<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (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 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
USDATA 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)(1) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11(set forth the
amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it
was determined):
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) Total fee paid
----------------------------------------------------------------------
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting
fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.
1) Amount Previously Paid:
___________________________________________________________________________
2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
___________________________________________________________________________
3) Filing Party:
___________________________________________________________________________
4) Date Filed:
___________________________________________________________________________
<PAGE>
USDATA
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 1997
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of
USDATA Corporation (the "Company") will be held at the offices of Safeguard
Scientifics, Inc., 800 The Safeguard Building, 435 Devon Park Drive, Wayne, PA
19087 on Tuesday, June 24, 1997 at 11:00 a.m., local time, for the following
purposes:
1. To elect six directors;
2. To consider and vote on a proposal to amend the 1994 Equity
Compensation Plan; and
3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournment or adjournments thereof.
The Board of Directors has established the close of business on May 16,
1997 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to
receive notice of, and to vote at, the meeting or any adjournments thereof. In
order that the meeting can be held and a maximum number of shares can be voted,
whether or not you plan to be present at the meeting in person, please fill in,
date and sign, and promptly return the enclosed Proxy in the return envelope
provided for your use. No postage is required if mailed in the United States.
By order of the Board of Directors,
Bill E. Newell
President and Chief Executive Officer
2435 North Central Expressway
Richardson, TX 75080
May 28, 1997
<PAGE>
USDATA CORPORATION
2435 North Central Expressway
Richardson, TX 75080
PROXY STATEMENT
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation
of Proxies by the Board of Directors (the "Board") of USDATA Corporation (the
"Company") for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on June 24,
1997 (such meeting and any adjournment or adjournments thereof referred to as
the "Annual Meeting") for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of
Annual Meeting of Stockholders and in this Proxy Statement. The Company intends
to mail this Proxy Statement and related form of Proxy to stockholders on or
about May 28, 1997.
Voting Securities
Only the holders of shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share
(the "Common Stock"), of the Company of record at the close of business on May
16, 1997 (the "Shares") are entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the
Annual Meeting. On that date, there were 11,106,529 Shares outstanding and
entitled to be voted at the Annual Meeting. It is the intention of the persons
named in the Proxy to vote as instructed by the stockholders or, if no
instructions are given, to vote as recommended by the Board. Each stockholder
has one vote per Share on all business of the Annual Meeting.
The six nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative votes of
the Shares present or represented and entitled to be voted will be elected as
directors. The approval of the proposal to amend the Company's 1994 Equity
Compensation Plan requires a majority of the votes cast at a meeting at which a
quorum representing a majority of all outstanding voting stock of the Company is
present, either in person or by proxy, and voting on such proposed amendment.
Votes withheld from any director, abstentions and broker non-votes will be
counted for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum for the transaction
of business at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions are counted in tabulations of the
votes cast on proposals presented to stockholders. Broker non-votes are not
counted for purposes of determining whether a proposal has been approved.
Revocability of Proxy
Execution of the enclosed Proxy will not affect a stockholder's right
to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person. A stockholder, in exercising
his right to vote in person at the Annual Meeting, effectively revokes all
previously executed Proxies. In addition, the Proxy is revocable at any time
prior to the effective exercise thereof by filing notice of revocation with the
Secretary of the Company or by filing a duly executed Proxy bearing a later
date.
Persons Making the Solicitation
The solicitation of this Proxy is made by the Company. The cost of
soliciting Proxies on behalf of the Company, including the actual expenses
incurred by brokerage houses, nominees and fiduciaries in forwarding Proxy
materials to beneficial owners, will be borne by the Company. In addition to
solicitation by mail, certain officers and other employees of the Company may
solicit Proxies on behalf of the Company in person or by telephone.
1
<PAGE>
Stockholder Proposals for 1998 Annual Meeting
Stockholders intending to present proposals at the next Annual Meeting
of Stockholders to be held in 1998 must notify the Company of the proposal no
later than January 28, 1998.
Securities Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The following table sets forth, as of May 16, 1997, the Company's
Common Stock beneficially owned by each person known to the Company to be the
beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding Shares, the Company's only
class of equity securities outstanding. The table also shows the number of
Shares owned beneficially by each director, by each named executive officer, and
by all executive officers and directors as a group:
Number of Shares Percent of
Owned (1) Class
---------------- ----------
Safeguard Scientifics, Inc.(2)
800 The Safeguard Building
435 Devon Park Drive
Wayne, PA 19087............................. 2,962,011 25.1%
Technology Leaders I(3)
800 The Safeguard Building
435 Devon Park Drive
Wayne, PA 19087.............................. 1,654,356 14.9%
Technology Leaders II(4)
800 The Safeguard Building
435 Devon Park Drive
Wayne, PA 19087.............................. 1,654,356 14.9%
Bob B. Midyett(5)
2211 Sutton Place
Richardson, TX 75080......................... 1,389,572 12.3%
Arthur R. Spector(6)............................ 85,082 *
William G. Moore, Jr.(5)........................ 57,100 *
Gary J. Anderson, M.D. (7)...................... 12,148 *
James W. Dixon(5)............................... 9,950 *
Max D. Hopper(5)................................ 7,500 *
Jack L. Messman(8).............................. 76,725 *
Charles A. Root(9).............................. 62,229 *
Mark S. Grefer(5)............................... 37,725 *
John Keenan..................................... 25,000 *
H. Kenneth Whitaker(5).......................... 58,412 *
Executive officers and directors as a group
(11 persons)(10).............................. 431,871 3.8%
- ---------
* Less than 1% of the outstanding Common Stock
(1) Except as otherwise disclosed, the nature of beneficial ownership is the
sole power to vote and to dispose of the Shares (except for Shares held
jointly with spouse).
(2) Safeguard Scientifics (Delaware), Inc. ("Safeguard Delaware"), a wholly
owned subsidiary of Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. ("Safeguard"), is the
record owner of the Shares set forth above. Consequently, such Shares are
beneficially owned by Safeguard. Includes 698,238 Shares that may be
acquired pursuant to currently exercisable warrants held by Safeguard
Delaware. All of the Shares beneficially owned by Safeguard have been
pledged by Safeguard as collateral under its bank line of credit. Does not
include 1,654,356 Shares beneficially owned by each of Technology Leaders I
and Technology Leaders II, venture capital partnerships in which Safeguard
has a beneficial interest. Safeguard disclaims
2
<PAGE>
beneficial ownership of the Shares beneficially owned by each of Technology
Leaders I and Technology Leaders II.
(3) Technology Leaders I consists of Technology Leaders L.P. and Technology
Leaders Offshore C.V. Technology Leaders Management L.P., the sole general
partner of Technology Leaders L.P. and the co-general partner of Technology
Leaders Offshore C.V., exercises, through its executive committee, sole
investment and voting power with respect to the Shares owned by such
entities. Of the 1,654,356 Shares owned by Technology Leaders I, 772,418
Shares are owned by Technology Leaders L.P. and 881,938 Shares are owned by
Technology Leaders Offshore C.V. Technology Leaders L.P., Technology
Leaders Offshore C.V., Technology Leaders Management L.P., Technology
Leaders II L.P., Technology Leaders II Offshore C.V. and Technology Leaders
II Management L.P. are members of a group for purposes of Sections 13(d)
and 13(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Technology Leaders I
disclaims beneficial ownership of the Shares beneficially owned by
Technology Leaders II.
(4) Technology Leaders II consists of Technology Leaders II L.P. and Technology
Leaders II Offshore C.V. Technology Leaders II Management L.P., the sole
general partner of Technology Leaders II L.P. and the co-general partner of
Technology Leaders II Offshore C.V., exercises, through its executive
committee, sole investment and voting power with respect to the Shares
owned by such entities. Of the 1,654,356 Shares owned by Technology Leaders
II, 921,972 Shares are owned by Technology Leaders II L.P. and 732,384
Shares are owned by Technology Leaders II Offshore C.V. Technology Leaders
L.P., Technology Leaders Offshore C.V., Technology Leaders Management L.P.,
Technology Leaders II L.P., Technology Leaders II Offshore C.V. and
Technology Leaders II Management L.P. are members of a group for purposes
of Sections 13(d) and 13(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Technology Leaders II disclaims beneficial ownership of the Shares
beneficially owned by Technology Leaders I.
(5) Includes for Messrs. Midyett, Moore, Dixon, Hopper, Grefer and Whitaker,
152,460 Shares, 57,000 Shares, 7,500 Shares, 7,500 Shares, 37,500 Shares
and 58,412 Shares, respectively, that may be acquired pursuant to stock
options that are currently exercisable or that will become exercisable by
July 14, 1997.
(6) Includes 7,500 Shares that may be acquired pursuant to stock options that
are currently exercisable or that will become exercisable by July 14, 1997,
and 77,582 Shares that may be acquired pursuant to currently exercisable
warrants.
(7) Excludes 1,654,356 Shares beneficially owned by Technology Leaders I and
1,654,356 Shares beneficially owned by Technology Leaders II, of which Dr.
Anderson disclaims beneficial ownership.
(8) Includes 7,500 Shares that may be acquired upon exercise of stock options
that are currently exercisable or that will become exercisable by July 14,
1997, 6,620 Shares held in trust for Mr. Messman's daughter, and 6,620
Shares held in trust for Mr. Messman's son. Mr. Messman disclaims
beneficial ownership of the securities held in trust for his children.
(9) Does not include 2,962,011 Shares beneficially owned by Safeguard. Mr. Root
currently serves as Executive Vice President of Safeguard. Mr. Root
disclaims beneficial ownership of such Shares.
(10) Includes 189,912 Shares that may be acquired pursuant to stock options that
are currently exercisable or that will become exercisable by July 14, 1997,
and 77,582 Shares that may be acquired pursuant to currently exercisable
warrants.
3
<PAGE>
I. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
It is intended that the persons named as proxies for this Annual
Meeting will vote in favor of the election of the following nominees as
directors of the Company to hold office until the Annual Meeting of Stockholders
in 1998 and until their successors are elected and have qualified. All of the
nominees are presently serving as directors of the Company. Proxies may not be
voted for more than six directors. Each of the nominees has consented to serve
if elected. However, if any of the nominees should become unavailable prior to
the election, the holder of the Proxies may vote the Proxies for the election of
such other persons as the Board may recommend, unless the Board reduces the
number of directors to be elected.
The Board unanimously recommends that stockholders vote FOR the
election of the nominees set forth in this Proposal. Proxies received by the
Board will be so voted unless stockholders specify otherwise on their Proxy
cards. The six nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative votes of the
Shares present or represented and entitled to be voted shall be elected as
directors.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Principal Occupation and Business Has Been a
Name Experience During Last Five Years Director Since Age
---- --------------------------------- -------------- ---
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Arthur R. Spector Managing Director, TL Ventures LLC,
a venture capital management
company(1)(2)(3)(4) 1994 56
Gary J. Anderson, M.D. Managing Director, TL Ventures LLC,
a venture capital management company(3) 1994 57
James W. Dixon President and Chief Executive Officer,
Information Technology Consulting, Inc.,
an information systems consulting and
staffing company(3)(6) 1994 50
Max D. Hopper Principal and Chief Executive Officer,
Max D. Hopper Associates, an information
systems consulting firm(2)(7) 1995 62
Jack L. Messman Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
Union Pacific Resources Group Inc., an
energy company (2)(3)(8) 1994 57
Charles A. Root Executive Vice President, Safeguard
Scientifics, Inc., a strategic information
systems company(1)(9) 1994 64
</TABLE>
- ---------
(1) Member of the Executive Committee.
(2) Member of the Compensation Committee.
(3) Member of the Audit Committee.
(4) Mr. Spector has been Chairman of the Board and a Director of the Company
since November 1994. Since January 1997, Mr. Spector has been a managing
director of TL Ventures LLC, a venture capital management company organized
to manage day-to-day operations of TL Ventures III L.P. and TL Ventures III
Offshore L.P., which are recently organized venture capital partnerships
investing in tandem. From January 1995 through December 1996, Mr. Spector
served as Director of Acquisitions of Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. Mr.
Spector also serves as Chairman of the Board of HDS Network Systems Inc., a
manufacturer of network computers and a provider of desktop computing
services. From July 1992 until May 1995, Mr. Spector served as Vice
Chairman and Secretary of Casino & Credit Services, Inc. From October 1991
to December 1994, Mr. Spector was Chief Executive Officer and a director of
Perpetual Capital Corporation, a merchant banking organization.
4
<PAGE>
(5) Dr. Anderson has served as a managing director since 1991 and a general
partner since 1995 of Technology Leaders Management L.P., as a managing
director and a general partner of Technology Leaders II Management L.P.
since 1994, and as a managing director of TL Ventures LLC since 1996. Dr.
Anderson also served as Executive Vice President, Fund Management of
Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. from November 1993 to December 1994.
(6) Prior to joining Information Technology Consulting, Inc. in September 1996,
Mr. Dixon served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ClientLink,
Inc., a software development company, from March 1996 until August 1996.
From June 1988 through February 1996, Mr. Dixon was an officer of CompuCom
Systems, Inc., most recently serving as Chairman of the Board. Mr. Dixon is
a director of Fisher Restaurant Systems, Inc.
(7) From December 1985 until January 1995, Mr. Hopper served as Senior Vice
President, Information Systems, of American Airlines, Inc. Mr. Hopper also
served as Chairman of The SABRE Group, the airline reservation system unit
of American Airlines, from April 1993 until January 1995. Mr. Hopper serves
as a director of The Gartner Group, Inc., Gupta Corporation, VTEL
Corporation, CLR, Inc., SCOPUS Technology, Inc., BBN Corporation, Worldtalk
Corporation, MCC Corporation and Matthews Communications.
(8) Mr. Messman is a director of Cambridge Technology Partners (Massachusetts),
Inc., Novell, Inc., Safeguard Scientifics, Inc., Tandy Corp. and Union
Pacific Resources Group Inc.
(9) Mr. Root is Chairman of the Board of Coherent Communications Systems
Corporation, CompuCom Systems, Inc. and Tangram Enterprise Solutions, Inc.
Directors' Compensation
Directors are elected annually and hold office until their successors
are elected and have qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal.
Directors are reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in connection with
attendance at meetings or other Company business, but directors are not
compensated for their services as directors.
Directors' Stock Options
Directors who are not employees of the Company and its subsidiaries or
Safeguard and its wholly owned subsidiaries ("Eligible Directors") participate
in the 1994 Equity Compensation Plan ("1994 Plan"). Pursuant to the terms of the
1994 Plan, each Eligible Director received an option to purchase 15,000 shares
of the Company's Common Stock on the date of the adoption of the amendment to
the 1994 Plan establishing formula grants to Eligible Directors. Thereafter,
each new Eligible Director will receive an option to purchase 15,000 shares of
Common Stock upon his or her initial election to the Board, and each Eligible
Director will receive a grant to purchase 3,000 shares of Common Stock on the
second anniversary of his or her election and following every two years' service
thereafter. The Board of Directors has approved an amendment to the 1994 Plan
which would remove the formula grant feature. The exercise price of each option
is equal to the fair market value of the shares on the date of grant. Each
option has a term of eight years and vests in 25% installments on each of the
first through fourth anniversaries of the date of grant. The maximum number of
shares of Common Stock subject to options granted to an Eligible Director under
the 1994 Plan cannot exceed 25,000 shares. On November 8, 1996, Mr. Spector
received an option to purchase 3,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price
of $6.50 per share, and on December 2, 1996, each of Messrs. Dixon and Messman
received an option to purchase 3,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price
of $6.875 per share.
5
<PAGE>
Committees and Meetings of the Board of Directors
The Board held four meetings in 1996. The Company's Board has appointed
standing Compensation, Executive, and Audit Committees. The Compensation
Committee reviews and recommends the compensation arrangements for senior
management of the Company, including salaries, bonuses and grants of options to
purchase shares of Common Stock under the Company's stock option and equity
compensation plans. The Compensation Committee met four times during 1996. The
Executive Committee, which did not meet during 1996, has the authority to
approve transactions on behalf of the Company that do not exceed $1 million in
the aggregate, except where such functions are required by law to be approved by
the full Board of Directors. The Audit Committee recommends the firm to be
appointed as independent certified public accountants to audit the Company's
financial statements, discusses the scope and results of the audit with the
independent certified public accountants, reviews with management and the
independent certified public accountants the Company's interim and year-end
operating results, considers the adequacy of the internal accounting controls
and audit procedures of the Company and reviews the non-audit services to be
performed by the independent certified public accountants. The Audit Committee
met twice during 1996. All of the directors attended at least 75% of the total
number of Board and Committee meetings of which they were members during the
period in which they served as a director, except Mr. Messman, who attended 50%
of the meetings.
REPORT OF THE BOARD COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
The Compensation Committee of the Board (the "Compensation Committee")
reviews and approves compensation levels recommended by management, including
incentive compensation, for the executives of the Company, and administers the
Company's stock option plans. Messrs. Spector, Hopper and Messman currently
constitute the Compensation Committee.
Executive Compensation Policies
The Company is in a highly competitive industry. In order to succeed,
the Company believes that it must be able to attract and retain outstanding
executives, promote among them the economic benefits of stock ownership in the
Company, and motivate and reward executives who, by their industry, loyalty and
exceptional service, make contributions of special importance to the success of
the business of the Company. The Company has structured its executive
compensation program to support the strategic goals and objectives of the
Company.
Base compensation levels and benefits are initially established for new
executives on the basis of subjective factors, with reference to the experience
and achievements of the individual and the level of responsibility to be assumed
in the Company. Annual increases are determined subjectively based on the
achievement of financial and strategic objectives, levels of individual
responsibility and performance, and general levels of inflation. Annual cash
bonuses are intended to create an incentive for executives who significantly
contribute to and influence the Company's strategic plans and are responsible
for the Company's performance. The aims are to focus executives' attention on
areas such as profitability and asset management, to encourage teamwork and to
tie executive pay to corporate performance goals which are consistent with the
long-term goals of stockholders and other investors. Bonuses are awarded based
on the achievement of annual financial and strategic goals approved by the
Compensation Committee at the beginning of each year. These goals may include a
target range of pretax earnings, earnings per share, return on equity, or other
objective measurement consistent with long-term stockholder goals. The
Compensation Committee approves a target range for specific financial and/or
strategic goals and a range of potential bonus amounts for
6
<PAGE>
each executive, stated as a percentage of base salary. Ranges of potential
bonuses are determined based upon the executive's ability to affect the
Company's performance. Actual bonuses are awarded following the year-end based
on the actual achievement level of the specified corporate goals compared to the
target range of achievement. For fiscal 1996, the Compensation Committee
determined that bonuses would be awarded based primarily upon the achievement of
certain strategic objectives and upon a target range for revenue growth and
pretax earnings, with the ability to adjust the payout among the participants
based on individual performance.
Grants of Company stock options are intended to align the interests of
executives and key employees with the long-term interests of the Company's
stockholders and other investors and to encourage executives and key employees
to remain in the Company's employ. Grants are not made in every year, but are
awarded subjectively based on a number of factors, including the individual's
level of responsibility, the amount and term of options already held by the
individual, the individual's contributions to the achievement of the Company's
financial and strategic objectives as defined in the Company's annual plan, and
the Company's achievement of its financial and strategic objectives, which may
include the goals described above as well as developing strategic alliances,
identifying and exploiting markets, expanding existing market share and
penetration, expanding operating capabilities and improving net operating
margins and return on equity.
The Compensation Committee is aware that Internal Revenue Code section
162(m) provides that publicly held companies may not deduct in any taxable year
compensation in excess of one million dollars paid to any of the individuals
named in the Summary Compensation Table that is not "performance based" as
defined in section 162(m). The Company believes that stock options granted under
its 1994 Equity Compensation Plan meet the performance-based exception under
section 162(m). The Compensation Committee believes that annual levels of
executive compensation that are not performance based are not likely to exceed
one million dollars in the foreseeable future, and the benefit to the Company of
retaining the ability to exercise discretion under the Company's remaining
incentive compensation plans outweighs the limited risk of loss of tax
deductions under section 162(m). Therefore, the Company does not currently
intend to seek to qualify any of its other incentive compensation plans under
section 162(m).
CEO Compensation
Mr. Moore's base compensation for 1996 was determined in 1995 based on
the Company's performance in 1995. Mr. Moore was not awarded a bonus for 1996.
This decision was based primarily on the Company's failure to meet bonus
objectives discussed previously.
Other Executive Compensation
The Compensation Committee did not award executive cash bonuses in 1996
due to the Company's failure to meet the bonus objectives discussed previously.
During 1996, the Compensation Committee granted options under the Company's 1994
Plan to certain of its new executives and employees and to many of its current
executives and employees. The relative number of options granted to executives
and employees was based on each such individual's current responsibilities.
By the Compensation Committee:
Arthur R. Spector Max D. Hopper Jack L. Messman
7
<PAGE>
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
During 1996, the Compensation Committee consisted of Messrs. Spector,
Hopper and Messman. Mr. Spector served as Chairman of the Board of the Company
during that time.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation of Executive Officers
The following table sets forth information concerning compensation paid
during the last two calendar years to the Chief Executive Officer and each of
the Company's other most highly compensated executive officers at December 31,
1996 (collectively, the "Named Officers").
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Summary Compensation Table
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual Compensation Long Term Compensation
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Awards
-----------------------------
Other Annual Securities
Compen- Restricted Underlying
Name and Principal Position sation($) Stock Options/
Year Salary ($)(1) Bonus ($) (2) Award(s)($) (3) SARS (#)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
William G. Moore, Jr., Former 1996 $ 274,017 $ 0 -- -- --
President and Chief Executive
Officer(4) 1995 250,000 150,000 -- -- 114,000
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark S. Grefer, 1996 $ 107,500 $ 0 -- -- 1,000
Senior Vice President of
Worldwide Sales (5) 1995 62,884 50,750 -- -- 75,000
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Keenan, 1996 $ 115,042 $ 0 -- -- 1,000
Former Vice President of
Worldwide Marketing(6) 1995 98,294 46,000 -- -- 75,000
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
H. Kenneth Whitaker, Senior 1996 $ 160,813 $ 0 -- -- 1,000
Vice President of Product
Development 1995 148,750 55,394 -- -- 100,000
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) Amounts shown do not include amounts expended by the Company pursuant to
plans (including group, disability, life, and health insurance) that do not
discriminate in scope, terms or operation in favor of executive officers or
directors and that are generally available to all salaried employees.
(2) Perquisites and other personal benefits for fiscal year 1996 did not exceed
the lesser of $50,000 or 10% of any Named Officer's salary and bonus.
(3) Any dividends that become payable will be paid on restricted stock awards
at the same rate as paid to all stockholders. At December 31, 1996, Mr.
Moore held 273,910 shares of restricted stock, which were repurchased by
the Company in 1997. See "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions."
(4) Mr. Moore resigned as President and Chief Executive Officer in March 1997.
Bill E. Newell, a Vice President of Safeguard Scientifics, Inc., is
currently serving as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
(5) Mr. Grefer joined the Company in May 1995 and has been serving as an
executive officer of the Company since January 1996.
(6) Mr. Keenan joined the Company in February 1995 and served as an executive
officer of the Company from January 1996 until his resignation in February
1997.
8
<PAGE>
Stock Options
The following tables set forth information with respect to (i)
individual grants of stock options during 1996 to each of the Named Officers,
(ii) options exercised during fiscal year 1996, and (iii) the number of
unexercised options and the value of unexercised in-the-money options at
December 31, 1996.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Option/SAR Grants in Last Fiscal Year
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Potential Realizable Value
at Assumed Annual Rates
of Stock Price Appreciation
Individual Grants For Option Term(1)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
% of Total
Number of Options/
Securities SARs
Underlying Granted to Exercise or
Options/ Employees In Base Price
SARs Fiscal Year ($/Sh)(3) Expiration 5% 10%
Name Granted (#)(2) Date ($) ($)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
William G. Moore, Jr. 0 -- -- -- -- --
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark S. Grefer 1,000 0.5% $7.50 10/22/04 3,581 8,577
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Keenan 1,000 0.5% $7.50 10/22/04 3,581 8,577
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
H. Kenneth Whitaker 1,000 0.5% $7.50 10/22/04 3,581 8,577
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) The potential realizable values are based on an assumption that the stock
price of the shares of Common Stock of the Company appreciate at the annual
rate shown (compounded annually) from the date of grant until the end of
the option term. These values do not take into account amounts required to
be paid as income taxes under the Code and any applicable state laws or
option provisions providing for termination of an option following
termination of employment, nontransferability or vesting over periods of up
to four years. These amounts are calculated based on the requirements
promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and do not reflect
the Company's estimate of future stock price growth of the shares of Common
Stock of the Company.
(2) Each option vests 25% each year commencing on the first anniversary of the
grant date, has an eight-year term and continues vesting and remains
exercisable so long as employment with the Company or one of its
subsidiaries continues. The option exercise price may be paid in cash or by
(i) delivery of previously acquired shares or (ii) same day sales, i.e.
cashless broker's exercises.
(3) All options have an exercise price at least equal to the fair market value
on the date of grant of the shares subject to each option.
9
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Aggregated Option/SAR Exercises in Last Fiscal Year
and Fiscal Year-End Option/SAR Values
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Securities
Underlying Unexercised Value of Unexercised
Shares Options/SARs In-the-Money Options/
Acquired On Value at Fiscal Year-End (#) SARs at Fiscal Year-End($)(1)
Name Exercise (#) Realized ($) Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
William G. Moore, Jr. 0 -- 57,000 57,000 $ 121,125 $ 121,125
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark S. Grefer 0 -- 18,750 57,250 11,719 35,156
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Keenan 5,000 $ 12,500 13,750 57,250 29,219 119,531
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
H. Kenneth Whitaker 5,500 $ 94,225 33,412 76,000 79,413 159,375
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) The value of unexercised in-the-money options is calculated based upon (i)
the fair market value per share of the stock at December 31, 1996, less the
option exercise price, multiplied by (ii) the number of shares subject to
an option. On December 31, 1996, the fair market value of a share of the
Company's common stock was $5.625. This table is presented solely for the
purpose of complying with the rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission and does not necessarily reflect the amounts optionees will
actually receive upon the sale of any shares acquired upon the exercise of
the options.
STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following chart compares the cumulative total stockholder return on
the Company's Common Stock for the period beginning with the commencement of the
Company's initial public offering on June 16, 1995 through December 31, 1996
with the cumulative total return on the Nasdaq Index and the cumulative total
return for a peer group index for the same period. The peer group consists of
SIC Code 737--Computer Programming and Data Processing Services. The comparison
assumes that $100 was invested on June 16, 1995 in the Company's Common Stock
and in each of the comparison indices, and assumes reinvestment of dividends.
The Company has historically reinvested earnings in the growth of its business
and has not paid cash dividends on its Common Stock.
300|------------------------------------------------------------------|
| * |
| |
250|------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| |
200|------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| |
150|----------------------------------------------------------------&#|
| |
| * |
100|*&#-----------------------------&#--------------------------------|
| |
| |
50|------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| |
0|----|---------------------------|-------------------------|-------|
Jun-95 Dec-95 Dec-96
*=USDATA &=Nasdaq #=Peer Group
Jun-95 Dec-95 Dec-96
----------------------------------------------
USDATA 100 290 113
Nasdaq 100 113 139
Peer Group 100 118 144
10
<PAGE>
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
The Company and Safeguard are parties to an Administrative Services
Agreement pursuant to which Safeguard provides the Company with administrative
support services for a monthly fee of $30,000. The administrative support
services include consultation regarding the Company's general management,
investor relations, financial management, certain legal services, insurance
programs administration, audit administration and tax research and planning. The
annual administrative services fee does not cover extraordinary services
provided by Safeguard to the Company or services that are contracted out. The
initial term of the agreement expired on December 31, 1996, and has been
extended until December 31, 1997, with annual renewals thereafter by mutual
agreement between the parties. The Company expensed $360,000 during 1996 for
these services.
During 1995, Safeguard and the Company entered into an agreement
whereby the Company would lend to Safeguard its excess cash and receive a
negotiated interest rate which was higher than the rate the Company might
realize by independently investing the funds, but which was less than
Safeguard's cost of funds. Safeguard borrowings under this arrangement accrued
interest at the prime rate of interest less one percent. The principal and
unpaid interest on these borrowings are payable within five business days of
demand by the Company, and accrued interest on this note is payable on a monthly
basis. The highest principal balance of these borrowings since January 1, 1995
was $7 million, and at December 31, 1995, the principal balance and accrued,
unpaid interest on this note were $7 million and $40,326, respectively. The
outstanding principal and unpaid interest on the note were paid in full in March
1996. Mr. Root, a director of the Company, currently serves as Executive Vice
President of Safeguard.
In connection with the purchase of 273,910 shares of Common Stock (the
"Restricted Stock") on February 20, 1995 at a purchase price of $3.50 per share,
William G. Moore, Jr., the former President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company, borrowed $958,685 from the Company evidenced by a note (the "Note")
bearing interest at the rate of 7.75% per annum. Mr. Moore resigned as an
officer and director of the Company on March 10, 1997. Pursuant to the terms of
a Severance Agreement, Mr. Moore will be employed by the Company as a consultant
until December 31, 1997 at his current salary level of $275,000. In addition,
the Company has repurchased all of the Restricted Stock in exchange for the
cancellation of all outstanding principal and accrued interest under the Note,
which totaled $958,685 and $161,539, respectively, as of March 10, 1997.
On November 8, 1994, Safeguard and certain other investors acquired
6,198,808 shares of Common Stock from the Company's then majority shareholders
for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $18 million. In connection
therewith, the Company granted to Safeguard a warrant to purchase 698,238 shares
of Common Stock and to Arthur R. Spector, the Chairman of the Board of the
Company, a warrant to purchase 77,582 shares of Common Stock. Each warrant is
currently exercisable at an exercise price of $3.02 per share.
The Company and Bob B. Midyett, Jr. are parties to an Employment
Agreement under which Mr. Midyett initially served as Chief Executive Officer
and now serves as Senior Advisor to the Company. The Employment Agreement has an
initial term of three years, commencing November 8, 1994. Pursuant to the
Employment Agreement, Mr. Midyett receives annual compensation of $360,000 and
reimbursement of certain expenses. For as long as he owns at least 5% of the
outstanding Common Stock of the Company, Mr. Midyett is entitled to serve on the
Board of Directors of the Company.
11
<PAGE>
II. PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE COMPANY'S 1994 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN
The Board believes that the following proposal to adopt a resolution
providing for an amendment to the Company's 1994 Equity Compensation Plan is in
the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and unanimously
recommends a vote FOR approval of this proposal. Proxies received by the Board
will be so voted unless stockholders specify otherwise on their Proxy cards.
Background and Proposed Amendment
At the Annual Meeting, the stockholders will be asked to approve an
amendment to the Company's 1994 Equity Compensation Plan which was adopted by
the Board in March 1997, subject to stockholder approval. The 1994 Equity
Compensation Plan, as proposed to be amended, is hereinafter referred to as the
"1994 Plan."
The proposed amendment to the 1994 Plan authorizes an increase in the
number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued upon exercise of options
granted or to be granted under the 1994 Plan by 500,000 shares of Common Stock,
from 1,500,000 to 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate.
Prior to adoption of the amendment to the 1994 Plan, only 284,215
shares remained available for issuance. As a result of recent management
changes, the Company anticipates adding several key members to its management
team in the near future. Additionally, competition for skilled employees in the
software industry is intense, and the use of significant stock options for
recruitment, retention and motivation of such personnel is widespread in the
industry. The Board believes that the increase in the number of shares available
for grant under the 1994 Plan will be critical to the Company's future success
by enabling the Company to recruit and retain highly qualified key employees,
motivate high levels of performance by its employees, and recognize employee
contributions to the Company's success.
We direct your attention to Appendix A of this Proxy Statement,
incorporated herein by reference, which contains a description of the material
features of the 1994 Plan.
Approval by Stockholders
Approval of the adoption of the amendment to the 1994 Plan requires the
affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum
representing a majority of all outstanding voting stock of the Company is
present, either in person or by proxy, and voting on the 1994 Plan. If not so
approved, then the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that are subject
to options granted under the 1994 Plan will not exceed 1,500,000 shares of
Common Stock.
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Since 1992, the Company has retained Price Waterhouse LLP as its
independent public accountants, and it intends to retain Price Waterhouse LLP
for the current year ending December 31, 1997.
12
<PAGE>
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the
Company's directors and executive officers and persons who own more than ten
percent of a registered class of the Company's equity securities ("10%
Stockholders") to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership of Common
Stock and other equity securities of the Company with the Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Officers, directors and 10% Stockholders are
required by SEC regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all Section
16(a) forms that they file. Based solely on its review of the copies of such
forms received by it and written representations from certain reporting persons
that no other reports were required for those persons, the Company believes that
during the period from January 1, 1996 to December 31, 1996, all Section 16(a)
filing requirements applicable to its officers, directors and 10% Stockholders
were complied with, except for a late Form 3 filed by each of Messrs. Grefer and
Keenan.
OTHER MATTERS
The Company is not aware of any other business to be presented at the
Annual Meeting. If any other matters should properly come before the Annual
Meeting, however, the enclosed Proxy confers discretionary authority with
respect thereto.
The Company's Annual Report for 1996, including financial statements
and other information with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries, is being
mailed simultaneously to the stockholders but is not to be regarded as proxy
solicitation material.
Dated: May 28, 1997
13
<PAGE>
APPENDIX A
1994 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN
Purpose of the 1994 Plan
The 1994 Plan was created to assist the Company in retaining and
attracting key employees, officers and independent contractors who perform
services for the Company or its subsidiaries and non-employee directors
(collectively, the "Participants") by offering such Participants a proprietary
interest in the Company.
Shares Subject to the 1994 Plan
Subject to adjustment in certain circumstances as discussed below, the
1994 Plan authorizes the issuance of up to 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock.
After giving effect to the increase in authorized shares, there will be
1,850,575 shares reserved for issuance under the 1994 Plan, of which 1,066,360
shares of Common Stock will be subject to outstanding options, and 784,215
shares will be available for issuance upon the exercise of options granted or to
be granted under the 1994 Plan. If and to the extent options or stock
appreciation rights granted under the 1994 Plan terminate, expire or are
canceled without being exercised, or if a restricted stock award is forfeited,
the shares subject to such option, stock appreciation right or award will again
be available for purposes of the 1994 Plan. The closing price of the Company's
Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market on May 20, 1997 was $5.50 per share.
Administration of the 1994 Plan
The 1994 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee, which is
currently composed of Messrs. Arthur R. Spector, Max D. Hopper and Jack L.
Messman. The Compensation Committee currently satisfies the requirement of
section 162(m) of the Code.
The Compensation Committee is authorized to determine, from time to
time, the persons to whom awards or grants will be made, and the term, exercise
price, settlement terms, forfeiture provisions and other terms and conditions of
each award or grant. The Compensation Committee has the power to establish and
waive, in its discretion, vesting provisions for awards or grants.
Eligibility for Participation and Grants
Employees (including employees who are also officers or directors),
non-employee directors and eligible independent contractors of the Company or of
any subsidiary are eligible to receive grants under the 1994 Plan. As of May 20,
1997, there were 3 executive officers, 5 directors and approximately 170
employees considered eligible to participate in the 1994 Plan, and there were no
eligible independent contractors.
Grants under the 1994 Plan may consist of incentive stock options,
non-qualified stock options, restricted stock awards and stock appreciation
rights (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Grants"). All Grants are
subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the 1994 Plan and to those
other terms and conditions consistent with the 1994 Plan as the Compensation
Committee deems appropriate and as are specified in writing by the Compensation
Committee. During the term of the 1994 Plan, no Participant may receive Grants
in the aggregate for more than 500,000 shares of Common Stock.
14
<PAGE>
Granting of Options
The Compensation Committee may grant options qualifying as incentive
stock options ("ISOs") within the meaning of section 422 of the Code to
Participants who are employees of the Company and/or other stock options
("NQSOs") to any Participant. Such grants are made in accordance with the terms
and conditions set forth in the 1994 Plan and grants to officers and other
employees may be made in any combination of ISOs or NQSOs (hereinafter referred
to collectively as "Stock Options").
The exercise price of Common Stock subject to Stock Options is
determined by the Compensation Committee at the time of grant, provided,
however, that the exercise price per share for an ISO may not be less than 100%
of the fair market value of the Common Stock at the time of grant. Further, an
ISO granted to a Participant who owns stock having more than 10% of the voting
power of the Company or its subsidiaries must have an exercise price of not less
than 110% of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant. The
1994 Plan provides that the aggregate fair market value (determined as of the
time an ISO is granted) of the shares with respect to which ISOs are exercisable
for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year, under the 1994
Plan and any other ISO plan of the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the
Company, cannot exceed $100,000.
The term of any Stock Option granted under the 1994 Plan may not exceed
ten years from the date of the Grant. An ISO granted to a Participant who owns
stock having more than 10% of the voting power of the Company or its
subsidiaries shall have an exercise period not greater than five years. Stock
Options will become exercisable in such installments and on such dates as the
Compensation Committee may specify. Unless otherwise determined by the
Compensation Committee at the time of grant, any Stock Option held by an
individual who dies while employed by the Company or any subsidiary, or whose
employment with the Company and all subsidiaries is terminated for any reason,
prior to the expiration date of such option, will generally remain exercisable
by the former employee or his personal representative, to the extent such Stock
Option was vested and exercisable on the date of death or termination of
employment, for a period of one year in the event of an individual's death or
disability or for a period of three months following an employee's termination
of employment for any other reason. However, in the event of termination of
employment for cause, the Compensation Committee, in its discretion, may
terminate all Stock Options held by the Participant at the date of termination
and may require the Participant to forfeit all shares underlying any exercised
portion of an Option for which the Company has not yet delivered the share
certificates upon refund by the Company of the exercise price paid by the
Participant for such shares.
Stock Options are generally not transferable, except at death,
provided, however, that the Compensation Committee, in its discretion, may
permit the transfer of NQSOs pursuant to a domestic relations order or to family
members or other persons or entities on such terms as the Compensation Committee
may determine.
The exercise price is payable in cash, by delivering shares of Common
Stock already owned by the Participant and having a fair market value on the
date of exercise equal to the exercise price, or with a combination of cash and
shares. Shares of Common Stock previously acquired by a Participant which are
tendered in payment of the exercise price may be subject to certain holding
periods and other requirements as set forth in the 1994 Plan. The Company also
may accept such other method of payment as the Compensation Committee may
approve, including a "cashless exercise" of a Stock Option, which may be
effected by a Participant by delivering a properly executed notice of exercise
of the Stock Option to the Company and a securities broker, with irrevocable
instructions to the securities broker promptly to deliver to the Company the
amount of sale proceeds necessary to pay the exercise price of the Stock
15
<PAGE>
Option. Shares of Common Stock may not be issued or transferred upon exercise of
the Stock Option until the exercise price is paid and the withholding
obligation, if any, is fully satisfied.
At the time of grant, the Compensation Committee may authorize a Grant
of Replacement Options in the event of a stock-for-stock swap method of
exercise. The Replacement Option may cover such number of shares as the
Compensation Committee may determine, up to a maximum number of shares equal to
the difference between the number of shares of the original Stock Option
exercised and the net shares received by the Participant upon exercise. The per
share exercise price of the Replacement Option shall be equal to the then
current fair market value of a share of stock and shall have a term extending to
the expiration date of the original Stock Option.
The Compensation Committee also may reserve the right to cash-out an
option (as of the date the Participant delivers a notice of exercise) by paying
an amount of cash or Common Stock equal to the excess of the fair market value
of one share of Common Stock over the exercise price multiplied by the number of
shares for which the Stock Option is being exercised.
Restricted Stock Grants
The Compensation Committee may award shares of Common Stock under a
Grant (a "Restricted Stock Grant") pursuant to the 1994 Plan to Participants.
Shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to a Restricted Stock Grant may be issued
for consideration or for no consideration. If a Participant's employment or
other service to the Company terminates during the period, if any, designated in
writing by the Compensation Committee at the time of the Restricted Stock Grant
during which the transfer of the shares is restricted (the "Restriction
Period"), the Restricted Stock Grant terminates with respect to all shares
covered by the Restricted Stock Grant as to which the restrictions on transfer
have not lapsed. During the Restriction Period, a Participant may not sell,
assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of the shares of Common Stock to
which such Restriction Period applies. All restrictions imposed under the
Restricted Stock Grant lapse upon the expiration of the applicable Restriction
Period. In addition, the Compensation Committee may determine as to any or all
Restricted Stock Grants that all restrictions will lapse based on service,
performance and/or such other factors or criteria as the Compensation Committee
may determine, in its sole discretion. There are no Restricted Stock Grants
outstanding as of May 20, 1997.
Stock Appreciation Rights
The Compensation Committee may make a Grant of stock appreciation
rights ("SARs") to any Participant in tandem with any Stock Option (except for
NQSOs granted to non-employee directors) for all or a portion of the applicable
Stock Option, either at the time the Stock Option is granted or at any time
thereafter while the Stock Option remains outstanding. In the case of an ISO,
SARs may be granted only at the time of the grant of the ISO. The number of SARs
granted to a Participant that are exercisable during any given period of time
may not exceed the number of shares of Common Stock that the Participant may
purchase upon the exercise of the related Stock Option during such period of
time. Upon the exercise of a Stock Option, the SARs relating to the Common Stock
covered by such Stock Option terminate. Upon the exercise of SARs, the related
Stock Option terminates to the extent of an equal number of shares of Common
Stock.
Upon a Participant's exercise of some or all of his or her SARs, the
Participant receives in settlement of such SARs an amount equal to the value of
the stock appreciation for the number of SARs exercised, payable in cash, Common
Stock or a combination thereof. The stock appreciation for a SAR is the
difference between the exercise price specified for the related Stock Option and
the fair market value per share of the underlying Common Stock on the date
16
<PAGE>
of exercise of the SAR. The 1994 Plan provides that the exercise price of a SAR
is the (i) exercise price of the related Stock Option or (ii) the fair market
value of a share of Common Stock as of the date of the Grant of the SAR, if the
SAR is granted after the Stock Option and the exercise price under (i) would
result in the disallowance of the Company's expense deduction upon exercise of
the SAR under section 162(m) of the Code.
A SAR is exercisable only during the period when the Stock Option to
which it relates is also exercisable, provided, however, that unless an Insider
(as defined in the 1994 Plan) could otherwise transfer shares of stock issued
under the 1994 Plan without incurring liability under Section 16(b) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, at least six months must elapse
from the date of grant of the SAR to the date of disposition of such SAR. No
SARs have been granted as of May 20, 1997.
Termination of the 1994 Plan; Amendment of Options
The Board may amend or terminate the 1994 Plan at any time, provided,
however, that no amendment or termination may be made which would impair the
rights of a Participant without the Participant's consent. Further, the Board
may not amend the 1994 Plan without stockholder approval if such approval is
required pursuant to the Code or the rules of any national securities exchange
or over-the-counter market on which the Company's Common Stock is then listed or
included. The 1994 Plan will terminate on November 8, 2004, unless terminated
earlier by the Board.
A termination or amendment of the 1994 Plan that occurs after a Grant
is made will not result in the termination or amendment of the Grant unless the
Participant consents or unless the Compensation Committee revokes a Grant, the
terms of which are contrary to applicable law. The termination of the 1994 Plan
will not impair the power and authority of the Compensation Committee with
respect to outstanding Grants.
Adjustment Provisions; Change in Control of the Company
If there is any change in the number or kind of shares of Company Stock
outstanding (i) by reason of a stock dividend, spin off, recapitalization, stock
split, or combination or exchange of shares, (ii) by reason of a merger,
reorganization or consolidation in which the Company is the surviving
corporation, (iii) by reason of a reclassification or change in par value, or
(iv) by reason of any other extraordinary or unusual event affecting the
outstanding Company Stock as a class without the Company's receipt of
consideration, or if the value of outstanding shares of Company Stock is
substantially reduced as a result of a spin off or the Company's payment of an
extraordinary dividend or distribution, then unless such event or change results
in the termination of all outstanding awards under the Plan, the Compensation
Committee shall preserve the value of the outstanding awards by adjusting the
maximum number and class of shares issuable under the Plan to reflect the effect
of such event or change in the Company's capital structure, and by making
appropriate adjustments to the number and class of shares subject to an
outstanding award and/or the option price of each outstanding Option and Stock
Appreciation Right, except that any fractional shares resulting from such
adjustments shall be eliminated by rounding any portion of a share equal to 0.5
or greater up, and any portion of a share equal to less than 0.5 down, in each
case to the nearest whole number.
Federal Income Tax Consequences
Set forth below is a general description of the federal income tax
consequences relating to Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights and Restricted
Stock Grants under the 1994 Plan.
17
<PAGE>
Incentive Stock Options
If the requirements regarding ISOs set forth in the 1994 Plan are met,
ISOs granted under the 1994 Plan will be afforded favorable federal income tax
treatment under the Code. The Participant will not recognize taxable income and
the Company will not be entitled to a deduction upon the grant of an ISO.
Moreover, the Participant will not recognize taxable income (except alternative
minimum taxable income, if applicable) and the Company will not be entitled to a
deduction upon the exercise by the Participant of an ISO, provided the
Participant was an employee of the Company or any of its subsidiary
corporations, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code, during the entire period
from the date of grant of the ISO until three months before the date of exercise
(increased to 12 months if employment ceased due to death or total and permanent
disability, or if the employee dies within a limited period of time following
termination of employment).
If the employment requirements described above are not met, the tax
consequences relating to NQSOs (discussed below) will apply.
If the Participant disposes of the shares acquired under an ISO after
at least two years following the date of grant of the ISO and at least one year
following the date of transfer of the shares to the Participant following
exercise of the ISO, the Participant will recognize a long-term capital gain or
loss equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the disposition
and the exercise price. Any net capital gain will be treated as ordinary income,
but will be taxed at a maximum rate of 28%. Any net capital loss can only be
used to offset up to $3,000 per year ($1,500 per year in the case of a married
individual filing separately) of ordinary income.
If the Participant makes a disqualifying disposition of the shares
(that is, disposes of the shares within two years after the date of grant of the
ISO or within one year after the transfer of the shares to the Participant), but
all other requirements of Section 422 of the Code are met, the Participant will
generally recognize ordinary income upon disposition of the shares in an amount
equal to the lesser of (i) the fair market value of the shares on the date of
exercise minus the exercise price, or (ii) the amount realized on disposition
minus the exercise price. Disqualifying dispositions of shares may also,
depending upon the sales price, result in either long-term or short-term capital
gain or loss under the Code rules which govern other stock dispositions.
If the requirements of Section 422 of the Code are not met, the Company
will be allowed a federal income tax deduction to the extent of the ordinary
income includible in the Participant's gross income in accordance with the
provisions of Section 83 of the Code (and Section 3402 of the Code, to the
extent applicable) and the regulations thereunder.
The use of shares of Common Stock received upon the exercise of an ISO
to pay the exercise price in connection with the exercise of other ISOs within
either the two-year or one-year holding periods described above will constitute
a disqualifying disposition of the shares so used which will result in income
(or loss) to the Participant and, to the extent of a recognized gain, a
deduction to the Company. If, however, these holding period requirements are met
and the number of shares received on the exercise does not exceed the number of
shares surrendered, the Participant will recognize no gain or loss with respect
to the surrendered shares, and will have the same basis and holding period with
respect to the newly acquired shares as with respect to the surrendered shares.
To the extent that the number of shares received exceeds the number surrendered,
the Participant's basis in such excess shares will equal the amount of cash paid
by the Participant upon the exercise of the Stock Option, and the Participant's
holding period with respect to such excess shares will begin on the date such
18
<PAGE>
shares are transferred to the Participant. The tax treatment described above for
shares newly received upon exercise is not affected by using shares to pay the
exercise price.
Non-qualified Options
All other Stock Options granted under the 1994 Plan are NQSOs and will
not qualify for any special tax benefits to the Participant. Under present
Treasury Regulations, the Company's Stock Options are not deemed to have a
readily ascertainable value. Accordingly, a Participant will not recognize any
taxable income at the time he or she is granted an NQSO and the Company will not
be entitled to a deduction upon the grant of an NQSO.
Generally, a Participant will recognize ordinary income at the time of
exercise of an NQSO in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of
the shares at the time of such exercise over the exercise price, and the Company
generally will be entitled to a corresponding federal income tax deduction.
A Participant exercising an NQSO is subject to federal income tax on
the income recognized as a result of the exercise of an NQSO and federal income
tax must be withheld. The Compensation Committee, in its discretion, may permit
the Participant to elect to surrender or deliver shares otherwise issuable upon
exercise, or previously acquired shares, in order to satisfy the federal income
tax withholding, subject to certain restrictions set forth in the 1994 Plan.
Such an election will result in a disposition of the shares which are
surrendered or delivered, and an amount will be included in the Participant's
income equal to the excess of the fair market value of such shares over the
Participant's basis in such shares.
If the Participant pays the exercise price in cash, the basis of the
shares received by a Participant upon the exercise of an NQSO is the exercise
price paid plus the amount recognized by the Participant as income attributable
to such shares upon such exercise. If the exercise price is paid in cash, the
Participant's holding period for such shares will begin on the day after the
date on which the Participant realized income with respect to the transfer of
such Stock Option shares, i.e., generally the day after the exercise date. Any
net capital gain realized by the Participant upon a subsequent disposition of
any such shares is subject to federal income tax on the income recognized at the
ordinary income tax rates, but only up to a maximum of 28%. Any loss realized on
a subsequent disposition, however, will be treated as a capital loss and thus
can only be used to offset up to $3,000 per year ($1,500 in the case of a
married individual filing separately) of ordinary income.
If the Participant surrenders shares to pay the exercise price, and the
number of shares received on the exercise does not exceed the number of shares
surrendered, the Participant will recognize no gain or loss with respect to the
surrendered shares, and will have the same basis and holding period with respect
to the newly acquired shares as with respect to the surrendered shares. To the
extent that the number of shares received exceeds the number surrendered, the
fair market value of such excess shares on the date of exercise, reduced by any
cash paid by the Participant upon such exercise, will be includible in the gross
income of the Participant. The Participant's basis in such excess shares will
equal the sum of the cash paid by the Participant upon the exercise of the Stock
Option plus any amount included in the Participant's gross income as a result of
the exercise of the Stock Option, and the Participant's holding period with
respect to such excess shares will begin on the day following the date of
exercise.
Restricted Stock
A Participant normally will not recognize taxable income upon the award
of a Restricted Stock Grant, and the Company will not be entitled to a
deduction, until such stock is
19
<PAGE>
transferable by the Participant or no longer subject to a substantial risk of
forfeiture for federal tax purposes, whichever occurs earlier. When the Common
Stock is either transferable or is no longer subject to a substantial risk of
forfeiture, the Participant will recognize ordinary compensation income in an
amount equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock at that time less any
consideration paid by the Participant for such shares and the Company will be
entitled to a deduction in the same amount. A Participant may, however, elect to
recognize ordinary compensation income in the year the Restricted Stock Grant is
awarded in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock at that
time less any consideration paid by the Participant for such shares, determined
without regard to the restrictions. In this event, the Company will be entitled
to a deduction in the same year, provided the Company complies with the
applicable withholding requirements for federal tax purposes. Any gain or loss
recognized by the Participant upon subsequent disposition of the Common Stock
will be capital gain or loss. If, after making the election, any Common Stock
subject to a Restricted Stock Grant is forfeited, or if the market value
declines during the Restriction Period, the Participant is not entitled to any
tax deduction or tax refund if the Participant does not recover any
consideration he or she has paid when receiving the Restricted Stock.
Stock Appreciation Rights
The Participant will not recognize any income upon the grant of a SAR.
Upon the exercise of a SAR, the Participant will recognize ordinary compensation
income in the amount of both the cash and the fair market value of the shares of
Common Stock received upon such exercise, and the Company is entitled to a
corresponding deduction, provided the Company complies with the applicable
withholding requirements for federal tax purposes. In the event that the
Participant receives shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of a SAR, the
shares so acquired will have a tax basis equal to their fair market value on the
date of transfer, and the holding period of the shares will commence on that
date for purposes of determining whether a subsequent disposition of the shares
will result in long-term or short-term capital gain or loss.
Tax Withholding
No later than the date that an amount becomes includible in a
Participant's gross income for federal tax purposes in connection with a Grant
under the 1994 Plan, a Participant who is an employee is required to pay the
Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Compensation Committee for the
payment of, any federal, state or local taxes required to be withheld. If the
Compensation Committee so permits, withholding obligations may be satisfied with
shares of Common Stock, including shares of Common Stock received in connection
with the grant under the 1994 Plan. The shares withheld may not exceed the
Participant's maximum marginal tax rate for federal, state and local tax
liabilities. To the extent permitted by law, the Company may deduct any required
withholding from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Participant. The
obligations of the Company under the 1994 Plan are conditional upon the payment
or arrangement for such payment of any required withholding.
Other Tax Considerations
The 1994 Plan is not qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and is
not subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1984, as amended. The comments set forth in the above paragraphs are only a
summary of certain of the federal income tax consequences relating to the 1994
Plan. No consideration has been given to the effects of state, local and other
tax laws on the Participant or the Company.
20
<PAGE>
APPENDIX
USDATA CORPORATION
AMENDED AND RESTATED 1994 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN
SECTION 1. Purpose; Definitions
The purpose of the USDATA Corporation 1994 Equity Compensation Plan
(the "Plan") is to provide employees (including employees who are also officers
or directors), non-employee directors, and Eligible Independent Contractors (as
hereinafter defined) of USDATA Corporation (the "Company") with the opportunity
to receive grants of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock
appreciation rights and restricted stock awards. The Company believes that the
Plan will enable the Company to attract, retain and motivate its employees,
non-employee directors and Eligible Independent Contractors, will encourage Plan
participants to contribute materially to the growth of the Company for the
benefit of the Company's stockholders, and will align the economic interests of
the Plan participants with those of the stockholders.
For the purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as
set forth below:
a. "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
b. "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time
to time, and any successor thereto.
c. "Committee" means the Committee designated by the Board to
administer the Plan.
d. "Company" means USDATA Corporation, its subsidiaries or any
successor organization.
e. "Disability" means permanent and total disability within the meaning
of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
f. "Eligible Independent Contractor" means an independent consultant or
advisor hired by the Company to provide bona fide services for the Company that
are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising
transaction.
g. "Employed by the Company" shall mean employment as an employee or
Eligible Independent Contractor or member of the Board, so that for purposes of
exercising Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights and satisfying conditions
with respect to Restricted Stock Grants, a Participant shall not be considered
to have terminated employment until the Participant ceases to be an employee,
Eligible Independent Contractor or member of the Board, provided, however, that
the Committee may determine otherwise as may be specified in an individual
Participant's Grant Letter.
h. "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
<PAGE>
i. "Fair Market Value" means the fair market value of the Stock as
determined by the Committee in good faith based on the best available facts and
circumstances at the time; provided, however, that where there is a public
market for the Stock and the Stock is registered under the Exchange Act, Fair
Market Value shall mean the per share or aggregate value of the Stock as of any
given date, determined as follows: (i) if the principal trading market for the
Stock is a national securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market, the last
reported sale price thereof on the relevant date or, if there were no trades on
that date, the latest preceding date upon which a sale was reported, or (ii) if
the Stock is not principally traded on such exchange or market, the mean between
the last reported "bid" and "asked" prices of Stock on the relevant date, as
reported on Nasdaq or, if not so reported, as reported by the National Daily
Quotation Bureau, Inc. or as reported in a customary financial reporting
services, as applicable and as the Committee determines.
j. "Grant" means any Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right or
Restricted Stock award granted pursuant to the Plan.
k. "Incentive Stock Option" means any Stock Option intended to be and
designated as an "Incentive Stock Option" within the meaning of Section 422 of
the Code.
l. "Insider" means a Participant who is subject to Section 16 of the
Exchange Act.
m. "Non-Qualified Stock Option" means any Stock Option that is not an
Incentive Stock Option.
n. "Participant" means an employee, non-employee director or Eligible
Independent Contractor to whom an award is granted pursuant to the Plan.
o. "Plan" means the USDATA Corporation 1994 Equity Compensation Plan,
as hereinafter amended from time to time.
p. "Restricted Stock" means an award of shares of Stock that is subject
to restrictions pursuant to Section 7 below.
q. "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
r. "Securities Broker" means the registered securities broker
acceptable to the Company who agrees to effect the cashless exercise of an
Option pursuant to Section 5(d) hereof.
s. "Stock" means the Common Stock of the Company, par value $.01 per
share.
t. "Stock Appreciation Right" means the right, pursuant to an award
granted under Section 6 below, to surrender to the Company all (or a portion) of
-2-
<PAGE>
a Stock Option in exchange for an amount in cash and/or shares of Stock equal in
value to the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value, as of the date such right is
exercised and the related Stock Option (or such portion thereof) is surrendered,
of the shares of Stock covered by such Stock Option (or such portion thereof),
over (ii) the aggregate exercise price of such Stock Appreciation Right (or such
portion thereof).
u. "Stock Option" or "Option" means any option to purchase shares of
Stock (including Restricted Stock, if the Committee so determines) granted
pursuant to Section 5 below.
v. "Termination for Cause" shall mean, except to the extent specified
otherwise by the Committee, a finding by the Committee that the Participant has
breached his or her employment or service contract, non-competition agreement or
other obligation with the Company, or has been engaged in disloyalty to the
Company, including, without limitation, fraud, embezzlement, theft, commission
of a felony or proven dishonesty in the course of his or her employment or
service, or has disclosed trade secrets or confidential information of the
Company to persons not entitled to receive such information.
SECTION 2. Administration
The Plan shall be administered by a Committee which shall consist of
two or more non-employee directors appointed by the Board. In the absence of the
designation of a Committee to administer the Plan, the Plan shall be
administered by the full Board.
The Committee shall have the authority to:
(a) select the Participants to whom Grants may from time to time be
made hereunder;
(b) determine the type, size and terms of the Grants to be made to each
such Participant;
(c) determine the time when the Grants will be made and the duration of
any applicable exercise or restriction period, including the criteria for
exercisability and the acceleration of exercisability;
(d) amend the terms of any outstanding award (with the consent of the
Participant) to reflect terms not otherwise inconsistent with the Plan,
including, but not limited to, amendments concerning vesting acceleration or
forfeiture waiver regarding any award or the extension of a Participant's right
with respect to Grants under the Plan as a result of termination of employment
or service or otherwise, based on such factors as the Committee shall determine,
in its sole discretion, or substitution of new Stock Options for previously
granted Stock Options, including previously granted Stock Options having high
option prices;
-3-
<PAGE>
(e) establish from time to time any policy or program to encourage or
require Participants to achieve or maintain equity ownership in the Company
through the use of the Plan upon such terms and conditions as the Committee may
determine in its sole discretion, and thereafter to amend, modify or terminate
such policy or program as the Committee may from time to time deem appropriate;
and
(f) deal with any other matters arising under the Plan.
The Committee shall have full power and authority to administer and
interpret the Plan and any Grant made under the Plan, to make factual
determinations and to adopt, alter and repeal such administrative rules,
guidelines, practices, agreements and instruments for implementing the Plan and
for the conduct of its business as it deems necessary or advisable, in its sole
discretion. All decisions made by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of
the Plan shall be final and binding on all persons having any interest in the
Plan or in any Grants made hereunder. All power of the Committee shall be
executed in its sole discretion, in the best interest of the Company, not as a
fiduciary, and in keeping with the objectives of the Plan.
No member of the Board or the Committee shall be liable for any action
or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Grant made
under it. Nothing herein shall be deemed to expand the personal liability of a
member of the Board or Committee beyond that which may arise under any
applicable standards set forth in the Company's Certificate of Incorporation,
by-laws and Delaware law, nor shall anything herein limit any rights to
indemnification or advancement of expenses to which any member of the Board or
the Committee may be entitled under any applicable law, the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation or by-laws, agreement, vote of the stockholders or
directors, or otherwise.
SECTION 3. Stock Subject to the Plan
(a) The aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued or
transferred under the Plan is 2,000,000, subject to adjustment pursuant to
Section 3(b) below. Such shares may be authorized but unissued shares or
reacquired shares of Stock, including shares purchased by the Company on the
open market for purposes of the Plan. In the event the number of shares of Stock
issued under the Plan and the number of shares of Stock subject to outstanding
awards equals the maximum number of shares of Stock authorized under the Plan,
no further awards shall be made unless the Plan is amended to increase the
number of shares of Stock issuable and transferable hereunder or additional
shares of Stock become available for further awards under the Plan. If and to
the extent that Options or Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan
terminate, expire or are canceled, forfeited, exchanged or surrendered without
having been exercised, or if any shares of Restricted Stock are forfeited, the
shares subject to such Grants shall again be available for subsequent awards
under the Plan.
(b) If there is any change in the number or kind of shares of Company
Stock outstanding (i) by reason of a stock dividend, spin off, recapitalization,
stock split, or combination or exchange of shares, (ii) by reason of a merger,
reorganization or
-4-
<PAGE>
consolidation in which the Company is the surviving corporation, (iii) by reason
of a reclassification or change in par value, or (iv) by reason of any other
extraordinary or unusual event affecting the outstanding Company Stock as a
class without the Company's receipt of consideration, or if the value of
outstanding shares of Company Stock is substantially reduced as a result of a
spin off or the Company's payment of an extraordinary dividend or distribution,
then unless such event or change results in the termination of all outstanding
awards under the Plan, the Committee shall preserve the value of the outstanding
awards by adjusting the maximum number and class of shares issuable under the
Plan to reflect the effect of such event or change in the Company's capital
structure, and by making appropriate adjustments to the number and class of
shares subject to an outstanding award and/or the option price of each
outstanding Option and Stock Appreciation Right, except that any fractional
shares resulting from such adjustments shall be eliminated by rounding any
portion of a share equal to .5 or greater up, and any portion of a share equal
to less than .5 down, in each case to the nearest whole number.
SECTION 4. Eligibility; Participant Limitations Concerning Issuances
All employees, non-employee directors and Eligible Independent
Contractors are eligible to participate in the Plan. The maximum aggregate
number of shares of Stock that shall be subject to Grants made under the Plan to
any Participant shall not exceed 500,000. The terms and provisions of Grants
made under the Plan may vary between Participants or as to the same Participant
to whom more than one Grant may be awarded.
SECTION 5. Stock Options
Stock Options may be granted alone, in addition to, or in tandem with
other awards granted under the Plan. Any Stock Option granted under the Plan
shall be in such form as the Committee may from time to time approve. Stock
Options granted under the Plan may be of two types: (i) Incentive Stock Options
and (ii) Non-Qualified Stock Options.
The Committee shall have the authority to grant Incentive Stock
Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options or both types of Stock Options (in each
case with or without Stock Appreciation Rights). To the extent that any Stock
Option does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, it shall constitute a
Non-Qualified Stock Option.
Anything in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no term of this
Plan relating to Incentive Stock Options shall be interpreted, amended or
altered, nor shall any discretion or authority granted under the Plan be so
exercised, so as to disqualify the Plan under Section 422 of the Code, or,
without the consent of the Participant affected, to disqualify any Incentive
Stock Option under Section 422.
Options granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following terms
and conditions and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not
inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall deem
appropriate:
-5-
<PAGE>
(a) Option Price. The option price per share of Stock purchasable under
a Stock Option shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant,
provided, however, that the option price per share for any Incentive Stock
Option shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Stock at the
time of grant.
Any Incentive Stock Option granted to any Participant who, at
the time the Option is granted, owns more than 10% of the voting power of all
classes of stock of the Company or of a Parent or Subsidiary corporation (within
the meaning of Section 424 of the Code), shall have an exercise price no less
than 110% of the Fair Market Value per share on the date of the grant.
(b) Option Term. The term of each Stock Option shall be fixed by the
Committee, but no Stock Option shall be exercisable more than ten years after
the date the Stock Option is granted. However, any Incentive Stock Option
granted to any Participant who, at the time the Option is granted, owns more
than 10% of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of a
Parent or Subsidiary corporation may not have a term of more than five years. No
Stock Option may be exercised by any person after expiration of the term of the
Stock Option.
(c) Exercisability. Stock Options shall be exercisable at such time or
times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the
Committee at or after grant. If the Committee provides, in its discretion, that
any Stock Option is exercisable only in installments, the Committee may waive
such installment exercise provisions at any time at or after grant in whole or
in part, based on such factors as the Committee shall determine, in its sole
discretion.
(d) Method of Exercise. Subject to whatever installment exercise
provisions apply under Section 5(c), Stock Options may be exercised, in whole or
in part at any time and from time to time during the Option period, by giving
written notice of exercise to the Company specifying the number of shares to be
purchased. Such notice shall be accompanied by payment in full of the purchase
price, either by cash, check, or such other instrument as the Committee may
accept. As determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, at or after
grant, payment in full or in part may also be made in the form of unrestricted
Stock already owned by the Participant (including Company Stock acquired in
connection with the exercise of an Option, subject to such restrictions as the
Committee deems appropriate); provided, however, that (i) in the case of an
Incentive Stock Option, the right to make a payment in the form of unrestricted
Stock already owned by the Participant may be authorized only at the time the
Option is granted and (ii) the Company may require that the Stock has been owned
by the Participant for the requisite period of time necessary to avoid a charge
to the Company's earnings for financial reporting purposes and adverse
accounting consequences to the Company with respect to the Option.
If specified by the Committee in the agreement governing a
Stock Option at the time of grant, the Committee may, in its sole discretion,
upon receipt of such Participant's written notice to exercise, elect to cash out
all or part of the portion of the Stock Option to be exercised by paying the
Participant an amount, in cash or
-6-
<PAGE>
Stock, equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the Stock over the option
price on the effective date of such cash-out.
To the extent permitted under the applicable laws and
regulations, at the request of the Participant and if authorized by the
Committee, in its sole discretion, at or after grant, the Company agrees to
cooperate in a "cashless exercise" of a Stock Option. The cashless exercise
shall be effected by the Participant delivering to the Securities Broker
instructions to sell a sufficient number of shares of Stock to cover the cost
and expenses associated therewith.
No shares of Stock shall be issued until full payment therefor
has been made. A Participant shall not have any right to dividends or other
rights of a stockholder with respect to shares subject to the Option until such
time as Stock is issued in the name of the Participant following exercise of the
Option in accordance with the Plan.
(e) Stock Option Agreement. Each Option granted under this Plan shall
be evidenced by an appropriate Stock Option agreement, which agreement shall
expressly specify whether such Option is an Incentive Stock Option or a
Non-Qualified Stock Option and shall be executed by the Company and the
Participant. The agreement shall contain such terms and provisions, not
inconsistent with the Plan, as shall be determined by the Committee.
(f) Replacement Options. If an Option granted pursuant to the Plan may
be exercised by an optionee by means of a stock-for-stock swap method of
exercise as provided in 5(d) above, then the Committee may, in its sole
discretion and at the time of the original option grant, authorize the
Participant to automatically receive a replacement Option pursuant to this part
of the Plan. This replacement option shall cover a number of shares determined
by the Committee, but in no event more than the number of shares equal to the
difference between the number of shares of the original option exercised and the
net shares received by the Participant from such exercise. The per share
exercise price of the replacement option shall equal the then current Fair
Market Value of a share of Stock, and shall have a term extending to the
expiration date of the original Option.
The Committee shall have the right, in its sole discretion and
at any time, to discontinue the automatic grant of replacement options if it
determines the continuance of such grants to no longer be in the best interest
of the Company.
(g) Non-transferability of Options. Except as provided below, no Stock
Option shall be transferable by the Participant other than by will or by the
laws of descent and distribution, and all Stock Options shall be exercisable,
during the Participant's lifetime, only by the Participant. When a Participant
dies, the representative or other person entitled to succeed to the rights of
the Grantee may exercise such rights, subject to the Company receiving
satisfactory proof of his or her right to receive the Grant under the
Participant's will or under the applicable laws of descent and distribution.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may provide, at or after Grant,
that a Participant may transfer Nonqualified Stock Options pursuant
-7-
<PAGE>
to a domestic relations order or to family members or other persons or entities
according to such terms as the Committee may determine.
(h) Termination of Employment; Disability; Death
(i) Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at or after
grant, in the event of a Participant's termination of employment
(voluntary or involuntary) for any reason other than as provided below,
any Stock Option held by such Participant may thereafter be exercised
by the Participant, to the extent it was exercisable at the time of
such termination or on such accelerated basis as the Committee may
determine at or after grant, for a period of three months (or such
shorter period as the Committee may specify at grant) from the date of
such termination of employment or until the expiration of the stated
term of such Stock Option, whichever period is shorter.
(ii) Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at or after
grant, if any Participant ceases to be employed by the Company on
account of a Termination for Cause by the Company, any Stock Option
held by such Participant shall terminate as of the date the Participant
ceases to be employed by the Company, and the Participant shall
automatically forfeit all Stock underlying any exercised portion of an
Option for which the Company has not yet delivered the share
certificates, upon refund by the Company of the Exercise Price paid by
the Participant for such Stock.
(iii) Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at or after
grant, if a Participant's employment by the Company terminates by
reason of Disability, any Stock Option held by such Participant may
thereafter be exercised by the Participant, to the extent it was
exercisable at the time of termination, or on such accelerated basis as
the Committee may determine at or after grant, for a period of one year
(or such shorter period as the Committee may specify at grant) from the
date of such termination of employment or until the expiration of the
stated term of such Stock Option, whichever period is shorter.
(iv) Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at or after
grant, if any Participant dies while employed by the Company or within
three months after the date on which the Participant ceases to be
employed by the Company on account of termination of employment
specified in Section 5(h)(i) above (or within such other period of time
as may be specified by the Committee), any Stock Option held by such
Participant may thereafter be exercised, to the extent then exercisable
or on such accelerated basis as the Committee may determine at or after
grant, by the legal representative of the estate or by the legatee of
the Participant under the will of the Participant, for a period of one
year (or such shorter period as the Committee may specify at grant)
from the date of such termination of employment or until the expiration
of the stated term of such Stock Option, whichever period is shorter.
(i) Incentive Stock Option Limitation. The aggregate Fair Market Value
(determined as of the time of grant) of the Stock with respect to which
Incentive Stock
-8-
<PAGE>
Options are exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any
calendar year under the Plan and/or any other stock option plan of the Company
shall not exceed $100,000. An Incentive Stock Option shall not be granted to any
person who is not an employee of the Company or a parent or subsidiary (within
the meaning of section 424(f) of the Code).
(j) Issuance of Shares. Within a reasonable time after exercise of an
Option, the Company shall cause to be delivered to the Participant a certificate
for the Stock purchased pursuant to the exercise of the Option.
SECTION 6. Stock Appreciation Rights
(a) Grant and Exercise. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted either
separately or in tandem with all or part of any Stock Option granted under the
Plan. The provisions of Stock Appreciation Rights awarded under the Plan need
not be the same with respect to each Participant. In the case of a Non-Qualified
Stock Option, such rights may be granted either at the grant of such Stock
Option or at any time thereafter while the Option remains outstanding. In the
case of an Incentive Stock Option, such rights may be granted only at the time
of the grant of such Stock Option. The Committee shall establish the base amount
of the Stock Appreciation Rights at the time the Stock Appreciation Right is
granted. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, the base amount of each
Stock Appreciation Right shall be equal to the per share option price of the
related Stock Option or, if there is no related Stock Option, the Fair Market
Value of a share of Stock as of the date of grant of such Stock Appreciation
Right.
A Stock Appreciation Right or applicable portion thereof
granted with respect to a given Stock Option shall terminate and no longer be
exercisable upon the termination or exercise of the related Stock Option, except
that, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, at
the time of grant, a Stock Appreciation Right granted with respect to less than
the full number of shares covered by a related Stock Option shall not be reduced
until the number of shares covered by an exercise or termination of the related
Stock Option exceeds the number of shares not covered by the Stock Appreciation
Right.
A Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised by a Participant,
in accordance with Section 6(b), by surrendering the applicable portion of the
related Stock Option. Upon such exercise and surrender, the Participant shall be
entitled to receive an amount determined in the manner prescribed in Section
6(b). Stock Options which have been so surrendered, in whole or in part, shall
no longer be exercisable to the extent the related Stock Appreciation Rights
have been exercised.
(b) Terms and Conditions. Stock Appreciation Rights shall be subject to
such terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as
shall be determined from time to time by the Committee, including the following:
(i) Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable only at
such time or times and to the extent that the Stock Options to which
they relate, if any,
-9-
<PAGE>
shall be exercisable in accordance with the provisions of Section 5
and this Section 6 of the Plan.
(ii) Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, a
Participant shall be entitled to receive up to, but not more than, an
amount in cash and/or shares of Stock equal in value to the excess of
the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock (as of the date the Stock
Appreciation Right is exercised and the related Stock Option is
surrendered) over the exercise price of the Stock Appreciation Right,
multiplied by the number of shares of Stock in respect of which the
Stock Appreciation Right shall have been exercised, with the Committee
having the right to determine the form of payment.
(iii) Stock Appreciation Rights shall be transferable only
when and to the extent that the underlying Stock Option would be
transferable under Section 5(g) of the Plan.
(iv) A Stock Appreciation Right granted in connection with an
Incentive Stock Option may be exercised only if and when the market
price of the Stock subject to the Incentive Stock Option exceeds the
exercise price of such Stock Option.
SECTION 7. Restricted Stock
(a) Administration. Shares of Restricted Stock may be issued either
alone or in addition to other awards granted under the Plan. The Committee shall
determine the employees, non-employee directors or Eligible Independent
Contractors to whom, and the time or times at which, grants of Restricted Stock
will be made, the number of shares to be awarded, the price (if any) to be paid
by the recipient of Restricted Stock (subject to Section 7(b)), the time or
times within which such awards may be subject to forfeiture, and all other
conditions of the awards. The Committee may condition the grant of Restricted
Stock upon the attainment of specified performance goals or such other factors
as the Committee may determine, in its sole discretion. The provisions of
Restricted Stock awards need not be the same with respect to each Participant.
(b) Awards and Certificates. The prospective recipient of a Restricted
Stock award shall not have any rights with respect to such award unless and
until such recipient has executed an agreement evidencing the award and has
delivered a fully executed copy thereof to the Company, and has otherwise
complied with the applicable terms and conditions of such award.
(i) The purchase price for shares of Restricted Stock shall be
established by the Committee and may be zero.
(ii) Awards of Restricted Stock may be accepted within a
period of 60 days (or such shorter period as the Committee may specify
at grant) after the grant date, by executing a Restricted Stock award
agreement and paying whatever price (if any) is required under Section
7(b)(i).
-10-
<PAGE>
(iii) Each Participant receiving a Restricted Stock award
shall be issued a certificate in respect of such shares of Restricted
Stock. Such certificate shall be registered in the name of such
Participant, and shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the
terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such award,
substantially in the following form:
"The transferability of this certificate and the shares of
stock represented hereby are subject to the terms and
conditions (including forfeiture) of the USDATA Corporation
1994 Equity Compensation Plan and an Agreement entered into
between the registered owner and USDATA Corporation. Copies of
such Plan and Agreement are on file at the offices of USDATA
Corporation."
(iv) The Committee shall require that the certificates
evidencing such Restricted Stock be held in custody by the Company
until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed, and that, as a
condition of any Restricted Stock award, the Participant shall have
delivered a stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to the Stock
covered by such award.
(c) Restrictions and Conditions. The shares of Restricted Stock awarded
pursuant to this Section 7 shall be subject to the following restrictions and
conditions:
(i) Subject to the provisions of this Plan and the Restricted
Stock award agreement, during a period set by the Committee commencing
with the date of such award (the "Restriction Period"), the Participant
shall not be permitted to sell, transfer, pledge, assign or otherwise
encumber shares of Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan. Within
these limits, the Committee, at its sole discretion, may provide for
the lapse of such restrictions in installments and may accelerate or
waive such restrictions in whole or in part, based on service,
performance and/or such other factors or criteria as the Committee may
determine, in its sole discretion.
(ii) Except as provided in this paragraph (ii) and Section
7(c)(i), the Participant shall have, with respect to the shares of
Restricted Stock, all of the rights of a stockholder of the Company,
including the right to vote the shares and the right to receive any
cash dividends. The Committee, in its sole discretion, as determined at
the time of award, may permit or require the payment of cash dividends
to be deferred and, if the Committee so determines, reinvested in
additional Restricted Stock to the extent shares are available under
Section 3.
(iii) Subject to the applicable provisions of the Restricted
Stock award agreement and this Section 7, upon termination of a
Participant's employment with the Company for any reason during the
Restriction Period, all shares still subject to restriction shall be
forfeited by the Participant, subject to any
-11-
<PAGE>
payments for such shares as may be provided in the Restricted Stock
award agreement.
(iv) The Committee may, in its sole discretion, waive in whole
or in part any or all remaining restrictions with respect to such
Participant's shares of Restricted Stock, based on such factors as the
Committee may deem appropriate.
(v) If and when the Restriction Period expires without a prior
forfeiture of the Restricted Stock subject to such Restriction Period,
the certificates for such shares shall be delivered to the Participant
promptly.
SECTION 8. Withholding and Use of Shares to Satisfy Tax Obligations
(a) Required Withholding. All Grants under the Plan shall be subject to
applicable federal (including FICA), state and local withholding requirements.
The Company shall have the right to deduct from all Grants paid in cash, or from
other wages paid to the Participant, any federal, state or local taxes required
by law to be withheld with respect to such Grants. In the case of Grants paid in
Company Stock, the Company may require the Participant or other person receiving
such Stock to pay to the Company the amount of any such taxes that the Company
is required to withhold with respect to such Grants, or the Company may deduct
from other wages paid by the Company the amount of any withholding taxes due
with respect to such Grants.
(b) Election to Withhold Shares. If the Committee so permits, a
Participant may elect to satisfy the Company's income tax withholding obligation
with respect to a Grant paid in Company Stock by having shares withheld up to an
amount that does not exceed the Participant's maximum marginal tax rate for
federal (including FICA), state and local tax liabilities. The election must be
in a form and manner prescribed by the Committee and shall be subject to the
prior approval of the Committee.
SECTION 9. Amendments and Termination
The Board may amend or terminate the Plan at any time and from time to
time, but no amendment or termination shall be made which would impair the
rights of a Participant under a Grant theretofore awarded without the
Participant's consent; and provided, further, that the Board shall not amend the
Plan without stockholder approval if such approval is required pursuant to the
Code or the rules of any national securities exchange or over-the-counter market
on which the Company's Stock is then listed or included. Subject to the above
provisions, the Board shall have broad authority to amend the Plan to take into
account changes in applicable tax laws, securities laws and accounting rules, as
well as other developments.
SECTION 10. Unfunded Status of Plan
The Plan is intended to constitute an "unfunded" plan. The Company
shall not be required to establish any special or separate fund or to make any
other segregation
-12-
<PAGE>
of assets to assure the payment of any Grants under this Plan. In no event shall
interest be paid or accrued on any Grant, including unpaid installments of
Grants.
SECTION 11. General Provisions
(a) The Committee may require each person purchasing shares pursuant to
a Stock Option or receiving Stock upon the expiration of any Restriction Period
under the Plan to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that the
Participant is acquiring the shares for investment and not with a view to
distribution thereof and that such Participant will not dispose of such Stock in
any manner that would involve a violation of applicable securities laws. In such
event no Stock shall be issued to such Participant unless and until the Company
is satisfied with such representation. The certificates for such shares may
include any legend which the Committee deems appropriate to reflect any
restrictions on transfer under the Securities Act or any state securities law.
All certificates for shares of Stock or other securities
delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other
restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations
and other requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any stock
exchange or over-the-counter market upon which the Stock is then listed or
included, and any applicable federal or state securities law, and the Committee
may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make
appropriate reference to such restrictions.
(b) Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from
adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to stockholder
approval if such approval is required, and such arrangements may be either
generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.
(c) The adoption of the Plan shall not confer upon any Participant any
right to continued employment with the Company nor shall it interfere in any way
with the right of the Company to terminate its relationship with any of its
employees, directors or independent contractors at any time.
(d) At the time of grant, the Committee may provide in connection with
any grant made under this Plan that (i) the shares of Stock received as a result
of such grant shall be subject to a right of first refusal, pursuant to which
the Participant shall be required to offer to the Company any shares that the
Participant wishes to sell, with the price being the then Fair Market Value of
the Stock, subject to such other terms and conditions as the Committee may
specify at the time of grant; and (ii) the shares of Stock received or to be
received as a result of such grant shall be subject to repurchase by the Company
upon termination of employment, subject to a repurchase price and such other
terms and conditions as the Committee may specify at the time of grant.
(e) The reinvestment of dividends in additional Restricted Stock at the
time of any dividend payment shall only be permissible if sufficient shares of
Stock are available under Section 3 for such reinvestment.
-13-
<PAGE>
(d) The Committee shall establish such procedures as it deems
appropriate for a Participant to designate a beneficiary to whom any amounts
payable in the event of the Participant's death are to be paid.
(e) The Plan shall be governed by and subject to all applicable laws
and to the approvals by any governmental or regulatory agency as may be
required.
SECTION 12. Effective Date and Term of Plan
The Plan shall be effective as of November 8, 1994, subject to the
consent or approval of the Company's stockholders. No Stock Option, Stock
Appreciation Right or Restricted Stock award shall be granted pursuant to the
Plan on or after November 8, 2004, but awards granted prior to such tenth
anniversary may extend beyond that date; provided, however, that if the Plan is
not approved by the unanimous consent of all stockholders or by a majority of
the votes cast at a duly held meeting at which a quorum representing a majority
of all outstanding voting stock of the Company is, either in person or by proxy,
present and voting on the Plan, within 12 months after said date, the Plan and
all Grants awarded hereunder shall be null and void and no additional Grants
shall be awarded hereunder.
SECTION 13. Interpretation
A determination of the Committee as to any question which may arise
with respect to the interpretation of the provisions of this Plan or any Grants
awarded thereunder shall be final and conclusive, and nothing in this Plan, or
in any regulation hereunder, shall be deemed to give any Participant, his legal
representatives, assigns or any other person any right to participate herein
except to such extent, if any, as the Committee may have determined or approved
pursuant to this Plan. The Committee may consult with legal counsel who may be
counsel to the Company and shall not incur any liability for any action taken in
good faith in reliance upon the advice of such counsel.
SECTION 14. Governing Law.
With respect to any Incentive Stock Options granted pursuant to the
Plan and the agreements thereunder, the Plan, such agreements and any Incentive
Stock Options granted pursuant thereto shall be governed by the applicable Code
provisions to the maximum extent possible. Otherwise, the laws of the State of
Delaware shall govern the operation of, and the rights of Participants under,
the Plan, the agreements and any Grants awarded thereunder.
SECTION 15. Compliance With Section 16b of the Exchange Act.
Unless an Insider could otherwise transfer shares of Stock issued
hereunder without incurring liability under Section 16b of the Exchange Act, at
least six months must elapse from the date of grant of an Option, Stock
Appreciation Right or
-14-
<PAGE>
Restricted Stock award to the date of disposition of the Stock issued upon
exercise of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right or grant of such Restricted
Stock award.
-15-
<PAGE>
PROXY
USDATA CORPORATION
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
I hereby constitute and appoint Arthur R. Spector and Bill E. Newell, and each
of them, my true and lawful agents and proxies with full power of substitution
in each, to vote all shares held of record by me as specified on the reverse
side and, in their discretion, on all other matters which may properly come
before the 1997 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of USDATA Corporation to be held
on June 24, 1997, and at any adjournments thereof.
THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN
BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE
VOTED FOR ALL NOMINEES TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, FOR THE AMENDMENT TO THE 1994
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN, AND AS THE PROXIES MAY DETERMINE, IN THEIR
DISCRETION, WITH REGARD TO ANY OTHER MATTER PROPERLY BROUGHT BEFORE THE
MEETING.
PLEASE MARK, SIGN AND DATE THE PROXY CARD ON THE REVERSE SIDE AND
RETURN PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
-FOLD AND DETACH HERE-
<PAGE>
Please mark
your votes as
indicated in
this example /X/
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR proposals 1 and 2.
WITHHELD
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS FOR FOR ALL
/ / / /
Nominees:
Arthur R. Spector
Gary J. Anderson TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY
James W. Dixon INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE WHILE VOTING FOR
Max D. Hopper THE REMAINDER, STRIKE A LINE THROUGH
Jack L. Messman THE NOMINEE'S NAME IN THE LIST.
Charles A. Root
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
2. Amendment to 1994 Equity Compensation Plan / / / / / /
SIGNATURE(S) DATE:
-------------------------------------- ----------------
THIS PROXY MUST BE SIGNED EXACTLY AS NAME APPEARS HEREIN. Joint tenants must
both sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or
guardian, or for a corporation or partnership, please give full title.
-FOLD AND DETACH HERE-
Your Proxy vote is important,
regardless of the number of shares you own.
Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting in person,
please complete, date and sign the above Proxy card and
return it without delay in the enclosed envelope.
USDATA LOGO
