UNITED STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT
REPORT
Pursuant
to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of
Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 26, 2008
COMMERCE ENERGY GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of
registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
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001-32239
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20-0501090
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(State or other
jurisdiction of incorporation)
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(Commission File
Number)
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(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
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600 Anton Blvd., Suite 2000
Costa
Mesa, California
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92626
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(Address of
principal executive offices)
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(Zip Code)
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Registrants telephone number, including area code:
(714) 259-2500
Not
Applicable
(Former name or
former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below
if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing
obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425
under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12
under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under
the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2 (b))
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under
the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers;
Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory
Arrangements of Certain Officers
Amended and Restated
2006 Stock Incentive Plan
On June 26, 2008, the stockholders of Commerce
Energy Group, Inc. (the Company) at a Special Meeting of Stockholders
approved an amendment to, and a restatement of, the Commerce Energy Group, Inc.
2006 Stock Incentive Plan (the SIP) to increase the number of shares of the
Companys common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the Common Stock),
available for issuance or transfer thereunder by 800,000.
Summary of the Amended and Restated 2006 Stock
Incentive Plan
The following summary of the Amended and Restated SIP
is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amended and
Restated SIP, which is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1
and is incorporated herein by reference.
Capitalized terms used in this summary and not otherwise defined have
the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Amended and Restated SIP.
Purpose.
The
purpose of the Amended and Restated SIP is to attract, retain and motivate
employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Company and its
affiliates and to provide incentives and rewards for superior performance.
Shares Subject to the SIP.
The
SIP provides that no more than 2,253,334 shares of Common Stock may be issued
pursuant to Awards under the Amended and Restated SIP provided that the Company
shall not make additional awards under the Commonwealth Energy Corporation 1999
Equity Incentive Plan. These shares
shall be authorized but unissued shares.
The number of shares available for Awards, as well as the terms of
outstanding Awards, is subject to adjustment as provided in the Amended and
Restated SIP for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations and other
similar events.
The Company has previously registered with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (the SEC) on a Form S-8 Registration Statement
1,453,334 shares of Common Stock under the SIP.
The Company intends to register the additional 800,000 shares of Common
Stock that will become available for issuance under the Amended and Restated
SIP as a result of the recent affirmative vote of the Companys stockholders,
referenced above, on a registration statement on Form S-8 to be filed with
the SEC.
Shares of Common Stock that are subject to any Award that expires, or
is forfeited, cancelled or becomes unexercisable will again be available for subsequent
Awards, except as prohibited by law. In
addition, shares that the Company refrains from delivering pursuant to an Award
as payment of either the exercise price of an Award or applicable withholding
and employment taxes will be available for subsequent Awards.
Administration.
Either
the Board of Directors or a committee appointed by the Board is authorized to
administer the Amended and Restated SIP.
The Board of Directors and any committee exercising discretion under the
Amended and Restated SIP from time to time are referred to as the Committee.
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors currently acts as the
Committee for purposes of the Amended and Restated SIP. The Board of Directors may at any time
appoint additional members to the Committee, remove and replace members of the
Committee with or without cause, and fill vacancies on the Committee. To the extent permitted by law, the Committee
may authorize one or more persons who are reporting persons for purposes of Rule 16b-3
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), or
other officers, to make Awards to directors, officers or employees who are not
reporting persons for purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, or
other officers, whom the Company has specifically authorized to make
Awards. With respect to decisions
involving an Award intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of
the Code, the Committee is to consist of two or more directors who are outside
directors for purposes of that Code section.
To the extent permitted by law, the Committee may delegate
administrative functions to individuals who are reporting persons for purposes
of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, officers or employees of the Company or
its affiliates.
2
Subject to the terms of the Amended and Restated SIP, the Committee has
express authority to determine the directors, employees and consultants who
will receive Awards, the number of shares of Common Stock, units or share
appreciation rights (SARs) to be covered by each Award, and the terms and
conditions of Awards. The Committee has
broad discretion to prescribe, amend and rescind rules relating to the
Amended and Restated SIP and its administration, to interpret and construe the
Amended and Restated SIP and the terms of all award agreements, and to take all
actions necessary or advisable to administer the Amended and Restated SIP. Within the limits of the Amended and Restated
SIP, the Committee may accelerate the vesting of any Award, allow the exercise
of unvested Awards, and may modify, replace, cancel or renew them. In addition, the Committee may under certain
circumstances buy out options or SARs or, subject to stockholder approval,
reduce the exercise price for outstanding options or SARs.
The Amended and Restated SIP provides that the Company and its
affiliates will indemnify members of the Committee and their delegates against
any claims, liabilities or costs arising from the good faith performance of
their duties under the Amended and Restated SIP. The Amended and Restated SIP releases these
individuals from liability for good faith actions associated with the Amended
and Restated SIPs administration.
Eligibility.
The
Committee may grant options that are intended to qualify as incentive stock
options (ISOs) only to employees, and may grant all other Awards to
directors, employees and consultants.
The Amended and Restated SIP and the discussion below use the term Participant
to refer to a director, employee or consultant who has received an Award.
The Amended and Restated SIP provides that no more than 1,000,000
shares of Common Stock may be issued during any calendar year to any
Participant under the Amended and Restated SIP pursuant to options and SARs
Awards under the Amended and Restated SIP.
Options.
Options
granted under the Amended and Restated SIP provide Participants with the right
to purchase shares of Common Stock at a predetermined exercise price. The Committee may grant options that are
intended to qualify as ISOs or options that are not intended to so qualify (Non-ISOs). The Amended and Restated SIP also provides
that ISO treatment may not be available for options that become first
exercisable in any calendar year to the extent the value of the underlying
shares that are the subject of the option exceed $100,000 (based upon the fair
market value of the shares of Common Stock on the option grant date).
Share Appreciation Rights
(SARs)
.
A
share appreciation right generally permits a Participant who receives it to
receive, upon exercise, cash and/or shares of Common Stock equal in value to
the excess of (a) the fair market value, on the date of exercise, of the
shares of Common Stock with respect to which the SAR is being exercised, over
the exercise price of the SAR for such shares multiplied by (b) the number
of shares with respect to which the SARs are being exercised. The Committee may grant SARs in tandem with
options or independently of them. SARs
that are independent of options may limit the value payable on its exercise to
a percentage, not exceeding 100%, of the excess value.
Exercise Price for Options and SARs.
The
exercise price of ISOs, Non-ISOs, and SARs may not be less than 100% of the
fair market value on the grant date of the shares of Common Stock subject to
the Award. The exercise price of ISOs
may not be less than 110% of the fair market value on the grant date of the
underlying shares of Common Stock subject to the Award for Participants who own
more than 10% of our shares of Common Stock on the grant date. Neither the Company nor the Committee shall,
without shareholder approval, allow for a repricing within the meaning of the
federal securities laws applicable to proxy statement disclosures.
Exercise of Options and SARs.
To
the extent exercisable in accordance with the agreement granting them, an
option or SAR may be exercised in whole or in part, and from time to time
during its term; subject to earlier termination relating to a holders
termination of employment or service.
With respect to options, the Committee has the discretion to accept
payment of the exercise price in any of the following forms, or combination of
them: cash or check in U.S. dollars,
certain shares of Common Stock, and cashless exercise under a program the
Committee approves.
3
The term over which Participants may exercise options and SARs may not
exceed ten years from the date of grant (five years in the case of ISOs granted
to employees who, at the time of grant, own more than 10% of the Companys
outstanding shares of Common Stock).
Restricted Shares, Restricted Share
Units, Unrestricted
Shares
and Deferred Share Units.
Under
the Amended and Restated SIP, the Committee may grant restricted shares that
are forfeitable until certain vesting requirements are met, may grant
restricted share units which represent the right to receive shares of Common
Stock after certain vesting requirements are met, and may grant unrestricted shares
as to which the Participants interest is immediately vested. For restricted Awards, the Amended and
Restated SIP provides the Committee with discretion to determine the terms and
conditions under which a Participants interests in such Awards become
vested. The Amended and Restated SIP
provides for deferred share units in order to permit certain directors,
consultants or select members of management to defer their receipt of
compensation payable in cash or shares of Common Stock (including shares that
would otherwise be issued upon the vesting of restricted shares and restricted
share units). Deferred share units
represent a future right to receive shares of Common Stock.
Whenever shares of Common Stock are released pursuant to these Awards,
the Participant will be entitled to receive additional shares of Common Stock
that reflect any stock dividends that the Companys stockholders received
between the date of the Award and issuance or release of the shares of Common
Stock. Likewise, a Participant will be
entitled to receive a cash payment reflecting cash dividends paid to the
Companys stockholders during the same period.
Such cash dividends will accrue interest, at 5% per annum, from their
payment date to the Companys stockholders until paid in cash when the shares
of Common Stock to which they relate are either released from restrictions in
the case of restricted shares or issued in the case of restricted share units.
Performance Awards.
The
Amended and Restated SIP authorizes the Committee to grant performance-based
Awards in the form of Performance Units that the Committee may or may not
designate as Performance Compensation Awards that are intended to be exempt
from Code section 162(m) limitations.
In either case, Performance Awards vest and become payable based upon
the achievement, within the specified period of time, of performance objectives
applicable to the individual, the Company or any affiliate. Performance Awards are payable in shares of Common
Stock, cash or some combination of the two, subject to an individual
Participant limit of 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock and $1,000,000 in
cash. The Committee decides the length
of performance periods, but the periods may not be less than one fiscal year of
the Company.
With respect to Performance Compensation Awards, the Amended and
Restated SIP requires that the Committee specify in writing the performance
period to which the Award relates, and an objective formula by which to measure
whether and the extent to which the Award is earned on the basis of the level
of performance achieved with respect to one or more performance measures. Once established for a performance period,
the performance measures and performance formula applicable to the Award may
not be amended or modified in a manner that would cause the compensation
payable under the Award to fail to constitute performance-based compensation
under Code Section 162(m).
Under the Amended and Restated SIP, the possible performance measures
for Performance Compensation Awards include basic, diluted or adjusted earnings
per share; sales or revenue; earnings before interest, taxes and other
adjustments (in total or on a per share basis); basic or adjusted net income;
returns on equity, assets, capital, revenue or similar measure; economic value
added; working capital; total stockholder return; and product development,
product market share, research, licensing, litigation, human resources,
information services, mergers, acquisitions, and sales of assets of affiliates
or business units. Each measure will be,
to the extent applicable, determined in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles as consistently applied by the Company (or such other
standard applied by the Committee) and, if so determined by the Committee, and
in the case of a Performance Compensation Award, to the extent permitted under
Code section 162(m), adjusted to omit the effects of extraordinary items, gain
or loss on the disposal of a business segment, unusual or infrequently
occurring events and transactions and cumulative effects of changes in
accounting principles. Performance
measures may vary from performance period to performance period, and from
Participant to Participant, and may be established on a stand-alone basis, in
tandem or in the alternative.
4
Income Tax Withholding.
As
a condition for the issuance of shares of Common Stock pursuant to Awards, the
Amended and Restated SIP requires satisfaction of any applicable federal,
state, local or foreign withholding tax obligations that may arise in
connection with the Award or the issuance of shares of Common Stock.
Transferability.
Awards
may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred or disposed of
other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, except to the
extent the Committee permits lifetime transfers to charitable institutions,
certain family members or related trusts or as otherwise approved by the
Committee.
Certain Corporate Transactions.
The
Committee shall equitably adjust the number of shares covered by each
outstanding Award, and the number of shares that have been authorized for
issuance under the Amended and Restated SIP but as to which no Awards have yet
been granted or that have been returned to the Amended and Restated SIP upon
cancellation, forfeiture or expiration of an Award, as well as the price per
share covered by each such outstanding Award, to reflect any increase or
decrease in the number of issued shares resulting from a stock split, reverse stock
split, stock dividend, combination, recapitalization or reclassification of the
shares of Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of
issued shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company. In the event of any such transaction or
event, the Committee may provide in substitution for any or all outstanding
Options under the Amended and Restated SIP such alternative consideration
(including securities of any surviving entity) as it may in good faith
determine to be equitable under the circumstances and may require in connection
therewith the surrender of all Options so replaced. In any case, such substitution of securities
will not require the consent of any person who is granted options pursuant to
the Amended and Restated SIP.
In addition, in the event or in anticipation of a Change in Control,
the Committee may at any time in its sole and absolute discretion and
authority, without obtaining the approval or consent of the Companys
stockholders or any Participant with respect to his or her outstanding Awards
(except to the extent an Award provides otherwise), take one or more of the
following actions: (a) arrange for
or otherwise provide that each outstanding Award will be assumed or substituted
with a substantially equivalent award by a successor corporation or a parent or
subsidiary of such successor corporation; (b) accelerate the vesting of
Awards for any period (and may provide for termination of unexercised Options
and SARs at the end of that period) so that Awards shall vest (and, to the
extent applicable, become exercisable) as to the shares of Common Stock that
otherwise would have been unvested and provide that repurchase rights of the
Company with respect to shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of an Award
shall lapse as to the shares of Common Stock subject to such repurchase right; (c) arrange
or otherwise provide for payment of cash or other consideration to Participants
in exchange for the satisfaction and cancellation of outstanding Awards; or (d)
terminate upon the consummation of the transaction, provided that the Committee
may in its sole discretion provide for vesting of all or some outstanding
Awards in full as of a date immediately prior to consummation of the Change of
Control. To the extent that an Award is
not exercised prior to consummation of a transaction in which the Award is not
being assumed or substituted, such Award shall terminate upon such
consummation.
Notwithstanding the above, in the event a Participant holding an Award
assumed or substituted by the successor corporation in a Change in Control is
Involuntarily Terminated by the successor corporation in connection with, or
within 12 months following consummation of, the Change in Control, then any
assumed or substituted Award held by the terminated Participant at the time of
termination shall accelerate and become fully vested (and exercisable in full
in the case of Options and SARs), and any repurchase right applicable to any
shares of Common Stock shall lapse in full.
The acceleration of vesting and lapse of repurchase rights provided for
in the previous sentence shall occur immediately prior to the effective date of
the Participants termination.
In the event of any distribution to the Companys stockholders of
securities of any other entity or other assets (other than dividends payable in
cash or stock of the Company) without receipt of consideration by the Company,
the Committee may, in its discretion, appropriately adjust the price per share
covered by each outstanding Award to reflect the effect of such
distribution. Finally, if the Company
dissolves or liquidates, all Awards will immediately terminate, subject to the
ability of the Board to exercise any discretion that the Board may exercise in
the case of a Change in Control.
Term of the Amended and Restated
SIP; Amendments and Termination.
The Amended and
Restated SIP expires on January 26, 2016.
The Board of Directors may from time to time, amend, alter, suspend,
discontinue or terminate the Amended and Restated SIP; provided that no
amendment, suspension or termination of the Amended and
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Restated SIP shall materially and adversely affect
Awards already granted unless it relates to an adjustment pursuant to certain
transactions that change the Companys capitalization or it is otherwise
mutually agreed between the Participant and the Committee. In addition, the Committee may not cancel an
outstanding option that is underwater for the purpose of reissuing the option
to the Participant at a lower exercise price or granting a replacement Award of
a different type. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Committee may amend the Amended and Restated SIP to eliminate
provisions which are no longer necessary as a result of changes in tax or
securities laws or regulations, or in the interpretation thereof.
Termination, Rescission and
Recapture.
Each Award under the Amended and
Restated SIP is intended to align the Participants long-term interest with
those of the Company. If the Participant
engages in certain activities (such as disclosure of confidential or
proprietary information without appropriate authorization, breaches certain
agreements relating to the protection of the Companys intellectual property,
solicits non-administrative employees of the Company to leave the Company or
renders services to an organization or business which is, or working to become,
competitive to the Company), either during employment or after the Participant
has terminated his or other relationship with the Company for any reason, the
Participant is deemed to be acting contrary to the long-term interests of the
Company. In such cases, except as
otherwise expressly provided in the Award Agreement, the Company may terminate
any outstanding, unexercised, unexpired, unpaid, or deferred Awards, rescind
any exercise, payment or delivery pursuant to the Award, or recapture any
shares of Common Stock (whether restricted or unrestricted) or proceeds from
the Participants sale of Shares issued pursuant to the Award.
Income Taxes and Deferred
Compensation
.
The Amended
and Restated SIP provides that participants are solely responsible and liable
for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may arise in connection
with Awards (including any taxes arising under Section 409A of the Code),
and that the Company will not have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise
hold any Participant harmless from any or all of such taxes.
Item 8.01 Other Events.
At the special meeting of stockholders held on June 26, 2008 (the Special
Meeting), the stockholders of the Company voted on the following proposal:
whether to approve an amendment to, and restatement of, the Companys 2006
Stock Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of Common Stock available
for issuance or transfer thereunder by 800,000 (the Stock Incentive Plan
Proposal).
The Stock Incentive Plan Proposal was approved at the Special
Meeting. The affirmative vote of a
majority of the votes cast by holders of the shares of Common Stock present in
person or represented by proxy at the Special Meeting and entitled to vote was
required for approval. Abstentions, but
not broker non-votes were treated as shares present and entitled to vote on the
Stock Incentive Plan Proposal. Applying
that standard, an abstention had the same effect as a vote against and a
broker non-vote had no effect. The
tabulation of votes was as follows:
For
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Against
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Abstain
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Broker Non-Votes
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10,698,564
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4,267,073
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1,042,488
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Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
Exhibit No.
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Description
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99.1
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Amended and Restated
Commerce Energy Group, Inc. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan
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6
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Commerce
Energy Group, Inc. has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
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COMMERCE ENERGY GROUP,
INC.,
a Delaware corporation
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Date: July 1, 2008
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By:
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/s/ C. DOUGLAS MITCHELL
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C. Douglas
Mitchell
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Interim Chief Financial
Officer
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7
EXHIBIT
INDEX
Exhibit No.
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Description
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99.1
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Amended and Restated
Commerce Energy Group, Inc. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan
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Commerce Energy (AMEX:EGR)
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