1999. These materials are expected to be
first mailed to stockholders on or about November 29, 1999. The cost of making
the solicitation includes the cost of preparing and mailing the Notice of
Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and proxy and the payment of charges imposed
by brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for
forwarding documents to stockholders. In certain instances, officers of the
Company may make special solicitations of proxies either in person or by
telephone. Expenses incurred in connection with special solicitations are
expected to be nominal. The Company will bear all expenses incurred in
connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Annual Meeting.
Voting and Revocation of Proxies
A stockholder giving a proxy on the enclosed form may revoke it at any time
prior to the actual voting at the Annual Meeting by filing written notice of
the termination of the appointment with an officer of the Company, by
attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person or by filing a new written
appointment of a proxy with an officer of the Company. The revocation of a
proxy will not affect any vote taken prior to the revocation.
Unless a proxy is revoked or there is a direction to abstain on one or more
proposals, it will be voted on each proposal and, if a choice is made with
respect to any matter to be acted upon, in accordance with such choice. If no
choice is specified, the proxies intend to vote the shares represented thereby
to approve Proposal Nos. 1, 2 and 3 as set forth in the accompanying Notice of
Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and in accordance with their best judgment on
any other matters that may properly come before the Annual Meeting.
Voting at the Meeting
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on November 24, 1998
are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any
adjournments thereof. On November 24, 1999, there were outstanding
5,887,370 shares of Common Stock. Each share of Common Stock is entitled to
one vote on the matters to be presented at the Annual Meeting.
A majority of the votes entitled to be cast on matters to be considered at
the Annual Meeting, present in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum at
the Annual Meeting. If a share is represented for any purpose at the Annual
Meeting, it is deemed to be present for all other matters. Abstentions and
broker nonvotes will be counted for purposes of determining the presence or
absence of a quorum. "Broker nonvotes" are shares held by brokers or nominees
which are present in person or represented by proxy, but which are not voted
on a particular matter because instructions have not been received from the
beneficial owner. Under applicable Delaware law, the effect of broker nonvotes
on a particular matter depends on whether the matter is one as to which the
broker
1
<PAGE>
or nominee has discretionary voting authority. The effect of broker nonvotes
on the specific items to be brought before the Annual Meeting is discussed
under each item.
A list of those stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be
available for a period of ten days prior to the Annual Meeting for examination
by any stockholder at the Company's principal executive offices, 26115 Mureau
Road, Suite B, Calabasas, California, and at the Annual Meeting.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
(Proposal No. 1)
General Information
The Bylaws of the Company provide that the Company is authorized to have up
to seven directors, and that stockholders will elect the directors of the
Company at each annual meeting. Directors are elected to serve a term ending
on the date of the next annual meeting of stockholders. Directors being
elected at the Annual Meeting will serve until the Company's next annual
meeting of stockholders, which is currently scheduled to be held in December
2000, or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified.
Vote Required
The five nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative votes of the
shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote for
them, a quorum being present, shall be elected as directors. Only votes cast
for a nominee will be counted, except that the accompanying proxy will be
voted for all nominees in the absence of instruction to the contrary.
Abstentions, broker nonvotes and instructions on the accompanying proxy to
withhold authority to vote for one or more nominees will result in the
respective nominees receiving fewer votes. However, the number of votes
otherwise received by the nominee will not be reduced by such action.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE DIRECTOR
NOMINEES NAMED BELOW.
Information Regarding Nominees
All nominees have consented to serve if elected, but if any becomes unable
to serve, the persons named as proxies may exercise their discretion to vote
for a substitute nominee. The stockholders have previously elected all of the
director nominees. The name, age, business experience and offices held by each
director nominee are as follows:
Richard Azevedo, age 65, is President of Azevedo and Associates, Inc., which
was formed in June 1995 as a consulting firm to the nursing industry, and
which owns 40 percent of Unified Health Services, LLC, an operator of nursing
homes, which Mr. Azevedo also founded and of which he serves as President. Mr.
Azevedo also is President of Star Nursing Home Enterprises, Inc., which he
founded in 1997 and which operates two nursing homes in northern California.
From 1991 to 1995, Mr. Azevedo was President of Jesse Lee Group, Inc., which
he also founded and which operated skilled nursing home facilities. From 1986
to 1990, Mr. Azevedo was President of Medicrest of California, a corporation
comprised of 18 skilled nursing home facilities. Prior to that Mr. Azevedo was
a real estate developer with Ron-Mar Constriction Company, Inc. Mr. Azevedo
has been a director of the Company since April 1998.
Vincent J. Bitetti, age 44, founded Sound Source Interactive, Inc., a
California corporation (the "Subsidiary"), in 1989 and served as the President
of the Subsidiary from its formation. For the period from the acquisition by
the Company of the Subsidiary in 1994 until November 12, 1999, Mr. Bitetti
served as the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and as a
director of both the Company and the Subsidiary. Effective November 12, 1999,
Mr. Bitetti resigned as Chairman of the Board of the Company. Mr. Bitetti has
been a director of the Company since 1994.
2
<PAGE>
Mark A. James, age 40, is a founding member of the law firm of James,
Driggs, Walch, Santoro & Thompson in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he has been a
partner since April 1996. From 1991 until the founding of James, Driggs,
Walch, Santoro & Thompson, he was a partner in the Las Vegas firm of Jolley,
Urga, Wirth & Woodbury. Mr. James also has been a member of the Nevada State
Senate since 1992, where he serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on
Judiciary, and on the Natural Resources and Legislative Affairs and Operations
committee. Mr. James is a director of ASSI, Inc., a principal stockholder of
the Company. Mr. James has been a director of the Company since July 1996.
Samuel L. Poole, age 51, was the President and Chief Executive Officer of
Arista Learning Systems, Inc., a privately held enterprise software publisher
creating delivery and management software for distance based learning
environments, from January 1998 to October 1999. Prior to joining Arista
Learning Systems, from August 1992 until July 1997 Mr. Poole was employed by
Maxis, Inc., a publicly held entertainment software publisher, where he
ultimately served as President and Chief Executive Officer and as a director.
His prior employers include Walt Disney Software, Inc., a publisher of
entertainment and education software, where he was Director of Sales from
January 1991 to August 1992; Cinemaware Corporation, a software publisher,
where he was Vice President of Marketing and Sales from January 1989 to
January 1991; and IntelliCreations, Inc., an interactive entertainment
software publisher of which he founded and served as President from 1984 to
1989. Mr. Poole presently is a private investor and a consultant to the
software industry. He holds a B.A. from Thiel College and an MBA from Kent
State University. Mr. Poole currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Thiel
College. Mr. Poole has been a director of the Company since April 1998.
John T. Wholihan, age 61, has been Dean of the College of Business
Administration at Loyola Marymount University since 1984. Previously, he
served for five years as an Associate Dean at Bradley University, where he
also served as Director of the MBA Program and as Director of the Small
Business Institute. During this period, he also taught in the areas of
strategic management and international business. He was a Fulbright Scholar in
Brazil in 1977. Mr. Wholihan holds a B.S. from the University of Notre Dame,
an MBA from Indiana University and a Ph.D. from The American University. He
has published numerous articles and other scholarly works. He is a member of
several academic associations and honor societies, including the Academy of
Management, the Small Business Institute Directors Association, Beta Gamma
Sigma and Alpha Sigma Nu. He currently is President of the Western Association
of Collegiate Schools of Business. He is past President of the Association of
Jesuit Colleges and Universities B Business Deans. He was the founding
President of the International Association of Jesuit Business Schools. He is a
member of the Rotary Club of Los Angeles, the Financial Executives Institute
and the Jonathan Club. He has served on the board of directors of several
small companies and currently is a member of the Board of Trustees of the TIP
Funds, a family of publicly traded mutual funds. He is the immediate past
Chairman of the Board of Notre Dame Academy in Los Angeles. Mr. Wholihan has
been a director of the Company since April 1998.
Board Committees
The Board of Directors currently has appointed three standing committees:
the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Strategic Planning
Committee. During fiscal 1999, the Board of Directors also had a Search
Committee and a Nominating Committee.
The Audit Committee consists of Richard Azevedo, Mark A. James and Samuel L.
Poole. Its purpose is to recommend the appointment of an independent auditor
for the Company, review the scope of the audit, examine the auditor's reports,
make appropriate recommendations to the Board of Directors as a result of such
review and examination and make inquiries into the effectiveness of the
financial and accounting functions and controls of the Company.
The Compensation Committee consists of Richard Azevedo, Samuel L. Poole and
John T. Wholihan. It is responsible for reviewing and setting the compensation
of executive officers of the Company and for administering the Company's stock
option plans.
3
<PAGE>
The Strategic Planning Committee consists of Vincent J. Bitetti, Mark A.
James and Samuel L. Poole. The Strategic Planning Committee is responsible for
overseeing the development of the Company's stretegic planning process.
Board and Committee Meetings
In fiscal 1999, there were four meetings held by the Board of Directors.
Board committees met as follows during fiscal 1999: the Compensation Committee
met one time, while the Audit Committee, Search Committee, Strategic Planning
Committee and Nominating Committee did not meet. The total combined attendance
for all Board and Committee meetings was 86 percent. All directors attended 85
percent of the meetings of the Board and of the committees on which they
served, other than former director Wayne M. Rogers, who attended one meeting
during fiscal 1999.
Relationships With Outside Firms
Mark A. James is a current director of the Company and is and for the
Company's last two fiscal years has been a member of the law firm of James,
Driggs, Walch, Santoro & Thompson, which performed legal services for the
Company. Amounts paid to such law firm by the Company amounted to $206,485
during fiscal 1998 and $0 during fiscal 1999.
4
<PAGE>
Executive Compensation
Summary Compensation. The following table sets forth information concerning
compensation of the Company's former Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer and each of the Company's other executive officers and/or other most
highly compensated employees who received compensation from the Company in
excess of $100,000 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999 (the "Named
Executives").
Summary Compensation Table
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Summary Annual Long-Term Compensation
Compensation -----------------------------
Fiscal ----------------- Stock Options All Other
Name and Principal Position Year Salary Bonus (Shares) Compensation(2)
--------------------------- ------ -------- -------- ------------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Vincent J. Bitetti......................... 1999 $240,000 $132,500(1) 0 23,288
Chairman, former Chairman of the Board and 1998 210,466 79,000 50,000 22,543
Chief Executive Officer(3) 1997 205,077 14,029 0 19,872
Ulrich Gottschling......................... 1999 $ 73,511 $105,000(1) 0 6,053
former President, Chief Operating Officer, 1998 151,125 58,600 0 10,647
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and 1997 126,295 8,602 0 5,909
Secretary(4)
Patricia Brown............................. 1999 $100,000 $ 32,000 0 6,000
Senior Vice President 1998 41,025 2,500 0 6,000
of New Business Development(5) 1997 0 58,367 3,000
Tim Murphy................................. 1999 $105,925 $ 5,000 0 3,901
former Senior Vice President 1998 155,561 2,500 0 6,447
of Sales and Marketing(6) 1997 51,084 0 0 1,495
Mark Koenig................................ 1999 $105,000 0 0 10,573
Chief Technological Officer(7) 1998 35,000 0 58,367 859
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) The bonuses paid in fiscal 1999 were earned in fiscal 1998. $60,000 of Mr.
Bitetti's bonus was accrued in fiscal 1998. $50,000 of Mr. Gottschling's
bonus was accrued in fiscal 1998.
(2) The amounts in this column consist of the following: (a) personal use of
Company car: Mr. Bitetti-- $12,000 (1999), $12,000 (1998), $9,130 (1997),
Mr. Gottschling--$3,000 (1999), $6,000 (1998), $4,600 (1997), Ms. Brown--
$6,000 (1999), $6,000 (1998), $3,000 (1997), Mr. Murphy--$0 (1999), $0
(1998), $0 (1997), Mr. Koenig--$4,800 (1999), $0 (1998), $0 (1997); (b)
life insurance premiums: Mr. Bitetti--$6,358 (1999), $6,143 (1998), $5,370
(1997); (c) medical insurance premiums: Mr. Bitetti--$4,930 (1999), $4,400
(1998), $5,372 (1997), Mr. Gottschling--$3,053 (1999), $4,647 (1998),
$4,545 (1997), Ms. Brown--$0 (1999), $0 (1998), $0 (1997), Mr. Murphy--
$3,901 (1999), $4,647 (1998), $1,495 (1997), Mr. Koenig-- $5,773 (1999),
$859 (1998), $0 (1997).
(3) Mr. Bitetti resigned as Chairman of the Board effective November 12, 1999,
and continues to serve as Chief Executive Officer.
(4) Mr. Gottschling resigned all of his positions with the Company effective
January 8, 1999.
(5) Ms. Brown became an employee of the Company on January 5, 1997. Prior to
that time, she was a consultant to the Company whereby she was paid a
monthly fee of $3,000 plus royalties based on the sales of certain of the
Company's products.
(6) Mr. Murphy's employment with the Company terminated on March 20, 1999.
(7) Mr. Koenig became an employee of the Company on March 1, 1998.
5
<PAGE>
Option Grants. The Company did not grant any options to the Named Executives
during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999.
Option Exercises and Holdings. The following table sets forth information
concerning each exercise of a stock option during the fiscal year ended June
30, 1999 by each of the Named Executives and the number and value of
unexercised options granted by the Company held by each of the Named
Executives on June 30, 1999.
Aggregate Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year-End Option
Values
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of Shares Value of Unexercised
Value Underlying Unexercised in-the-Money
Number of Shares Realized Options at 6/30/99 Options at 6/30/99(2)
Name Acquired on Exercise (1) Exercisable/Unexercisable Exercisable/Unexercisable
---- -------------------- -------- ------------------------- -------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Vincent J. Bitetti...... 0 $ 0 50,000/0 $/0
Ulrich E. Gottschling... 0 0 0/0 0/0
Patricia Brown.......... 0 0 52,092/0 529/0
Tim Murphy.............. 0 0 0/0 0/0
Mark Koenig............. 0 0 41,700/16,667 2,117/0
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Market value on the date of exercise of shares covered by options
exercised, less option exercise price.
(2) Market value of the shares covered by in-the-money options on June 30,
1999, less the option exercise price.
Compensation of Directors
Each director who is not an employee of the Company is entitled to receive a
director's fee of $15,000 per year, and to be reimbursed for out-of-pocket
expenses incurred in connection with his attendance at meetings. However, no
such fees have been paid since June 1998. Instead, each director of the
Company has agreed to accept shares of the Company's Common Stock in lieu of
cash in payment of the accrued fees and all fees that become payable through
June 30, 2000. The Sound Source Interactive, Inc. 1999 Director Stock Plan
(the "1999 Director Stock Plan") includes provisions that enable the Company
to pay the accrued director fees and future director fees in shares of its
Common Stock. Subject to the approval of the 1999 Director Stock Plan at the
Annual Meeting, the Company will pay all of the accrued director fees, and all
fees that become payable through June 30, 2000 which are expected to total
$141,250 in the aggregate, in shares of its Common Stock. The purchase price
for the Common Stock issuable in payment of such director fees shall equal the
fair market value of the Common Stock on the date on which the 1999 Director
Stock Plan is approved by the Company's stockholders. See "Approval of Sound
Source Interactive, Inc. 1999 Director Stock Plan (Proposal No. 2)" below.
In addition, each nonemployee director receives nonqualified stock options
to acquire 10,000 shares of Common Stock upon appointment as a director, and
receives nonqualified stock options to acquire an additional 10,000 shares of
Common Stock for each additional year that the nonemployee director continues
to serve on the Board of Directors. Such options heretofore have been granted
pursuant to the Company's 1995 Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan (the
"1995 Stock Option Plan"), which provides for the grant of stock options to
nonemployee directors of the Company without any action on the part of the
board of Directors or the Compensation Committee, upon the terms and
conditions set forth in the 1995 Stock Option Plan. In the future, such
options will be granted pursuant to the 1999 Director Stock Plan (subject to
the approval of the 1999 Director Stock Plan at the Annual Meeting).
Each option granted to a nonemployee director shall vest and become
exercisable as to 50 percent of the shares of Common Stock subject to the
option on the first anniversary date of the grant and as to the remaining 50
percent on the second anniversary date of the grant, and will expire on the
earlier of ten years from the date the option was granted, upon expiration of
the 1995 Stock Option Plan or the 1999 Director Plan, as applicable, or three
weeks after the optionee ceases to be a director of the Company. The exercise
price of such options is equal to 100 percent of the fair market value of the
Common Stock subject to the option on the date on which such options are
granted. Each option shall be subject to the other provisions of the 1995
Stock Option Plan or the 1999 Director Plan, as applicable.
6
<PAGE>
Employment Agreements
The Company entered into a Third Amended and Restated Employment Agreement
with Vincent J. Bitetti, its former Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer and its current Chairman, dated as of April 24, 1998 (the "Bitetti
Employment Agreement"). The Bitetti Employment Agreement entitled Mr. Bitetti
to receive annual base salary of $240,000 effective April 27, 1998, subject to
annual increases in accordance with the Consumer Price Index (the "CPI")
commencing on April 27, 1999, as of which date Mr. Bitetti became entitled to
receive annual base salary of $245,472.
Pursuant to the Bitetti Employment Agreement, Mr. Bitetti was entitled to
receive a bonus in the following amounts if the Company attained the specified
gross revenues for fiscal 1999:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Cumulative
Gross Revenues Cash Bonus
-------------- ----------
<S> <C>
$12,000,000................................................... $ 25,000
16,000,000................................................... 75,000
24,000,000................................................... 125,000
</TABLE>
The gross revenue attainment levels required to receive each bonus level for
each subsequent fiscal year were to increase by 60 percent annually.
Pursuant to the Bitetti Employment Agreement, Mr. Bitetti was entitled to
receive a bonus in the following amounts if the Company attained the specified
gross profits for fiscal 1999:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Cumulative
Gross Profits Cash Bonus
------------- ----------
<S> <C>
$3,200,000.................................................... $ 50,000
3,600,000.................................................... 75,000
4,000,000.................................................... 100,000
</TABLE>
The gross profit levels required to receive each bonus level for each
subsequent fiscal year were to increase by 60 percent annually.
The Bitetti Employment Agreement entitled Mr. Bitetti to receive a bonus in
the following amounts if the Company attained the specified levels of pre-tax
profitability (defined as annual earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation
and amortization divided by gross revenues) for any fiscal year during the
term of Mr. Bitetti's employment agreement:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Cumulative
Profitability Cash Bonus
------------- ----------
<S> <C>
10%........................................................... $ 50,000
15%........................................................... $100,000
</TABLE>
For the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999, the Company achieved revenues of
$4,624,540 and gross profits of $1,448,903, and it did not realize a profit.
Therefore, Mr. Bitetti did not qualify to receive a bonus under any of the
three standards described above. However, Mr. Bitetti received payments of
$132,500 in fiscal 1999 representing the bonus he earned in fiscal 1998.
Mr. Bitetti was entitled to receive certain fringe benefits under the
Bitetti Employment Agreement, including use of a Company automobile or
automobile allowance, $5,000,000 in life insurance coverage (provided that in
no event could the Company be required to pay a premium for such insurance in
excess of $7,500 per year) and the right to participate in the Company's
customary benefit plans. The Bitetti Employment Agreement further provided
that following the voluntary or involuntary termination of his employment by
the Company, Mr. Bitetti was entitled to two demand registration rights with
respect to the Common Stock held by or issuable to him. These registration
rights could only become effective upon the voluntary or involuntary
termination of
7
<PAGE>
Mr. Bitetti's employment with the Company. The Bitetti Employment Agreement
further provided that if the Company employs a new Chief Executive Officer,
Mr. Bitetti's salary could not be less than that of such new Chief Executive
Officer, up to a maximum of $300,000.
The Company has entered into a Succession Agreement with Vincent J. Bitetti
dated as of November 12, 1999, whereby Mr. Bitetti submitted his resignation
as Chairman of the Board of the Company effective as of November 12, 1999, and
agreed to resign as Chief Executive Officer of the Company on the earlier of
(i) December 31, 2000 and (ii) the date of the appointment of a new Chief
Executive Officer. The Succession Agreement further provides that upon his
resignation as Chief Executive Officer prior to December 31, 2000, Mr. Bitetti
will be appointed as Chairman of the Company to serve until December 31, 2000.
The Succession Agreement terminated the Bitetti Employment Agreement, the term
of which otherwise would have expired on December 31, 2000. Pursuant to the
Succession Agreement, Mr. Bitetti will remain entitled to receive
substantially the same compensation and benefits to which he would have been
entitled under his prior employment agreement until December 31, 2000.
The Company entered into an Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with
Ulrich E. Gottschling, as Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary,
dated as of February 1, 1997 (the "Gottschling Employment Agreement"), for a
two-year term ending January 31, 1999. The Company entered into an Employment
Memorandum with Mr. Gottschling dated as of April 24, 1998 (the "Gottschling
Employment Memorandum"), which amended certain provisions of the Gottschling
Employment Agreement. Pursuant to the Gottschling Employment Agreement, Mr.
Gottschling initially was entitled to receive annual base compensation of
$150,000, subject to escalation annually in accordance with the CPI. Pursuant
to the Gottschling Employment Memorandum, Mr. Gottschling's base salary was
increased to $180,000 per annum effective January 1, 1999, and remained
subject to escalation in accordance with the CPI. Pursuant to the Gottschling
Employment Memorandum, Mr. Gottschling was entitled to receive bonuses based
on the same three criteria as applied to Mr. Bitetti pursuant to the Bitetti
Employment Agreement, but in amounts equal to 80 percent of the bonuses
payable to Mr. Bitetti. No such bonuses were earned with respect to fiscal
1999.
Pursuant to the Gottschling Employment Agreement, Mr. Gottschling was
entitled to certain other fringe benefits including use of a Company
automobile or automobile allowance and the right to participate in the
Company's customary benefit plans. The Gottschling Employment Agreement
further provided that following the voluntary or involuntary termination of
his employment by the Company, Mr. Gottschling was entitled to two demand
registration rights with respect to the Common Stock held by or issuable to
him. These registration rights were to become effective upon the voluntary or
involuntary termination of Mr. Gottschling's employment with the Company.
Mr. Gottschling resigned all of his positions with the Company effective as
January 8, 1999, and is not entitled to receive any further compensation or
benefits from the Company.
8
<PAGE>
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the ownership
of the Common Stock of the Company by (i) each of the Company's, directors,
director nominees and Named Executives, (ii) all directors and Named
Executives and other executive officers as a group and (iii) each person who
is known to the Company to own, of record or beneficially, more than five
percent of the Common Stock. Where the persons listed have the right to
acquire additional shares of Common Stock through the exercise of options or
warrants within 60 days, such additional shares are deemed to be outstanding
for the purpose of computing the percentage of outstanding shares owned by
such persons, but are not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of
computing the percentage ownership interests of any other person. Unless
otherwise indicated, each of the stockholders shown in the table below has
sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares beneficially
owned.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shares
Beneficially
Owned
-----------------
Name and Address Of Beneficial Owner(1) Shares Percent
- --------------------------------------- --------- -------
<S> <C> <C>
Directors and Director Nominees
Vincent J. Bitetti(2)...................................... 1,284,634 21.8%
Richard Azevedo............................................ 5,000 *
Mark A. James(3)........................................... 25,000 *
Samuel L. Poole............................................ 5,000 *
[Add new directors]
John T. Wholihan........................................... 5,000 *
Other Named Executives
Patricia Brown............................................. 58,367 1.0
Mark Koenig................................................ 58,367 1.0
All directors, director nominees and Named Executives and
other executive officers as a group (13 persons).......... 1,469,714 25.0
Other Beneficial Owners(5)
Louis A. Habash(5) ........................................ 1,140,000 19.4
5075 Spyglass Hill Drive
Las Vegas, Nevada 89122
</TABLE>
- --------
* Less than 1%
(1) Except as otherwise noted, the address of the listed beneficial owners is
26115 Mureau Road, Suite B, Calabasas, California 91302.
(2) Includes 50,000 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. Bitetti under
presently exercisable options. Also includes 100,000 shares of Common
Stock which Eric H. Winston is entitled to acquire from Mr. Bitetti
pursuant to a presently exercisable option. Excludes 1,140,000 shares of
Common Stock held by ASSI, Inc. as to which Mr. Bitetti has shared voting
rights.
(3) Includes 25,000 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. James upon exercise
of presently exercisable options.
(4) Information above is based on reports filed by the identified beneficial
owners with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections
13(d) and 13(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(5) Based on information set forth in the schedule 13(d) filed by ASSI, Inc.
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 11, 1998, all such
Common Stock is owned of record by ASSI, Inc., of which Mr. Habash is the
sole beneficial owner. Excludes 1,284,634 shares of Common Stock held by
Vincent J. Bitetti as to which ASSI, Inc. has shared voting rights.
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Certain Relationships and Transactions
On April 27, 1998 the Company entered into a Settlement Agreement (the
"Settlement Agreement") dated as of April 24, 1998 with ASSI, Inc., NCD, Inc.,
The Boston Group, L.P., Vincent J. Bitetti, Ulrich E. Gottschling, Mark A.
James and Robert G. Kalik. Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, the Company
settled with prejudice two legal proceedings which were pending against it,
its former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Vincent J. Bitetti, and its
former President and Chief Operating Officer Ulrich E. Gottschling, in
Los Angeles Superior Court and which related to an attempted expansion of the
Company's Board of Directors and the election of four persons to fill the
expansion seats. In connection with the Settlement Agreement, the Company (a)
exchanged 1,100,000 shares of its Common Stock for 4,816,657 common stock
purchase warrants held by ASSI, Inc.; (b) amended its Bylaws to provide for a
seven-member Board of Directors and to permit resigning directors to vote on
the appointment of their successors; (c) appointed Richard Azevedo, Samuel L.
Poole, Wayne M. Rogers and John T. Wholihan to fill vacancies on the Board of
Directors; and (d) entered into certain related agreements described below.
Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, ASSI, Inc., NCD, Inc., Louis Habash
and the Company entered into a Lock-Up Agreement. Such agreement provided that
during the year ending May 30, 1999, ASSI, Inc., NCD, Inc. and Louis Habash
(who is the beneficial owner of all of the voting securities of ASSI, Inc. and
NCD, Inc.) could not sell shares of the Common Stock beneficially owned by
them in an aggregate amount in excess of an amount determined by a formula,
which equates to the product of approximately 94,620 shares times the number
of full months, commencing with the month of May 1998, elapsed since the
settlement.
Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, the Company entered into a Third
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (the "Bitetti Employment Agreement,"
as previously defined) with Vincent J. Bitetti, which amended and restated Mr.
Bitetti's prior employment agreement. The Company also and entered into an
Employment Memorandum (the "Gottschling Employment Memorandum," as previously
defined) with Ulrich E. Gottschling, which amended Mr. Gottschling's prior
employment agreement. See "Election of Directors-- Employment Agreements"
above.
Voting Agreements
Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement") dated
July 1, 1996 pertaining to the Company's initial public offering, the Company
granted the underwriters for such offering, The Boston Group, L.P. and Joseph
Stevens & Co., L.P., each the right to nominate from time to time one director
of the Company or to have an individual designated thereby attend all Board
meetings as a nonvoting advisor. In addition, Vincent J. Bitetti and Eric H.
Winston agreed to vote all of their Common Stock in favor of the two director
nominees selected by the underwriters. The voting agreement with the
underwriters will terminate on July 8, 2001. Effective November 20, 1997,
Joseph Stevens & Co., L.P. assigned to The Boston Group, L.P. its director
nomination rights under the foregoing agreement.
Pursuant to a Stockholder Voting Agreement (the "Stockholder Voting
Agreement") dated as of April 30, 1996 among Vincent J. Bitetti, Eric H.
Winston and ASSI, Inc., Messrs. Bitetti and Winston agreed to vote all of
their Common Stock in favor of one director nominee selected by ASSI, Inc. and
in favor of an amendment to the Company's Bylaws providing that the number of
directors would be five, which provision could not be amended except with the
consent of ASSI, Inc. In addition, ASSI, Inc. agreed to vote all of its shares
of Common Stock for two directors nominated by Mr. Bitetti as long as he held
at least 20 percent of the outstanding Common Stock, and for one director
nominated by Mr. Bitetti for as long as he held at least ten percent but less
than 20 percent of the outstanding Common Stock. The Stockholder Voting
Agreement will terminate on the earlier of July 1, 2001 or the date when
Messrs. Bitetti and Winston together cease to own at least ten percent of the
outstanding Common Stock.
Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, the Company received the consent (the
"Consent") of ASSI, Inc. to certain matters relating to the Stockholder Voting
Agreement. Among other things, the Consent provides that as
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<PAGE>
between the Company, ASSI, Inc., The Boston Group, L.P. and Vincent J.
Bitetti, the nominees for the seven-person Board of Directors will be
determined as follows: two persons may be nominated by Bitetti as long as he
holds 750,000 or more shares of the Common Stock (but only one person, if
Bitetti holds more than 500,000 and less than 750,000 shares, and no person if
Bitetti holds 500,000 or fewer shares); one person may be nominated by ASSI,
Inc. as long as it holds 500,000 or more shares of the Common Stock (but no
person if ASSI, Inc. holds fewer than 500,000 shares); up to two persons may
be nominated by The Boston Group, L.P. (including as assignee of the rights of
Joseph Stevens & Co., L.P.) pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement so long as
it may be in effect in pertinent part; one person (an "Expansion Member") may
be nominated by Mr. Bitetti (subject to approval of such person by ASSI, Inc.
(unless a renomination of a presently serving nominee)); and one person
(another "Expansion Member") may be nominated by ASSI, Inc. (subject to
approval of such person by Mr. Bitetti (unless a renomination of a presently
serving nominee)). Each Expansion Member must be independent of the Company
and the person nominating such Expansion Member, and must meet certain other
requirements set forth in the Consent.
The Consent is terminable at the option of ASSI, Inc. in the event of a
breach of the Stockholder Voting Agreement, the Settlement Agreement or the
Consent by the Company, Vincent J. Bitetti or Ulrich E. Gottschling prior to
the termination of the Stockholder Voting Agreement. In the event of such
termination, the authorized number of directors will be automatically reduced
from seven to five at the next annual meeting of stockholders, and nominations
and elections for the resulting five-member Board will be governed by the
Stockholder Voting Agreement and the Underwriting Agreement, without regard to
the Consent.
Mr. Bitetti has determined that it is in the Company's interests to limit
the size of the Board at the present time, and therefore has not exercised his
right to nominate one of the two persons he is entitled to nominate pursuant
to the Stockholder Voting Agreement and the Consent, and the Expansion Member
he is entitled to nominate as provided in the Consent (although he retains the
right to do so at any time in his discretion). Accordingly, pursuant to the
foregoing arrangements, the parties have agreed that the director nominees for
the forthcoming Annual Meeting shall be as follows:
Vincent J. Bitetti as the nominee of Vincent J. Bitetti pursuant to the
Stockholder Voting Agreement and the Consent
Richard Azevedo and Samuel L. Poole as the two nominees of The Boston
Group, L.P. pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement
Mark A. James as the nominee of ASSI, Inc. pursuant to the Stockholder
Voting Agreement and the Consent
John T. Wholihan as the Expansion Member nominated by ASSI, Inc. as
provided in the Consent
APPROVAL OF SOUND SOURCE INTERACTIVE, INC. 1999 DIRECTOR STOCK PLAN
AND PAYMENT OF ACCRUED DIRECTOR FEES IN SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
(Proposal No. 2)
The Board believes that the ownership of shares of Common Stock by directors
supports the maximization of long-term shareholder value by aligning the
interests of directors with those shareholders. The Sound Source Interactive,
Inc. 1999 Director Stock Plan (the "1999 Director Stock Plan," as previously
defined) is designed to facilitate the ownership of shares of Common Stock by
directors. The 1999 Director Stock Plan was approved by the Board on November
11, 1999.
The purpose of the 1999 Director Stock Plan is to promote the long-term
growth of the Company by enhancing its ability to attract and retain highly
qualified and capable directors with diverse backgrounds and experience and by
increasing the proprietary interest of directors in the Company. A description
of the material terms of the 1999 Director Stock Plan follows. This
description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete 1999
Director Stock Plan, which is attached hereto as Appendix A and is
incorporated herein by reference.
As noted above under "Compensation of Directors," each nonemployee director
currently receives nonqualified stock options to acquire 10,000 shares of
Common Stock upon appointment as a director, and
11
<PAGE>
receives nonqualified stock options to acquire an additional 10,000 shares of
Common Stock for each additional year that the nonemployee director continues
to serve on the Board of Directors. Such options heretofore have been granted
pursuant to the Company's Amended and Restated 1995 Stock Option Plan (the
"1995 Stock Option Plan," as previously defined). The Board has adopted
resolutions pursuant to which the 1995 Stock Option Plan will be amended to
delete the relevant provisions pursuant to which such options have been
granted upon stockholder approval of the 1999 Director Stock Plan. Thereafter,
nonemployee directors will be granted nonqualified options under the 1999
Director Stock Plan in the same fashion as they previously were granted such
options under the 1995 Stock Option Plan.
In addition, pursuant to the 1999 Director Stock Plan, each nonemployee
director will be entitled to elect to receive shares of Common Stock in lieu
of all or a portion of his annual retainer. The number of shares of Common
Stock issuable in the event of such election will be based upon the Fair
Market Value of shares of Common Stock (as defined in the 1999 Director Stock
Plan) on July 1st in the year of such election (or the date on which the
stockholders approve the 1999 Director Stock Plan in the case of the presently
accrued fees and the fees payable for the balance of the fiscal year ending
June 30, 2000), and will be determined by dividing such Fair Market Value into
the amount of the retainer fees that the director elected to receive in shares
of Common Stock. All of the current nonemployee Directors and former
nonemployee director Wayne P. Rogers will receive Common Stock in lieu of all
of their accrued annual retainers as of the date on which the stockholders
approve the 1999 Director Stock Plan, which is expected to be December 29,
1999, and all of their director fees for the period thereafter ending June 30,
2000. On December 29, 1999, the Company's present and former nonemployee
directors will have accrued retainer fees in the following amounts: Richard
Azevedo--$22,500; Mark A. James--$22,500; Samuel Poole--$22,500; Wayne P.
Rogers--$25,000; and John T. Wholihan--$22,500.
A maximum of 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock will be available for the
award of shares and the grant of options under the 1999 Director Stock Plan,
subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits, stock dividends or changes
in corporate structure affecting shares of Common Stock. To the extent a stock
option granted under the 1999 Director Stock Plan expires or terminates
unexercised, the shares of Common Stock allocable to the unexercised portion
of such option will be available for awards under the 1999 Director Stock
Plan. In addition, to the extent that shares are delivered (actually or by
attestation) to pay all or a portion of an option exercise price, such shares
will become available for awards under the 1999 Director Stock Plan.
The exercise price per share of all options granted under the 1999 Director
Stock Plan will be 100% of the Fair Market Value of shares of Common Stock (as
defined by the 1999 Director Stock Plan) on the grant date. Options granted
under the 1999 Director Stock Plan vest and become exercisable as to 50
percent of the shares of Common Stock subject to the options on the first
anniversary of the date of grant and as to the remaining 50 percent on the
second anniversary of the date of grant; and may be exercised until the
earlier of the tenth anniversary of the date of the grant or three weeks after
the Optionee ceases to be a director of the Company. Options may be exercised
either by payment of cash in the amount of the aggregate option price or by
surrendering (or attesting to ownership of) shares of Common Stock owned by
the participant for at least six months prior to the date the option is
exercised, or a combination of both, having a combined value equal to the
aggregate option price of the shares subject to the option or portion of the
option being exercised. Any option or portion thereof that is not exercised on
or before the fifth anniversary of the date of the grant shall expire.
The 1999 Director Stock Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee
of the Board. The Board may amend or terminate the 1999 Director Stock Plan at
any time, but the terms of any option granted under the 1999 Director Stock
Plan may not be adversely modified without the participant's consent.
The Director Stock Plan provides for the grant of non-qualified stock
options which are not intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. No income is recognized by the
optionee on the grant of a nonqualified stock option. On the exercise by an
optionee of a nonqualified stock option, generally the excess of the fair
market value of the Common Stock when the option is exercised over its cost to
the optionee will be (a) taxable to the optionee as ordinary income and (b)
generally deductible for income tax purposes by the Company.
12
<PAGE>
The affirmative vote of a majority of the Common Stock is required for
approval of the proposal.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" APPROVAL OF THE 1999 DIRECTOR
STOCK PLAN AND THE PAYMENT OF ALL NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR FEES FOR THE PERIOD
ENDING JUNE 30, 2000 IN SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AS DESCRIBED IN THIS PROPOSAL
NO. 2.
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR FISCAL 2000
(Proposal No. 3)
The Board of Directors, upon recommendation of its Audit Committee, composed
of independent members of the Board, has appointed Deloitte & Touche LLP as
independent auditors of the Company with respect to its operations for fiscal
2000, and has further directed that management submit such appointment for
ratification by the holders of the Common Stock. In taking this action, the
members of the Board and the Audit Committee considered carefully Deloitte &
Touche LLP's reputation in providing accounting services to other companies in
the software industry, its independence with respect to the services to be
performed, its general reputation for adherence to professional auditing
standards and the performance of Deloitte & Touche LLP during the audit of the
Company's consolidated financial statements for fiscal years 1999 and 1998.
Representatives of the firm will be present at the Annual Meeting to make a
statement if they desire to do so and to answer appropriate questions that may
be asked by stockholders.
Stockholder ratification of the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the
Company's independent auditors is not required by the Company's Bylaws or
otherwise. The Board, however, is submitting the selection of Deloitte &
Touche LLP to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate
practice. Therefore, there will be presented at the Annual Meeting a proposal
for the ratification of this appointment, which the Board of Directors
believes is advisable and in the best interests of the stockholders. If the
appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP is not ratified, the matter of the
appointment of independent public accountants will be considered by the Board
of Directors.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT
OF DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR FISCAL 1999
AS DESCRIBED IN THIS PROPOSAL NO. 3.
Deadline for Submission of Stockholder Proposals for 2000
The rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission permit stockholders of
the Company, after notice to the Company, to present proposals for stockholder
action in the Company's proxy statement where such proposals are consistent
with applicable law, pertain to matters appropriate for stockholder action and
are not properly omitted by Company action in accordance with the proxy rules
published by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company's 2000 annual
meeting of stockholders is expected to be held on or about December 20, 2000,
and proxy materials in connection with that meeting are expected to be mailed
on or about November 22, 2000. Stockholder proposals prepared in accordance
with the proxy rules must be received by the Company on or before September 1,
1999.
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<PAGE>
FILINGS UNDER SECTION 16(a)
Based solely upon a review of the copies of the forms furnished to the
Company and written representations of the Company's directors and executive
officers, the Company believes that except as set forth below, all filing
requirements applicable to its officers, directors and ten-percent beneficial
owners were complied with during fiscal 1998.
Pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, the Company is required to
identify any person who, at any time during Fiscal Year 1999, was a director
of the Company, an executive officer of the Company, or its subsidiaries or
beneficial owner of more than 10% of the Company's Common Stock or any other
person who was subject to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to
the Company that during fiscal 1999 failed to file on a timely basis with the
SEC any report required by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, which are on
Form 3 (an initial report of beneficial ownership of common stock) and on form
4 and Form 5 (relating to changes in beneficial ownership of common stock).
Based solely on a review of such Forms 3, 4 and 5, and amendments thereto,
furnished to the Company by the reporting persons known to it, as required by
Exchange Act Rule 16a-3(e), except as set forth below, no reporting person
that was required during fiscal 1999 to comply with Section 16(a) of the
Exchange Act failed to comply with such requirements. A Form 5 report was not
filed on a timely basis by director Mark A. James with respect to an automatic
grant of stock options of 10,000 shares granted on July 1, 1998. Such failure
to timely file an annual report was inadvertent and does not relate to the
actual purchase or sale of shares of Common Stock.
OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors of the Company does not intend to present any
business at the Annual Meeting other than the matters specifically set forth
in this Proxy Statement and knows of no other business to come before the
Annual Meeting. However, on all matters properly brought before the Annual
Meeting by the Board or by others, the persons named as proxies in the
accompanying proxy will vote in accordance with their best judgment.
It is important that your shares are represented and voted at the Annual
Meeting, whether or not you plan to attend. Accordingly, we respectfully
request that you sign, date and mail your Proxy in the enclosed envelope as
promptly as possible.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Eugene Code
Secretary
Sound Source Interactive, Inc.
26115 Mureau Road, Suite B
Calabasas, California 91302
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<PAGE>
APPENDIX A
SOUND SOURCE INTERACTIVE, INC. 1999 DIRECTOR STOCK PLAN
ARTICLE 1 -- PURPOSE OF THE PLAN
The purpose of the Sound Source Interactive, Inc. 1999 Director Stock Plan
is to promote the long-term growth of Sound Source Interactive, Inc.
(hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Corporation") by increasing the
proprietary interest of Directors in the Corporation and to attract and retain
highly qualified and capable Directors.
ARTICLE II -- DEFINITIONS
Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following terms shall
have the following meanings:
2.1 "Accrued Retainer" means the amount of unpaid annual cash retainer fee
payable by the Corporation to any Director or former Director for services as
a director of the Corporation, which is accrued as of the Effective Date.
2.2 "Annual Retainer" means the annual cash retainer fee payable by the
Corporation to a Director for services as a director of the Corporation, as
such amount may be changed from time to time.
2.3 "Award" means an award granted to a Director under the Plan in the form
of Options or Shares, or any combination thereof.
2.4 "Board" means the Board of Directors of Sound Source Interactive, Inc.
2.5 "Corporation" means Sound Source Interactive, Inc.
2.6 "Director" means a director of the Corporation (and for purposes of
Section 9.1(a) only, a former director of the Corporation).
2.7 "Effective Date" has the meaning set forth in Article XII.
2.8 "Fair Market Value" means, with respect to the value of the Shares on
any date: (i) if the principal market for the Common Stock is a national
securities exchange or if the Shares are quoted on the National Association of
Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ"), the closing sales
price of the Shares on such day as reported by such exchange or NASDAQ, or on
a consolidated tape reflecting transactions on such exchange or NASDAQ; or
(ii) if the principal market for the Shares are not a national securities
exchange and the Shares are not quoted on NASDAQ, the mean between the highest
bid and lowest asked prices for the Shares on such day as reported by the
National Quotation Bureau, Inc.; provided that if clauses (i) and (ii) of this
paragraph are all inapplicable, or if no trades have been made or no quotes
are available for such day, the Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be
determined by the Board of Directors or the Committee, as the case may be,
which determination shall be conclusive as to the Fair Market Value of the
Shares.
2.9 "Option" means an option to purchase Shares award under Article VIII or
IX which does not meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor law.
2.10 "Option Grant Date" means the date upon which an Option is granted to a
Director.
2.11 "Optionee" means a Director of the Corporation to whom an Option has
been granted or, in the event of such Director's death prior to the expiration
of an Option, such Director's executor, administrator, beneficiary or similar
person, or, in the event of a transfer permitted by Article VII hereof, such
permitted transferee.
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2.12 "Plan" means the Sound Source Interactive, Inc. 1999 Director Stock
Plan, as amended and restated from time to time.
2.13 "Shares" means shares of the common stock, par value $.001 per share,
of the Corporation.
2.14 "Stock Award Date" means the date on which Shares are awarded to a
Director.
2.15 "Stock Option Agreement" means a written agreement between a Director
and the Corporation evidencing an Option.
ARTICLE III -- ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN
3.1 ADMINISTRATOR OF THE PLAN. The Plan shall be administered by the
Compensation Committee of the Board (the "Committee").
3.2 AUTHORITY OF COMMITTEE. The Committee shall have full power and
authority to: (i) interpret and construe the Plan and adopt such rules and
regulations as it shall deem necessary and advisable to implement and
administer the Plan, and (ii) designate persons other than members of the
Committee to carry out its responsibilities, subject to such limitations,
restrictions and conditions as it may prescribe, such determinations to be
made in accordance with the Committee's best business judgment as to the best
interests of the Corporation and its stockholders and in accordance with the
purposes of the Plan. The Committee may delegate administrative duties under
the Plan to one or more agents as it shall deem necessary or advisable.
3.3 DETERMINATIONS OF COMMITTEE. A majority of the Committee shall
constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Committee, and all determinations of
the Committee shall be made by a majority of its members. Any determination of
the Committee under the Plan may be made without notice or a meeting of the
Committee by a written consent signed by all members of the Committee.
3.4 EFFECT OF COMMITTEE DETERMINATIONS. No member of the Committee or the
Board shall be personally liable for any action or determination made in good
faith with respect to the Plan or any Award or to any settlement of any
dispute between a Director and the Corporation. Any decision or action taken
by the Committee or the Board with respect to an Award or the administration
or interpretation of the Plan shall be conclusive and binding upon all
persons.
ARTICLE IV -- AWARDS UNDER THE PLAN
Awards in the form of Options shall be granted to Directors in accordance
with Article VIII. Deferred Contingent Shares may be granted to Directors in
accordance with Article IX. Each option granted under the Plan shall be
evidenced by a Stock Option Agreement.
ARTICLE V -- ELIGILIBITY
Directors (and, with respect to Deferred Contingent Shares issuable in
satisfaction of Accrued Retainers, former Directors) of the Corporation shall
be eligible to participate in the Plan in accordance with Articles VIII and
IX.
ARTICLE VI -- SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
Subject to adjustment as provided in Article XII, the aggregate number of
Shares which may be issued upon the award of Shares and the exercise of
Options shall not exceed 1,000,000 Shares. To the extent that Shares subject
to an outstanding Option are not issued or delivered by reason of the
expiration, termination, cancellation or forfeiture of such Option or by
reason of the delivery of Shares (either actually or by attestation) to pay
all or a portion of the exercise price of such Option, then such Shares shall
again be available under the Plan.
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ARTICLE VII -- NONTRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS
All Options granted under the Plan shall not be transferable by a Director
during his or her lifetime and may not be assigned, exchanged, pledged,
transferred or otherwise encumbered or disposed of except by court order, will
or by the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in
the event Options may be transferable without failing to comply with Rule 16b-
3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the "Exchange Act"),
then each Option shall be transferable to the extent set forth in the related
Stock Option Agreement, as determined by the Committee (provided that all
Options granted under Article VIII with the same Option Grant Date shall have
identical provisions relating to the transferability of such Options). In the
event that any Option is thereafter transferred as permitted by the preceding
sentence, the permitted transferee thereof shall be deemed the Optionee
hereunder. Options shall be exercisable during the Optionee's lifetime only by
the Optionee or by the Optionee's guardian, legal representative or similar
person.
ARTICLE VIII -- OPTIONS
Each Director shall be granted Options, subject to the following terms and
conditions:
8.1 TIME OF GRANT. On the first business day of July of each year (or, if
later, on the date on which a person is first elected or begins to serve as a
Director), each person who is a Director shall be granted an Option to
purchase 10,000 Shares (which number shall be pro-rated if such Director is
first elected or begins to serve as a Director on a date other than the date
of an annual meeting of stockholders).
8.2 PURCHASE PRICE. The purchase price per Share under each Option granted
pursuant to this Article shall be 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on
the Option Grant Date.
8.3 EXERCISE OF OPTIONS. Each Option granted pursuant to this Article shall
become exercisable as to 50% of the Shares subject to the Option on the first
anniversary of the Optoin Grant Date and as to the remaining 50% of the Shares
subject to the Option on the second anniversary of the Option Grant Date. In
no event shall the period of time over which the Option may be exercised
exceed ten years from the Option Grant Date. An Option, or portion thereof,
may be exercised in whole or in part only with respect to whole Shares.
Shares shall be issued to the Optionee pursuant to the exercise of an Option
only upon receipt by the Corporation from the Optionee of payment in full
either in cash or by surrendering (or attesting to the ownership of) Shares
together with proof acceptable to the Committee that such Shares have been
owned by the Optionee for at least six (6) months prior to the date of
exercise of the Option, or a combination of cash and Shares, in an amount or
having a combined value equal to the aggregate purchase price for the Shares
subject to the Option or portion thereof being exercised. The Shares issued to
an Optionee for the portion of any Option exercised by attesting to the
ownership of shares shall not exceed the number of Shares issuable as a result
of such exercise (determined as though payment in full therefore were being
made in cash) less the number of Shares for which attestation of ownership is
submitted. The value of owned Shares submitted (directly or by attestation) in
full or partial payment for the Shares purchased upon exercise of an Option
shall be equal to the aggregate Fair Market Value of such owned Shares on the
date of the exercise of such Option.
ARTICLE IX -- ELECTION TO RECEIVE CONTINGENT DEFERRED SHARES
9.1 PROCEDURE FOR ACCRUED RETAINER. On the Effective Date, Shares shall be
identified pursuant to this Article as being for the contingent benefit of
each Director for the full amount of the Accrued Retainer payable to such
Director.
9.2 ELECTION PROCEDURE FOR ANNUAL RETAINER.
(a) On the Effective Date, Shares shall be irrevocably identified
pursuant to this Article as being for the contingent benefit of each
Director for the full amount of the Annual Retainer payable to such
Director for the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on June
30, 2000.
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(b) On the first business day of July of each year commencing with 2000,
Shares shall be identified pursuant to this Article as being for the
contingent benefit of each Director who, at least six (6) months prior
thereto, files with the Committee or its designee a written election to
receive Shares in lieu of all or a portion of such Director's Annual
Retainer. In the event a Director does not file a written election in
accordance with the preceding sentence by reason of becoming a Director
after the date which is six (6) months prior to the first business day of
July in any year, Shares shall be identified as being for the contingent
benefit of such Director as of the first day (the "Effective Election
Date") which is six (6) months after the date such Director files with the
Committee or its designee a written election to receive Shares in lieu of
all or a portion of such Director's Annual Retainer; provided, however,
that such an election may apply only to the portion of such Director's
Annual Retainer determined by multiplying such Director's Annual Retainer
by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days from and
including the Effective Election Date to and including the last day of the
period for which such Annual Retainer would otherwise be payable, and the
denominator of which is 365 or 366, as the case may be. An election
pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 9.2(b) may be revoked or
changed only on or prior to the date which is six (6) months prior to the
first business day of the following July. An election pursuant to the
second sentence of this Section 9.2(b) shall be irrevocable.
9.3 TERM OF DEFERRAL. Receipt of Shares identified as being for the
contingent benefit of a Director pursuant to Sections 9.1 or 9.2 shall be
deferred until such Director's retirement, resignation, disability, death or
termination (other than termination resulting in forfeiture as described in
Section 9.9), or in the event of emergency or necessity, as hereinafter
provided.
9.4 ACCOUNTING. The Committee shall cause records to be kept in the name of
each Director participating pursuant to Sections 9.1 or 9.2 which shall
reflect the number of contingent Shares deferred by that Director.
9.5 CONTINGENCY. Until and except to the extent that deferred Shares
hereunder are distributed to or vested in the Directors or beneficiaries from
time to time in accordance with orders of the Committee, the interest of each
Director and beneficiary therein is contingent only and is subject to
forfeiture as provided in Section 9.9. Title to and beneficial ownership of
the Shares, which the Corporation will identify as subject to its contingent
obligation hereunder, shall at all times remain in the Corporation; and no
Director or beneficiary shall under any circumstances acquire any property
interest in any specific assets of the Corporation.
9.6 METHOD OF PAYMENT.
(a) In order to meet its contingent Share obligation hereunder, the
Corporation shall each year set aside shares in an amount equal to the
total amounts deferred for such year under this Article IX.
(b) In the event of vesting, or upon the retirement, resignation,
disability, death or termination (other than termination resulting in
forfeiture as described in Section 9.9) of a Director, the number of
contingent deferred Shares payable to such Director of his beneficiary
shall be determined as of that date. If the Committee, in the exercise of
its discretion provided in Section 9.7, determines to make installment
distributions of such amount, the Corporation shall continue to set aside
Shares in an amount equal of the unpaid balance of such obligation to pay
Shares.
9.7 METHOD OF DISTRIBUTION. The Committee shall from time to time determine
the time and manner of making distributions of contingent deferred Shares in
case of the retirement, resignation, disability, or death of a Director or in
the event of an emergency or necessity affecting the personal or family
affairs of any Director of beneficiary of a deceased Director by such methods
as it shall find appropriate for providing incentive to Directors for their
continued service on behalf of the Corporation. Commencement of distribution
in each case may be deferred by the Committee, but (subject to Section 9.9)
not beyond one year after the retirement, disability or death of the Director
or, in the case of a Director who shall have resigned, not beyond one year
after such Director reaches the age of 65 or incurs a disability or dies. In
the case of a Director's death before distribution is completed, the balance
may be distributed in a lump sum or on an installment basis as the Committee
may determine.
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9.8 DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARIES. Each Director shall have the right to
designate beneficiaries who are to succeed to such Director's contingent right
to receive future payments hereunder in the event of death. In case of the
failure of a Director to make a designation or the death of a designated
beneficiary without the Director having designated a successor, distribution
shall be made to the Director's estate. No designation of beneficiaries shall
be valid unless it is in writing, signed by the Director, dated, and filed
with the Committee. Beneficiaries may be changed without the consent of any
prior beneficiaries.
9.9 POSSIBLE FORFEITURE OF SHARES.
(a) The contingent right of a Director or beneficiary to receive deferred
Shares hereunder shall be forfeited upon the occurrence of any one or more
of the following events:
(1) If the Director is discharged for cause by the Corporation or a
subsidiary thereof; or
(2) If the Director shall enter into a business or employment which
the Committee determines to be (i) detrimentally competitive with the
business of the Corporation or a subsidiary, and (ii) substantially
injurious to the corporation's financial interests;
(b) The Committee may at any time and from time to time order all or any
part of the value of the contingent right of a Director or beneficiary to
receive future Shares to be vested and no longer subject to forfeiture, and
may order payment of the amounts so vested on dates specified in such
orders, if it finds such action appropriate in the circumstances.
9.10 NUMBER OF SHARES. The number of Shares identified pursuant to this
Article shall be the number of whole Shares equal to (i) the portion of the
Accrued Retainer or the Annual Retainer which pursuant to Sections 9.1 or 9.2
is payable in Shares, divided by (ii) the Fair Market Value per Share on the
date stock is identified as contingent deferred stock of the Director (which
will occur either on July 1st of the year of election or on the Effective
Date, whichever is applicable). Any fraction of a Share shall be disregarded
and the remaining amount of such Accrued Retainer or Annual Retainer, as
applicable, shall be paid to the Director in cash and shall not be deferred
pursuant to this Article.
9.11 CHARACTERIZATION OF THE RELATIONSHIPS BY THIS ARTICLE. Nothing
contained herein shall be deemed to create a trust of any kind or create any
fiduciary relationship. Shares identified hereunder shall continue for all
purposes to be treasury stock held by the Corporation, and no person other
than the Corporation shall, by virtue of the provisions of this Article IX,
have any interest in such Shares. To the extent that any person acquires a
right to receive Shares from the Corporation under this Article IX, such right
shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the
Corporation.
ARTICLE X -- AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
The Board may amend the Plan from time to time or terminate the Plan at any
time; provided, however, that no action authorized by this Article shall
adversely change the terms and conditions of an outstanding Option without the
Optionee's consent and, subject to Article XII, the number of Shares subject
to an Option granted under Article VIII, the purchase price therefor, the date
of grant of any such Option and the termination provisions relating to such
Option, shall not be amended more than once every six (6) months, other than
to comply with changes in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or
any successor law, or the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1986, as
amended, or any successor law, or the rules and regulations thereunder.
ARTICLE XI -- ADJUSTMENT PROVISIONS
11.1 If the Corporation shall at any time change the number of issued Shares
without new consideration to the Corporation (such as by stock dividend, stock
split, recapitalization, reorganization, exchange of shares, liquidation,
combination or other changes in corporate structure affecting the Shares) or
make a distribution of cash or property which has a substantial impact on the
value of issued Shares, the total number of Shares reserved for issuance under
the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted and the number of Shares covered by
each outstanding Option and the purchase price per Share under each
outstanding Option and the number of Shares underlying Options to be issued
annually pursuant to Section 8.1 shall be adjusted so that the aggregate
consideration payable to the Corporation and the value of each such Option
shall not be changed.
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11.2 Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, and without affecting
the number of Shares reserved or available hereunder, the Committee shall
authorize the issuance, continuance or assumption of outstanding Options or
provide for other equitable adjustments after changes in the Shares resulting
from any merger, consolidation, sale of assets, acquisition of property or
stock, recapitalization, reorganization or similar occurrence in which the
Corporation is the continuing or surviving corporation, upon such terms and
conditions as it may deem necessary to preserve Optionees' rights under the
Plan.
11.3 In the case of any sale of assets, merger, consolidation or combination
of the Corporation with or into another corporation other than a transaction
in which the Corporation is the continuing or surviving corporation and which
does not result in the outstanding Shares being converted into or exchanged
for different securities, cash or other property, or any combination thereof
(an "Acquisition"), any Optionee who holds an outstanding Option shall have
the right (subject to the provisions of the Plan and any limitation applicable
to the Option) thereafter and during the terms of the Option, to receive upon
exercise thereof the Acquisition Consideration (as defined below) receivable
upon the Acquisition by a holder of the number of Shares which would have been
obtained upon exercise of the Option or portion thereof, as the case may be,
immediately prior to the Acquisition. The term "Acquisition Consideration"
shall mean the kind and amount of shares of the surviving or new corporation,
cash, securities, evidence of indebtedness, other property or any combination
thereof receivable in respect of one Share of the Corporation upon
consummation of an Acquisition.
ARTICLE XII -- EFFECTIVE DATE
The Plan shall be submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation for
approval at the next annual meeting of stockholders and, if approved by a
majority of all the votes cast at such annual meeting of stockholders, shall
become effective as of the date of such approval (the "Effective Date"). If
stockholder approval is not obtained at such annual meeting of stockholders,
the Plan shall be nullified.
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THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints Jeff Court and Eugene Code, and each of them
with full power of substitution, as his or her proxies to represent and vote,
as designated below, all of the shares of the Common Stock of Sound Source
Interactive, Inc., registered in the name of the undersigned on November 24,
1999, with the powers the undersigned would posses if personally present at the
1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at the Company's offices at
26115 Mureau Road, Suite B, Calabasas, California at 10:00 a.m. on December 29,
1999, and at any adjournment thereof, hereby revoking any proxy or proxies
previously given.
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS:
FOR all nominees listed below [_] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY [_]
(except as marked to the contrary to vote for all nominees
below) listed below
(To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee strike a line
through the nominee's name below)
Richard Azevedo Vincent J. Bitetti Mark A. James
Samuel L. Poole John T. Wholihan
2. Proposal to approve the 1999 Sound Source Interactive, Inc. Director Stock
Plan and payment of all nonemployee director fees for the period ending June
30, 2000 in shares of Common Stock:
[_] FOR [_] AGAINST [_] ABSTAIN
3. Proposal to rectify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the
Company's independent auditors for fiscal 2000:
[_] FOR [_] AGAINST [_] ABSTAIN
Discretionary authority is hereby granted with respect to such other matters
as may properly come before the Annual Meeting.
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THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED. IF NO
DIRECTION IS GIVEN, THE PROXY WILL BE VOTED "FOR" ALL NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR,
"FOR" PROPOSALS #2 AND IN THE PROXY'S DISCRETION ON ANY OTHER MATTERS TO COME
BEFORE THE MEETING.
Dated: _________________ , 1999
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(Signature)
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(Second Signature)
PLEASE DATE AND SIGN ABOVE
exactly as your name appears at
left, indicating where
appropriate, official position
or representative capacity.
