INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Soliciting Material Under Rule 14a-12.
USA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
SHAREHOLDER ADVOCATES FOR VALUE ENHANCEMENT
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if Other Than the Registrant)
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state how it was determined):
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PRELIMINARY COPY, SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED NOVEMBER [•], 2009
ANNUAL MEETING OF
SHAREHOLDERS OF USA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
PROXY STATEMENT OF
SHAREHOLDER ADVOCATES FOR VALUE ENHANCEMENT
This proxy statement and the enclosed BLUE proxy card are being furnished to you, the holders
of shares of Common Stock, with no par value (“Common Stock”), or Series A convertible Preferred
Stock, with no par value (“Preferred Stock” and, together with the Common Stock, the “Shares”), of
USA Technologies, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the
solicitation by Bradley M. Tirpak and Craig Thomas, two shareholders of the Company, as the
Shareholder Advocates For Value Enhancement (the “Committee,”“we” or “our”), of proxies for use at
the annual meeting of shareholders of the Company, scheduled to be held on December 15, 2009, and
at any adjournments or postponements of the meeting (the “Annual Meeting”). This proxy statement
and the BLUE proxy card are first being furnished to shareholders on or about November [•], 2009.
THIS SOLICITATION IS BEING MADE BY SHAREHOLDER ADVOCATES FOR VALUE ENHANCEMENT AND NOT ON
BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY.
We are soliciting proxies to elect Bradley M. Tirpak, Peter A. Michel and Alan J. Gotcher
(each a “Committee Nominee” and together the “Committee Nominees”) to serve as Class II Directors
of the Company.
We are soliciting your vote on the Committee Nominees because the Committee believes its
nominees will provide an improved voice for Company shareholders on the Board of Directors of the
Company (the “Board”). The Committee believes the Company has promising technology and talented
employees and we are committed to growing and developing the business and maximizing value in the
best interest of all shareholders of the Company. As we set out in this proxy statement, the
Committee Nominees collectively have extensive backgrounds in public company leadership, financial
management and the promotion of investor value. The Committee believes its nominees will be
advocates for all shareholders and will bring to the Company the independent judgment, experience
and perspective that shareholders can trust.
The Company has disclosed that the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice
of and to vote at the Annual Meeting is September 30, 2009 (the “Record Date”). Shareholders of
record at the close of business on the Record Date will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
According to the Company Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
October 27, 2009 for the Annual Meeting (the “Company Proxy Statement”), as of the Record Date,
there were 22,709,725 shares of Common Stock and 512,365 shares of Preferred Stock outstanding and
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote and
each share of Preferred Stock is entitled to one-hundredth of a vote on all matters to come before
the Annual Meeting.
See “Information About the Participants” and “Item 2—Election of Class II Directors—Certain
Information Regarding the Committee Nominees” for information about the Committee and the Committee
Nominees.
OUR NOMINEES ARE COMMITTED TO ACTING IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF ALL SHAREHOLDERS. WE BELIEVE
THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS CAN BE BEST REPRESENTED BY DIRECTORS SELECTED BY OTHER SHAREHOLDERS.
ACCORDINGLY, THE COMMITTEE STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE TO ELECT EACH OF OUR NOMINEES TO SERVE
AS CLASS II DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY. PLEASE VOTE WITH THE ENCLOSED BLUE PROXY CARD.
To vote FOR the Committee Nominees, you must sign, complete and return the proxy card that we
are furnishing to you or, if your shares are held by a bank or broker, instruct your bank or broker
to vote your shares for the Committee Nominees on your behalf.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT, NO MATTER HOW MANY OR HOW FEW SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OR PREFERRED
STOCK YOU OWN. THE COMMITTEE URGES YOU TO MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED BLUE PROXY
CARD PROMPTLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS SET FORTH BELOW. PLEASE DO NOT SIGN ANY
PROXY CARD YOU MAY RECEIVE FROM THE COMPANY. HOLDERS OF SHARES AS OF THE RECORD DATE ARE URGED TO
SUBMIT A BLUE PROXY CARD EVEN IF YOUR SHARES WERE SOLD AFTER THE RECORD DATE.
You are urged to mark, sign and date the enclosed BLUE PROXY CARD and return it in the
enclosed envelope whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting. If you need assistance
voting your Shares, please call the Committee’s proxy solicitor, Morrow & Co. LLC, toll-free at
800-662-5200 or, if you are a bank or broker, please call collect 203-658-9400.
If you have already sent in the Company’s proxy card or voted online and wish to change your
vote, you have every legal right to do so. Please sign, date and mail the enclosed BLUE PROXY
CARD. Only your last dated and signed proxy card will count.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE
SHAREHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 15, 2009
The Proxy Statement is, and all other soliciting materials filed by Shareholder Advocates for Value
Enhancement after the date of this proxy statement will be, available at:
THE COMMITTEE’S REASONS FOR SEEKING ELECTION OF THE COMMITTEE NOMINEES
The Committee believes there is significant value in the Company’s business, talented employee
base and intellectual property that is not being realized or recognized by the market. We believe
current leadership at the Company has failed to realize that value and will continue to fail to
realize that value, instead remaining focused on what we believe they have been focused on,
enriching themselves at the expense of the common shareholders. Consider these facts:
•
Since 2003, the Company’s common stock has declined more than 95% while
management and inside directors have received substantial compensation. $100 invested on
September 30, 2003 was worth only $4.25 on September 30, 2009. During the same
period, even as the Company failed to turn a profit in any quarter,
senior management, including Mr. George
Jensen, the Company chief executive officer and Chairman of the Board, and Mr.
Stephen Herbert, the chief operating officer and Company President, have been paid,
in the aggregate, over $17 million in cash and stock. In fiscal year 2009 alone, Mr.
Jensen and Mr. Herbert received aggregate compensation of more than $1.7 million -
more than 14% of the Company’s aggregate revenue in fiscal year 2009.
•
Senior leadership at the Company has interests that are different from, and we
believe may conflict with yours. In addition to management’s significant
compensation referenced above, Mr. Jensen, through his ownership of a special
security, is entitled to a preferred return of nearly $2.5 million prior to common
shareholders being entitled to a single dollar, a preferred return that increases
through additional accrued dividends yearly regardless of Company performance.
Meanwhile, as of September 30, 2009, Mr. Jensen directly1 owned less 0.5%
of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, and each of the non-management directors
beneficially owned less than 0.25% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.
•
The Board recently amended the Company’s bylaws, we believe further reducing
accountability to shareholders. In October 2009, shortly
following efforts by members of the Committee to obtain shareholder representation on
the Board, the Company unilaterally took action to (1) stagger the Board, (2)
prohibit shareholders from calling special meetings and (3) institute additional
restrictions on the ability of common shareholders to nominate directors, thereby, in
our view, further entrenching management and reducing its accountability to common
shareholders.
The Committee is offering three independent nominees as directors; nominees whose only
interest will be acting in the best interests of the Company and its
common shareholders. Now is the time to
act.
The Company’s Common Stock Performance Has Declined 95% in the Last 6 Years while Management and
the Inside Directors have Profited.
On September 30, 2003, the Common Stock traded at a split-adjusted price of $40.00 per share.
On September 30, 2009, the Common Stock closed at $1.70 — a loss of over 95%. $100.00 invested on
September 30, 2003 was worth $4.25 on September 30, 2009. The Company has also issued additional
equity every year during this period, diluting existing shareholders.
1
As used in this proxy statement, when we refer to Mr. Jensen’s “direct” ownership,
we are referring to those shares in which Mr. Jensen has an economic interest.
This direct ownership amount of 65,802 shares is the amount Mr. Jensen reports
himself as owning on his Form 4 filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on October 1, 2009. This number excludes those shares that he may
be deemed to beneficially own but in which he has no current economic
interest, which include 2,000 shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Mr.
Jensen’s spouse, 35,429 owned by a trust, 75,000
shares underlying vested, but unexercised options.
During
the same period, even as the Company failed to generate a profit in
any quarter, senior management, including Mr. Jensen and Mr. Herbert, received compensation totaling more than $17 million in cash and stock. In September, 2008,
the Board approved new contracts for Mr. Jensen and Mr. Herbert which included approximately a 12%
raise in base salary. Less than three months later, the Company reported it had laid off
approximately 30% of its employees and implemented other cost savings measures. In September of
2009, the Board again approved new employment contracts for Mr. Jensen and Mr. Herbert, contracts
that included an automatic stock grant to each upon a change in the majority of the Board members
within a 12 month period — effectively requiring common shareholders to pay Mr. Jensen and Mr. Herbert for the privilege of
exercising that most fundamental of shareholder rights, to vote against management to appoint
independently nominated directors, if such directors were to represent a majority of the Board2. In fiscal year 2009, the Board awarded Mr. Jensen and Mr.
Herbert, in the aggregate, compensation equal to in excess of 14% of the Company’s revenues in
fiscal year 2009. Notwithstanding these incentives, the Company posted another loss in the first
fiscal quarter of 2010. Since, and including, fiscal year 2004, the Board has spent an amount
equal to over 24% of the Company’s revenues during such period on the cash and stock compensation
of just Mr. Jensen and Mr. Herbert.
Senior Leadership at the Company has Interests That are Different From, and We Believe May Conflict
With Yours
In addition to the substantial compensation items discussed above, Mr. Jensen holds 80,000
shares of Preferred Stock with a liquidation preference of almost $2,500,000 as of September 30,2009. Mr. Jensen’s Preferred Stock holdings are more than 21 times the value of his directly held
Common Stock holdings based on the closing price of $1.70 of the Common Stock on September 30,2009, and the value continues to increase from yearly accrued dividends, regardless of the
performance of the Company. We find it even more troubling that Mr. Jensen, over the past year,
has decreased his Common Stock holdings and increased his Preferred Stock holdings—increasing what
we believe is a disconnect of interests. Accordingly, we believe Mr. Jensen’s interests are more
akin to those of a creditor than as a holder of Common Stock.
Further, each of the non-management directors owned beneficially less than 0.25% of the Common
Stock outstanding as of September 30, 2009. As of September 30, 2009, according to the Company
Proxy Statement, the entire Board of Directors beneficially owned only 435,597 shares of Common
Stock, in the aggregate, or approximately 1.9% of the outstanding Common Stock. However, if you remove the shares in which the directors do not have a direct pecuniary interest (such as shares held by spouses, in family trusts, or which underly unexercised options) that number is reduced to 255,938, or approximately 1.1% of the outstanding Common Stock.
The Committee members own over 2% of the outstanding Common Shares as of the date of this
proxy statement — exceeding the Common Stock holdings of the entire board as of September 30, 2009.
As of the date of this proxy statement, the members of the Committee are, in the aggregate, the
beneficial owners of 468,320 shares of Common Stock, representing approximately 2.1% of the
outstanding Common Stock and each member of the Committee directly owns more Common Stock than Mr.
Jenson, the Chairman and chief executive officer of the Company, with Mr. Tirpak the owner of
113,320 shares and Mr. Thomas the owner of 355,000 shares.
Recent Corporate Governance Changes Further Reduce Shareholders’ Ability to Effect Change
As of October 1, 2009, the Company received a corporate governance rating from Institutional
Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”) that was worse than 88% of all of the companies ISS evaluated in
their Corporate Governance Quotient database and worse than 93% of Technology and Hardware ISS
evaluated in their Corporate Governance Quotient database. These ratings were given BEFORE the
Company’s recent changes to corporate governance discussed below.
On Tuesday, October 20, 2009, shortly after members of the Committee began discussions with
the Company concerning the Committee members’ interest in shareholder representation on the Board,
the Company announced the following changes unilaterally implemented by the Board:
•
The Annual Meeting was advanced over four months to
December 15, 2009;
2
We note
that, based on the current composition of the Board, the election of the three Committee Nominees should
not trigger this automatic stock grant because the Committee Nominees will not constitute a majority of the
Board.
Adoption of new advanced notice bylaws that, when coupled with the new
meeting date, provided only 10 calendar days for shareholders to nominate
directors or propose other action to be brought at the Annual Meeting;
•
Adoption of a new bylaw staggering the Board into three classes; and
•
Amendment to the bylaws prohibiting shareholders from calling special
meetings.
In the same 8-K announcing these corporate governance changes, the Company also announced it
had expanded the Board and appointed and seated two new directors — directors who were handpicked
by an insider controlled Board3.
It was not until 13
days later, on November 2, 2009, that the Company constituted a nominating
committee.
The Committee believes that the rationale for appointing the new directors and for creating a
nominating committee is clear — when faced with the potential of shareholder nominated
representatives on the Board, we believe the Company rushed to create an appearance of good
corporate governance by appointing directors who they could report as “independent” and
constituting a nominating committee. However, these changes have to be viewed in context — the
nominees were chosen by a process run by an insider controlled Board, and the
nominating committee was only convened after the handpicked nominees were selected and seated.
When viewed with the additional context of the corporate governance changes unilaterally effected
in October by the Board, we believe the message from the Board is even more clear — we believe the
Board is seeking to decrease their accountability to shareholders for both the Company’s failure to
achieve profitability and the disparity we see between such failure and the “rewards” that the
Board has provided to management.
For additional information regarding the background of the solicitation, please see
“Background of the Proxy Solicitation”.
The Committee’s Platform
The Committee’s goal is to elect directors who will protect the interests of common
shareholders.
If elected, the Committee Nominees will, consistent with their fiduciary duties:
•
Advocate for the removal of the staggered Board;
•
Advocate for the reinstatement of the right for shareholders to call a special
meeting;
•
Advocate for board nominees who have been vetted by an independent nominating
committee and determined to be free from conflicting affiliate relationships;
•
Examine the corporate governance of the Company and advocate for such other
changes necessary to ensure fair treatment of the common shareholders; and
•
Examine the operations of the Company with an eye toward maximizing shareholder
value, including advocating a review of management compensation to ensure alignment
of management’s interests with that of common shareholders.
3
While the Company Proxy Statement discloses the
Company’s determination that Mr. Katz is impendent, we agree with Glass Lewis’
classification of Mr. Katz with respect to the 2009 Annual Meeting held in
April of this year, that he is affiliated as a result of the fact that Katz &
Associates, his Company, received approximately $72,600 from the Company for
consulting services in fiscal year 2007.
The Committee believes that its nominees have the background, talent and experience to
effectively advocate for shareholders and seek to maximize shareholder value. The following
highlights some of the relevant business experience of these proposed director nominees:
•
Alan J. Gotcher served as former chief executive officer of Altair Nanotechnologies
(NASDAQ:ALTI), a leading provider of energy storage systems for clean, efficient power
and energy management, and has significant experience with developing and
commercializing new technologies.
•
Peter A. Michel currently serves as chief executive officer of iSECUREtrac
Corporation (OTCBB:ISEC), a leader in electronic monitoring for the corrections market,
and is the former chief executive officer of Brinks Home Security, a company with a
very similar business model to the Company. While chief executive officer of Brinks he
grew Brinks’ customer base from 66,000 customers in the U.S. to over 700,000 customers
in the U.S. and Canada. During this period, Brinks increased revenue from $26 million
in 1987 to $258 million in 2001.
•
Bradley M. Tirpak brings 12 years of professional investing experience with Credit
Suisse First Boston, Caxton Associates, and Sigma Capital Management. He has experience
with investments made in the payment processing industry including Visa, MasterCard,
Redecard, Wirecard, Checkfree, Corillian and Online Resources, and has four years of
operational experience in international telecommunications.
The Committee believes that it is in the best interests of all shareholders to elect the
Committee Nominees. We believe that directors nominated and elected by shareholders are in the
best position to be shareholder advocates. For additional information concerning Committee
Nominees, see “Item 2—Election of Class II Directors—Certain Information Regarding the Committee
Nominees” below.
In October of 2009, Craig Thomas approached the Company’s chief executive officer George
Jensen to discuss the possibility of increased non-management shareholder representation on the
Board. Mr. Thomas also discussed his belief that the Company needed increased shareholder
representation on the Board with Bradley Tirpak. Together Mr. Thomas and Mr. Tirpak discussed
possible candidates and had a meeting with the Company’s chief financial officer, David DeMedio, on
Monday, October 12, 2009. On Friday, October 16, 2009, Mr. Thomas had a telephone conversation
with Mr. Jensen during which Mr. Jensen noted to Mr. Thomas that the Company was considering some
changes, and Mr. Thomas ended the call with the impression that Mr. Jensen would be receptive to
receiving a list of nominees from Mr. Thomas.
On Tuesday, October 20, 2009, the Company announced, as discussed above, that the Annual
Meeting was being advanced by 4 months to December 15, 2009 and that it had unilaterally taken
action to (1) stagger the Board, (2) prohibit shareholders from calling special meetings and (3)
institute additional restrictions on the ability of common shareholders to nominate directors,
including new advance notice bylaws that — when coupled with the new meeting date — advanced the
date by which shareholders were required to notify the Company of shareholder proposals to be
considered at the Annual Meeting from February 10, 2010, to October 30, 2009, just ten days
following the announcement of these changes.
On Tuesday, October 27, 2009, the Company filed the Company Proxy Statement. The Company
Proxy Statement disclosed that the staggered board had been
structured so that three inside directors, Mr. Jensen, Mr. Herbert and outside counsel
Douglas Lurio4 could remain on
the Board and would not have to face another shareholder election after the one to be held at the
Annual Meeting, until 2013.
On Friday, October 30, 2009, Mr. Tirpak notified the Company of his intent to nominate Peter
Michel, Alan Gotcher and himself at the Annual Meeting.
The Committee reached out to the Company following delivery of Mr. Tirpak’s notice in an
effort to try and find a reasonable settlement of this issue. Mr. Tirpak made clear that while he
was committed to de-staggering the Board and obtaining shareholder representation on the board at a
level he believed appropriate, he was also interested in keeping management from the distraction
and expense of a contested election. After discussion, it became clear to the Committee that the
Company was not willing to provide a level of representation that the Committee believed was
adequate, leaving the Committee to believe its only option was to take the matter to fellow
shareholders.
4
According to the Company Proxy Statement, the Company
incurred approximately $438,000 and $317,000 during the years ended June 30,2008 and June 30, 2009, respectively, in connection with legal services
provided by Mr. Lurio’s law firm.
This proxy solicitation is being conducted by the “Committee, which is comprised of Bradley M.
Tirpak and Craig W. Thomas, each described below. As of the date of this proxy solicitation, the
Committee is the beneficial owner of approximately 2.1% of the Common Sock. Each of the members of
the Committee has an interest in the matters to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting indirectly
through the beneficial ownership of the Company’s Shares. Each member of the Committee and each
Committee Nominee is a participant (“Participant”) in this proxy statement.
Bradley M. Tirpak
Bradley M. Tirpak, age 40, is an investor based in New York and London who manages a portfolio
of equities, fixed income and private equity investments. He has over 12 years of experience
managing public equity investments for institutional investors. Mr. Tirpak also advises senior
management and member’s of public company boards of directors on corporate governance, strategy and
capital allocation. In 2008, Mr. Tirpak was a Senior Vice President at Chilton Investment Company,
in London. From 2003 to 2007, Mr. Tirpak was a Portfolio Manager at Sigma Capital Management,
managing a $200 million equity portfolio within a large multi-strategy investment fund, affiliated
with SAC Capital Advisors, L.P. From 2000 to 2003, Mr. Tirpak was a Portfolio Manager at Caxton
Associates. From 1993 to 1996 Mr. Tirpak was the founder and president of Access Telecom, Inc. and
Grupo Access de Mexico S.A. de C.V., telecommunications companies serving the needs of over 500
international companies doing business in Mexico. Mr. Tirpak holds a B.S.M.E. from Tufts
University and an M.B.A. from Georgetown University. Mr. Tirpak’s business address is 3 Old
Burlington Street, London, UK W1S 3AE.
Craig W. Thomas
Craig W. Thomas, age 34, currently serves as Managing Member of Thematic Capital Partners, LLC
and KC Trading Partners, LP. He served as Director of Research for the direct trading account of
Steven A. Cohen at S.A.C. Capital Advisors, LLC from 2007 to 2008. During that time, from March14, 2007 to March 13, 2008, Mr. Thomas sat as an observer on the board of the Company for S.A.C.
Capital Advisors, LLC. Prior to that role, Mr. Thomas was a Portfolio Manager at S.A.C. Capital
Advisors from 2005 to 2007, a Director at CR Intrinsic Investors, LLC, an affiliate of S.A.C.
Capital Advisors, from 2004 to 2005, and a Research Analyst on the Cohen account from 2003 to 2004.
Prior to earning his M.B.A., Mr. Thomas was an Analyst at Goff Moore Strategic Partners, LLC and
Rainwater, Inc. in Fort Worth Texas from 1999 to 2001 and an Associate at The Boston Consulting
Group, Inc. from 1997 to 1999. Mr. Thomas is a former director of Laureate Education, Inc. Mr.
Thomas earned his A.B. at Stanford University and earned his M.B.A. from the Graduate School of
Business at Stanford University. Mr. Thomas’ business address is 415 Madison Avenue, 14th Floor,
New York, NY10017.
Committee Nominees
Please see “Item 2—Election of Class II Directors” for additional information about the
Committee Nominees.
The Committee Nominees named below may be deemed to be “participants” in this proxy
solicitation, as the term participant is defined in Schedule 14A promulgated under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.
Beneficial Ownership of Shares
The following table shows the Committee’s ownership of the Company’s Shares as of the Record
Date. Each of the members in the table directly owns and has sole voting power and sole
dispositive power with regard to the number of Shares. Please see Annex A for additional
information about each member of the Committee’s purchases and sales of Shares.
Calculated on the basis of 22,709,725 Shares of Common Stock outstanding as of September 30,2009.
(2)
As of the Record Date, Mr. Tirpak was not a holder of record of any shares of Common stock or
Preferred Stock. However, as of the date of this proxy statement, Mr. Tirpak is a holder of
record of 10,000 shares of Common Stock.
(3)
Includes 135,000 shares underlying currently exercisable warrants. Mr. Thomas is not a
holder of record of any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock.
Interests of the Participants
Except as set forth in this proxy statement, none of the Participants nor, with respect to
items (i), (vii) and (viii) of this paragraph, any associate (within the meaning of Rule 14a-1 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of any of the Participants (i) owns beneficially, directly or
indirectly, any securities of the Company, (ii) owns beneficially, directly or indirectly, any
securities of any parent or subsidiary of the Company, (iii) owns any securities of the Company of
record but not beneficially, (iv) has purchased or sold any securities of the Company within the
past two years, (v) has incurred indebtedness for the purpose of acquiring or holding securities of
the Company, (vi) is or has within the past year been a party to any contract, arrangement or
understanding with respect to any securities of the Company, (vii) since the beginning of the
Company’s last fiscal year has been indebted to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (viii)
has any arrangement or understanding with respect to future employment by the Company or with
respect to any future transactions to which the Company or any of its affiliates will or may be a
party. In addition, except as set forth in this proxy statement, none of the Participants nor any
associates of any of the Participants, has had or is to have a direct or indirect material interest
in any transaction or proposed transaction with the Company in which the amount involved exceeds
$120,000, since the beginning of the Company’s last fiscal year.
Except as set forth in this proxy statement, none of the Participants, since the beginning of
the Company’s last fiscal year, has been affiliated with (i) any entity that made or received, or
during the Company’s current fiscal year proposes to make or receive, payments to or from the
Company or its subsidiaries for property or services in excess of five percent of either the
Company’s or such entity’s consolidated gross revenues for its last full fiscal year, or (ii) any
entity to which the Company or its subsidiaries were indebted at the end of the Company’s last full
fiscal year in an aggregate amount exceeding five percent of the Company’s total consolidated
assets at the end of such year. None of the Committee Nominees is, or during the Company’s last
fiscal year has been, affiliated with any law or investment banking firm that has performed or
proposes to perform services for the Company.
None of the corporations or organizations in which the Committee Nominees have conducted their
principal occupation or employment was a parent, subsidiary or other affiliate of the Company, and
the Committee Nominees do not hold any employment position or office with the Company or have any
family relationship with any executive officer or director of the Company or have been involved in
any proceedings, legal or otherwise, of the type required to be disclosed by the rules governing
this solicitation.
None of the Committee Nominees nor any of their associates has received any cash compensation,
cash bonuses, deferred compensation, compensation pursuant to plans, or other compensation, from,
or in respect of, services rendered on behalf of the Company, or is subject to any arrangement
described in Item 402 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Regulation S-K”). Other
than as described above, the Committee is not aware of any other arrangements pursuant to which
outside directors of the Company were to be compensated for services during the Company’s last
fiscal year.
There are no family relationships (as defined in Item 401(d) of Regulation S-K) between any of
the Committee Nominees or between any of the Committee Nominees and any director or executive
officer of the Company. Except as disclosed in this proxy statement, there are no arrangements or
understandings between the Committee and any Committee and any Committee Nominee or any other
person or persons with respect to the nomination of the Committee Nominees.
Each of the Committee Nominees are independent of the Company under the independence standard
applicable to the Company under paragraph (a)(1) of Regulation S-K and NASDAQ Marketplace rules on
board independence.
Except as disclosed in this proxy statement, (i) no Committee Nominee or any associate of a
Committee Nominee is a party adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or has a material
interest adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries in any material proceeding and (ii)
there is no event that occurred during the past five years with respect to any of the Committee
Nominees that is required to be described under Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K. The information in
this proxy statement regarding a particular Committee Nominee has been furnished to the Committee
by such Committee Nominee.
According to the Company Proxy Statement, the following proposals will be presented at the
Annual Meeting:
Item 1:
Election of Class I Directors
Item 2:
Election of Class II Directors
Item 3:
Election of Class III Directors
Item 4:
Ratification of Appointment of Independent Auditors
Item 5:
Approval of 2010 Stock Incentive Plan
The Committee is soliciting proxies from the shareholders of the Company to elect three
nominees to fill the seats of the Company’s Class II directorships that expire at the Annual
Meeting (Item 2). The Committee urges shareholders to vote FOR Item 2 on the Committee’s BLUE proxy
card.
The Committee also intends to vote FOR Item 1 with respect to the candidates who have been
nominated by the Company as Class I Directors and FOR Item 3 with respect to the candidates who
have been nominated by the Company as Class III Directors. You should refer to the Company Proxy
Statement and form of proxy distributed by the Company for the names, background, qualifications
and other information concerning the Company’s candidates. There is no assurance that any of
Company’s nominees will serve as directors if any of the Committee Nominees are elected to the
Board.
If the BLUE proxy card of the Committee is signed but no direction is given with respect to
the vote on the proposal, the Committee will, in respect of the shares represented by that proxy
card, vote FOR Item 2 to elect the Committee Nominees for Class II directors, vote FOR Items 1 and
3 to elect the nominees of the Company for Class I Directors and Class III Directors, and vote FOR
Items 4 and 5 set forth in this proxy statement.
ITEM 1
ELECTION OF CLASS I DIRECTORS
The Company is proposing the election of certain persons to serve as Class I Directors of the
Company as set forth in the Company Proxy Statement. Each Class I Director holds office until the
next Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and until his successor has been elected and qualified.
Please refer to the Company Proxy Statement for information on the Company’s Class I Director
nominees.
The Committee makes no recommendation to other shareholders with respect to this proposal.
ITEM 2
ELECTION OF CLASS II DIRECTORS
The Committee is proposing the election of Bradley M. Tirpak, Peter A. Michel and Alan J.
Gotcher to serve as Class II Directors until the second Annual Meeting of Shareholders following
this Annual Meeting, and until his successor has been elected and qualified. See “Certain Other
Information Regarding the Committee Nominees” below for information concerning the background and
experience of Messrs. Tirpak, Michel and Gotcher.
Each of the Committee Nominees has consented to being named herein as a nominee or director of
the Company, has agreed to stand for election as a director and has agreed to serve if elected.
The Committee Nominees will not receive any compensation from the Committee or any of its
affiliates for their services as directors of the Company if elected. If elected, our Committee
Nominees will be entitled to receive cash and equity compensation for serving on the Board, as
determined from time to time by the Compensation Committee with subsequent approval thereof by the
Board.
WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF THE COMMITTEE NOMINEES BY SIGNING,
DATING AND RETURNING THE BLUE PROXY CARD TODAY IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.
Certain Information Regarding the Committee Nominees
Background
Set forth below are the name, age, present principal occupation, employment history and
directorships of each of the Committee Nominees for at least the past five years. This information
has been furnished to the Committee by the respective Committee Nominees. Each of the Committee
Nominees has consented to serve as a director of the Company.
Alan J. Gotcher, age 59, has over 20 years of experience in scientific leadership and
technology development. Presently, Mr. Gotcher is the president of Gotcher & Company, a strategy,
technology and business development services firm providing client companies with new revenue and
income growth strategies. From August of 2004 through March of 2008, Mr. Gotcher was president,
chief executive officer and a director of Altair Nanotechnologies, Inc., a clean-tech,
nano-material synthesis manufacturer. From January of 1999 through August of 2004, Mr. Gotcher was
the Co-Founder and Co-Managing Director or IdeaSpring, LLC a venture capital investment firm. Mr.
Gotcher holds both a B.A. and a Ph.D in Chemistry from the University of California, Irvine. Mr.
Gotcher’s business address is 930 Tahoe Boulevard, #802-216, Incline Village, Nevada89451.
Peter A. Michel, age 66, is a senior executive with extensive experience leading, managing and
directing institutional growth and success. Since 2006, Mr. Michel has been the President and
Chief Executive Officer of iSECUREtrac Corp., a leader in electronic monitoring products and
services for the corrections market using global positioning satellite technology, and is also
currently a director of iSECUREtrac Corp.. From 2005 to 2006, Mr. Michel was an independent
consultant providing operations turnaround advice and services. Mr. Michel was asked by the
shareholders of General Fiber Communications to serve as President and chief executive officer to
identify and execute an appropriate strategy for the troubled company. Mr. Michel agreed, and from
May 23, 2005 to July 8, 2005 he served as President and chief executive officer of General Fiber
Communications. On July 8, 2005 the Company filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy protection. From 2003
to 2004, Mr. Michel was the president and chief executive officer of NEP Broadcasting, LLC, an
outsourced media services company specializing in remote television production of live sports and
entertainment, and from 1988 to 2001, Mr. Michael was chief executive officer of Brinks Home
Security. Mr. Michel was an officer in the U.S. Navy, and was a staff assistant to the President
of the United States from 1971 to 1973. Mr. Michel holds a B.A. in political science from Colgate
University and an M.A. in public administration from the University of Virginia. Mr. Michel’s
business address is 5078 S. 11th Street, Omaha, NE68137.
Bradley M. Tirpak, age 40, is an investor based in New York and London who manages a portfolio
of equities, fixed income and private equity investments. He has over 12 years of experience
managing public equity investments for institutional investors. Mr. Tirpak also advises senior
management and member’s of public company boards of directors on corporate governance, strategy and
capital allocation. In 2008, Mr. Tirpak was a Senior Vice President at Chilton Investment Company,
in London. From 2003 to 2007, Mr. Tirpak was a Portfolio Manager at Sigma Capital Management,
managing a $200 million equity portfolio within a large multi-strategy investment fund, affiliated
with SAC Capital Advisors, L.P.. From 2000 to 2003, Mr. Tirpak was a Portfolio Manager at Caxton
Associates. From 1993 to 1996 Mr. Tirpak was the founder and president of Access Telecom, Inc. and
Grupo Access de Mexico S.A. de C.V., telecommunications companies serving the needs of over 500
international companies doing business in Mexico. Mr. Tirpak holds a B.S.M.E. from Tufts
University and an M.B.A. from Georgetown University. Mr. Tirpak’s business address is 3 Old
Burlington Street, London, UK W1S 3AE.
Share Ownership
The following table sets forth certain information concerning ownership of Shares of the
Company by the Committee Nominees as of the date of this proxy statement.
Calculated on the basis of 22,709,725 Shares of Common Stock outstanding as of September 30,2009.
(2)
Includes 25,600 shares underlying currently exercisable warrants, and 10 shares underlying
1,000 shares of Preferred Stock. Mr. Tirpak is a holder of record of 10,000 shares of Common
Stock. He is not a holder of record of any shares of Preferred Stock.
ITEM 3
ELECTION OF CLASS III DIRECTORS
The Company is proposing the election of certain persons to serve as Class III Directors of
the Company as set forth in the Company Proxy Statement. Each Class III Director holds office
until the third Annual Meeting of Shareholders following this Annual Meeting, and until his
successor has been elected and qualified. Please refer to the Company Proxy Statement for
information on the Company’s Class III Director nominees.
The Committee makes no recommendation to other shareholders with respect to this proposal.
ITEM 4
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
According to the Company Proxy Statement, the Company is soliciting proxies to ratify the
appointment of the Company’s independent auditors. Please refer to the Company Proxy Statement for
information on this proposal.
According to information contained in the Company Proxy Statement, the Company’s Board has
appointed McGladrey & Pullen, LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public
accounting firm for fiscal year 2010. According to the Company Proxy Statement, a representative of
McGladrey & Pullen, LLP is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and will have the
opportunity to make a statement if desired and is expected to be available to respond to
appropriate questions.
The Committee makes no recommendation to other shareholders with respect to this proposal.
ITEM 5
APPROVAL OF 2010 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
Please refer to the Company Proxy Statement for information on this proposal.
The Committee makes no recommendation to other shareholders with respect to this proposal.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Common Stock
The following information is based solely on the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed
with the SEC on October 27, 2009. To the Committee’s knowledge, the following table sets forth, as
of September 30, 2009, the beneficial ownership of the Common Stock of each of the Company’s
directors and executive officers, the other employees named in the summary compensation table set
forth below, as well as by the Company’s directors and executive officers as a group. Except as set
forth below, the Committee is not aware of any beneficial owner of more than five percent of the
Common Stock. Except as otherwise indicated, the Committee believes that the beneficial owners of
the Common Stock listed below, based on information furnished by such owners, have sole investment
and voting power with respect to such shares, subject to community property laws where applicable:
All Directors and Executive Officers
As a Group (9 persons)
498,816
2.18
%
*
Less than one percent (1%)
(1)
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission and derives from either voting or investment power with respect to securities. Shares of
Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock, or shares of Common Stock issuable
upon exercise of warrants and options currently exercisable, or exercisable within 60 days of
September 30, 2009, are deemed to be beneficially owned for purposes hereof.
(2)
The percentage of common stock beneficially owned is based on 22,709,725 shares outstanding as
of September 30, 2009.
(3)
Includes 2,000 shares of common stock beneficially owned by his spouse, 35,429 shares owned by
George R. Jensen, Jr. Grantor Retained Unitrust dated July 14, 2003 over which Mr. Jensen retains
beneficial ownership. Includes 75,000 shares underlying vested stock options, and 800 shares
underlying Preferred Stock. Does not include the right granted to Mr. Jensen under his Employment
Agreement to receive common stock upon the occurrence of a USA Transaction nor any shares issuable
to the executive officers under the Long Term Equity Incentive Program on account of the 2010
fiscal year.
(4)
Includes 28,010 shares of common stock beneficially owned by his child and 27,440 shares of
common stock beneficially owned by his spouse. Includes 18,000 shares underlying vested stock
options. Does not include any shares issuable to Mr. Herbert under the Long Term Equity Incentive
Program on account of the 2010 fiscal year.
(5)
Includes 7,000 shares underlying vested stock options. Does not include any shares issuable to
Mr. DeMedio under the Long-Term Equity Incentive Program on account of the 2010 fiscal year.
(6)
Includes 12,000 shares underlying vested stock options.
(7)
Includes 12,000 shares underlying vested stock options.
(8)
Includes 100 shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by his spouse. Includes 12,000 shares
underlying vested stock options.
(9)
Based upon a Schedule 13G/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 8,2009, S.A.C. Capital Advisors, L.P., S.A.C. Capital Advisors, Inc., S.A.C. Capital Associates, LLC,
and Steven A. Cohen, each have shared voting and investment power with respect to such shares. The
address of S.A.C. Capital Advisors, L.P., S.A.C. Capital Advisors, Inc. and Mr. Cohen is as
indicated in the table. The address of S.A.C. Capital Associates, LLC is P.O. Box 58, Victoria
House, The Valley, Anguilla, British West Indies. Each of S.A.C. Capital Advisors, L.P., S.A.C.
Capital Advisors, Inc. and Mr. Cohen disclaim beneficial ownership of these shares.
(10) Based upon a Schedule 13G/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 17,2009, reflecting the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock by Wellington Management Company,
LLP, which has shared voting authority over 1,214,400 shares and shared dispositive power over
2,068,400 shares.
SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK
The following information is based solely on the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed
with the SEC on October 27, 2009. To the Committee’s knowledge, other than the 80,000 shares of
Preferred Stock owned by Mr. Jensen, there were no shares of Preferred Stock that were beneficially
owned as of September 30, 2009 by the Company’s directors, executive officers, or the other
employees named in the Summary Compensation Table set forth above.
The Committee has retained Morrow & Co., LLC to act as an advisor and to provide solicitation
services for a fee estimated not to exceed $[•], plus expenses. The Committee also agreed to
indemnify Morrow & Co. against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the federal
securities laws. Proxies may be solicited by mail, facsimile, telephone, internet and by
advertisements. It is anticipated that Morrow & Co., LLC will employ approximately 25 persons to
solicit the Company’s shareholders at the Annual Meeting.
Banks, brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries will be requested to
forward the proxy materials to the beneficial owners of Shares for which they hold of record and
the Committee will reimburse them for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.
The expenses related directly to this proxy solicitation are expected to aggregate
approximately $[•] and will be borne by the Committee. These expenses include fees and expenses for
attorneys, proxy solicitors, printing, postage, filing expenses and other costs incidental to the
solicitation. Of this estimated amount, approximately $[•] has been spent to date. The actual costs
and expenses could be materially different than the estimated amounts and, in particular, could be
substantially higher if for any reason litigation is instituted in connection with the matters
related to this proxy statement.
The purpose of the proposals in this proxy statement is to advance the interests of all the
Company’s shareholders. Therefore, the Committee believes that its expenses related to this proxy
solicitation should be borne by the Company and it intends to seek reimbursement of such expenses
from the Company whether or not this proxy solicitation is successful. The question of
reimbursement of the expenses of the Committee by the Company will not be submitted to a
shareholder vote.
If you have any questions about this proxy solicitation or voting your shares or require
assistance, please contact:
Call Toll-Free: 800-662-5200
Banks and Brokerage Firms Call Collect: 203-658-9400
OTHER MATTERS
This proxy solicitation is being made by the Committee and not on behalf of the Board or
management of the Company. The Committee is not aware of any other matters to be brought before
the Annual Meeting, except as set forth herein.
The Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, in
accordance therewith, is required to file reports, proxy statements and other information with the
SEC. Reports, registration statements, proxy statements and other information filed by the company
with the SEC may be inspected at, and copies may be obtained from, the public reference facilities
maintained at the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549. Copies of such material can also
be obtained upon written request addressed to the SEC, Public Reference Section, 100 F Street,
N.E., Washington, DC 20549, at prescribed rates. You may obtain information on the operation of the
SEC’s Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at (800) SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a web site
on the Internet (http://www.sec.gov) where reports, proxy and information statements and
other information regarding issuers and others that file electronically with the SEC may be
obtained free of charge.
The Committee has omitted from this proxy statement certain disclosure required by applicable
law to be included in the Company Proxy Statement. Such disclosure includes, among other things,
information regarding securities of the Company beneficially owned by the Company’s director’s,
nominees and management; certain shareholder’s beneficial ownership of more than 5% of the
Company’s voting securities; information concerning executive compensation; and information
concerning the procedures for submitting shareholder proposals
and director nominations intended for consideration at the 2011 annual meeting of shareholders of
the Company and for consideration for inclusion in the proxy materials for that meeting. Please
refer to the Company Proxy Statement for such information. The Committee takes no responsibility
for the accuracy or completeness of information contained in the Company Proxy Statement.
INFORMATION REGARDING THE COMPANY
The information concerning the Company contained in this proxy statement has been taken from
or is based upon the Company Proxy Statement, other documents and records on file with the SEC and
other publicly available information. The Committee has no knowledge that would indicate that
statements relating to the Company contained in this proxy statement in reliance upon publicly
available information are inaccurate or incomplete.
VOTING PROCEDURES
Who is entitled to vote?
Only holders of Common Stock or Preferred Stock of record at the close of business on
September 30, 2009 will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. Each share of
Common Stock is entitled to one vote and each share of Preferred Stock is entitled to one-hundredth
of a vote on all matters to come before the Annual Meeting. On September 30, 2009, the Record Date
for the Annual Meeting, the Company had issued and outstanding 22,709,725 shares of Common Stock
and 512,365 shares of Preferred Stock.
Shareholders of Record. If, on the Record Date, your shares were registered directly in your
name with the Company’s transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, then you are a
shareholder of record. As a shareholder of record, you may vote in person at the meeting or vote by
proxy.
Beneficial Owners. If, on the Record Date, your shares were not held in your name, but rather
were held in an account at a brokerage firm, bank or other nominee (commonly referred to as being
held in “street name”), you are the beneficial owner of those shares. The organization holding your
account is considered to be the shareholder of record for purposes of voting at the Annual Meeting.
As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker or other nominee regarding how to
vote the shares held in your account. You are also invited to attend the Annual Meeting. However,
since you are not the shareholder of record, you may not vote your shares in person at the meeting
unless you obtain a valid legal proxy from your broker or other nominee and bring the legal proxy
to the Annual Meeting. If you want to attend the Annual Meeting, but not vote at the Annual
Meeting, you must provide proof of beneficial ownership as of the Record Date, such as your most
recent account statement prior to the Record Date.
What constitutes a quorum?
The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the votes entitled to be
cast on a particular matter by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting is necessary to constitute a
quorum for purposes of consideration and action on the matter. Votes withheld for director nominees
and abstentions on the other proposals to be considered at the Annual Meeting will be counted in
determining whether a quorum has been reached, but the failure to execute and return a proxy will
result in a shareholder not being considered present at the meeting. Broker non-votes will be
counted as present for purposes of deterring the existence of a quorum. The holders of the Common
Stock and Preferred Stock vote together, and not as a separate class. If a quorum is not present
at the Annual Meeting, we expect that the Annual Meeting will be adjourned or postponed to solicit
additional proxies.
How is each proposal to be adopted at the Annual Meeting?
If a quorum is present, the votes required for the five proposals to be considered at the
Annual Meeting and the treatment of abstentions and broker non-votes in respect of such proposals
are as follows:
Item 1: The two nominees for Class I Directors receiving the highest number of
votes will be elected Class I directors. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not
have any effect on the election of directors.
•
Item 2: The three nominees for Class II Directors receiving the highest number of
votes will be elected Class II directors. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not
have any effect on the election of directors.
•
Item 3: The three nominees for Class III Directors receiving the highest number of
votes will be elected Class III directors. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not
have any effect on the election of directors.
•
Item 4: The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by all holders of the
issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock voting together is
required to approve the ratification of the selection of our independent auditors.
Abstentions will have the same effect as votes against the proposal and broker
non-votes will not have any effect on the outcome of this proposal.
•
Item 5: The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by all holders of
the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock voting together
is required to approve the 2010 Stock Incentive Plan. Abstentions will have the same
effect as votes against the proposal and broker non-votes will not have any effect on
the outcome of this proposal.
What is a broker non-vote?
Brokers who hold shares of stock in street name for customers and who indicate on a proxy that
the broker does not have discretionary authority to vote those shares as to a particular matter are
referred to as broker non-votes. Broker non-votes will have no effect in determining whether a
proposal will be adopted at the Annual Meeting although they would be counted as present for
purposes of determining the existence of a quorum.
When are the votes due?
Shares represented by proxies on the enclosed proxy card will be counted in the vote at the
Annual Meeting only if your proxy card is submitted prior to the closing of the polls at the Annual
Meeting.
How do I vote?
You may vote either in person at the Annual Meeting or by proxy.
• At the Meeting. Shares held in your name as the shareholder of record may be voted
by you in person at the Annual Meeting. Shares held beneficially in street name may be voted by
you in person at the Annual Meeting only if you obtain a legal proxy from the broker or other
agent that holds your shares, giving you the right to vote the shares, and you bring the legal
proxy to the Annual Meeting.
• Vote by Proxy: To vote by proxy, you must complete the BLUE proxy card, complete
all of the required information on the proxy card, date and sign the proxy card, and return the
proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided as soon as possible.
If you are not the shareholder of record and hold shares through a custodian, broker or other
agent, such agent may have special voting instructions that you should follow.
What should I do if I receive a proxy card which is not BLUE?
If you submit a proxy to us by signing and returning the enclosed BLUE proxy card, do NOT sign
or return the proxy card or follow any voting instructions provided by the Company’s Board unless
you intend to change your vote, because only your latest-dated proxy will be counted.
Can I revoke my proxy instructions?
Yes. You may revoke or change your vote by:
•
submitting another written proxy with a later date,
•
sending a written notice of revocation either to Shareholder Advocates for Value
Enhancement, c/o Morrow & Co., 470 West Avenue, Stamford, CT06902, or the Secretary of
the Company at 100 Deerfield Lane, Suite 140, Malvern, Pennsylvania19355, if received
the day before the Annual Meeting,
•
if you are a beneficial owner, by following the instructions sent to you by your
broker, bank or other agent, or
•
revoking the grant of a previously submitted proxy and voting in person at the
Annual Meeting. Please note that your attendance at the Annual Meeting itself will not
revoke a proxy.
Although a revocation is effective if delivered to the Company, the Committee requests that
either the original or a copy of any revocation be mailed to Shareholder Advocates for Value
Enhancement, c/o Morrow & Co., 470 West Avenue, Stamford, CT06902, so that the Committee will be
aware of all revocations.
If you previously signed and returned a proxy card to the Company, we urge you to revoke it by
(1) signing, dating and returning the BLUE proxy card, (2) attending the annual meeting and voting
in person or (3) delivering a written notice of revocation to the Committee or to the corporate
secretary of the Company.
Will other matters be voted on at the Annual Meeting?
We are not aware of any matters to be presented at the Annual Meeting other than a vote for
the election of Class I Directors, the election of Class II Directors, the election of Class III
Directors, the ratification of the appointment of the independent auditors and the approval of the
2010 Stock Incentive Plan.
If I plan to attend the Annual Meeting, should I still submit a proxy?
Whether you plan to attend the Annual Meeting or not, we urge you to submit a proxy. Returning
the enclosed BLUE proxy card will not affect your right to attend the Annual Meeting.
How can I obtain directions to be able to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person?
According to the Company Proxy Statement, the Annual Meeting will be held at the Chester
Valley Golf Club. The Chester Valley Golf Club is located at 430 Swedesford Road, Malvern,
Pennsylvania19355. You may obtain directions to the venue by contacting the Chester Valley Golf
Club at (610)647-4007 or by accessing their website at http://www.chestervalleygc.org/ and clicking
on the “Contact Us” link.
How will my shares be voted?
If you give a proxy on the accompanying BLUE proxy card, your shares will be voted as you
direct. Shares as to which a proxy is submitted to us without instructions will be voted in favor
of Items 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Unless a proxy specifies otherwise, it will be presumed to relate to
all shares held of record on the Record Date for the Annual Meeting by the person who submitted it.
If you have any questions about giving your proxy or about our solicitation, or if you require
assistance, please call Morrow & Co., LLC toll-free at 800-662-5200. Banks and brokers may call
collect at 203-658-9400.
Your vote is important. No matter how many or how few shares you own, please vote to elect the
Committee Nominees by marking, signing, dating and mailing the enclosed BLUE proxy card promptly.
The following table sets forth all transactions with respect to the Shares effected by each of
the Participants during the two year period ended November 17, 2009. No part of the purchase price
or market value of such Shares is represented by funds borrowed or otherwise obtained for the
purpose of acquiring or holding such securities.
PRELIMINARY COPY, SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED NOVEMBER [•], 2009
FORM OF PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF
SHAREHOLDER ADVOCATES FOR VALUE ENHANCEMENT
The undersigned shareholder of USA Technologies, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (the
“Company”), on [•], 2009 (the “record date”), hereby appoints Bradley M. Tirpak or Craig Thomas or
either of them, each with full power of substitution, to act as proxies for the undersigned, and to
vote all shares of Common Stock, with no par value, of the Company, which the undersigned would be
entitled to vote if personally present at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to be
held on December 15, 2009, and at any and all postponements and adjournments thereof as indicated
on this proxy.
Please sign, date and return the proxy card in the envelope provided, or mail to: Shareholder
Advocates for Value Enhancement, c/o Morrow & Co., 470 West Avenue, Stamford, CT06902.
This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed by the undersigned. If
you sign, date and return this card without indicating your vote on one or more of the following
proposals, you will be deemed to have voted FOR Items 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
If properly executed, this proxy card will revoke any previously executed proxy with respect
to such proposals.
The Committee intends to use this proxy to vote (i) FOR Bradley M. Tirpak, Peter A. Michel and
Alan J. Gotcher as Class II Directors and (ii) FOR the other candidates who have been nominated by
the Company to serve as directors other than William L. Van Alen, Jr., Steven Katz and Joel Brooks
for whom the Committee is NOT seeking authority to vote for and WILL NOT exercise any such
authority.
There is no assurance that the Company’s nominees will serve if elected with any of the
soliciting party’s nominees.
THE COMMITTEE STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT
SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IN FAVOR OF ITEM 2.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE
SHAREHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 15, 2009
The Proxy Statement is, and all other soliciting materials filed by Shareholder Advocates for Value
Enhancement after the date of this proxy statement will be, available at:
NOTE: If you do not wish for your shares to be voted “FOR” a particular nominee, mark the “FOR ALL
EXCEPT” box and write the name(s) of the nominee(s) you do not support on the line below. Your
shares will be voted for the remaining nominee(s). You may also withhold authority to vote for one
or more additional nominees by writing the name of the nominee(s) below.
ITEM 2 – Election of Alan J. Gotcher, Peter A. Michel and Bradley M. Tirpak as Class II Directors.
The Committee strongly recommends a vote FOR its nominees.
FOR ALL NOMINEES o
WITHHOLD FOR ALL NOMINEES o
FOR ALL EXCEPT o
NOTE: If you do not wish for your shares to be voted “FOR” a particular nominee, mark the “FOR ALL
EXCEPT” box and write the name(s) of the nominee(s) you do not support on the line below. Your
shares will be voted for the remaining nominee(s). You may also withhold authority to vote for one
or more additional nominees by writing the name of the nominee(s) below.
ITEM 3 – Election of the persons nominated by the Company as Class III Directors.
The Committee does not object to shareholders voting for Item 3.
FOR ALL NOMINEES o
WITHHOLD FOR ALL NOMINEES o
FOR ALL EXCEPT o
NOTE: If you do not wish for your shares to be voted “FOR” a particular nominee, mark the “FOR ALL
EXCEPT” box and write the name(s) of the nominee(s) you do not support on the line below. Your
shares will be voted for the remaining nominee(s). You may also withhold authority to vote for one
or more additional nominees by writing the name of the nominee(s) below.
ITEM 4 – Ratification of the appointment of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP as the independent registered
public accounting firm of the Company for fiscal year ending June 30, 2010.
FOR o
AGAINST o
ABSTAIN o
The Committee does not object to shareholders voting for Item 4.
ITEM 5 – Approval of 2010 Stock Incentive Plan.
FOR o
AGAINST o
ABSTAIN o
The Committee does not object to shareholders voting for Item 5.
Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. If shares are registered in more than one name, the
signature of all such persons should be provided. A corporation should sign in its full corporate
name by a duly authorized officer, stating his or her title. Trustees, guardians, executors and
administrators should sign in their official capacity, giving their full title as such. If a
partnership, please sign in the partnership name by an authorized person. The proxy card votes all
shares in all capacities.
PLEASE MARK, SIGN AND DATE THIS PROXY BEFORE MAILING THE PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
Dates Referenced Herein and Documents Incorporated by Reference