SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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
Filed by the Registrant
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Filed by a Party other than the Registrant
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Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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Definitive Proxy Statement
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Definitive Additional Materials
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12
RED LION HOTELS 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):
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No Fee Required
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11
CALCULATION OF FILING FEE
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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.
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Date Filed:
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Dear
Shareholder:
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April 22, 2008
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You are cordially invited to attend the 2008 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders of Red Lion Hotels Corporation at 9:00 a.m. on
Thursday, May 22, 2008, at the Red Lion River Inn,
Shoreline A, 700 North Division, Spokane, Washington 99201.
The accompanying Notice of 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
and Proxy Statement describe the matters to be presented at the
meeting. In addition, management will speak on our developments
of the past year and respond to comments and questions of
general interest to shareholders.
It is important that your shares be represented and voted
whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting in person.
You may vote by completing and mailing the enclosed proxy card
or the form forwarded by your bank, broker or other holder of
record. Voting by written proxy will ensure your shares are
represented at the meeting.
Sincerely,
Donald K. Barbieri
Chairman of the Board
IMPORTANT
A Proxy Statement and proxy card are enclosed. All shareholders
are urged to complete and mail the proxy card promptly. The
enclosed envelope for return of the proxy card requires no
postage. Any shareholder of record attending the meeting may
personally vote on all matters that are considered, in which
event the signed proxy will be revoked.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR STOCK BE VOTED.
RED LION
HOTELS CORPORATION
NOTICE
OF 2008 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MAY 22,
2008
To the Shareholders of Red Lion Hotels Corporation:
The 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Red Lion Hotels
Corporation will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday,
May 22, 2008, at the Red Lion River Inn, Shoreline A, 700
North Division, Spokane, Washington 99201 for the following
purposes:
(1) To elect three directors to the Board of Directors, two
of whom will hold office for a three-year term expiring at the
2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and one of whom will hold
office for a two-year term expiring at the 2010 Annual Meeting
of Shareholders;
(2) To ratify the selection of BDO Seidman, LLP as our
independent registered public accounting firm for 2008;
(3) To approve the 2008 Employee Stock Purchase
Plan; and
(4) To transact such other business as may properly come
before the meeting and any adjournments thereof.
The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the
Proxy Statement accompanying this notice.
The Board of Directors has fixed March 31, 2008 as the
record date for the meeting. Only shareholders of record at the
close of business on that date will be entitled to notice of and
to vote at the meeting.
PLEASE SUBMIT A PROXY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT YOUR SHARES
CAN BE VOTED AT THE MEETING IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR
INSTRUCTIONS. FOR SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS ON VOTING, PLEASE
REFER TO THE PROXY CARD OR THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY YOUR
BANK, BROKER OR OTHER HOLDER OF RECORD. EVEN IF YOU VOTE YOUR
PROXY, YOU MAY STILL VOTE IN PERSON IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING.
PLEASE NOTE, HOWEVER, THAT IF YOUR SHARES ARE HELD OF RECORD BY
A BANK, BROKER OR OTHER HOLDER OF RECORD AND YOU WISH TO VOTE IN
PERSON AT THE MEETING, YOU MUST OBTAIN A PROXY ISSUED IN YOUR
NAME FROM THE BANK, BROKER OR OTHER HOLDER OF RECORD.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Thomas L. McKeirnan
Secretary
Spokane, Washington
April 22, 2008
The 2007 Annual Report of Red Lion Hotels Corporation
accompanies this
Proxy Statement.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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RED LION
HOTELS CORPORATION
201 West North River Drive, Suite 100
Spokane, Washington 99201
2008 PROXY STATEMENT
INFORMATION
CONCERNING VOTING AND SOLICITATION
General
The enclosed proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of
Directors (the Board) of Red Lion Hotels
Corporation, a Washington corporation, for use at the 2008
Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at 9:00 a.m.
local time on Thursday, May 22, 2008, and at any
adjournments thereof. The meeting will be held at the Red Lion
River Inn, Shoreline A, 700 North Division, Spokane, Washington
99201.
Proxies are solicited to give all shareholders of record an
opportunity to vote on matters properly presented at the
meeting. This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy card
are first being mailed on or about April 22, 2008 to all
shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting.
Who Can
Vote
You are entitled to vote at the meeting if you were a holder of
record of our common stock, $.01 par value, at the close of
business on March 31, 2008. Your shares may be voted at the
meeting only if you are present in person or represented by a
valid proxy.
For the ten days prior to the meeting, a list of shareholders
entitled to vote at the meeting will be available during
ordinary business hours for examination by any shareholder, for
any purpose germane to the meeting, at our principal executive
office at 201 West North River Drive, Suite 100,
Spokane, Washington 99201. This list will also be available at
the meeting.
Shares
Outstanding and Quorum
At the close of business on March 31, 2008, there were
18,228,271 shares of our common stock outstanding and
entitled to vote. A majority of the outstanding shares of our
common stock, present in person or represented by proxy, will
constitute a quorum at the meeting.
Proxy
Card and Revocation of Proxy
You may vote by completing and mailing the enclosed proxy card.
If you sign the proxy card but do not specify how you want your
shares to be voted, your shares will be voted by the proxy
holders named in the enclosed proxy (i) FOR
election of all of the three director nominees named below;
(ii) FOR ratification of the selection of BDO
Seidman, LLP as our independent registered public accounting
firm for 2008; and (iii) FOR approval of our
2008 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. If one or more of the
director nominees should become unavailable for election prior
to the meeting, an event that currently is not anticipated by
the Board, the proxies may be voted in favor of the election of
a substitute nominee or nominees proposed by the Board.
The proxy holders named in the enclosed proxy are authorized to
vote in their discretion on any other matters that may properly
come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof. At the time
this Proxy Statement went to press, management was not aware of
any matter that may properly be presented for action at the
meeting other than those described in this Proxy Statement. In
addition, no shareholder proposal or director nomination was
received on a timely basis, so no such matters may be brought to
a vote at the meeting.
If you vote by proxy, you may revoke that proxy at any time
before it is voted at the meeting. Shareholders of record may
revoke a proxy by delivering to our Secretary at our principal
executive office at 201 West North River Drive,
Suite 100, Spokane, Washington 99201, a written notice of
revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, or by
attending the meeting and voting in person. Attendance at the
meeting will not, by itself, revoke a
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proxy. If your shares are held in the name of a broker, bank or
other holder of record, you may change your vote by submitting
new voting instructions to that holder of record. Please note
that if your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or
other holder of record, and you decide to attend and vote at the
meeting, your vote in person at the meeting will not be
effective unless you present a legal proxy issued in your name
from that holder of record.
Voting of
Shares
Shareholders of record as of the close of business on
March 31, 2008 are entitled to one vote for each share of
our common stock held on all matters to be voted upon at the
meeting. You may vote by attending the meeting and voting in
person or by completing and mailing the enclosed proxy card or
the form forwarded by your bank, broker or other holder of
record. If your shares are held by a bank, broker or other
holder of record, please refer to the instructions they provide
for voting your shares. All shares entitled to vote and
represented by properly executed proxies that are received
before the polls are closed at the meeting and are not revoked
or superseded will be voted at the meeting in accordance with
the instructions indicated on those proxies. YOUR VOTE IS
IMPORTANT.
Counting
of Votes
All votes will be tabulated by the inspector of election
appointed for the meeting, who will separately tabulate
affirmative and negative votes, abstentions and broker
non-votes. Shares held by persons attending the meeting but not
voting, shares represented by proxies that reflect abstentions
on one or more proposals and broker non-votes will be counted as
present for purposes of determining a quorum. Abstentions will
not count as votes cast. A broker non-vote occurs
when a bank, broker or other holder of record holding shares for
a beneficial owner does not receive voting instructions from the
beneficial owner and does not have discretionary authority to
vote the shares without such instructions. Brokers will not have
discretionary authority to vote on the proposal to approve the
2008 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. However, they will generally
have discretionary authority to vote on each of the other two
proposals scheduled for consideration at the meeting.
Solicitation
of Proxies
We will bear the expense of preparing, printing and distributing
proxy materials to our shareholders. We will also furnish copies
of the proxy materials to banks, brokers and other holders of
record holding in their names shares of our common stock that
are beneficially owned by others, so that the proxy materials
can be forwarded to those beneficial owners. We will reimburse
these banks, brokers and other holders of record for costs
incurred in forwarding the proxy materials to the beneficial
owners.
We have retained the services of The Altman Group, Inc. to aid
in the solicitation of proxies. We estimate that we will pay The
Altman Group, Inc. a fee of approximately $5,500 for its
services. In addition, our directors, officers and employees may
solicit proxies by telephone, facsimile, electronic mail or
personal solicitation. No additional compensation will be paid
to our directors, officers or employees for such services.
PROPOSAL 1
Under our Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, the Board
consists of from three to 13 directors, as determined from
time to time by resolution of the Board. The number of directors
that currently constitutes the Board is seven. The Board is
divided into three classes. Each class consists, as nearly as
possible, of one-third of the total number of directors, with
members of each class serving for a three-year term. Each year
only one class of directors is subject to a shareholder vote.
The current directors are as follows:
Class A
(two positions with terms expiring in 2009):
Ryland P. Skip Davis
Peter F. Stanton
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Class B
(three positions with Mr. Narayans term expiring in
2008 and the other terms expiring in 2010):
Donald K. Barbieri
Anupam Narayan
Ronald R. Taylor
Class C
(two positions with terms expiring in 2008):
Richard L. Barbieri
Jon E. Eliassen
Based upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee, Richard L. Barbieri and Jon E. Eliassen
are nominees for re-election to the Board as Class C
directors. If elected at the annual meeting, each will serve
until the 2011 annual meeting of shareholders and until his
successor is elected and qualified, or until his earlier
retirement, resignation, disqualification, removal or death.
In February of 2008, the Board appointed Anupam Narayan to fill
the vacancy in the Class B positions resulting from the
retirement of Arthur M. Coffey. Under Washington law, because
Mr. Narayan was appointed to fill a vacancy, his term will
expire at the upcoming annual meeting. Based upon the
recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee, Mr. Narayan has been nominated for re-election
to the Board as a Class B director. If elected at the
annual meeting, he will serve until the 2010 annual meeting of
shareholders and until his successor is elected and qualified,
or until his earlier retirement, resignation, disqualification,
removal or death.
Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote for each of
the three nominees and will be given the option to vote
FOR or AGAINST each nominee or to
ABSTAIN. Cumulative voting is not permitted. It is
the intention of the proxy holders named in the enclosed proxy
to vote the proxies received by them in favor of the election of
the three nominees unless a shareholder directs otherwise. If
any nominee should become unavailable for election prior to the
meeting, an event that currently is not anticipated by the
Board, the proxies will be voted in favor of the election of a
substitute nominee or nominees proposed by the Board or the
number of directors may be reduced accordingly. Each nominee has
agreed to serve if elected and the Board has no reason to
believe that any nominee will be unable to serve.
The three nominees for the Board who receive the greatest number
of votes cast in the election of directors by the shares
entitled to vote and present in person or by proxy at the
meeting will be elected directors. An abstention from voting for
a nominee may make it less likely that the nominee will be one
of the three nominees who receive the greatest number of votes
cast. Although brokers generally have discretionary authority to
vote in the election of directors, if a broker submits a
non-vote, that will also make it less likely that the nominee
will be one of the three nominees who receive the greatest
number of votes cast.
Set forth below is biographical information for each nominee and
for each director whose term of office will continue after the
meeting. Except as disclosed in these biographies, there are no
family relationships among any of our directors or among any of
our directors and our executive officers.
NOMINEES
FOR ELECTION FOR A THREE-YEAR TERM EXPIRING AT THE 2011 ANNUAL
MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
Richard L. Barbieri
, age 65, has been a director
since 1978. From 1994 until he retired in 2003, he served as our
full-time General Counsel, first as Vice President and later as
Senior Vice President and Executive Vice President. He currently
serves as Chairman of the Board of Puget Sound Neighborhood
Health Centers and as a member of the Board of Directors of the
Pike Market Foundation, both non-profit organizations. From 1978
to 1995, Mr. Barbieri served as our legal counsel and
Secretary, during which time he was engaged in the private
practice of law in Seattle, first at Edwards and Barbieri and
then at Riddell Williams P.S. Mr. Barbieri has also served
as chairman of various committees of the Washington State Bar
Association and the King County (Washington) Bar Association,
and as a member of the governing board of the King County bar
association. He also served as Vice Chairman of the
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Citizens Advisory Committee to the Major League Baseball
Stadium Public Facilities District in Seattle in 1996 and 1997.
Mr. Barbieri is the brother of Donald K. Barbieri.
Jon E. Eliassen
, age 61, has been a director since
2003. Mr. Eliassen was President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Spokane Area Economic Development Council from
2003 to 2007. Mr. Eliassen retired in 2003 from his
position as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
Avista Corp., a publicly-traded diversified utility.
Mr. Eliassen spent 33 years at Avista, including the
last 16 years as its Chief Financial Officer. While at
Avista, Mr. Eliassen was an active participant in the
development of a number of successful subsidiary company
operations, including technology related startups Itron, Avista
Labs and Avista Advantage. Mr. Eliassen serves on the Board
of Directors of Itron Corporation and IT Lifeline, Inc, and is
the principal of Terrapin Capital Group, LLC.
Mr. Eliassens corporate accomplishments are
complemented by his extensive service to the community in roles
that have included director and President of the Spokane
Symphony Endowment Fund, director of The Heart Institute of
Spokane, Washington State University Research Foundation,
Washington Technology Center, and Spokane Intercollegiate
Research and Technology Institute, and past director of numerous
other organizations and energy industry associations.
NOMINEE
FOR ELECTION FOR A TWO-YEAR TERM EXPIRING AT THE 2010 ANNUAL
MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
Anupam Narayan
, age 54, has been a director since
February 11, 2008, when he was appointed President, Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (Anthony F.
Dombrowik succeeded him as Chief Financial Officer in March of
2008). Prior to that, Mr. Narayan had served as our
Executive Vice President, Chief Investment Officer and Chief
Financial Officer since January 2005. He has been with the
company since November 2004, when he was first appointed
Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer.
Mr. Narayan has nearly 25 years of experience in the
hospitality industry. From 1998 to March 2004, he served in
various capacities as an executive officer of Best Western
International Inc., including his most recent position as Senior
Vice President, Global Brand Management and Chief Financial
Officer and a three-month period as Acting President and Chief
Executive Officer during 2002. From 1985 to 1998,
Mr. Narayan was employed by Doubletree Corporation and Red
Lion Hotels, Inc., serving as Senior Vice President and
Treasurer immediately prior to his move to Best Western. He has
served on the board of the International Hotel and Restaurant
Association and as Chairman of its Chains Council.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR EACH OF THE THREE
NAMED NOMINEES.
Directors
Continuing in Office Until the 2009 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders
Ryland P. Skip Davis
, age 67, has been a
director since May 2005. He currently is the Chief Executive
Officer of Providence Strategic Ventures, a new division of
Providence Health & Services, the sixth largest
Catholic health system in the United States. He served from 1998
to 2007 as Chief Executive Officer of Providence Health Care,
and from 1996 to 2007 as Chief Executive Officer of Sacred Heart
Medical Center in Spokane. From 1993 to 1996, Mr. Davis was
Senior Vice President for the Hunter Group, a hospital
management firm specializing in healthcare consulting and
management nationally. From 1988 to 1993, he was Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of Synergos Neurological Centers, Inc.,
in Santa Ana and Sacramento, California. From 1987 to 1988, he
was President of Diversified Health Group, Inc., of Sacramento.
From 1982 to 1987, he worked for American Health Group
International as President and Chief Executive Officer of
Amerimed in Burbank, California, and as Executive Vice President
of Operations. From 1981 to 1982, he worked for Hospital
Affiliates International as Group Vice President in Sacramento,
California and as Chief Executive Officer of Winona Memorial
Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. From 1972 to 1975, he was
Associate Administrator of San Jose Hospital and Health
Care Center in San Jose, California and from 1968 to 1971,
Assistant Administrator of Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley,
California. He has been involved in numerous private business
ventures related to healthcare. Mr. Davis is a Fellow of
the American College of Health Care Executives and has published
articles in
Modern Healthcare
,
Health Week
and
other business publications regarding healthcare issues and
perspectives. Mr. Davis previously served as Chair of the
Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce and is currently on the Board
of Trustees of Greater Spokane Incorporated. He also serves on
the board of the Inland Northwest Council, Boy Scouts of
America, and as a member of the Washington State University
Advisory Council.
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Peter F. Stanton
, age 51, has been a director since
1998. Mr. Stanton has served as the Chief Executive Officer
of Washington Trust Bank since 1993 and its Chairman since
1997. Mr. Stanton previously served as President of
Washington Trust Bank from 1990 to 2000. Mr. Stanton
is also Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the
Board of Directors of W.T.B. Financial Corporation (a bank
holding company). In addition to serving on numerous state and
local civic boards, Mr. Stanton was President of the
Washington Bankers Association from 1995 to 1996 and served as
Washington state chairman of the American Bankers Association in
1997 and 1998. He currently serves as a National Trustee for the
Boys and Girls Club of America. Mr. Stanton is
also a Trustee of Gonzaga University and is on the Board of
Trustees of Greater Spokane Incorporated, as well as on the
board of the Inland Northwest Council, Boy Scouts of America.
Directors
Continuing in Office Until the 2010 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders
Donald K. Barbieri
, age 62, Mr. Barbieri has
been a director since 1978 and Chairman of the Board since 1996.
He served as President and Chief Executive Officer from 1978
until 2003. Mr. Barbieri joined us in 1969 and was
responsible for our development activities in the hotel,
entertainment and real estate areas. Mr. Barbieri is a past
Trustee of Gonzaga University; Chairman of the Board for the
Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce; served as President of the
Spokane Chapter of the Building Owners and Managers Association;
as President of the Spokane Regional Convention and Visitors
Bureau and as Chairman of the Spokane United Way Campaign.
Barbieri chaired the State of Washingtons Quality of Life
Task Force. He has served as board Chairman for the Inland
Northwests largest hospital system, Sacred Heart Medical
Center and was founding president of the Physician Hospital
Community Organization. He has served three governors on the
Washington Economic Development Board and currently chairs the
Spokane County Democratic Election Committee after being a
candidate for the Fifth District US Congressional Seat from the
State of Washington. Mr. Barbieri is the brother of Richard
L. Barbieri.
Ronald R. Taylor
, age 60, has been a director since
1998. Mr. Taylor is President of Tamarack Bay, LLC, a
private consulting firm and is currently a director of two other
public companies, Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a pharmaceutical
manufacturer) and ResMed, Inc. (a manufacturer of equipment
relating to the management of sleep-disordered breathing). At
Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Mr. Taylor is a member of the
Audit and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees and is
Chairman of the Compensation Committee. At ResMed, Inc., he is a
member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees and
Chairman of the Compensation Committee. Mr. Taylor is also
Chairman of the Board of three privately held companies. From
1998 to 2002, Mr. Taylor was a general partner of
Enterprise Partners, a venture capital firm. From 1996 to 1998,
Mr. Taylor worked as an independent business consultant.
From 1987 to 1996, Mr. Taylor was Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer of Pyxis Corporation (a health care
service provider), which he founded in 1987. Prior to founding
Pyxis, he was an executive with both Allergan Pharmaceuticals
and Hybritech, Inc.
PROPOSAL 2
INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee of the Board has selected BDO Seidman, LLP
to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm
for 2008 and has further directed that this selection be
submitted for ratification by our shareholders at the annual
meeting. BDO Seidman, LLP has audited our financial statements
since 2001. Representatives of the firm are expected to be
present at the meeting, will have the opportunity to make a
statement if they desire to do so, and are expected to be
available to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders.
Unless instructed to the contrary, the proxies solicited hereby
will be voted for the ratification of the selection of BDO
Seidman, LLP as our independent registered public accounting
firm for 2008.
Shareholder ratification of the selection of BDO Seidman, LLP as
our independent registered public accounting firm is not
required by our By-laws or otherwise. However, the Board is
submitting the selection of the firm to the shareholders for
ratification as a matter of corporate practice. If the
shareholders fail to ratify the selection, the Audit Committee
will reconsider whether or not to retain that firm. Even if the
selection is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may
select a different independent registered public accounting firm
at any time
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during the year if the Audit Committee determines that such a
change would be in our best interests and that of our
shareholders.
Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote on the
proposal to ratify the selection of BDO Seidman, LLP and will be
given the option to vote FOR or AGAINST
the proposal or to ABSTAIN. In order to approve this
proposal, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast
by the holders of shares entitled to vote and present in person
or by proxy at the meeting is required. Abstention from voting
on this proposal will have no effect, since approval of the
proposal is based solely on the number of votes cast. Although
brokers generally have discretionary authority to vote on this
proposal, a non-vote on the proposal will have no effect, since
approval of the proposal is based solely on the number of votes
cast.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR RATIFICATION OF
THE SELECTION OF BDO SEIDMAN, LLP.
PROPOSAL 3
The Board has adopted the 2008 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the
Plan), subject to shareholder approval. A summary of
the Plan follows. The complete text of the Plan is attached as
Appendix A to this Proxy Statement. In the event of any
difference between the summary and the provisions of the Plan,
the provisions of the Plan will govern.
Summary
of Plan
The Plan was adopted to benefit eligible employees of Red Lion
Hotels Corporation and its subsidiaries. The purpose of the Plan
is to enable eligible employees who wish to invest in our common
stock a convenient and favorable method of doing so. A total of
300,000 shares of common stock have been reserved for
purchase under the Plan.
The Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the
Board. The Plan is not subject to any provisions of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, nor is it
qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the Code).
To be eligible to participate in the Plan, an individual must
meet the following requirements:
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The individual must be a common law employee of either Red Lion
Hotels Corporation or one of its subsidiaries that the
Compensation Committee has designated to participate in the Plan.
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The individual must have been continuously employed for at least
one month.
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The customary employment of the individual must be more than
30 hours per week and more than five months per calendar
year.
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The individual must not own stock possessing 5% or more of the
total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of
Red Lion Hotels Corporation.
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Our common stock will be offered under the Plan during twenty
consecutive six month periods, which we refer to as purchase
periods. The first purchase period began on January 1, 2008
and will end on June 30, 2008. Thereafter, a new purchase
period will begin on the first day and end on the last day of
each subsequent six month period.
Each eligible employee may elect, prior to the beginning of a
purchase period, to have up to 10% of his or her compensation
withheld and applied to purchase common stock at the end of the
purchase period. For purposes of the Plan,
compensation generally means gross earnings,
including regular earnings, overtime, bonuses, declared tips,
gratuities and commissions, received by or on behalf of a
participant for services performed or on account of holidays,
vacation, sick leave or other similar events. The rate of
payroll deductions may not be increased or decreased during a
purchase period. However, a participant may elect to change the
rate of payroll deduction
6
(subject to the 10% limitation) for any subsequent purchase
period. In addition, a participant may withdraw from the Plan at
any time, in which case all of his or her accumulated payroll
deductions will be returned.
The purchase price for shares of common stock purchased at the
end of a purchase period will be the lesser of the following
amounts:
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85% of the market price of the common stock on the first
business day of the purchase period; or
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85% of the market price of the common stock on the last business
day of the purchase period.
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During any one calendar year, the maximum value of the common
stock that may be purchased by a participant is $25,000.
The number of shares subject to the Plan and the purchase price
of such shares are subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of
certain events, including but not limited to a stock dividend,
stock split, reverse stock split or other transaction resulting
in the subdivision or combination of our common stock.
By participating in the Plan, each participant agrees to allow
us to withhold, from any amounts that may be payable to the
participant, such federal, state, local and foreign income,
employment and other taxes as may be required to be withheld
under applicable laws. In lieu of such withholding, we may
require the participant to remit such taxes to us as a condition
of the purchase.
A participant may resell shares of common stock purchased under
the Plan at any time, subject to compliance with all applicable
federal and state securities and other laws. A
participants rights under the Plan are the
participants alone and may not be transferred or assigned
to any other person other than by will or the laws of descent
and distribution. A participants rights under the Plan are
exercisable during his or her lifetime by the participant alone.
A participants rights under the Plan will terminate if he
or she for any reason ceases to be an employee, in which event
all of the participants accumulated payroll deductions
will be returned.
The Plan will terminate on December 31, 2017. The Plan may
terminate earlier if all or substantially all of the unissued
shares of common stock reserved for the purposes of the Plan
have been purchased. Upon such termination, all payroll
deductions not used to purchase shares of common stock will be
refunded to the participants entitled thereto. The Plan may also
be terminated at any time by the Board, but termination will not
affect any rights to purchase shares at the end of the purchase
period in progress at the time of termination. The Board or the
Compensation Committee also has the right to amend the Plan
under certain circumstances.
Summary
of Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Plan
The following discussion summarizes the material federal income
tax consequences of participation in the Plan. This discussion
is general in nature and does not address issues related to the
specific tax circumstances of any particular participant. The
discussion is based on federal income tax laws in effect on the
date hereof and is therefore subject to possible future changes
in law. This discussion does not address state, local or foreign
tax consequences.
The Plan is intended to qualify as an employee stock
purchase plan within the meaning of Section 423(b) of
the Code. Assuming that the Plan is so qualified, the material
federal income tax consequences that may be expected to accrue
under the Plan are as described below.
A participant will not recognize any income, gain or loss at the
time he or she purchases shares of common stock under the Plan.
Under the Code, special rules apply to a disposition of shares
of common stock purchased under the Plan. For purposes of these
rules, a disposition generally includes not only a sale of the
shares, but also a gift, an exchange of the shares for other
property, and a transfer of legal title (the death of a
participant is also generally treated in effect as a
disposition). However, a disposition does not include a mere
pledge of the shares or a transfer of the shares into joint
tenancy.
The tax consequences to a participant of a disposition of shares
of common stock purchased under the Plan will vary depending on
how long the participant has held the shares. The tax
consequences may be more favorable if the
7
participant holds the shares at least until the second
anniversary of the first day of the purchase period in which the
shares were purchased. This will be referred to below as the
two-year holding period.
If a participant disposes of shares that have not been held for
the two-year holding period, the participant will have
compensation income whether or not a gain is realized on the
disposition. The amount of the compensation income will be equal
to the difference between
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the market value of the shares on the last business day of the
purchase period in which the shares were purchased; and
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the amount the participant paid for the shares.
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In addition to this compensation income, if the disposition is a
sale or other taxable transfer, the participant will have
capital gain or loss (short-term or long-term, depending on how
long the participant held the shares) in an amount equal to the
difference between the market value of the shares on the date of
disposition and the participants tax basis in the shares
(the tax basis will be the market value of the shares on the
last business day of the purchase period in which they were
purchased).
If a participant disposes of shares that have been held for the
two-year holding period, the participant will realize income
only if the market value of the shares on the date of
disposition is greater than the amount paid for the shares. If
that is the case, the participant will have compensation income
equal to the difference between
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the amount the participant paid for the shares; and
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either their market value on the first day of the purchase
period in which they were purchased or their market value on the
date of disposition, whichever is less.
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In addition to this compensation income, if the disposition is a
sale or other taxable transfer, the participants remaining
gain on the disposition, if any, will be taxed as long-term
capital gain.
In the case of a disposition of shares that have not been held
for the two-year holding period, we will generally be entitled
to deduct the amount that is treated as compensation income to
the participant. We are not entitled to any deduction in
connection with a disposition of shares that have been held for
the two-year holding period.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR
APPROVAL OF THE 2008 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN.
8
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the
beneficial ownership of our common stock as of March 31,
2008 by: (i) each of our directors and nominees;
(ii) each of our executive officers; (iii) all of our
directors, nominees and executive officers as a group; and
(iv) each person known by us to beneficially own more than
5% of our common stock.
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Number of
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Percentage of
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Beneficial Owner
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Shares Owned (1)
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Common Stock (1)
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Columbia Pacific Opportunity Fund, LP (2)
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2,211,887
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12.1
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%
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Heather H. Barbieri (3) (4)
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1,542,378
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8.5
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%
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Dimensional Fund Advisors, LP (5)
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1,520,184
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8.3
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%
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Donald K. Barbieri (3) (6)
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1,517,841
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8.3
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%
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Keeley Asset Management Corp. (7)
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1,462,500
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8.0
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%
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Edge Asset Management, Inc. (8)
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1,316,245
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7.2
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%
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Arthur M. Coffey (9)
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479,311
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2.6
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%
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Richard L. Barbieri
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212,817
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1.2
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%
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Anupam Narayan (10)
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58,415
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*
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John M. Taffin (11)
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48,204
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*
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Ronald R. Taylor (12)
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37,113
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*
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Thomas L. McKeirnan (13)
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34,033
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*
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Peter F. Stanton (14)
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22,113
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*
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Jon E. Eliassen
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16,587
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*
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Ryland P. Skip Davis
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5,586
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*
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All directors and executive officers as a group
(10 persons)
(15)
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2,432,020
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12.9
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%
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*
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Represents less than 1% of the
outstanding common stock.
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(1)
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For purposes of this table, a
person is deemed to have beneficial ownership of
shares of common stock if such person has the right to acquire
beneficial ownership of such shares within 60 days. For
purposes of computing the percentage of outstanding shares held
by each person named above, any security that such person has
the right to acquire within 60 days after March 31,
2008 is deemed to be outstanding, but is not deemed to be
outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage
ownership of any other person.
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(2)
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The address for this beneficial
owner is 600 University Street, Suite 2500, Seattle, Washington
98101. The shares shown for this beneficial owner are based
solely on the Form 4/A filed by this beneficial owner on
April 1, 2008.
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(3)
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The shares shown for each of these
beneficial owners include 543,766 shares held by the
DKB & HHB Unity Trust, an irrevocable trust of which
these beneficial owners are co-trustees. Each of these
beneficial owners disclaims beneficial ownership of the
trusts shares.
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(4)
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Ms. Barbieris address is
201 West North River Drive, Suite 100, Spokane,
Washington 99201. Includes 560,700 shares held by the
Heather M. Barbieri Family LLC of which Ms. Barbieri is a
beneficiary but disclaims beneficial ownership except to the
extent of her beneficial interest therein. Also includes
22,418.5 shares that may be issued to Ms. Barbieri if
she elects to have Red Lion Hotels Limited Partnership
(RLHLP) redeem a like number of limited partnership
units (OP Units) that she holds in RLHLP. Also
includes 2,500 shares subject to options exercisable within
60 days of March 31, 2008.
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(5)
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The address for this beneficial
owner is 1299 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, California 90401. The
shares shown for this beneficial owner are based solely on the
Schedule 13G filed by this beneficial owner on
February 6, 2008.
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(6)
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Mr. Barbieris address is
820 North Post Street, Suite 603, Spokane, Washington
99201. Includes 22,418.5 shares that may be issued to
Mr. Barbieri if he elects to have RLHLP redeem a like
number of OP Units that he holds in RLHLP.
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(7)
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The address for this beneficial
owner is 401 South LaSalle Street, Suite 1201, Chicago, Illinois
60605. The shares shown for this beneficial owner are based
solely on the Schedule 13G filed by this beneficial owner
on February 13, 2008.
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(8)
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The address for this beneficial
owner is 601 Union Street, Suite 2200, Seattle, Washington
98101. The shares shown for this beneficial owner are based
solely on the Schedule 13G filed by this beneficial owner
on February 14, 2008.
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(9)
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Includes 430,228 shares
subject to options exercisable within 60 days of
March 31, 2008. Also includes 12,990 shares subject to
restricted stock units that are vested but unissued.
Mr. Coffey retired from the company on February 11,
2008.
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(10)
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Includes 36,675 shares subject
to options exercisable, and 938 shares subject to
restricted stock units vesting, within 60 days of
March 31, 2008.
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(11)
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Includes 39,218 shares subject
to options exercisable, and 505 shares subject to
restricted stock units vesting, within 60 days of
March 31, 2008.
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(12)
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Includes 11,000 shares subject
to options exercisable within 60 days of March 31,
2008.
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(13)
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Includes 22,817 shares subject
to options exercisable, and 366 shares subject to
restricted stock units vesting, within 60 days of
March 31, 2008.
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(14)
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Includes 11,000 shares subject
to options exercisable within 60 days of March 31,
2008.
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(15)
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Includes 550,938 shares
subject to options exercisable, and 14,799 shares subject
to restricted stock units that have vested but are unissued or
that will vest within 60 days of March 31, 2008. Also
includes 22,418.5 shares that may be issued to a member of
the group if he elects to have RLHLP redeem a like number of OP
Units that he holds in RLHLP.
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SECTION 16(a)
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, requires our executive officers, principal accounting
officer and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of our
common stock (collectively, Reporting Persons), to
file reports of ownership and changes in ownership of our common
stock with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Based solely
on our review of the reports filed by Reporting Persons, and
written representations from certain Reporting Persons that no
other reports were required for those persons, we believe that,
during the year ended December 31, 2007, the Reporting
Persons met all applicable Section 16(a) filing
requirements.
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
Corporate
Governance Documents
The Board has adopted the following corporate governance
documents:
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Corporate Governance Guidelines;
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Code of Business Conduct and Ethics;
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Accounting and Audit Complaints and Concerns Procedures;
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Statement of Policy with respect to Related Party
Transactions; and
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charters for each of its standing committees, which include the
Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee.
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Copies of each of these corporate governance documents are
available online in the Investor Relations section of our
website at
www.redlion.com
.
1
We will provide copies of these documents to any shareholder
upon written request to our Secretary at our principal executive
office at 201 West North River Drive, Suite 100,
Spokane, WA 99201.
Director
Independence
The Board has determined that each of the following four members
of the Board is independent within the meaning of
applicable listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange (the
NYSE): Ryland P. Skip Davis, Jon E.
Eliassen, Peter F. Stanton and Ronald R. Taylor. Under the NYSE
listing standards, a director is considered
independent if the Board affirmatively determines
that he or she has no material relationship with our company,
either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an
organization that has a relationship with our company. The NYSE
listing standards permit the Board to adopt categorical
standards to assist it in making determinations of independence.
The Board has adopted such standards, which are set forth in our
Corporate Governance Guidelines. A copy of the categorical
standards is included in Appendix B to this Proxy
Statement. The Board has made an affirmative determination that
each of the four directors named above satisfies these
categorical standards.
1
This
website is not intended to function as a hyperlink, and the
information contained on the website is not intended to be part
of this Proxy Statement.
10
Meetings
of the Board of Directors
The Board met ten times in 2007. All directors attended at least
75% of the total number of meetings of the Board and its
committees on which they serve. We encourage all of our
directors to attend each annual meeting of shareholders. All of
our directors attended our 2007 annual meeting of shareholders.
Executive
Sessions of the Board
Following regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, the
non-management directors, which consist of the independent
directors identified above and Messrs. Donald K. Barbieri
and Richard L. Barbieri, generally meet in executive session
without Mr. Narayan or other members of management. Donald
K. Barbieri, as Chairman of the Board, serves as the presiding
director for these executive sessions. In addition, at least
once each year, and generally at each quarterly meeting of the
Board, the independent directors meet in executive session
without any of the non-independent directors or members of
management present.
Committees
of the Board of Directors
Audit
Committee
The Audit Committee engages our independent registered public
accounting firm, reviews with the firm the plans and results of
the audit engagement, approves the audit and non-audit services
provided by the firm, reviews our financial statements, reviews
our compliance with laws and regulations, receives and reviews
complaints relating to accounting or auditing matters, considers
the adequacy of our internal accounting controls, and produces a
report for inclusion in our annual proxy statement. The members
of the Audit Committee are Peter F. Stanton, Chairman, Ryland P.
Skip Davis, Jon E. Eliassen and Ronald R. Taylor.
The Audit Committee met eight times during 2007.
The Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee
is financially literate under the current listing standards of
the NYSE. The Board also has determined that each member of the
Audit Committee qualifies as an audit committee financial
expert as defined by applicable rules of the Securities
and Exchange Commission. The audit committee financial experts
are Ryland P. Skip Davis, Jon E. Eliassen, Peter F.
Stanton and Ronald R. Taylor. All members of the Audit Committee
are considered independent because they satisfy the independence
requirements for Board members prescribed by the NYSE listing
standards, including those set forth in
Rule 10A-3
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Compensation
Committee
The Compensation Committee discharges the responsibilities of
the Board relating to compensation and evaluation of our
President and Chief Executive Officer, or CEO, and other
executive officers, recommends to the Board the compensation of
Board members, oversees the administration of our equity
incentive plans and produces an annual report on executive
compensation for inclusion in our annual proxy statement. The
members of the Compensation Committee are Ronald R. Taylor,
Chairman, Ryland P. Skip Davis and Peter F. Stanton.
The Compensation Committee met seven times in 2007.
The processes and procedures of the Compensation Committee for
considering and determining compensation for our executive
officers and directors are as follows:
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Compensation for our executive officers is generally determined
annually in February.
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The Compensation Committee reviews director compensation and
benefits annually and makes recommendations to the Board with
respect thereto.
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With respect to our CEO, during the first calendar quarter of
each year, the Compensation Committee reviews and approves
company and individual performance goals for the current year,
evaluates his performance in light of the goals established for
the prior year, considers competitive market data and
establishes his compensation based on this evaluation. As part
of the evaluation process, the Compensation Committee Chairman
solicits comments from other Board members. Final determinations
regarding our
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CEOs performance and compensation are made during an
executive session of the Compensation Committee and reported to
the Board.
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Our Compensation Committee determines compensation for the other
executive officers based on the recommendations of our CEO and
competitive market data. Final determinations of their
compensation are made during an executive session of the
Compensation Committee and reported to the Board.
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During 2007, the Compensation Committee directly engaged Towers
Perrin, an independent compensation consulting firm, to review
total compensation levels of our directors, executive officers
and certain other top management personnel. The firm reviewed
various sources of data available regarding the compensation
practices of hospitality industry and other companies, assessed
the competitiveness of our compensation in comparison to that of
the other companies, and provided the Compensation Committee
with written reports and recommendations.
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The Compensation Committee has no authority to delegate any of
the functions described above to any other persons.
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Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible
for identifying and recommending to the Board for selection or
nomination those individuals qualified to become members of the
Board under the criteria established by our Corporate Governance
Guidelines, periodically reviewing and making recommendations to
the Board with regard to size and composition of the Board and
its committees, recommending and periodically reviewing for
adoption and modification by the Board our Corporate Governance
Guidelines and overseeing the evaluation of the Board and
management. The members of the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee are Jon E. Eliassen, Chairman, Peter F.
Stanton and Ronald R. Taylor. The Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee met four times in 2007.
Directors may be nominated by the Board or by shareholders in
accordance with our By-Laws. The Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee will review all proposed nominees for the
Board, including those recommended by shareholders, in
accordance with its charter, our By-Laws and our Corporate
Governance Guidelines. The committee will review age (a minimum
age of 21 is prescribed for directors under the By-Laws),
desired experience, mix of skills and other qualities to assure
appropriate Board composition, taking into account the current
Board members and the specific needs of our company and the
Board. The committee will generally look for individuals who
have displayed high ethical standards, integrity and sound
business judgment. This process is designed to ensure that the
Board includes members with diverse backgrounds, skills and
experience, including appropriate financial and other expertise
relevant to our business.
While the committee is authorized to retain a third party to
assist in the nomination process, we have not paid a fee to any
third party to identify or assist in identifying or evaluating
potential nominees.
A shareholder of record can nominate a candidate for election to
the Board by complying with the procedures in Section 3.3
of our By-Laws. Any shareholder of record who wishes to submit a
nomination should review the By-Law requirements on nominations
by shareholders, which are included in the excerpt from the
By-Laws attached as Appendix C to this Proxy Statement. Any
nomination should be sent to our Secretary at our principal
executive office, 201 West North River Drive,
Suite 100, Spokane, WA 99201. Any recommendations from
shareholders regarding director nominees should be sent to the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in care of our
Secretary at the same address.
Communications
with the Board of Directors
Our annual meeting of shareholders provides an opportunity each
year for shareholders to ask questions of, or otherwise
communicate directly with, members of the Board on appropriate
matters. Shareholders or other interested parties may contact
the Chairman of the Board at any time by sending an
e-mail
to
chairman@redlion.com
. In addition, shareholders may
communicate in writing with any particular director, any
committee of the Board, or the directors as a group, by sending
such written communication to our Secretary at our principal
executive office, 201 West North River Drive,
Suite 100, Spokane, WA 99201. Copies of written
communications received at such
12
address will be provided to the Board or the relevant director
unless such communications are considered, in the reasonable
judgment of our Secretary, to be inappropriate for submission to
the intended recipient(s). Examples of shareholder
communications that would be considered inappropriate for
submission to the Board include, without limitation, customer
complaints, solicitations, communications that do not relate
directly or indirectly to our business or communications that
relate to improper or irrelevant topics. Communications
concerning potential director nominees submitted by any of our
shareholders will be forwarded to the Chairman of the Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee.
Compensation
Committee
Report
2
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the
Compensation Discussion and Analysis provided below with
management, and based on the review and discussions, recommended
to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be
included in this Proxy Statement and incorporated by reference
into our Annual Report on
Form 10-K.
Respectfully submitted,
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors
Ronald R. Taylor, Chairman
Ryland P. Skip Davis
Peter F. Stanton
April 15, 2008
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation.
We have a banking relationship with Washington Trust Bank.
One of the members of the Compensation Committee, Peter F.
Stanton, is a director and the chief executive officer of this
bank. We have the following related party transactions with this
bank:
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We had various amounts of cash on deposit and other investments
with the bank ranging during 2007 from approximately $442,000 to
$1,413,000 in the aggregate. During 2007 the bank paid us
interest on these investments of approximately $35,000. We
expect to continue to have these types of investments with the
bank in the future.
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At the beginning of 2007, the bank held a promissory note
secured by commercial real estate in the principal amount of
approximately $3,400,000. During 2007, we made principal and
interest payments on this note of approximately $799,000. The
principal amount owed on the note at the end of 2007 was
approximately $2,800,000. The bank continues to hold this note
and we will make principal and interest payments on the note in
the future.
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COMPENSATION
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
This section discusses the compensation of our executive
officers. Compensation to the executive officers is determined
by the Compensation Committee of our Board. The Compensation
Committee is composed entirely of independent directors, as
defined under NYSE rules, and none of its members is a current
or former employee of our company. All decisions of the
Compensation Committee are reported to our Board.
2
The
material in this report is not soliciting material, is not
deemed filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is
not incorporated by reference in any of our filings under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, whether made on, before, or after the
date of this Proxy Statement and irrespective of any general
incorporation language in such filing.
13
There are no material differences in the compensation policies
or decisions with respect to the executive officers, except that
our compensation for our President and Chief Executive Officer,
or CEO, is determined exclusively by the Compensation Committee,
while the compensation of the other executive officers is
determined by the Compensation Committee based on similar
criteria, but also takes into account the recommendations of our
CEO.
Compensation
Program Objectives and Rewards
We believe that our executive compensation program should:
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Attract, motivate and retain highly qualified executives by
paying them competitively, consistent with our success and their
contributions to this success; and
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Pay for performance by rewarding and encouraging superior
company and individual performance, on both a short- and
long-term basis, in a way that promotes alignment with long-term
shareholder interests.
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All of the compensation and benefits for our executive officers
have as a primary purpose our need to attract, retain and
motivate the highly talented individuals who will engage in the
behaviors necessary to enable us to succeed in our mission while
upholding our values in a highly competitive marketplace. Beyond
that, different elements are designed to engender different
behaviors.
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Base salary and benefits are designed to attract and retain
executives over time.
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Annual cash awards under the Executive Officers Variable Pay
Plan (VPP) are designed to focus executives on
specific company and individual performance goals established
each year by the Compensation Committee. Executive officers may
also receive discretionary bonuses based on performance not
otherwise measured by the VPP or for other reasons.
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|
|
|
Long-term equity incentives stock options and
restricted stock units (RSUs) under the
shareholder-approved 2006 Stock Incentive Plan focus
executives efforts on the behaviors within their control
that they believe are necessary to ensure our long-term success,
as reflected in increases to our stock price over a period of
years.
|
|
|
|
Severance and change of control arrangements are designed to
facilitate our ability to attract and retain executives as we
compete for talent in a marketplace where such protections are
commonly offered. These arrangements ease an executives
transition due to an unexpected employment termination. In the
event of rumored or actual fundamental corporate changes, these
arrangements will also allow executives to remain focused on our
business interests.
|
Elements
of Our Compensation Program
Base
Salaries
The Compensation Committee determines base salaries for the
executive officers early each year, based on job
responsibilities and individual contribution as well as base
salary levels of executives at peer hospitality companies. In
determining the base salaries of executive officers other than
the CEO, the Compensation Committee takes into consideration
recommendations made by the CEO.
In November 2006, the Compensation Committee retained an
independent compensation consulting firm to review total
compensation levels for our senior management team and provide
competitive data sets to assist the Compensation Committee in
establishing compensation levels for the executive officers. The
firm provided a report and recommendations based on a peer group
of nine hospitality companies. The Compensation Committee relied
in part on this report in establishing executive officer base
salaries for 2007. In establishing these base salaries, the
Compensation Committee also obtained peer company base salary
data from the Hospitality Compensation Exchange
Lodging
Corporate Annual Report
and determined that, as a guideline,
it would target base salaries for our executives at the
50th percentile.
14
In February 2007, the Compensation Committee approved the
following approximate percentage increases in the base salaries
of the executive officers:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percentage
|
|
Name
|
|
Increase in Salary
|
|
|
Arthur M. Coffey
|
|
|
9
|
%
|
Anupam Narayan
|
|
|
5
|
%
|
John M. Taffin
|
|
|
7
|
%
|
Thomas L. McKeirnan
|
|
|
19
|
%
|
Under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the Code), base salaries paid to
executive officers are deductible for federal income tax
purposes except to the extent that they exceed $1 million.
No executive received base salary in excess of $1 million
in 2007.
VPP
and Other Annual Cash Awards
Early each year, the Compensation Committee determines company
and individual performance goals for each executive officer
under the VPP, as well as the various levels of cash awards that
each executive will receive based on the extent to which his
goals are achieved. Company goals are generally related to our
companys overall financial performance. Individual goals
may be subjective or objective, but they are generally based on
performance in areas of our business that the Compensation
Committee believes are important to our success. The goals and
award levels are initially proposed by the CEO, and the final
goals and award levels are determined following a dialogue
between the Compensation Committee and the CEO. Award levels are
specified as a percentage of base salary. The award levels that
are potentially available under the VPP are, as a guideline,
targeted at the 50th percentile of peer company annual
incentive compensation.
In February 2007, the Compensation Committee determined VPP
goals for 2007. The company goals were based on achievement of
specified levels of earnings per share and EBITDA as well as a
specified ratio of funds from operations (FFO) to prior year end
equity. Individual goals varied among the executives. At the
same time, the following award levels were established, based in
part on the report that, as discussed above, the Compensation
Committee obtained in November 2006 from an independent
compensation consulting firm.
VPP Award
Levels for 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percentage of Base Salary
|
|
|
Possible Award Payouts ($)
|
|
|
|
Threshold (1)
|
|
|
Target
|
|
|
Maximum
|
|
|
Threshold (1)
|
|
|
Target
|
|
|
Maximum
|
|
|
Actual
|
|
|
Arthur M. Coffey
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
|
|
60
|
%
|
|
|
100
|
%
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
234,000
|
|
|
|
390,000
|
|
|
|
252,736
|
|
Anupam Narayan
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
|
|
40
|
%
|
|
|
60
|
%
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
104,000
|
|
|
|
156,000
|
|
|
|
106,345
|
|
John M. Taffin
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
|
|
30
|
%
|
|
|
50
|
%
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
63,000
|
|
|
|
105,000
|
|
|
|
66,202
|
|
Thomas L. McKeirnan
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
|
|
30
|
%
|
|
|
50
|
%
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
57,000
|
|
|
|
95,000
|
|
|
|
55,296
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
|
Award payouts under the VPP have historically been based on up
to three company performance goals and up to five individual
performance goals for each executive, and neither the goals nor
their weightings have been uniform among the executives. As a
result, we do not consider the VPP to have any
Threshold award level. If each of the executives had
achieved in 2007, for each of his individual and company goals
under the VPP, the minimum level of performance required for
that achievement to result in some contribution to award payout
under the VPP, the respective percentages of base salary and
award payouts that the executives would have received would have
been as follows: Mr. Coffey, 43.7% and $170,235;
Mr. Narayan, 29.1% and $75,660; Mr. Taffin, 23.4% and
$49,140; and Mr. McKeirnan, 18.9% and $35,910.
|
Under the VPP, there is an overriding discretionary analysis of
each executives eligibility to receive variable pay. For
example, if an executive fails to follow company policy and
procedures, exposes the company to legal liability, or exhibits
behavior inappropriate for a leadership position, he may be
disqualified from receiving his variable pay, even if his
specified performance goals are achieved.
15
Awards paid in 2008 for 2007 performance exceeded the targeted
amount for our CEO and were approximately the same as the
targeted amounts for the other three executive officers. Awards
paid in 2007 for 2006 performance exceeded the targeted amounts
for two of our four executive officers and were slightly less
than targeted amounts for the other two officers.
In addition to awards under the VPP, the Compensation Committee
has on occasion granted discretionary bonuses to executive
officers based on performance not otherwise measured by the VPP
or for other reasons.
We generally intend that executive officer compensation be fully
deductible for federal income tax purposes, taking into account
Section 162(m) of the Code, provided that other
compensation objectives are met. We have not sought shareholder
approval of the VPP, which would ensure deductibility under the
Code, because we anticipate that, for the foreseeable future, no
executive officer will have aggregate base salary and annual
incentive awards of more than $1 million during any
calendar year.
Long-Term
Equity Incentives
We provide long-term incentives to our executive officers in the
form of stock options and restricted stock units
(RSUs). This combination of equity incentives is
intended to benefit shareholders by enabling us to better
attract and retain top talent in a marketplace where such
incentives are prevalent. Both stock options and RSUs closely
align our executives with the achievement of our longer-term
financial objectives that enhance shareholder value.
Prior to 2006, we did not have a set annual process for the
granting of long-term equity incentives. The compensation
consulting firm retained by the Compensation Committee in
November 2006 recommended that, in order to be more consistent
with practices at our peer companies, we adopt specific
guidelines for annual grants of equity incentives to our
executive officers. Based on this recommendation, the
Compensation Committee adopted guidelines under which the
executive officers will generally receive annual stock option
and RSU grants having a total value equal to from 40% to 100% of
their base salaries, with the value of the stock option and RSU
components constituting 75% and 25%, respectively, of this total
value. The Compensation Committee granted equity incentives to
the executive officers in November 2006 based on these
guidelines and determined that future awards of long-term equity
incentives to continuing executive officers would generally be
made once each year on the date of our annual meeting of
shareholders. At the time of the annual meeting in May 2007, the
Compensation Committee granted additional equity incentives to
the executive officers based on these guidelines.
Stock
Options
Stock options provide for financial gain derived from the
potential appreciation in stock price from the date that the
option is granted until the date that the option is exercised.
The exercise price of our stock options is set at fair market
value, which is the closing selling price of our common stock on
the NYSE on the grant date. The vesting provisions of the stock
options we have granted in the past have varied. The stock
options granted to the executive officers in May 2007 will vest
in equal annual increments over a period of four years from the
date of grant.
Under the shareholder-approved Incentive Stock Plan, we may not
grant stock options at a discount to fair market value or with a
so-called reload feature, and we may not reduce the
exercise price of outstanding stock options except in the case
of a stock split or other similar event. We do not lend funds to
employees to enable them to exercise stock options.
We do not backdate options or grant options retroactively. In
addition, we do not plan to coordinate grants of options so that
they are made before announcement of favorable information, or
after announcement of unfavorable information. Our options are
granted at fair market value on a fixed date or event, with all
required approvals obtained in advance of or on the actual grant
date. All grants to executive officers require the approval of
the Compensation Committee.
Our long-term performance ultimately determines the value of
stock options, because gains from stock option exercises are
entirely dependent on the long-term appreciation in the price of
our common stock. As a result, we believe stock option grants
encourage executives and other employees to focus on behaviors
and initiatives that should lead to an increase in the price of
our common stock, which benefits all our shareholders.
16
Under Section 162(m) of the Code, we generally may not
deduct compensation paid to an executive officer in a calendar
year if it exceeds $1 million. Certain compensation that is
considered performance-based is deductible without
regard to this $1 million limitation. We believe that any
compensation attributable to stock options held by our executive
officers will be considered performance-based, so
Section 162(m) of the Code should not limit our ability to
deduct it for federal income tax purposes.
RSUs
RSU grants provide for the issuance of shares of our common
stock if the recipient has met certain continued service
requirements. Under the RSUs granted to our executive officers
in May 2007, an executive will receive one-fourth of the shares
subject to his award on each of the first four anniversaries of
the date of grant so long as he remains continuously employed
with us until the applicable anniversary.
Unlike stock options, RSUs may have value even if the price of
our common stock does not increase. Nevertheless, we award RSUs
because they promote retention and we believe they also create
incentives for executives to focus on increased share prices so
that the common stock subject to the award will be as valuable
as possible when it is eventually issued. Although we do not
impose any restriction on the sale of common stock issued
pursuant to RSUs, we expect that our executives will continue to
hold some if not all of the shares issued, which will also keep
their interests aligned with those of our shareholders.
Our RSUs do not qualify as performance-based compensation under
Section 162(m) of the Code. As a result, the value of
common stock ultimately issued to an executive officer pursuant
to an RSU will not be deductible to the extent that value, when
aggregated with the executive officers other aggregate
compensation that is subject to Section 162(m), exceeds
$1 million.
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth summary information concerning
the compensation awarded to, paid to or earned by each of our
four executive officers for all services rendered in all
capacities to us in 2006 and 2007.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
Option
|
|
|
Plan
|
|
|
All Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salary
|
|
|
Bonus
|
|
|
Awards
|
|
|
Awards
|
|
|
Compensation
|
|
|
Compensation
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Name and Principal Position
|
|
Year
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)(2)
|
|
|
($)(2)
|
|
|
($)(3)
|
|
|
($)(4)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
Arthur M. Coffey (1)
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
388,501
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
36,563
|
|
|
|
353,728
|
|
|
|
252,736
|
|
|
|
14,913
|
|
|
|
1,046,441
|
|
Former President, Chief
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
354,791
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,862
|
|
|
|
240,984
|
|
|
|
233,547
|
|
|
|
14,252
|
|
|
|
845,436
|
|
Executive Officer and Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anupam Narayan (1)
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
259,941
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
37,397
|
|
|
|
141,196
|
|
|
|
106,345
|
|
|
|
8,988
|
|
|
|
553,867
|
|
President, Chief
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
245,625
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19,648
|
|
|
|
75,855
|
|
|
|
99,406
|
|
|
|
8,565
|
|
|
|
449,099
|
|
Executive Officer and Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John M. Taffin
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
208,470
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,975
|
|
|
|
88,902
|
|
|
|
66,202
|
|
|
|
9,603
|
|
|
|
383,152
|
|
Executive Vice President,
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
195,244
|
|
|
|
13,280
|
|
|
|
512
|
|
|
|
66,431
|
|
|
|
45,914
|
|
|
|
9,335
|
|
|
|
330,717
|
|
Hotel Operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas L. McKeirnan
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
186,946
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,758
|
|
|
|
46,621
|
|
|
|
55,296
|
|
|
|
10,602
|
|
|
|
306,223
|
|
Senior Vice President, General
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
158,291
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
332
|
|
|
|
27,742
|
|
|
|
42,351
|
|
|
|
9,594
|
|
|
|
238,310
|
|
Counsel and Corporate Secretary
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
|
Mr. Coffey retired on February 11, 2008, at which time
Mr. Narayan was appointed to succeed him as our President
and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to that time,
Mr. Narayan served as our Executive Vice President, Chief
Investment Officer and Chief Financial Officer.
|
|
(2)
|
|
Represents compensation expense recognized for financial
reporting purposes under Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment, for
restricted stock units and stock options held by our executive
officers. See Note 10 to our consolidated financial
statements in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007 for information
regarding the assumptions underlying the valuation of these
equity awards.
|
17
|
|
|
(3)
|
|
Represents amounts earned under our Executive Officers Variable
Pay Plan. This plan is further discussed under the caption
VPP and Other Annual Cash Awards in the Compensation
Discussion and Analysis.
|
|
(4)
|
|
Amount shown for 2007 include the following matching
contributions made by us under our 401(k) Savings Plan:
Mr. Coffey, $7,750; Mr. Narayan, $3,875;
Mr. Taffin, $2,440; and Mr. McKeirnan, $3,439; and the
following discounts accorded the executive officers from
contributions otherwise required for participation in our
self-insured medical, dental and vision plan: Mr. Coffey,
$7,163; Mr. Narayan, $5,113; Mr. Taffin, $7,163; and
Mr. McKeirnan, $7,163. The total value of all perquisites
and personal benefits received by each executive officer in 2007
was less than $10,000.
|
2007
Grants of Plan-Based Awards
The following table sets forth summary information regarding all
grants of plan-based awards made to our executive officers for
the year ended December 31, 2007.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All Other
|
|
|
All Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
Option
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grant
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Awards:
|
|
|
Awards:
|
|
|
Exercise
|
|
|
Date Fair
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated Possible Payouts Under
|
|
|
Number
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
or Base
|
|
|
Value of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Equity Incentive Plan
|
|
|
of Shares
|
|
|
Securities
|
|
|
Price of
|
|
|
Stock and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Awards (2)
|
|
|
of Stock
|
|
|
Underlying
|
|
|
Option
|
|
|
Option
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Threshold
|
|
|
Target
|
|
|
Maximum
|
|
|
or Units
|
|
|
Options
|
|
|
Awards
|
|
|
Awards
|
|
Name
|
|
Type of Award
|
|
Grant Date
|
|
|
($)(3)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
(#)(4)
|
|
|
(#)(5)
|
|
|
($/Sh)
|
|
|
($/Sh)(6)
|
|
|
Arthur M. Coffey (1)
|
|
Annual Incentive Award
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
234,000
|
|
|
|
390,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restricted Stock Award
|
|
|
5/17/07
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
97,500
|
|
|
|
Option Award
|
|
|
5/17/07
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
66,781
|
|
|
|
13.00
|
|
|
|
291,165
|
|
Anupam Narayan
|
|
Annual Incentive Award
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
104,000
|
|
|
|
156,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restricted Stock Award
|
|
|
5/17/07
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,750
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
48,750
|
|
|
|
Option Award
|
|
|
5/17/07
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
33,390
|
|
|
|
13.00
|
|
|
|
145,580
|
|
John M. Taffin
|
|
Annual Incentive Award
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
63,000
|
|
|
|
105,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restricted Stock Award
|
|
|
5/17/07
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,019
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26,247
|
|
|
|
Option Award
|
|
|
5/17/07
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17,979
|
|
|
|
13.00
|
|
|
|
78,388
|
|
Thomas L. McKeirnan
|
|
Annual Incentive Award
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
57,000
|
|
|
|
95,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restricted Stock Award
|
|
|
5/17/07
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,462
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19,006
|
|
|
|
Option Award
|
|
|
5/17/07
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13,014
|
|
|
|
13.00
|
|
|
|
56,741
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
|
Mr. Coffey retired on February 11, 2008.
|
|
(2)
|
|
These represent the Threshold, Target
and Maximum award payouts that were available for
the 2007 performance period under our Executive Officers
Variable Pay Plan (the VPP). This plan is further
discussed under the caption VPP and Other Annual Cash
Awards in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis. The
actual award payouts are reported in the Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation column of the Summary
Compensation Table.
|
|
(3)
|
|
Award payouts under the VPP have historically been based on up
to three company performance goals and up to five individual
performance goals for each executive, and neither the goals nor
their weightings have been uniform among the executives. As a
result, we do not consider the VPP to have any
Threshold award level. If each of the executives had
achieved in 2007, for each of his individual and company goals
under the VPP, the minimum level of performance required for
that achievement to result in some contribution to award payout
under the VPP, the respective award payouts that the executives
would have received would have been as follows: Mr. Coffey,
$170,235; Mr. Narayan, $75,660; Mr. Taffin, $49,140;
and Mr. McKeirnan, $35,910.
|
|
(4)
|
|
These awards are restricted stock units awarded under our 2006
Stock Incentive Plan. These units will vest in equal
installments on the first four anniversaries of the grant date,
subject to continuous service with us or one of our affiliates.
When restricted stock units vest, we will issue one share of our
common stock for each unit that vests as soon as is
administratively practicable.
|
|
(5)
|
|
These awards are nonqualified options under our 2006 Stock
Incentive Plan. Each option has a term of ten years and an
exercise price equal to the closing market price of our common
stock on the date of grant. The options will vest in equal
installments on the first four anniversaries of the grant date,
subject to continuous service with us or one of our affiliates.
|
18
|
|
|
(6)
|
|
Represents the grant date fair value of these stock awards
($13.00 per share) and option awards ($4.36 per underlying
share) computed in accordance with Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 123(R), Share-Based
Payment.
|
2007
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
The following table sets forth summary information regarding the
outstanding equity awards held by each of our executive officers
at December 31, 2007.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards (2)
|
|
|
Stock Awards (2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Market
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
Value of
|
|
|
|
Securities
|
|
|
Securities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares or
|
|
|
Shares or
|
|
|
|
Underlying
|
|
|
Underlying
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Units of
|
|
|
Units of
|
|
|
|
Unexercised
|
|
|
Unexercised
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock That
|
|
|
Stock That
|
|
|
|
Options
|
|
|
Options
|
|
|
Option
|
|
|
Option
|
|
|
Have Not
|
|
|
Have Not
|
|
|
|
(#)
|
|
|
(#)
|
|
|
Exercise Price
|
|
|
Expiration
|
|
|
Vested
|
|
|
Vested
|
|
Name
|
|
Exercisable
|
|
|
Unexercisable
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
Date
|
|
|
(#)
|
|
|
($)(3)
|
|
|
Arthur M. Coffey (1)
|
|
|
1,052
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
10.94
|
|
|
|
1/4/2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
7.50
|
|
|
|
11/8/2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,624
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
8.31
|
|
|
|
1/3/2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,758
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
6.07
|
|
|
|
12/31/2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27,757
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
5.26
|
|
|
|
2/4/2013
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
62,500
|
|
|
|
187,500
|
(4)
|
|
|
5.10
|
|
|
|
11/19/2014
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
(5)
|
|
|
7.46
|
|
|
|
11/10/2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,036
|
|
|
|
48,109
|
(6)
|
|
|
12.21
|
|
|
|
11/21/2016
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
66,781
|
(7)
|
|
|
13.00
|
|
|
|
5/17/2017
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,490
|
(8)
|
|
|
54,626
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,500
|
(9)
|
|
|
74,625
|
|
Anupam Narayan
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
|
60,000
|
(10)
|
|
|
5.10
|
|
|
|
11/22/2014
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
30,000
|
(5)
|
|
|
7.46
|
|
|
|
11/10/2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,326
|
|
|
|
24,980
|
(6)
|
|
|
12.21
|
|
|
|
11/21/2016
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
33,390
|
(7)
|
|
|
13.00
|
|
|
|
5/17/2017
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,707
|
(11)
|
|
|
36,885
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,851
|
(8)
|
|
|
28,367
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,750
|
(9)
|
|
|
37,313
|
|
John M. Taffin
|
|
|
14,060
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
5.69
|
|
|
|
10/20/2013
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,250
|
|
|
|
48,750
|
(4)
|
|
|
5.10
|
|
|
|
11/19/2014
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
20,000
|
(5)
|
|
|
7.46
|
|
|
|
11/10/2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,412
|
|
|
|
13,238
|
(6)
|
|
|
12.21
|
|
|
|
11/21/2016
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
17,979
|
(7)
|
|
|
13.00
|
|
|
|
5/17/2017
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,510
|
(8)
|
|
|
15,025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,019
|
(9)
|
|
|
20,089
|
|
Thomas L. McKeirnan
|
|
|
10,451
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
5.98
|
|
|
|
7/1/2013
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,250
|
|
|
|
18,750
|
(4)
|
|
|
5.10
|
|
|
|
11/19/2014
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
7,500
|
(5)
|
|
|
7.46
|
|
|
|
11/10/2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,862
|
|
|
|
8,585
|
(6)
|
|
|
12.21
|
|
|
|
11/21/2016
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
13,014
|
(7)
|
|
|
13.00
|
|
|
|
5/17/2017
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
979
|
(8)
|
|
|
9,741
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,462
|
(9)
|
|
|
14,547
|
|
19
|
|
|
(1)
|
|
All of Mr. Coffeys stock options and stock awards
vested in connection with his retirement on February 11,
2008.
|
|
(2)
|
|
The vesting of unvested options and restricted stock units is
subject to continuous service with us or one of our affiliates
through the respective scheduled dates of vesting disclosed in
the footnotes to this table. Under certain circumstances, these
vesting dates may be accelerated. See
Employment
Agreements; Severance and Change of Control Arrangements
.
|
|
(3)
|
|
The value of these restricted stock units is calculated by
multiplying the number of unvested units by $9.95, the closing
market price of our common stock on December 31, 2007.
|
|
(4)
|
|
Each of these options will vest as to one-third of the shares on
November 19, 2008 and as to the remaining shares on
November 19, 2009. However, each of these options will vest
earlier as to one-third of the shares if, prior to
November 19, 2008, the market price of our common stock
reaches $15.30 for 60 consecutive trading days.
|
|
(5)
|
|
Each of these options will vest in two equal installments on
November 10, 2009 and November 10, 2010. However, each
of these options will vest earlier (a) as to one-fourth of
the shares if, prior to November 10, 2009, the market price
of our common stock reaches $14.92 for 60 consecutive trading
days, and (b) as to an additional one-fourth of the shares
if prior to that date the market price of our common stock
reaches $22.38 for 60 consecutive trading days.
|
|
(6)
|
|
Each of these options will vest in three equal installments on
November 21, 2008 and the next two anniversaries of that
date.
|
|
(7)
|
|
Each of these options will vest in four equal installments on
May 17, 2008 and the next three anniversaries of that date.
|
|
(8)
|
|
Each of these restricted stock unit awards will vest in three
equal installments on November 21, 2008 and the next two
anniversaries of that date.
|
|
(9)
|
|
Each of these restricted stock unit awards will vest in four
equal installments on May 17, 2008 and the next three
anniversaries of that date.
|
|
(10)
|
|
This option will vest as to one-third of the shares on
November 22, 2008 and as to the remaining shares on
November 22, 2009. However, this option will vest earlier
(a) as to one-third of the shares if, prior to
November 22, 2008, the market price of our common stock
reaches $15.06 for 60 consecutive trading days.
|
|
(11)
|
|
This restricted stock unit award will vest on November 22,
2008.
|
2007
Option Exercises and Stock Vested
The following table summarizes the option exercises and vesting
of stock awards for each of our executive officers for the year
ended December 31, 2007.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards
|
|
|
Stock Awards
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquired
|
|
|
Realized
|
|
|
Acquired
|
|
|
Value Realized
|
|
|
|
on Exercise
|
|
|
on Exercise
|
|
|
on Vesting
|
|
|
on Vesting
|
|
Name
|
|
(#)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
(#)
|
|
|
($)(2)
|
|
|
Arthur M. Coffey (1)
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
1,830
|
|
|
|
17,714
|
|
Anupam Narayan
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
4,657
|
|
|
|
45,080
|
|
John M. Taffin
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
504
|
|
|
|
4,879
|
|
Thomas L. McKeirnan
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
327
|
|
|
|
3,165
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
|
Mr. Coffey retired on February 11, 2008.
|
|
(2)
|
|
The value of the shares of common stock acquired upon vesting of
these restricted stock units is calculated by multiplying the
number of shares by the closing market price of our common stock
on the date the units vested.
|
20
Employment
Agreements; Severance and Change of Control
Arrangements
Employment
Agreements
We have written employment agreements with Anupam Narayan, John
M. Taffin and Thomas L. McKeirnan that provide for 2008 base
salaries of $360,000, $220,500 and $209,000, respectively,
subject in each case to periodic increases. Prior to the
retirement of Arthur M. Coffey on February 11, 2008, we had
a written employment agreement with him that provided for an
annual base salary of $390,000. The following is a summary of
the other material terms of these agreements.
As to the agreement with Mr. Coffey, the summary below is
of the material terms of that agreement immediately prior to his
retirement. In connection with Mr. Coffeys
retirement, we entered into an agreement entitling him to
certain payments and benefits, which were described in a current
report on
Form 8-K
that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
February 11, 2008.
Term
of Agreements; Restrictive Covenants
Each executive (other than Mr. Coffey) will serve in his
current position through December 31, 2008, unless his
agreement terminates earlier in accordance with its terms.
Thereafter, each agreement automatically renews for additional
one-year periods, unless terminated by either party upon
120-days
notice (a Non-renewal Notice) prior to the end of
the initial or any renewal period. If not terminated earlier,
the agreement with Mr. Narayan will terminate automatically
on May 31, 2012. Following termination of an agreement for
any reason, the executive will generally be prohibited from
competing with us for a period of one year or soliciting any of
our employees for a period of two years.
Annual
Bonuses
If an executive officer other than Mr. Coffey attains the
target performance measures determined under the Executive
Officers Variable Pay Plan (VPP) for a particular
year, he must be eligible, subject to any discretion accorded
the Compensation Committee under the terms of the VPP to
withhold a bonus otherwise payable, for a bonus equal to a
percentage of his base salary for that year, as set forth in the
following table (Mr. Coffeys agreement did not
specify any particular level of bonus entitlement):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bonus
|
|
Executive
|
|
Percentage
|
|
|
Anupam Narayan
|
|
|
60
|
%
|
John M. Taffin
|
|
|
30
|
%
|
Thomas L. McKeirnan
|
|
|
30
|
%
|
The bonuses awarded under the VPP for 2007 are reported in the
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column of the
Summary Compensation Table. The maximum bonuses available under
the VPP for 2008, measured as a percentage of base salary, are
100% for Mr. Narayan and 50% for each of
Messrs. Taffin and McKeirnan.
Severance
Arrangements
If we deliver a Non-Renewal Notice to an executive or terminate
his agreement without cause, or if an executive terminates his
agreement for good reason within six months following the
occurrence of the event that constitutes good reason, then:
|
|
|
|
|
any stock options held by the executive will immediately vest
and be exercisable, except that, in the case of
Mr. Narayan, this will not apply to any stock option for
which the exercise price is more than 10% higher than the
closing market price of our common stock on the date of
termination;
|
|
|
|
any stock granted to the executive will immediately vest, all
restrictions on restricted stock issued to the executive will
terminate, and any restricted stock awarded but not yet issued
to the executive will be issued;
|
|
|
|
in the case of Mr. Coffey, we must provide a lump-sum
severance payment equal to two times his total compensation for
the prior year, plus the target award amount available under the
VPP for the year in which
|
21
|
|
|
|
|
the termination occurs (prorated for the portion of the year
elapsed at the time of termination), plus a continuation of all
life, health and insurance benefits for a two-year period;
|
|
|
|
|
|
in the case of each of Messrs. Narayan and Taffin, we must
provide a lump-sum severance payment equal to two times his cash
compensation for the prior year, plus the target award amount
available under the VPP for the year in which the termination
occurs (prorated for the portion of the year elapsed at the time
of termination), plus a continuation of all life, health and
insurance benefits for a two-year period;
|
|
|
|
in the case of Mr. McKeirnan, we must provide a lump-sum
severance payment equal to his cash compensation for the prior
year, plus the target award amount available under the VPP for
the year in which the termination occurs (prorated for the
portion of the year elapsed at the time of termination), plus a
continuation of all life, health and insurance benefits for a
one-year period; and
|
|
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to the extent that the foregoing severance payments or benefits
received by an executive are deemed excess parachute
payments within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(1) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
Code), and thereby result in the imposition upon the
executive of the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the
Code, we must pay the executive an additional amount (the
Gross-Up
Payment) such that the net amount retained by the
executive, after deduction of (i) any excise tax payable on
such excess parachute payments and the
Gross-Up
Payment, and (ii) any federal, state and local income and
employment taxes payable on the
Gross-Up
Payment, is the same as it would have been if such excise tax
had not been imposed.
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The circumstances that constitute good reason
entitling an executive to severance benefits following a
voluntary termination of employment vary among the
executives agreements but generally relate to:
(i) assignment to the executive of duties materially
inconsistent with the executives positions and
responsibilities as described in the agreement; (ii) the
removal of the executive from such positions; (iii) any
material continuing breach of the agreement;
and/or
(iv) a change in our headquarters office location. However,
the executive will not have good reason unless the executive
gives us written notice that the specified conduct or event has
occurred giving rise to his having good reason, and we fail to
cure such conduct or event within 30 days after receipt of
such notice (this notice provision did not apply to
Mr. Coffey).
If the employment of the executive officers had terminated
immediately following the end of our fiscal year ended
December 31, 2007 under circumstances entitling them to the
severance benefits described above, the lump-sum severance
payments payable to the executive officers, and the value of the
other severance benefits they would have received, would have
been as follows:
Table of
Severance Payments and Benefits (2)
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Accelerated
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Accelerated
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Life, Health
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Severance
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Stock
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Restricted
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and Insurance
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Gross-Up
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Name
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Payment (2) (3) (4) (5)
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Options (6)
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Stock Units (7)
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Benefits (8)
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Payment (9)
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Total (10)
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Arthur M. Coffey (1)
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$
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1,297,974
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$
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1,158,375
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$
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129,251
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$
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23,918
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$
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1,053,637
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$
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3,663,155
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Anupam Narayan
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$
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740,322
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$
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365,700
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$
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102,565
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$
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17,232
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$
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319,040
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$
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1,544,859
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John M. Taffin
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$
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554,224
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$
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286,238
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$
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35,114
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$
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23,918
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$
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234,425
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$
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1,133,919
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Thomas L. McKeirnan
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$
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245,681
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$
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109,613
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$
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24,288
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|
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$
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11,959
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$
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0
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$
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391,541
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(1)
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Mr. Coffey retired on February 11, 2008.
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(2)
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The information presented in this table assumes that the current
terms of the employment agreements with Messrs. Narayan,
Taffin and McKeirnan were in effect immediately following the
end of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.
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(3)
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The severance payment for Mr. Coffey equals two times his
total compensation for 2007. Total compensation for
this purpose equals the sum of (a) his total cash
compensation for 2007, plus (b) the grant date fair value
of stock and option awards made to him in 2007 (computed in
accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment), plus
(c) the matching contributions we made for
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22
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2007 to his account under our 401(k) Savings Plan, plus
(d) the discount accorded him in 2007 from contributions
otherwise required for participation in our self-insured
medical, dental and vision plan.
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(4)
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The severance payment for each of Messrs. Narayan and
Taffin equals two times his total cash compensation for 2007,
and the severance payment for Mr. McKeirnan equals his
total cash compensation for 2007. Total cash
compensation for this purpose equals the sum of
(a) the executives total cash compensation for 2007,
plus (b) the matching contributions we made for 2007 to the
executives account under our 401(k) Savings Plan.
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(5)
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If the termination of employment entitling an executive officer
to a severance payment and other severance benefits occurs other
than at the beginning of a fiscal year, the executive officer
would receive, in addition to the amount set forth in this
column, the target award amount available to him under the VPP
for the year in which the termination occurs (prorated for the
portion of the year elapsed at the time of termination). The
target award amounts available to the executive officers for
2008 were as follows: Mr. Narayan, $216,000;
Mr. Taffin, $66,150; and Mr. McKeirnan, $62,700.
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(6)
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The value of the accelerated stock options is calculated by
multiplying the number of shares subject to unvested
in-the-money options by the difference between the respective
exercise prices of those options and $9.95, the closing market
price of our common stock on December 31, 2007.
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(7)
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The value of the accelerated restricted stock units is
calculated by multiplying the number of unvested units by $9.95,
the closing market price of our common stock on
December 31, 2007.
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(8)
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Represents the estimated value of the continuation of benefits
under our self-insured medical, dental and vision plan based on
the average per employee cost of that plan for various
categories of employees in 2007.
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(9)
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The
Gross-Up
Payment will be payable only if the termination of employment
entitling an executive officer to a severance payment and other
severance benefits occurs in connection with certain
change-in-control
events specified in the Code. If we demonstrate that a portion
of the severance payments represent compensation to the
executive officers for refraining from the performance of
services in compliance with their covenants not to compete, that
portion will not be deemed excess parachute payments
within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code and
the amount of the
Gross-Up
Payments will be reduced. The
Gross-Up
Payments in this column have been estimated based on the amount
of the severance payments and other severance benefits shown in
this table and the assumption that no amounts described in
footnote 5 to this table are paid in connection with such
termination of employment and that no portion of the severance
payments represent compensation for the covenants not to
compete. To the extent that the severance payments are
determined to represent compensation for the covenants not to
compete, there will be a corresponding decrease in the
Gross-Up
Payments.
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(10)
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Assumes that no amounts described in footnote 5 to this table
are paid in connection with the termination of employment
entitling the executive officers to severance payments and other
severance benefits.
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Change
of Control Arrangements
If our company undergoes a change of control as defined in the
respective employment agreements, then any stock options held by
the executives will immediately vest and be exercisable, except
that, in the case of Mr. Narayan, this will not apply to
any stock option for which the exercise price is more than 10%
higher than the closing market price of our common stock on the
date of termination. In addition, any stock granted to the
executives will immediately vest, all restrictions on restricted
stock issued to the executives will terminate, and any
restricted stock awarded but not yet issued to the executives
will be issued. The value of the acceleration of these equity
awards is shown in the above Table of Severance Payments and
Benefits.
In addition, Mr. Coffey was entitled to terminate his
agreement for any reason within six months following a change of
control, in which case he would have received a lump-sum
severance payment equal to two times his total cash compensation
for the prior year, plus a
Gross-Up
Payment, if applicable, plus a continuation of all life, health
and insurance benefits for a two- year period. If
Mr. Coffeys employment had terminated immediately
following the end of our fiscal year ended December 31,
2007 under circumstances entitling him to these change of
control benefits, he would have received a lump-sum severance
payment of $1,297,974 plus an estimated
Gross-Up
Payment of $653,059, plus life, health and insurance benefits
having a value as set forth in the above Table of Severance
Payments and Benefits, plus the award amount described in
footnote 5 to that table.
23
DIRECTOR
COMPENSATION
We pay our Chairman of the Board an annual retainer of $70,000,
and we pay or reimburse him for the cost of his office space. We
pay each of our other non-employee directors an annual retainer
of $30,000. The chair of the Audit Committee receives an
additional annual fee of $20,000. The chairs of each of the
Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee receive an additional annual fee of
$15,000. Non-chair members of these committees receive an
additional $5,000 annual fee for each committee on which they
serve. All director fees are payable in advance in equal
quarterly installments.
In addition to annual fees, each non-employee director is
entitled to receive, as soon as reasonably practical after each
annual meeting of our shareholders while he continues to serve
as a director, a grant of shares of our common stock that, based
on the closing market price on the last trading day prior to the
annual meeting, have a value of $30,000.
In addition to the annual fees and stock grants, it is our
policy to reimburse directors for their out-of-pocket expenses
incurred in connection with their service on the Board and its
committees.
Our President and Chief Executive Officer is not separately
compensated outside of his employment agreement for service as a
director.
2007 Director
Compensation Table
The following table shows compensation of the non-employee
members of our Board for 2007.
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Fees Earned
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Stock
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or Paid in
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Awards
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All Other
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Name
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Cash ($)
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($)(1)(2)
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Compensation ($)
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Total ($)
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Donald K. Barbieri
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70,000
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20,000
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12,844
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(3)
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102,844
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Richard L. Barbieri
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30,000
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20,000
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0
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50,000
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Ryland P. Davis
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35,000
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20,000
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0
|
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55,000
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Jon E. Eliassen
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|
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40,000
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|
|
|
20,000
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|
|
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0
|
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|
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60,000
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Peter F. Stanton
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|
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45,000
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|
|
20,000
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|
|
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0
|
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65,000
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Ronald R. Taylor
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|
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40,000
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|
|
|
20,000
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|
|
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0
|
|
|
|
60,000
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|
|
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(1)
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On May 22, 2007, each director named above received a grant
of 1,539 unrestricted shares of our common stock. The amounts
shown in this column represent the grant date fair value of
these stock awards computed in accordance with Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R),
Share-Based Payment. We recognized the full value of
these awards as compensation expense in 2007 for financial
reporting purposes.
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(2)
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At December 31, 2007, Messrs. Stanton and Taylor each
held options to acquire 11,000 shares of our common stock.
At that date, none of our other non-employee directors held
options to acquire our common stock.
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(3)
|
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Represents the amounts that we paid or reimbursed
Mr. Barbieri for the cost of his office space during 2007.
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24
REPORT OF
THE AUDIT
COMMITTEE
3
The Audit Committee oversees our companys financial
reporting process on behalf of the Board. Management has the
primary responsibility for the financial statements and the
reporting process including the systems of internal controls. In
fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the committee
reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with
management.
The committee reviewed with BDO Seidman, LLP the matters
required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards
No. 61, as amended by Statement on Auditing Standards
No. 90 (Communication with Audit Committees). In addition,
the committee has received written disclosures and the letter
from BDO Seidman, LLP required by Independence Standards Board
Standard No. 1, and has discussed with BDO Seidman, LLP
their independence.
In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above,
the committee recommended to the Board that the audited
financial statements be included in the Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007 for filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The committee and the Board
have also recommended, subject to shareholder ratification, the
selection of BDO Seidman, LLP as our independent registered
public accounting firm for 2008.
Respectfully submitted,
Audit Committee of the Board of Directors
Peter F. Stanton, Chairman
Ryland P. Skip Davis
Jon E. Eliassen
Ronald R. Taylor
March 25, 2008
PRINCIPAL
ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
Audit
Fees
The audit fees incurred for professional services by BDO
Seidman, LLP for 2007 were $585,000, including fees for the
annual audit of the 2007 financial statements, Sarbanes-Oxley
compliance work and quarterly reviews; and $71,500 of fees for
the audit of certain hotel properties.
The audit fees incurred for professional services by BDO
Seidman, LLP for 2006 were $649,500, including fees for the
annual audit of the 2006 financial statements, Sarbanes Oxley
compliance work and quarterly reviews; $58,500 of fees for the
audit of certain hotel properties; $80,000 of fees for consent
and other services performed in connection with our prospectus
filed on
Form S-3/A
during the second quarter of 2006; and $6,000 in fees for work
on our
Form S-8.
Audit-Related
Fees
The fees billed for professional services by BDO Seidman, LLP
for audit-related fees for 2007 were $25,500. Services covered
included audit and attest services required by agreement on
entities we consolidate, but not required by statute or a
regulatory body. They also included fees related to the audit of
our employee benefit plan, certain advice and accounting
research.
3
The
material in this report is not soliciting material, is not
deemed filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is
not incorporated by reference in any of our filings under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, whether made on, before, or after the
date of this Proxy Statement and irrespective of any general
incorporation language in such filing.
25
The fees billed for professional services by BDO Seidman, LLP
for audit-related fees for 2006 were $25,500. Services covered
included audit and attest services required by agreement on
entities we consolidate, but not required by statute or a
regulatory body. They also included fees related to the audit of
our employee benefit plan, certain advice and accounting
research.
Tax
Fees
The fees billed by BDO Seidman, LLP for tax-related services for
2007 were $155,800. Services covered an IRS exam, tax returns,
year-end tax planning and tax advice.
The fees billed by BDO Seidman, LLP for tax-related services for
2006 were $138,975. Services covered an IRS exam, tax returns,
year-end tax planning and tax advice.
Other
Fees
There were no other fees billed by BDO Seidman, LLP for any
other professional services rendered to us during 2007 or 2006.
During 2007 and 2006, BDO Seidman, LLP did not provide our
company any professional services described in paragraph (c)(4)
of
Rule 2-01
of
Regulation S-X.
Pre-Approval
Policies and Procedures
The Audit Committee is responsible for selecting, setting
compensation and overseeing the work of our independent
registered public accounting firm. The committee has adopted a
policy that requires advance approval of audit, audit-related,
tax, and other services (audit and non-audit
services) performed by the independent registered public
accounting firm.
The committee has delegated to its chairman authority to approve
permitted services provided that the chairman reports any
decisions to the committee at its next regularly scheduled
meeting. On an ongoing basis, management communicates specific
projects and categories of services for which the advance
approval of the committee or chairman is requested. The
committee or chairman reviews these requests and advises
management if the engagement services of the independent
registered public accounting firm are approved. On a periodic
basis, management reports to the committee actual spending for
audit and non-audit services compared to approved amounts.
Auditor
Independence
The Audit Committee has considered whether and determined that
the other professional services provided by BDO Seidman, LLP are
compatible with maintaining its independence.
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Under our written Statement of Policy with respect to Related
Party Transactions, a related party transaction (as defined
below) may be consummated or may continue only if the Audit
Committee of our Board, or in certain cases the full Board,
approves or ratifies the transaction in accordance with the
guidelines set forth in the policy. The policy applies to the
following related parties: (1) our directors; (2) any
of our executive or other officers who are required by
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership
of our common stock with the Securities and Exchange Commission;
(3) any person who is the beneficial owner of more than 5%
of our common stock; (4) any immediate family member, as
defined in the policy, of any of the foregoing persons; and
(5) any entity that is owned or controlled in substantial
part by any of the foregoing persons. Related party
transaction is defined in the policy as a transaction
between us and any of the foregoing persons.
Under the policy, the following transactions are deemed to be
automatically pre-approved:
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any compensation paid to a related party that has been approved
by the Compensation Committee;
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26
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any charitable contribution, grant or endowment by us to a
charitable organization, foundation or university at which a
related partys only relationship is as an employee (other
than an executive officer) or a director, if the aggregate
amount involved does not exceed the lesser of $50,000 or
2 percent of the charitable organizations total
annual receipts;
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any transaction where the related partys interest arises
solely from the ownership of our common stock and all holders of
our common stock receive the same benefit on a pro rata basis
(e.g. dividends);
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any transaction where the related partys interest arises
solely from participation in an employee benefit plan maintained
by us for the general benefit of all of our employees; and
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any transaction with a related party involving services as a
bank depositary of funds, transfer agent, registrar, trustee
under a trust indenture, or similar services.
|
Transactions
with Related Parties
Information is set forth below regarding certain related party
transactions that occurred during 2007 or that are anticipated
to occur during or following 2008. All of such transactions were
reviewed and approved or ratified in accordance with our
Statement of Policy with respect to Related Party Transactions.
Inland
Northwest Corporation
We have periodically entered into agreements with Inland
Northwest Corporation (INC) to provide development,
accounting and other administrative services in exchange for
fees and costs incurred by us in providing such services. During
2007 we received approximately $3,570 from INC for such
services. In addition, we purchased approximately $3,470 of
dairy products from Inland Northwest Dairies LLC, a company in
which INC has a 51% membership interest, and received
approximately $18,000 from this company for administrative
services. Through April 1, 2008, each of Donald K.
Barbieri, Arthur M. Coffey and Richard L. Barbieri served as a
director and executive officer of INC. In addition, through that
date, INC was owned by an employee stock ownership trust
(ESOT). Donald K. Barbieri and Richard L. Barbieri were
former shareholders of INC who sold their shares to the ESOT,
and they remained guarantors on bank debt of INC incurred in
connection with that transaction. In addition, Mr. Coffey
was a participant in the ESOT.
Goodale &
Barbieri Company
Goodale & Barbieri Company (G&B) was
previously a wholly owned subsidiary of ours through which we
conducted the management, leasing, brokerage and development
portion of our former real estate division. In 2006, Thomas M.
Barbieri, the brother of Donald K. Barbieri and Richard L.
Barbieri, and another individual acquired G&B from us in a
transaction approved by our four independent directors.
We subleased office space to G&B for part of 2007 for which
they paid us approximately $90,000 in rent. In addition, during
2007 we paid G&B $38,850 for management of the Kalispell
Center, $37,288 for management of the Lincoln Plaza, and $11,212
for management of certain other properties. We expect to pay
G&B additional management fees in the future. We believe
that Thomas M. Barbieri owns 90% of G&B, so that the
approximated dollar value of his interest in all of these
transactions between G&B and us would be 90% of the
respective total amounts disclosed.
David
Barbieri
David Barbieri serves as our Vice President, Information
Technology. He has been with our company since 1996 and has
served as our Vice President, Information Technology, since
2000. He was previously a Manufacturing Engineer at Exabyte
Corporation in Boulder, Colorado from 1993 to 1996 after
graduating from Colorado University with a degree in Mechanical
Engineering. He is the son of Donald K. Barbieri. The aggregate
amount of salary and bonus that we paid David Barbieri for 2007
was $147,207. His 2008 base salary is $136,992 and his target
bonus opportunity for 2008 is 30% of this salary.
27
PROPOSALS OF
SHAREHOLDERS
Proposals of shareholders to be considered for inclusion in the
Proxy Statement and proxy for our 2009 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders must be received by us on or prior to
January 2, 2009. A shareholder of record, who intends to
submit a proposal at the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
that is not eligible for inclusion in the Proxy Statement or
proxy, or who intends to submit one or more nominations for
directors at the meeting, must provide us prior written notice.
Written notice of any such proposal or nominations should be
addressed to our Secretary and received at our principal
executive office at 201 West North River Drive,
Suite 100, Spokane, Washington 99201 not later than
January 2, 2009. The written notice must satisfy certain
requirements specified in our By-laws, which are included in the
excerpt from the By-Laws attached as Appendix C to this
Proxy Statement. A complete copy of our By-laws will be sent to
any shareholder upon written request to our Secretary.
ANNUAL
REPORT ON
FORM 10-K
A copy of our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007 as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission is being mailed with this
Proxy Statement to each shareholder of record. Shareholders not
receiving a copy of such Annual Report may obtain one without
charge by writing or calling our Secretary, 201 West North
River Drive, Suite 100, Spokane, Washington 99201 ((509)
459-6100).
By Order of the Board of Directors
Thomas L. McKeirnan
Secretary
Spokane, Washington
April 22, 2008
28
APPENDIX A
RED LION
HOTELS CORPORATION
2008
EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
Red Lion Hotels Corporation, a Washington corporation (the
Company), hereby establishes this 2008 Employee
Stock Purchase Plan (the Plan).
1.
Purpose of Plan.
The purpose of the
Plan is to enable Eligible Employees (as defined in
Section 3) who wish to become shareholders of the
Company a convenient and favorable method of doing so. The Plan
is intended to constitute an employee stock purchase
plan, as defined in Section 423(b) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code). The
Plan shall be interpreted and administered as necessary in order
to meet the requirements of Section 423 and other
applicable provisions of the Code and the regulations
promulgated thereunder.
2.
Administration of the Plan.
The Plan
will be administered by the Compensation Committee (the
Committee) of the Board of Directors of the Company
(the Board). Subject to the provisions of the Plan,
the Committee will have the complete authority to interpret the
Plan, to adopt, amend and rescind rules and procedures relating
to the Plan, and to make all of the determinations necessary or
advisable for the administration of the Plan. All such
interpretations, rules, procedures and determinations will, in
the absent of fraud or patent mistake, be conclusive and binding
on all persons with any interest in the Plan.
3.
Eligible Employees; Employer.
The term
Eligible Employees means all common law employees of
the Company, and of each subsidiary of the Company (within the
meaning of Section 423 of the Code) hereafter designated by
the Committee (a Designated Subsidiary), except the
following: (a) employees who have been continuously
employed for less than one month; (b) employees whose
customary employment is 30 hours or less per week; and
(c) employees whose customary employment is for not more
than five months in any calendar year. The term
Employer means the Company or the Designated
Subsidiary by which an employee is employed. The employment of
an employee shall be treated as continuing intact while the
employee is on sick leave or other leave of absence approved by
the Employer. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan
and permitted by Section 423 of the Code, all Eligible
Employees shall have the same rights and privileges under the
Plan.
4.
Stock Subject to the Plan.
The stock
subject to the Plan shall be shares of the Companys
authorized but unissued voting common stock, $.01 par value
per share (the Common Stock). The aggregate number
of shares of Common Stock that may be purchased by Eligible
Employees pursuant to the Plan is 300,000, subject to adjustment
as provided in Section 13.
5.
Purchase Periods.
The Common Stock
shall be offered under the Plan during twenty consecutive
six-month periods (the Purchase Periods). The first
Purchase Period shall begin on January 1, 2008 and end on
June 30, 2008. Thereafter, the Purchase Periods will begin
on the first day and end on the last day of each subsequent
six-month period.
6.
Participants; Payroll Deductions
6.1 A person who is an Eligible Employee at the beginning
of a Purchase Period may elect to participate in the Plan for
that Purchase Period. This election must be made prior to the
beginning of the Purchase Period in accordance with such
procedures as the Committee may adopt (each Eligible Employee
who so elects to participate will be referred to as a
Participant). If the election is made, the
Participants Employer will make deductions from his or her
Compensation (as defined in Section 6.4), at a specified
whole percentage rate, to be used to purchase shares of Common
Stock pursuant to the Plan at the end of the Purchase Period.
6.2 The maximum rate of deduction that a Participant may
elect for any Purchase Period is 10%. An amount equal to the
elected percentage shall be deducted from the Participants
pay each time during the Purchase Period that any Compensation
is paid to the Participant. The Committee may set such minimum
level of payroll deductions as the Committee determines to be
appropriate. Any minimum level of deductions set by the
Committee shall apply equally to all Eligible Employees. A
Participants accumulated payroll deductions shall remain
the property of the Participant until applied toward the
purchase of shares of Common Stock under the Plan, but may be
commingled with the general funds of his or her Employer. No
interest will be paid on payroll deductions accumulated under
the
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Plan (regardless of whether such deductions are applied to the
purchase of shares hereunder or returned to the Participant or
his or her personal representative).
6.3 A Participant in the Plan on the last day of a Purchase
Period shall automatically continue to participate in the Plan
during the next Purchase Period unless he or she withdraws in
the manner described in Section 11 or is no longer an
Eligible Employee.
6.4 The term Compensation means all gross
earnings, including regular earnings, overtime, bonuses,
declared tips, gratuities and commissions, received by or on
behalf of a Participant for services performed or on account of
holidays, vacation, sick leave or other similar events
(including any amounts by which such earnings are reduced, at
the election of a Participant, pursuant to a cafeteria plan
described in Section 125 of the Code, a dependent care
assistance program described in Section 129 of the Code, a
cash or deferred arrangement described in Section 401(k) of
the Code, or any similar plan, program or arrangement), and
excluding the value of any noncash benefits under any employee
benefit plans and any other amounts paid to the Participant that
are specifically excluded by the Committee.
7.
Purchase of Shares
7.1 At the end of a Purchase Period, a Participants
accumulated payroll deductions for the Purchase Period will,
subject to the limitations in Section 9 and the termination
provisions of Section 16, be applied toward the purchase of
shares of Common Stock at a purchase price (the Purchase
Price) equal to the lesser of the following amounts
(rounded to the nearest cent):
(a) 85% of the Market Price (as defined in
Section 8.1) of the Common Stock on the first Business Day
(as defined in Section 8.2) of the Purchase Period; or
(b) 85% of the Market Price of the Common Stock on the last
Business Day of the Purchase Period.
7.2 Shares of Common Stock may be purchased under the Plan
only with a Participants accumulated payroll deductions.
Fractional shares cannot be purchased. Any portion of a
Participants accumulated payroll deductions for a Purchase
Period not used for the purchase of Common Stock shall, subject
to Section 9, be applied to the purchase of Common Stock in
the next Purchase Period, if the Participant is participating in
the Plan during that Purchase Period, or returned to the
Participant.
7.3 Each Participant who purchases shares of Common Stock
under the Plan shall thereby be deemed to have agreed that his
or her Employer shall be entitled to withhold, from any amounts
that may be payable to the Participant at or around the time of
the purchase, such federal, state, local and foreign income,
employment and other taxes as may be required to be withheld
under applicable laws. In lieu of such withholding, the Employer
may require the Participant to remit such taxes to the Employer
as a condition of the purchase.
8.
Market Price
8.1 For purposes of the Plan, the term Market
Price means, as of any date, the value of the Common Stock
as determined in good faith by the Committee; provided, however,
that (a) if the Common Stock is admitted to trading on a
national securities exchange, the Market Price on any date shall
be the closing selling price reported for the Common Stock on
such exchange for such date or, if no sales were reported for
such date, for the most recent date on which such a sale was
reported, and (b) if the Common Stock is not admitted to
trading on a national securities exchange but is admitted to
quotation on an over the counter market or any interdealer
quotation system, the Market Price on any given date shall be
the average of the highest bid and lowest asked prices of the
Common Stock reported for such date or, if no bid and asked
prices were reported for such date, for the last day preceding
such date for which such prices were reported.
8.2 For purposes of the Plan, the term Business
Day means a day on which prices or quotations for the
Common Stock are reported by a national securities exchange or
any other available source of prices or quotations selected by
the Committee, whichever is applicable pursuant to the preceding
paragraph.
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9.
Limitations on Share Purchases
9.1 Notwithstanding Section 3, an employee will not be
an Eligible Employee for purposes of the Plan if the employee
owns stock possessing 5% or more of the total combined voting
power or value of all classes of stock of the Company. For
purposes of this 5% limitation, an employee shall be treated as
owning any stock the ownership of which is attributed to him or
her under the rules of Section 424(d) of the Code, as well
as any stock that, in the absence of this Section 9.1, the
employee could purchase under the Plan with his or her payroll
deductions held pursuant to Section 6 but not yet applied
to the purchase of shares of Common Stock under the Plan.
9.2 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, the
shares of Common Stock that a Participant is entitled to
purchase during any calendar year under the Plan (and under all
other employee stock purchase plans of the Company and its
related corporations) shall not have a fair market value in
excess of $25,000, such fair market value to be based on the
respective Market Prices of the shares on the first Business Day
of each Purchase Period ending in the calendar year in which
shares are purchased (or the respective fair market values of
the shares on the first day of the corresponding purchase
periods under such other plans).
9.3 The limitations in Section 9.1 and
Section 9.2 are intended to, and shall be interpreted and
administered as necessary in order to, meet the requirements of
Section 423(b)(3) and Section 423(b)(8) of the Code,
respectively, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
10.
Changes in Payroll Deductions.
The
rate of payroll deductions for a Purchase Period may not be
increased or decreased by a Participant during the Purchase
Period. However, the Participant may change the rate of payroll
deduction for a subsequent Purchase Period. In addition, a
Participant may withdraw in full from the Plan in the manner
described in Section 11.
11.
Withdrawal from the Plan
11.1 A Participant may elect, in accordance with procedures
prescribed by the Committee, to withdraw from the Plan,
effective for the Purchase Period in progress at the time of the
election. If a Participant so withdraws, all of the
Participants accumulated payroll deductions will be
promptly returned to the Participant. If a Participants
payroll deductions are interrupted by any legal process, the
Participant will be deemed to have elected to withdraw from the
Plan for the Purchase Period in which the interruption occurs.
11.2 A Participant may elect to withdraw from the Plan,
effective for a Purchase Period that has not yet commenced, by
delivering to the Committee written notice thereof prior to the
first day of the Purchase Period.
11.3 Following withdrawal from the Plan, in order to
participate in the Plan for any subsequent Purchase Period, the
Participant must again elect to participate in the manner
described in Section 6.1.
12.
Issuance of Common Stock
12.1 Certificates for the shares of Common Stock purchased
by Participants will be delivered by the Companys transfer
agent as soon as practicable after each Purchase Period. In lieu
of issuing certificates for such shares directly to
Participants, the Company shall be entitled to issue such shares
to a bank, broker-dealer or similar custodian (the
Custodian) that has agreed to hold such shares for
the accounts of the respective Participants. Fees and expenses
of the Custodian shall be paid by the Company or allocated among
the respective Participants in such manner as the Committee
determines.
12.2 A Participant may request, in accordance with such
procedures as the Committee may adopt, that shares purchased by
the Participant be issued (or, if such shares are issued to the
Custodian, that the account for such shares be held) in the
names of the Participant and one other person designated by the
Participant, as joint tenants with right of survivorship,
tenants in common, or community property, to the extent and in
the manner permitted by applicable law.
12.3 If shares purchased under the Plan are issued to a
Custodian, a Participant may at any time, to the extent
permitted by Section 18, undertake a disposition (as that
term is defined in Section 424(c) of the Code), whether by
sale, exchange, gift or other transfer of legal title, of any or
all of the shares held for the Participant by the Custodian. In
the absence of such a disposition of the shares, the shares
shall continue to be held by the Custodian until the holding
period set forth in Section 423(a) of the Code has been
satisfied. If a Participant so requests, shares for
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which such holding period has been satisfied will be transferred
to another brokerage account specified by the Participant, or a
stock certificate for such shares will be issued and delivered
to the Participant or his or her designee.
13.
Changes in Capitalization
13.1 Upon the happening of any of the following described
events, a Participants right to purchase shares of Common
Stock under the Plan shall be adjusted as provided below:
(a) If the outstanding shares of Common Stock are
subdivided or combined into a greater or smaller number of
shares of Common Stock or if, upon a recapitalization,
split-up
or
other reorganization of the Company, the outstanding shares of
Common Stock are exchanged for other securities of the Company,
the rights of each Participant shall be modified so that the
Participant is entitled to purchase, in lieu of the shares of
Common Stock that the Participant would otherwise have been
entitled to purchase at the end of the Purchase Period in
progress at the time of such subdivision, combination or
exchange (the Purchase Period Shares), such number
of shares of Common Stock or such number and type of other
securities as the Participant would have received if such
Purchase Period Shares had been issued and outstanding at the
time of such subdivision, combination or exchange (unless in the
case of an exchange the Committee determines that the nature of
the exchange is such that it is not feasible or advisable that
the rights of Participants be so modified, in which event the
exchange shall be deemed a Terminating Event under
Section 14).
(b) If the Company issues any of its shares as a stock
dividend upon or with respect to the Common Stock, each
Participant who purchases shares of Common Stock under the Plan
at the end of the Purchase Period in progress on the record date
for the stock dividend shall be entitled to receive the shares
so purchased (the Purchased Shares) and shall also
be entitled to receive at no additional cost, but only if the
Purchase Price for the Purchased Shares was determined by
reference to the Market Price of the Common Stock on the first
Business Day of the Purchase Period, the number of shares of the
class of stock issued as a stock dividend, and the amount of
cash in lieu of fractional shares, that the Participant would
have received if he or she had been the holder of the Purchased
Shares on the record date for the stock dividend.
13.2 Upon the happening of an event specified in
Section 13.1(a) or Section 13.1(b) above, the class
and aggregate number of shares available under the Plan, as set
forth in Section 4, shall be appropriately adjusted to
reflect the event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such
adjustments shall be made only to the extent that the Committee,
based on advice of counsel for the Company, determines that such
adjustments will not constitute a change requiring shareholder
approval under Section 423(b)(2) of the Code.
14.
Terminating Events
14.1 Upon (a) the dissolution or liquidation of the
Company, (b) a merger or other reorganization of the
Company with one or more corporations as a result of which the
Company will not be a surviving corporation, (c) the sale
of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or a
material division of the Company, (d) a sale or other
transfer, pursuant to a tender offer or otherwise, of more than
fifty percent (50%) of the then outstanding shares of Common
Stock of the Company, (e) an acquisition by the Company
resulting in an extraordinary expansion of the Companys
business or the addition of a material new line of business, or
(f) any exchange that is subject to this Section 14 in
accordance with the provisions of Section 13 (any of such
events is herein referred to as a Terminating
Event), the Committee may but shall not be required
to
(a) make provision for the continuation of the
Participants rights under the Plan on such terms and
conditions as the Committee determines to be appropriate and
equitable, including where applicable, but not limited to, an
arrangement for the substitution on an equitable basis, for each
share of Common Stock that could otherwise be purchased at the
end of the Purchase Period in progress at the time of the
Terminating Event, of any consideration payable with respect to
each then outstanding share of Common Stock in connection with
the Terminating Event; or
(b) terminate all rights of Participants to purchase
additional shares of Common Stock under the Plan and
(i) return to the Participants all of their accumulated
payroll deductions that have not been applied to the purchase of
shares of Common Stock under the Plan; and
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(ii) pay to each Participant, for each share of Common
Stock, if any, that otherwise could have been purchased by the
Participant at the end of the Purchase Period in progress at the
time of the Terminating Event, determined by assuming that the
Participants accumulated payroll deductions were used to
purchase shares of Common Stock at a Purchase Price equal to 85%
of the Market Price of the Common Stock on the first Business
Day of the Purchase Period, an amount equal to the excess, if
any, of (A) the Market Price on the date of the Terminating
Event of a share of Common Stock, over (B) such Purchase
Price.
14.2 The Committee shall make all determinations necessary
or advisable in connection with Terminating Events, and its
determinations shall, in the absence of fraud or patent mistake,
be conclusive and binding on all persons with any interest in
the Plan.
15.
No Transfer or Assignment of Employees
Rights.
An Eligible Employees rights under
the Plan are the Eligible Employees alone and may not be
voluntarily or involuntarily transferred or assigned to, or
availed of by, any other person other than by will or the laws
of descent and distribution. An Eligible Employees rights
under the Plan are exercisable during his or her lifetime by the
Eligible Employee alone.
16.
Termination of Employees
Rights.
A Participants rights under the
Plan will terminate if he or she for any reason (including
death, disability or voluntary or involuntary termination of
employment) is no longer an employee of the Company or a
Designated Subsidiary. In such event, all of the payroll
deductions credited to the Participants account will be
promptly returned to the Participant or his or her personal
representative.
17.
Termination and Amendment of Plan
17.1 The Plan shall terminate on December 31, 2017.
The Plan may be terminated at any earlier time by the Board,
but, except as provided in Section 14, such termination
shall not affect the right of any Participant to purchase shares
under the Plan at the end of the Purchase Period in progress at
the time of termination. The Plan will also terminate in any
case when all or substantially all of the unissued shares of
Common Stock reserved for the purposes of the Plan have been
purchased. If at any time shares of Common Stock reserved for
the purpose of the Plan remain available for purchase but not in
sufficient number to satisfy all then unfilled purchase
requirements, the available shares shall be apportioned among
Participants in proportion to the respective amounts of their
accumulated payroll deductions, and the Plan shall terminate.
Upon such termination or any other termination of the Plan, all
payroll deductions not used to purchase shares of Common Stock
will be refunded to the Participants entitled thereto.
17.2 The Committee or the Board may from time to time adopt
amendments to the Plan;
provided, however,
that,
without the approval of the shareholders of the Company, no
amendment may increase the number of shares that may be issued
under the Plan or make any other change for which shareholder
approval is required by Section 423 of the Code or the
regulations thereunder.
18.
Disposition of Shares.
Subject to
compliance with any applicable federal and state securities and
other laws and any policy of the Company in effect from time to
time with respect to trading in its shares, a Participant may
effect a disposition (as that term is defined in
Section 424(c) of the Code) of Common Stock purchased under
the Plan at any time the Participant chooses;
provided,
however,
each Participant agrees, by purchasing shares
of Common Stock under the Plan, that (a) his or her
Employer shall be entitled to withhold, from any other amounts
that may be payable to the Participant by the Employer at or
around the time of such disposition, such federal, state, local
and foreign income, employment and other taxes as the Employer
may be required to withhold under applicable law; and
(b) in lieu of such withholding, the Participant will, upon
request of the Employer, promptly remit such taxes to the
Employer.
EACH EMPLOYEE PURCHASING SHARES OF COMMON
STOCK UNDER THE PLAN ASSUMES THE RISK OF ANY MARKET FLUCTUATIONS
IN THE PRICE THEREOF.
19.
No Shareholder Rights; Information to
Participants.
A Participant shall not have any
rights as a shareholder of the Company (other than the right
potentially to receive stock dividends under
Section 13) on account of shares of Common Stock that
may be purchased under the Plan prior to the time such shares
are actually purchased by and issued to the Participant.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall deliver to each
Participant under the Plan who does not otherwise receive such
materials (a) a copy of the Companys annual
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financial statements (which shall be delivered annually as
promptly as practical following each fiscal year of the Company
and review or audit of such statements by the Companys
auditors), together with managements discussion and
analysis of financial condition and results of operations for
the fiscal year, and (b) a copy of all reports, proxy
statements and other communications distributed to the
Companys security holders generally.
20.
Use of Proceeds.
The proceeds
received by the Company from the sale of shares of Common Stock
under the Plan will be used for general corporate purposes.
21.
Governmental Regulations.
The
Companys obligation to sell and deliver shares of Common
Stock under the Plan is subject to the approval of any
governmental authority required in connection with the
authorization, issuance or sale of such shares, including the
Securities and Exchange Commission, the securities
administrators of the states in which Participants reside, and
the Internal Revenue Service.
22.
Miscellaneous Provisions
22.1 Nothing contained in the Plan shall obligate any
Employer to employ a Participant for any period, nor shall the
Plan interfere in any way with the right of the Employer to
reduce a Participants compensation.
22.2 The provisions of the Plan shall be binding upon each
Participant and, subject to the provisions of Section 15,
the heirs, successors and assigns of each Participant.
22.3 Where the context so requires, references in the Plan
to the singular shall include the plural, and vice versa, and
references to a particular gender shall include either or both
additional genders.
22.4 The Plan shall be construed, administered and enforced
in accordance with the laws of the United States, to the extent
applicable thereto, as well as the laws of the State of
Washington.
23.
Approval of Shareholders.
The Plan
shall be effective January 1, 2008, subject to approval by
the shareholders of the Company in a manner that complies with
Section 423(b)(2) of the Code. If such approval does not
occur prior to June 30, 2008, the Plan shall be void and of
no effect.
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APPENDIX B
Corporate
Governance Guidelines Regarding Director
Qualifications
Director
Qualification Standards
1. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is
responsible for recommending to the Board (1) nominees for
Board membership to fill vacancies or newly created positions
and (2) the persons to be nominated by the Board for
election at the Companys annual meeting of shareholders.
2. In connection with the selection and nomination process,
the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall review
the desired experience, mix of skills and other qualities to
assure appropriate Board composition, taking into account the
current Board members and the specific needs of the Company and
the Board. The Board will generally look for individuals who
have displayed high ethical standards, integrity and sound
business judgment. This process is designed to ensure that the
Board includes members with diverse backgrounds, skills and
experience, including appropriate financial and other expertise
relevant to the business of the Company.
3. Independent Directors must comprise a majority of the
Board.
4. A director will not be an Independent
Director if any of the following situations set forth in
the following categories apply:
(a) the director has been an employee of the Company, or
any of its consolidated subsidiaries, during the last three
years, or the director has an Immediate Family Member who is, or
who has been during the last 3 years, an executive officer
of the Company;
(b) the director or the directors Immediate Family
Member has received more than $100,000 per year in direct
compensation from the Company, or any of its consolidated
subsidiaries, other than director and committee fees and pension
or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service
(provided such compensation is not contingent in any way on
continued service) during any twelve-month period within the
last three years;
(c) (i) the director or the directors Immediate
Family Member is a current partner of a firm that is the
Companys independent auditor, (ii) the director is a
current employee of such a firm, (iii) the director has an
Immediate Family Member who is a current employee of such a firm
and who participates in the firms audit, assurance or tax
compliance (but not tax planning) practice, or (iv) the
director or an Immediate Family Member was within the last three
years (but is no longer) a partner or employee of such a firm
and personally worked on the Companys audit within that
time;
(d) the director or the directors Immediate Family
Member is, or during the last three years, has been, part of an
interlocking directorate in which a current executive officer of
the Company, or any of its consolidated subsidiaries, served on
the compensation committee of another company that concurrently
employed the director (or any of his or her Immediate Family
Members) as an executive officer;
(e) the director is a current employee, or the
directors Immediate Family member is a current executive
officer of a company that makes payments (exclusive of
charitable contributions) to, or receives payments (exclusive of
charitable contributions) from, the Company, or any of its
consolidated subsidiaries, for property or services in an amount
which, in any of the last three fiscal years, exceeds the
greater of $1 million, or 2% of the consolidated gross
revenues of such other company;
(f) the director has a material relationship with the
Company, or any of its consolidated subsidiaries, either
directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an
organization that has a material relationship with the Company,
or any of its consolidated subsidiaries. For this purpose,
material relationship is defined as one in which the
person, or an entity of which the director (or the
directors Immediate Family Member) is an employee, makes
payments to, or receives payments from, the Company for property
or services in an amount which, in any single fiscal year,
exceeds the greater of $1 million, or 2% of such other
entitys consolidated gross revenues.
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5. In addition to satisfying all of the independence
criteria set forth in paragraph 4 of this Section, all
members of the Audit Committee must also meet the following
requirements:
(a) A member of the Audit Committee may not receive
consulting, advisory or other compensatory fees from the
Company, or any of its consolidated subsidiaries, other than in
his or her capacity as a member of the Audit Committee, the
Board of Directors, or any other committee of the Board
(compensatory fees do not include the receipt of fixed amounts
under a retirement plan (including deferred compensation) for
prior service with the Company or any of its consolidated
subsidiaries, provided that such compensation is not contingent
in any way on continued service).
(b) No member of the Audit Committee may be an
affiliated person of the Company, or any of its
consolidated subsidiaries, as such term is defined by the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
6. The number of boards on which a director may sit may be
reviewed on a
case-by-case
basis by the Board.
7. The Board has not established term limits for directors.
Although term limits can promote the inclusion on the Board of
people with diverse perspectives, the process described in
paragraph 2 of this Section can achieve the same result.
Moreover, term limits have the disadvantage of causing the
Company to lose the contributions of directors who have been
able to develop, over a period of time, increasing insight into
the Company and its operations, thereby increasing their
contributions to the Company. However, in order to promote both
continuity and turnover, and to further the expectation that
Board members will be very actively involved in both the affairs
of the Company and the communities which the Company serves, the
Board will normally not nominate a person who would be serving
on the Board after the age of 75.
8. Each director shall be obligated to notify the Chairman
of the Board of the Company promptly upon learning of any fact
which causes such director not to be considered an Independent
Director, as set forth in paragraph 4 above, or if any
entity of which such director is an officer or director becomes
a competitor of the Company. The Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee shall review the situation and make a
prompt recommendation to the Board.
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APPENDIX C
Provisions
of By-Laws Regarding Director Nominations
Section 3.3
Nominations and Qualifications of Directors.
(1) Nominations of candidates for election as directors at
an annual meeting of shareholders may only be made (i) by,
or at the direction of, the Board of Directors or (ii) by
any shareholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote at
the meeting and who complies with the procedures set forth in
the remainder of this Section 3.3.
(2) If a shareholder proposes to nominate one or more
candidates for election as directors at an annual meeting, the
shareholder must have given timely notice thereof to the
Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a shareholders
notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the
Principal Office (i) not less than one hundred twenty
(120) days prior to the first anniversary of the date that
the Corporations proxy statement was released to
shareholders in connection with the previous years annual
meeting; (ii) a reasonable time before the Corporation
begins to print and mail its proxy materials if the date of this
years annual meeting has been changed by more than thirty
(30) days from the date of the previous years
meeting; or (iii) not more than seven (7) days
following the delivery to shareholders of the notice of annual
meeting with respect to the current years annual meeting,
if the Corporation did not release a proxy statement to
shareholders in connection with the previous years annual
meeting, or if no annual meeting was held during such year.
(3) A shareholders notice to the Secretary under
Section 3.3(2) shall set forth, as to each person whom the
shareholder proposes to nominate for election as a director
(i) the name, age, business address and residence address
of such person, (ii) the principal occupation or employment
of such person, (iii) the number and class of shares of
stock of the Corporation that are beneficially owned on the date
of such notice by such person and (iv) if the Corporation
at such time has a class of securities registered pursuant to
Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the Exchange Act), any other information
relating to such person required to be disclosed in
solicitations of proxies with respect to nominees for election
as directors pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange
Act, including but not limited to information required to be
disclosed by Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A, and any
other information that the shareholder would be required to file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with
the shareholders nomination of such person as a candidate
for director or the shareholders opposition to any
candidate for director nominated by, or at the direction of, the
Board of Directors. In addition to the above information, a
shareholders notice to the Secretary under
Section 3.3(2) shall (A) set forth (i) the name
and address, as they appear on the Corporations books, of
the shareholder and of any other shareholders that the
shareholder knows or anticipates will support any candidate or
candidates nominated by the shareholder and (ii) the number
and class of shares of stock of the Corporation that are
beneficially owned on the date of such notice by the shareholder
and by any such other shareholders and (B) be accompanied
by a statement in the form of a record, executed and
acknowledged by each candidate nominated by the shareholder,
that the candidate agrees to be so nominated and to serve as a
director of the Corporation if elected at the annual meeting.
(4) The Board of Directors, or a designated committee
thereof, may reject any shareholders nomination of one or
more candidates for election as directors if the nomination is
not made pursuant to a shareholders notice timely given in
accordance with the terms of Section 3.3(2). If the Board of
Directors, or a designated committee thereof, determines that
the information provided in a shareholders notice does not
satisfy the requirements of Section 3.3(3) in any material
respect, the Secretary of the Corporation shall notify the
shareholder of the deficiency in the notice. The shareholder
shall have an opportunity to cure the deficiency by providing
additional information to the Secretary within such period of
time, not to exceed five (5) days from the date such
deficiency notice is given to the shareholder, as the Board of
Directors or such committee shall reasonably determine. If the
deficiency is not cured within such period, or if the Board of
Directors or such committee determines that the additional
information provided by the shareholder, together with
information previously provided, does not satisfy the
requirements of Section 3.3(3) in any material respect,
then the Board of Directors or such committee may reject the
shareholders notice.
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(5) Notwithstanding the procedures set forth in
Section 3.3(4), if a shareholder proposes to nominate one
or more candidates for election as directors at an annual
meeting, and neither the Board of Directors nor any committee
thereof has made a prior determination of whether the
shareholder has complied with the procedures set forth in this
Section 3.3 in connection with such nomination, then the
chairman of the annual meeting shall determine and declare at
the annual meeting whether the shareholder has so complied. If
the chairman determines that the shareholder has so complied,
then the chairman shall so state and ballots shall be provided
for use at the meeting with respect to such nomination. If the
chairman determines that the shareholder has not so complied,
then, unless the chairman, in his or her sole and absolute
discretion, determines to waive such compliance, the chairman
shall state that the shareholder has not so complied and the
defective nomination shall be disregarded.
(6) All directors of the Corporation shall be at least
twenty-one years of age. Directors need not be shareholders or
residents of the State of Washington. At each meeting of
shareholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is
present, the persons receiving a plurality of the votes cast
shall be elected directors.
C-2
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF
RED LION HOTELS CORPORATION
May 22, 2008
Please sign, date and mail
your proxy card in the
envelope provided as soon
as possible.
ê
Please
detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope
provided.
ê
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20330300000000000000 3
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052208
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PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE
ý
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FOR
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AGAINST
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ABSTAIN
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To elect three directors to the Board of Directors:
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2.
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RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF BDO SEIDMAN, LLP TO SERVE AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR 2008.
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NOMINEES:
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FOR ALL NOMINEES
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Richard L. Barbieri
Jon E. Eliassen
Anupam Narayan
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WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
FOR ALL NOMINEES
FOR ALL EXCEPT
(See Instructions below)
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3.
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APPROVAL OF 2008 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN.
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THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE DIRECTED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF ALL DIRECTORS LISTED IN PROPOSAL
1 AND FOR PROPOSALS 2 AND 3, AND IT WILL BE VOTED IN THE DISCRETION
OF THE PROXIES ON ALL OTHER MATTERS THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING.
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The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR ALL NOMINEES listed in Proposal 1 and FOR Proposals 2 and 3.
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INSTRUCTION:
To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s),
mark
FOR ALL EXCEPT
and fill in the circle next to each
nominee
you wish to
withhold, as shown here:
=
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TO INCLUDE ANY COMMENTS, USE THE COMMENTS BOX ON THE REVERSE SIDE HEREOF.
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To change the address on your account, please check the box
at right and indicate your new address in the address space
above. Please note that changes to the registered name(s)
on the account may not be submitted
via this method.
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Signature of Shareholder
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Date:
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Signature of Shareholder
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Date:
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Note:
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Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by a duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a
partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.
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PROXY FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF
RED LION HOTELS CORPORATION
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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The undersigned hereby
constitutes and appoints Thomas L. McKeirnan and Anupam Narayan, and each of them, the undersigneds
true and lawful agents and proxies with full power of substitution in each, to represent and to vote, in such manner as in their discretion shall be deemed appropriate to carry out the authority as designated
on the reverse side, all shares of Common Stock of Red Lion Hotels Corporation that the
undersigned would be entitled to vote if present in person at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
of Red Lion Hotels Corporation to be held on Thursday, May 22, 2008, at 9:00 a.m. local time at the Red Lion River Inn,
Shoreline A, 700 North Division, Spokane, Washington and at any adjournments thereof, on all
matters that may come before the meeting, including matters incident to the conduct of the meeting and
any shareholder proposal omitted from the proxy statement and this proxy pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
You are encouraged to specify your choices by marking the appropriate boxes,
SEE REVERSE SIDE, but you need not mark any boxes if you wish to vote in accordance with the Board
of Directors recommendations.
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(Continued and to be signed on reverse side.)
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF
RED LION HOTELS CORPORATION
May 22, 2008
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PROXY VOTING INSTRUCTIONS
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MAIL
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Sign, date and mail your proxy card in the
envelope provided as soon as possible.
- OR -
TELEPHONE
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Call toll-free
1-800-PROXIES
(1-800-776-9437) in the
United States or
1-718-921-8500
from foreign countries and follow the instructions. Have your proxy card available when you call.
- OR
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INTERNET
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Access
www.voteproxy.com
and follow
the
on-screen
instructions. Have your proxy card
available when you access the web page.
- OR -
IN PERSON
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You may vote your shares in person by attending the Annual Meeting.
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COMPANY NUMBER
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ACCOUNT NUMBER
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You may enter your voting instructions at 1-800-PROXIES in the United States or 1-718-921-8500 from foreign countries or www.voteproxy.com up until 11:59 PM Eastern Time the day before the cut-off or meeting date
ê
Please
detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided
IF
you are not voting via telephone or the Internet.
ê
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20330300000000000000 3
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052208
|
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PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE
ý
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FOR
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AGAINST
|
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ABSTAIN
|
|
1.
|
To elect three directors to the Board of Directors:
|
|
|
2.
|
|
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF BDO SEIDMAN, LLP TO SERVE AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR 2008.
|
|
o
|
|
o
|
|
o
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|
o
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NOMINEES:
|
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|
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FOR ALL NOMINEES
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Richard L. Barbieri
Jon
E. Eliassen
Anupam Narayan
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o
o
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WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
FOR ALL NOMINEES
FOR ALL EXCEPT
(See Instructions below)
|
|
|
|
|
3.
|
|
APPROVAL OF 2008 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN.
|
|
o
|
|
o
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|
o
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE DIRECTED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF ALL DIRECTORS LISTED IN PROPOSAL
1 AND FOR PROPOSALS 2 AND 3, AND IT WILL BE VOTED IN THE DISCRETION
OF THE PROXIES ON ALL OTHER MATTERS THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING.
|
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|
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The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR ALL NOMINEES listed in Proposal 1 and FOR Proposals 2 and 3.
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
INSTRUCTION:
To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s),
mark
FOR ALL EXCEPT
and fill in the circle next to each
nominee
you to wish
withhold, as shown here:
=
|
|
|
TO INCLUDE ANY COMMENTS, USE THE COMMENTS BOX ON THE REVERSE SIDE HEREOF.
|
|
|
|
|
To change the address on your account, please check the box
at right and indicate your new address in the address space
above. Please note that changes to the registered name(s)
on the account may not be submitted
via this method.
|
o
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Signature of Shareholder
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|
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Date:
|
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Signature of Shareholder
|
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|
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Date:
|
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|
|
|
|
|
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|
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Note:
|
|
Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by a duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership
name by authorized person.
|
|
|
PROXY FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF
RED LION HOTELS CORPORATION
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
|
|
|
|
The undersigned hereby
constitutes and appoints Thomas L. McKeirnan and Anupam Narayan, and each of them, the undersigneds
true and lawful agents and proxies with full power of substitution in each, to represent and to vote, in such manner as in their discretion shall be deemed appropriate to carry out the authority as designated
on the reverse side, all shares of Common Stock of Red Lion Hotels Corporation that the
undersigned would be entitled to vote if present in person at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
of Red Lion Hotels Corporation to be held on Thursday, May 22, 2008, at 9:00 a.m. local time at the Red Lion River Inn,
Shoreline A, 700 North Division, Spokane, Washington and at any adjournments thereof, on all
matters that may come before the meeting, including matters incident to the conduct of the meeting and
any shareholder proposal omitted from the proxy statement and this proxy pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
You are encouraged to specify your choices by marking the appropriate boxes,
SEE REVERSE SIDE, but you need not mark any boxes if you wish to vote in accordance with the Board
of Directors recommendations.
|
|
(Continued and to be signed on reverse side.)