SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. ___)
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Filed by a Party other than the Registrant |_|
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|_| Definitive additional materials by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
|_| Soliciting material under Rule 14a-12
ePlus inc.
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Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):
|X| No fee required.
|_| Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
0-11.
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pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which
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[EPLUS LOGO]
13595 Dulles Technology Drive
Herndon, Virginia 20171-3413
August 8, 2005
Dear Stockholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of ePlus
inc. on September 22, 2005. The Annual Meeting will begin at 8:00 a.m. local
time at the ePlus Headquarters Building located at 13595 Dulles Technology
Drive, Herndon, Virginia 20171-3413.
The formal notice of the meeting follows on the next page. In addition,
information regarding each of the matters you will be asked to vote on at the
Annual Meeting is contained in the attached Proxy Statement. We urge you to read
the Proxy Statement carefully. We first began mailing these proxy materials on
or about August 8, 2005 to all stockholders of record at the close of business
on July 25, 2005. This mailing includes the Proxy Statement, Proxy Card, a
return envelope, and the ePlus 2005 Annual Report.
It is important that you vote at the Annual Meeting. Whether or not you plan to
attend in person, we urge you to complete, date, and sign the enclosed Proxy
Card and return it as promptly as possible in the accompanying envelope. If you
are a stockholder of record and attend the Meeting and wish to vote your shares
in person, even after returning your proxy, you may still do so.
We look forward to seeing you in Herndon, Virginia on September 22, 2005.
Very truly yours,
/s/ PHILLIP G. NORTON
----------------------------
Phillip G. Norton, President
______________________________________________
EPLUS INC.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To be held September 22, 2005
______________________________________________
To the Stockholders of ePlus inc.:
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of ePlus inc., a Delaware corporation, will
be held on September 22, 2005, at the ePlus Headquarters Building, 13595 Dulles
Technology Drive, Herndon, Virginia 20171-3413, at 8:00 a.m. local time for the
purposes stated below:
1. To elect two Class III Directors, each to serve a term of three years
and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified.
2. To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent
auditors for our fiscal year ending March 31, 2006.
3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual
Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Under the provisions of our Bylaws, and in accordance with Delaware law, the
Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on July 25, 2005 as the
Record Date for stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual
Meeting.
Whether or not you expect to be present at the Annual Meeting, please date and
sign the enclosed Proxy Card and mail it promptly in the enclosed envelope to
NATIONAL CITY BANK, Department 5352, Corporate Trust Operations, Post Office Box
92301, Cleveland, Ohio 44193-0900. If you submit your proxy and then decide to
attend the Annual Meeting to vote your shares in person, you may still do so.
Your proxy is revocable in accordance with the procedures set forth in this
Proxy Statement.
By Order of the Board of Directors
/s/ ERICA S. STOECKER
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August 8, 2005 Erica S. Stoecker
Corporate Secretary
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
----
Information about ePlus inc....................................................1
Information about the Annual Meeting...........................................1
Information about this Proxy Statement.........................................1
Information about Voting.......................................................2
Quorum Requirements............................................................2
Voting Requirements............................................................3
Voting Securities, Principal Holders thereof, and Management...................4
Directors and Executive Officers...............................................5
Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers..............................15
Performance Graph.............................................................19
Certain Transactions..........................................................20
Proposal 1: Election of Class III Directors..................................22
Proposal 2: Ratification of Appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as Independent
Auditors......................................................................22
Other Proposed Action.........................................................23
Executive Sessions............................................................24
Stockholder Proposals and Submissions.........................................24
Communications with the Board.................................................24
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INFORMATION ABOUT EPLUS INC.
ePlus inc. has been in the business of selling, leasing, financing, and managing
information technology and other assets for over 14 years. We have developed our
Enterprise Cost Management model through development and acquisition of
software, products, and business process services over the past seven years. The
address of our principal executive office is 13595 Dulles Technology Drive
Herndon, Virginia 20171-3413 and our telephone numbers at that address are (703)
984-8400 (local) and (888) 482-1122 (toll-free). Our website is located at
www.eplus.com. The information on our website is not incorporated into this
Proxy Statement.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING
Our Annual Meeting will be held on September 22, 2005 at 8:00 a.m. local time at
the ePlus Headquarters Building, 13595 Dulles Technology Drive, Herndon,
Virginia 20171-3413.
The Annual Meeting has been called to consider and take action on the following
proposals:
1. To elect two Class III Directors, each to serve a term of three
years and until their successors have been duly elected and
qualified.
2. To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our
independent auditors for our fiscal year ending March 31, 2006.
3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
Annual Meeting.
Our Board of Directors, or in the case of Proposal 2, the Audit Committee of our
Board of Directors, has unanimously approved both of the proposals and
recommends that you vote in favor of both of the proposals. All holders of
record of our common stock at the close of business on July 25, 2005, the Record
Date, will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROXY STATEMENT
We have sent you this Proxy Statement because ePlus' Board of Directors is
soliciting your proxy to vote at the Annual Meeting. ePlus is bearing the cost
of this proxy solicitation. If you own ePlus common stock in more than one
account, such as individually and also jointly with your spouse, you may receive
more than one set of these proxy materials. To assist us in saving money and to
provide you with better stockholder services, we encourage you to have all of
your accounts registered in the same name and address. You may do this by
contacting our transfer agent, National City Bank, Victor LaTessa, at (216)
222-3579. This Proxy Statement contains information that we are required to
provide to you under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and is
designed to assist you in voting your shares. On or about August 8, 2005, we
began mailing these proxy materials to all stockholders of record as of the
close of business on July 25, 2005.
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INFORMATION ABOUT VOTING
Stockholders can vote in person at the Annual Meeting or by proxy. To vote by
proxy, please mail the enclosed Proxy Card in the enclosed envelope. Please sign
and date your Proxy Card before mailing.
Each share of ePlus common stock is entitled to one vote on all matters
presented at the Annual Meeting. If your shares are held in the name of a bank,
broker, or other holder of record, you will receive instructions from the holder
of record that you must follow in order for your shares to be voted. If your
shares are not registered in your own name and you plan to attend the Annual
Meeting and vote your shares in person, you should contact your broker or agent
in whose name your shares are registered to obtain a broker's proxy card and
bring it to the Annual Meeting in order to vote. If you vote by proxy, the
individuals named on the card (your proxy holders) will vote your shares in the
manner you indicate. You may specify whether your shares should be voted for
none, one, or both of the nominees for Director and for, against, or abstaining
from the other proposal. If you sign and return the card without indicating your
instructions, your shares will be voted for:
o The election of both of the nominees for Class III Director; and
o The ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as
our independent auditors for the fiscal year ending March 31,
2006.
You may revoke or change your proxy at any time before it is voted by sending a
written notice of your revocation to ePlus' Corporate Secretary, Erica S.
Stoecker, at ePlus' principal executive office.
QUORUM REQUIREMENTS
As of the Record Date, there were 8,482,892 shares of common stock outstanding,
each of which is entitled to one vote. The holders of record of a majority of
the shares of common stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, present in
person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at
the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof. If a quorum is not present, the
Annual Meeting may be adjourned until a quorum is obtained.
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VOTING REQUIREMENTS
Proposal 1: Election of Class III Directors
Assuming a quorum is present, the two nominees receiving the greatest number of
affirmative votes of shares entitled to be voted for them at the Annual Meeting
will be elected as Class III Directors. Stockholders are not entitled to
cumulate votes in the election of Directors. All nominees have consented to
serve as Directors, if elected. If any nominee is unable or unwilling to serve
as a Director at the time of the Annual Meeting, the persons who are designated
as proxies intend to vote, in their discretion, for such other persons, if any,
as may be designated by the Board of Directors. As of the date of this Proxy
Statement, the Board of Directors has no reason to believe that any of the
persons named below will be unable or unwilling to serve as a nominee or as a
Director if elected.
Proposal 2: Ratification of Appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as Independent
Auditors
To be approved, Proposal 2 requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at
least a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the
Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the proposal.
Effect of Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes
Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted only for the purpose of
determining the existence of a quorum, but will not be counted as an affirmative
vote for the purposes of determining whether a proposal has been approved.
Therefore, an abstention or a broker non-vote will not have any effect on the
votes for Proposal 1 but will have the effect of a vote against Proposal 2.
All signed proxies received will be voted in accordance with the choices
specified on such proxies. Proxies will be voted in favor of a proposal if no
contrary specification is made. All valid proxies obtained will be voted at the
discretion of the Appointed Proxies with respect to any other business that may
come before the Annual Meeting.
We may solicit proxies by use of the mails, in person, by telephone, e-mail, or
other electronic communications. We will bear the cost of soliciting proxies in
the accompanying form. We may reimburse brokerage firms and others for their
expenses in forwarding proxy materials to the beneficial owners and soliciting
them to execute the proxies.
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VOTING SECURITIES, PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF, AND MANAGEMENT
Except as set forth below, the following table sets forth certain information as
of July 25, 2005 with respect to: (1) each named executive officer (as defined
below under "Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers - Summary
Compensation Table"), Director, and Director nominee; (2) all executive officers
and Directors of ePlus as a group; and (3) all persons known by ePlus to be the
beneficial owners of more than five percent of the outstanding share of our
common stock.
Number of
Shares Percentage
Beneficially of Shares
Name of Beneficial Owner(1) Owned (2) Outstanding
------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------- -------------
Phillip G. Norton (3).................................................. 2,346,000 26.7
Bruce M. and Elizabeth D. Bowen (4).................................... 750,000 8.7
Steven J. Mencarini (5)................................................ 107,700 1.3
Kleyton L. Parkhurst (6)............................................... 253,000 2.9
C. Thomas Faulders, III (7)............................................ 73,507 *
Terrence O'Donnell (8)................................................. 90,000 1.0
Milton E. Cooper, Jr. (12)............................................. 20,000 *
Lawrence S. Herman (9)................................................. 37,500 *
All Directors and named executive officers as a group (8 Individuals).. 3,677,707 38.7
Eric D. Hovde (10)..................................................... 1,153,069 13.6
Putnam, LLC,
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.,
Putnam Investment Management, LLC,
The Putnam Advisory Company, LLC (11).................................. 1,005,250 11.9
* Less than 1%
(1) The business address of Messrs. Norton, Bowen, Mencarini, Parkhurst, Faulders, O'Donnell, Cooper,
and Herman is 13595 Dulles Technology Drive, Herndon, Virginia, 20171-3413. The business address of
Mr. Hovde is 1826 Jefferson Place, NW, Washington, DC 20036. The business address of Putnam LLC is
One Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.
(2) Unless otherwise indicated and subject to community property laws where applicable, each of the
stockholders named in this table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares
shown as beneficially owned by such stockholder. A person is deemed to be the beneficial owner of
securities that can be acquired by such person within 60 days from July 25, 2005, upon exercise of
options or warrants. Each beneficial owner's percentage ownership is determined by assuming that
options or warrants that are held by such person (but not by any other person) and that are
exercisable within 60 days from July 25, 2005, have been exercised. The ownership amounts reported
for persons who we know own more than 5% of our common stock are based on the Schedules 13D and 13G
and Forms 4 and 5 filed with the SEC by such persons, unless we have reason to believe that the
information contained in those filings is not complete or accurate.
(3) Includes 2,040,000 shares held by J.A.P. Investment Group, L.P., a Virginia limited partnership, of
which J.A.P., Inc., a Virginia corporation, is the sole general partner. The limited partners are:
Patricia A. Norton, the spouse of Mr. Norton, trustee for the benefit of Phillip G. Norton, Jr., u/a
dated as of July 20, 1983; Patricia A. Norton, the spouse of Mr. Norton, trustee for the benefit of
Andrew L. Norton, u/a dated as of July 20, 1983; Patricia A. Norton, trustee for the benefit of
Jeremiah O. Norton, u/a dated as of July 20, 1983; and Patricia A. Norton. Patricia A. Norton is
the sole stockholder of J.A.P., Inc. Also includes 305,000 shares of common stock issuable to Mr.
Norton under options. Mr. Norton holds 1,000 shares individually.
(4) Includes 445,000 shares held by Mr. and Mrs. Bowen, as tenants by the entirety, and 160,000 shares
held by Bowen Holdings LLC, a Virginia limited-liability company composed of Mr. Bowen and his three
children, for which shares Mr. Bowen serves as manager. Also includes 145,000 shares of common
stock issuable to Mr. Bowen under options.
(5) Includes 107,700 shares of common stock issuable to Mr. Mencarini under options.
(6) Includes 240,000 shares of common stock issuable to Mr. Parkhurst under options.
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(7) Includes 73,507 shares of common stock issuable to Mr. Faulders under options.
(8) Includes 90,000 shares of common stock issuable to Mr. O'Donnell under options.
(9) Includes 37,500 shares of common stock issuable to Mr. Herman under options.
(10) Of the 1,153,069 shares beneficially owned by Eric D. Hovde, 32,824 shares are owned directly; Eric
D. Hovde is the managing member (MM) of Hovde Capital, L.L.C., the general partner to Financial
Institution Partners II, L.P., which owns 328,719 shares; Eric D. Hovde is the MM of Hovde Capital
Limited IV LLC, the general partner to Financial Institution Partners IV, L.P., which owns 44,170
shares; Eric D. Hovde is the MM of Hovde Capital, Ltd., the general partner to Financial
Institution Partners III, L.P., which owns 225,971 shares; Eric D. Hovde is the MM of Hovde Capital
IV, LLC, the general partner to Financial Institution Partners, L.P., which owns 329,795 shares;
Eric D. Hovde is the MM to Hovde Capital Offshore LLC, the management company to Financial
Institution Partners, Ltd., which owns 125,590 shares; Eric D. Hovde is the MM of Hovde Acquisition
II, L.L.C., which owns 30,000 Shares; Eric D. Hovde is the trustee to The Hovde Financial, Inc.
Profit Sharing Plan and Trust, which owns 19,000 shares; Eric D. Hovde is the trustee to The Eric D.
and Steven D. Hovde Foundation, which owns 17,000 shares. This information was obtained from a Form
4 signed by Eric D. Hovde dated July 6, 2005.
(11) The information as to Putnam, LLC, Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., Putnam Investment Management,
LLC and The Putnam Advisory Company, LLC is derived from a Schedule 13G/A dated February 11, 2005.
The Schedule 13G/A states that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has no voting or dispositive power
with respect to the 1,005,250 shares, that Putnam, LLC has shared voting power with respect to
432,300 shares and shared dispositive power with respect to all 1,005,250 shares, that Putnam
Investment Management, LLC has shared dispositive power with respect to 481,400 shares and that The
Putnam Advisory Company, LLC has shared voting power with respect to 432,300 shares and shared
dispositive power with respect to 523,850 shares.
(12) Includes 20,000 shares of common stock issuable to Mr. Cooper under options.
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth the name, age, and position with ePlus inc. of
each person who is an executive officer or Director.
Name Age Position Class
------------------------------------ ----- --------------------------------------------------------------- -------
Phillip G. Norton..................... 61 Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer III
Bruce M. Bowen........................ 53 Director and Executive Vice President III
Steven J. Mencarini................... 50 Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Kleyton L. Parkhurst.................. 42 Senior Vice President, Assistant Secretary, and Treasurer
Terrence O'Donnell.................... 61 Director II
Milton E. Cooper, Jr.................. 67 Director II
C. Thomas Faulders, III............... 55 Director I
Lawrence S. Herman.................... 61 Director I
The business experience during the past five years of each Director and
executive officer of ePlus is described below.
Phillip G. Norton joined us in March 1993 and has served since then as our
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. Since September 1996, Mr.
Norton has also served as our President. Mr. Norton is a 1966 graduate of the
U.S. Naval Academy. Mr. Norton has been nominated by the Board of Directors for
re-election as a Class III Director at the 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
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Bruce M. Bowen founded our company in 1990 and served as our President until
September 1996. Since September 1996, Mr. Bowen has served as our Executive Vice
President, and from September 1996 to June 1997 also served as our Chief
Financial Officer. Mr. Bowen has served on our Board of Directors since our
founding. He is a 1973 graduate of the University of Maryland and in 1978
received a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Maryland.
Mr. Bowen has been nominated by the Board of Directors for re-election as a
Class III Director at the 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Steven J. Mencarini joined us in June of 1997 as Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer. Prior to joining us, Mr. Mencarini was Controller of the
Technology Management Group of Computer Sciences Corporation, one of the
nation's three largest information technology outsourcing organizations. Mr.
Mencarini joined Computer Sciences Corporation in 1991 as Director of Finance
and was promoted to Controller in 1996. Mr. Mencarini is a 1976 graduate of the
University of Maryland and received a Masters of Taxation from American
University in 1985.
Kleyton L. Parkhurst joined us in May 1991 as Director of Finance and served as
our Secretary and Treasurer from September 1996 until September 2001. Since
September 2001 Mr. Parkhurst has served as our Assistant Secretary and
Treasurer. In July 1998, Mr. Parkhurst was made Senior Vice President for
Corporate Development. Mr. Parkhurst is currently responsible for all of our
mergers and acquisitions, investor relations, and marketing. Mr. Parkhurst is a
1985 graduate of Middlebury College.
Terrence O'Donnell joined our Board of Directors in November 1996 upon the
completion of our initial public offering. Mr. O'Donnell is Executive Vice
President and General Counsel of Textron, Inc. and a partner with the law firm
of Williams & Connolly LLP in Washington, D.C. Mr. O'Donnell has practiced law
since 1977, and from 1989 through 1992 served as General Counsel to the U.S.
Department of Defense. Mr. O'Donnell presently also serves as a Director of IGI,
Inc., an American Stock Exchange company. Mr. O'Donnell is a 1966 graduate of
the U.S. Air Force Academy and received a Juris Doctor from Georgetown
University Law Center in 1971.
Milton E. Cooper, Jr. joined us in November 2003. Mr. Cooper served with
Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) from September 1984 through May 2001, first
as Vice President, Business Development and then (from January 1992) as
President, Federal Sector. Before joining CSC, Mr. Cooper served in marketing
and general management positions with IBM Corporation, Telex Corporation, and
Raytheon Company. He is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of Identix,
Inc., which is a NASDAQ-traded company, and serves on the Board of Directors,
the Audit Committee, and the Compensation Committee of Applied Signal
Technology, Inc. Mr. Cooper is a 1960 graduate of the United States Military
Academy. He served as an artillery officer with the 82nd Airborne Division
before leaving active duty in 1963.
C. Thomas Faulders, III joined our Board of Directors in July 1998. Mr. Faulders
served as the Chairman and CEO of LCC International, Inc. from 1999 to 2005 and
as Chairman of Telesciences, Inc., an information services company, from 1998 to
1999. From 1995 to 1998, Mr. Faulders was Executive Vice President, Treasurer,
and Chief Financial Officer of BDM International, Inc., a prominent systems
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integration company. Mr. Faulders is a member of the Board of Directors of
United Defense Inc., Analex Corporation, and Universal Technology and Systems,
Inc. He is a 1971 graduate of the University of Virginia and in 1981 received a
Masters of Business Administration from the Wharton School of the University of
Pennsylvania.
Lawrence S. Herman joined our Board of Directors in March 2001. Mr. Herman is
one of BearingPoint's most senior Managing Directors and is responsible for
managing the strategy and emerging markets in the company's state and local
government practice. During his career, Mr. Herman has specialized in
developing, evaluating, and implementing financial and management systems and
strategies for state and local governments around the nation. Mr. Herman has
been with BearingPoint for over thirty-eight years. He has directed systems
integration projects for state and local governments, and several statewide
performance and budget reviews for California, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Louisiana, Oklahoma, and others, resulting in strategic fiscal and technology
plans. He is considered to be one of the nation's foremost state budget and
fiscal planning experts. Mr. Herman received his B.S. degree in Mathematics and
Economics from Tufts University in 1965 and his Masters of Business
Administration in 1967 from Harvard Business School.
Each executive officer of ePlus is chosen by the Board of Directors and holds
his or her office until his or her successor shall have been duly chosen and
qualified or until his or her death or until he or she shall resign or be
removed as provided by the Bylaws.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires
ePlus' officers, Directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of a
registered class of ePlus' equity securities to file reports of ownership and
changes in ownership of equity securities of ePlus with the SEC. Officers,
Directors, and greater-than-ten-percent stockholders are required by SEC
regulations to furnish ePlus with copies of all Section 16(a) forms that they
file.
Based solely upon a review of Forms 3, Forms 4, and Forms 5 furnished to ePlus
pursuant to Rule 16a-3 under the Exchange Act, ePlus believes that all such
forms required to be filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act were
timely filed, as necessary, by the officers, Directors, and security holders
required to file such forms, with the exception that Messrs. Cooper, Faulders,
Herman, and O'Donnell were late in filing a Form 4 in connection with the grant
of 10,000 options to each Director on September 15, 2004.
The Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors is divided into three classes: Class I, comprised of two
Directors; Class II, comprised of two Directors; and Class III, comprised of two
Directors. Subject to the provisions of the Bylaws, at each Annual Meeting of
Stockholders, the successors to the class of Directors whose term is then
expiring shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the third
succeeding Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Messrs. Norton and Bowen, our Class
III Directors, are standing for re-election at the 2005 Annual Meeting. Each
Director holds office until his or her successor has been duly elected and
qualified or until he or she has resigned or been removed in the manner provided
in the Bylaws. The members of the three classes of Directors are as follows:
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o Class I
C. Thomas Faulders, III
Lawrence S. Herman
o Class II
Terrence O'Donnell
Milton E. Cooper, Jr.
o Class III
Phillip G. Norton
Bruce M. Bowen
The Class I Directors will stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders in 2006. The Class II Directors will stand for re-election at the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2007. The classification of the Board of
Directors, with staggered terms of office, was implemented for the purpose of
maintaining continuity of management and of the Board of Directors.
There are no material proceedings to which any Director, executive officer, or
affiliate of ePlus, any owner of record or beneficially of more than five
percent of any class of voting securities of ePlus, or any associate of any such
Director, executive officer, affiliate of ePlus, or security holder is a party
adverse to ePlus or any of its subsidiaries or has a material interest adverse
to ePlus or any of its subsidiaries. Directors Milton E. Cooper, Jr., C. Thomas
Faulders III, Lawrence S. Herman, and Terrence O'Donnell are independent as that
term is defined under the rules of the National Association of Securities
Dealers.
Director Compensation
Directors who are also employees of ePlus do not currently receive any
compensation for service as members of the Board of Directors. During the fiscal
year ending March 31, 2005, each outside Director received an annual grant of
10,000 stock options and $500 for each Board meeting. Beginning July 1, 2005,
each outside Director receives $8,750 quarterly in cash compensation and an
annual grant of 10,000 stock options. All Directors are reimbursed for their
out-of-pocket expenses incurred to attend Board or committee meetings.
Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors met nine times during the fiscal year ended March 31,
2005. In addition to meetings of the full Board, Directors also attended
meetings of Board committees. No incumbent Director attended fewer than 75% of
the total number of meetings held by the Board of Directors and the meetings of
any committee on which the Director served. Directors are encouraged to attend
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Annual Meetings of ePlus Stockholders. All six Directors attended last year's
Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors has the following committees: the Audit
Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Stock Incentive Committee, and the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
Audit Committee
General. The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for
selecting ePlus' independent public accountants, monitoring and reviewing the
quality and activities of ePlus' internal and external audit functions,
monitoring the adequacy of ePlus' operating and internal controls as reported by
management and the external or internal auditors, and reviewing ePlus' periodic
reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The members of the
Audit Committee as of March 31, 2005 were Terrence O'Donnell (Chairman), C.
Thomas Faulders, III, Lawrence S. Herman, and Milton E. Cooper, Jr. Each member
of the Audit Committee is independent as that term is defined under the rules of
the National Association of Securities Dealers. In addition, the Board of
Directors has determined that C. Thomas Faulders III qualifies as an "Audit
Committee Financial Expert" as defined in regulations issued by the Securities
and Exchange Commission. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005, four
meetings of the Audit Committee were held.
Audit Committee Report. The Audit Committee is composed of four Directors, who
are independent as defined under the rules of the National Association of
Securities Dealers. The Committee operates under a written charter approved by
the Board of Directors, which was included as Appendix A to ePlus' Proxy
Statement for the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
The Committee reviews ePlus' financial reporting process on behalf of the Board
of Directors. In fulfilling its responsibilities, the Committee has reviewed and
discussed the audited financial statements contained in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2005 with ePlus' management. Management
is responsible for our financial statements and the financial-reporting process,
including internal controls. The independent accountants are responsible for
expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
The Audit Committee has discussed with the independent accountants the matters
required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61,
Communication with Audit Committees, as amended. The Committee has discussed
with the independent accountants the accountants' independence from ePlus and
its management including the matters in the written disclosures provided to the
Committee as required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1,
Independence Discussions with Audit Committees. The Committee has also
considered whether the provision of non-audit services by the independent
accountants to ePlus is compatible with maintaining auditors' independence.
Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Committee
recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors approved, that
the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K
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for the year ended March 31, 2005 for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
BY THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
Terrence O'Donnell (Chairman)
C. Thomas Faulders, III
Lawrence S. Herman
Milton E. Cooper, Jr.
Compensation Committee
General. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for
reviewing the salaries, benefits, and other compensation, including stock-based
compensation, of Mr. Norton and Mr. Bowen, and making recommendations to the
Board of Directors based on its review. The members of the Compensation
Committee during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005 were C. Thomas Faulders,
III (Chairman), Terrence O'Donnell, Lawrence S. Herman, and Milton E. Cooper,
Jr., all of whom were independent Directors as that term is defined under the
rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers. Mr. Norton and Mr.
Bowen, as Directors, do not vote on any matters affecting their personal
compensation. Mr. Bowen and Mr. Norton are responsible for reviewing and
establishing salaries, benefits, and other compensation, excluding stock-based
compensation, for all other employees.
Compensation arrangements during our 2005 fiscal year were determined in
accordance with the executive compensation policy set forth below. The
Compensation Committee considers compensation paid to our executive officers to
be deductible for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Compensation Committee Report. The Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors has prepared the following report on our policies with respect to the
compensation of executive officers for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005. The
compensation programs of ePlus are designed to align compensation with business
objectives and performance, and to enable ePlus to attract, retain, and reward
executives who contribute to the long-term success of ePlus.
The Compensation Committee believes that executive pay should be linked to
performance. Therefore, ePlus provides an executive-compensation program which
includes three principal elements: (1) base pay, (2) potential cash bonus, and
(3) long-term incentive opportunities through the use of stock options.
Criteria for Determination of Executive Compensation. The role of the
Compensation Committee is to review the compensation of Messrs. Norton, Bowen,
Mencarini, and Parkhurst, who are the named executive officers. In determining
each of the principal elements of each executive's compensation, as well as the
overall compensation package thereof, the following criteria are considered by
the persons responsible for recommending or approving such compensation: (1) the
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compensation awarded to executives with comparable titles and responsibilities
to those of such executive by companies in our industry (or, to the extent
information is not available, in comparable industries) whose revenues and
earnings are comparable to those of ePlus, as reported by reliable independent
sources; (2) the results of operations of ePlus during the past year, on an
absolute basis and compared with ePlus' targeted results for such year as well
as with the results of the comparable companies, as reported by reliable
independent sources; (3) the performance of such executive during the past year,
on an absolute basis and as compared with the performance targets set by ePlus
for such executive for such year and the performance of the other executives of
ePlus during such year; and (4) any other factor which the Compensation
Committee determines to be relevant. The weight to be given to each of the
foregoing criteria is determined by the Compensation Committee in the exercise
of its reasonable judgment in accordance with the purposes of this executive
compensation policy and may vary from time to time or from executive to
executive. The Compensation Committee has also commissioned and relied upon an
independent compensation study conducted by Wyatt Watson Worldwide, in which the
compensation of ePlus executives was compared to those of thirteen other
similarly situated companies.
On February 28, 2005 the Board of Directors approved the adoption of separate
ePlus inc. Supplemental Benefit Plans (each a "Plan" and together, "the Plans")
for each of (i) Bruce M. Bowen, Director and Executive Vice President (ii)
Steven J. Mencarini, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and (iii)
Kleyton L. Parkhurst, Senior Vice President, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer
(the "Participants"). Each Plan is substantially similar. These supplemental
benefit plans were developed in conjunction with the aforementioned independent
study and designed to provide the named executives with a long-term incentive
plan outside the Company's normal equity incentive plans. Mr. Norton did not
participate in this benefit plan.
The Plans are unfunded and nonqualified and are designed provide the
Participants with a cash benefit that is payable only upon the earlier to occur
of (i) death, (ii) termination of employment or (iii) the expiration of the
Plans. Each Plan terminates on August 11, 2014. Under the terms of the Plans,
the Participants or their beneficiaries have only the right to receive a single
lump sum cash distribution upon the occurrence of one of the triggering events
described above. Under the terms of the Plans, the Participants do not have a
right to accelerate payments of the benefits payable under the Plans. If a
Participant is terminated for Cause (as defined in each Plan) prior to the
expiration of the respective Plan, the Company will have no further obligation
under such Plan and the affected Participant will not be entitled to any
payments under such Plan. In connection with the adoption of the Plans, the
Company will establish one or more grantor trusts to which it may transfer
assets intended to be used for the benefit of the Participants. Through the date
of distribution of Plan benefits, the assets of such trusts will remain subject
to the claims of the Company's creditors and the beneficiaries of the trusts
shall have standing with respect to the trusts' assets not greater than that of
general unsecured creditors of the Company.
Chief Executive Officer Compensation. The executive compensation policy
described above is applied in setting Mr. Norton's compensation. Mr. Norton
generally participates in the same executive compensation plans and arrangements
available to the other executives. Accordingly, his compensation also consists
of an annual base salary, a potential annual cash bonus, and, potentially,
long-term, equity-linked compensation in the form of stock options. The
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Compensation Committee's general approach in establishing Mr. Norton's
compensation is to be competitive with peer companies, but to have a large
percentage of his target based upon objective performance criteria and targets
established in our strategic plan.
Mr. Norton's compensation for the year ended March 31, 2005 included $343,750 in
base salary. Mr. Norton's salary was based on the aforementioned independent
compensation study and other factors, such as his importance to the Company,
which the Compensation Committee considered relevant.
Section 162(m). Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code imposes a $1 million
cap, with certain exceptions, on the amount that a publicly-held corporation may
deduct in any year for the compensation paid with respect to its five most
highly compensated executive officers. The Amended and Restated 1998 Long-Term
Incentive Plan, Amended and Restated Incentive Stock Option Plan, and the
Amended and Restated Nonqualified Stock Option Plan have been approved by
stockholders so that compensation attributable to stock options and certain
other awards granted under such plans may be excluded from the $1 million cap.
While the Compensation Committee cannot predict with certainty how ePlus'
compensation tax deduction might be affected, the Compensation Committee tries
to preserve the tax-deductibility of all executive compensation while
maintaining flexibility with respect to ePlus' compensation programs as
described in this report. The Compensation Committee believes that the Company
will not be subject to any Section 162(m) limitations on the deductibility of
compensation paid to the named executive officers for the fiscal year 2005.
During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005, three meetings of the Compensation
Committee were held.
BY THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
C. Thomas Faulders, III (Chairman)
Terrence O'Donnell
Lawrence S. Herman
Milton E. Cooper, Jr.
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Stock Incentive Committee
The Stock Incentive Committee of the Board of Directors is authorized to award
stock, and various stock options and rights and other stock-based compensation
grants under the ePlus inc. Amended and Restated 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
The members of the Stock Incentive Committee during the fiscal year ended March
31, 2005 were Mr. Bowen and Mr. Norton. Except for formula plan grants to the
outside Directors and grants that are approved by a majority of the
disinterested members of the Board of Directors, no member of the Stock
Incentive Committee or the Compensation Committee is eligible to receive grants
under the ePlus inc. Amended and Restated 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan. During
the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005, no meetings of the Stock Incentive
Committee were held.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee assists the Board of Directors
in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities under the Nasdaq Stock Market
listing standards and Delaware law. This committee is authorized and designated
for the purposes of: (1) identifying individuals qualified to serve on the Board
of Directors and to select, or to recommend that the Board of Directors select,
a slate of Director nominees for election by the stockholders of ePlus at each
Annual Meeting of Stockholders of ePlus, in accordance with ePlus' Certificate
of Incorporation and Bylaws and with Delaware law; and (2) evaluating,
developing, and recommending to the Board of Directors a set of corporate
governance policies and principles to be applicable to ePlus. Terrence
O'Donnell, C. Thomas Faulders, III, Lawrence S. Herman, and Milton E. Cooper,
Jr., all of whom are independent Directors as that term is defined under the
rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, were the members of the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee as of March 31, 2005. During the
fiscal year ended March 31, 2005, one meeting of the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee was held.
It is the policy of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to
consider properly submitted stockholder nominations for membership on the Board
of Directors. Any stockholder nomination must comply with the Bylaws of ePlus.
The notice must be in writing and delivered to the Corporate Secretary not later
than 90 days in advance of the Annual Meeting or, if later, the seventh day
following the first public announcement of the Meeting. The notice must set
forth: (i) the name and address of the stockholder who intends to make the
nomination and of the person or persons to be nominated; (ii) a representation
that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of ePlus entitled to vote at
such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the Meeting and
nominate the person or persons specified in the notice; (iii) a description of
all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder and each nominee or
any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which
the nomination or nominations are to be made by the stockholder; (iv) such other
information regarding each nominee proposed by such stockholder as would be
required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules
of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission had the nominee been
nominated, or intended to be nominated, by the Board of Directors; and (v) the
consent of each nominee to serve as a Director of ePlus if so elected. In
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addition, the stockholder making such nomination shall promptly provide any
other information reasonably requested by ePlus.
In evaluating such nominations, the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee seeks to achieve a balance of knowledge, experience, and capability on
the Board of Directors. Furthermore, any member of the Board of Directors must
have the highest personal ethics and values and have experience at the
policy-making level of business, and should be committed to enhancing
stockholder value.
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COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Summary Compensation Table
The following table provides certain summary information concerning the
compensation earned, for services rendered in all capacities to ePlus, by ePlus'
Chief Executive Officer and certain other executive officers of ePlus, whom we
refer to as the "named executive officers," for the fiscal years ended March 31,
2003, 2004, and 2005. Certain columns have been omitted from this summary
compensation table, as they are not applicable.
Long-Term
Annual Compensation Compensation
--------------------------------------- ----------------- -------------
Securities
Underlying
Name and Fiscal Bonus/ Options All Other
Principal Position Year Salary Commission (#) Compensation
------------------------------------ -------- -------------- ------------ ----------------- -------------
Phillip G. Norton 2005 $343,750(4) $175,000 300,000(3) $1,440(1)
Chairman, Chief Executive 2004 250,000 150,000 -- 1,320(1)
Officer, and President 2003 250,000 150,000 -- --
Bruce M. Bowen 2005 281,250(5) 137,500 50,000(3) 127,560(6)
Director and 2004 225,000 100,000 -- 5,895(7)
Executive Vice President 2003 225,000 100,000 -- 3,735(8)
Kleyton L. Parkhurst 2005 200,000 335,000 50,000(3) 50,160(9)
Senior Vice President, Assistant 2004 200,000 52,894 30,000(2) 1,320(1)
Secretary, and Treasurer 2003 200,000 100,000 -- --
Steven J. Mencarini 2005 225,000 130,000 50,000(3) 50,160(10)
Chief Financial Officer and 2004 215,000 46,875 -- 1,320(1)
Senior Vice President 2003 185,000 71,250 12,000(2) --
------------------------------------
(1) All amounts reported represent ePlus' employer 401(k) plan matching contributions.
(2) Stock options granted on June 28, 2002 under the ePlus Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan.
(3) Stock options granted on November 16, 2004 under the ePlus Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan.
(4) Difference represents an increase in annual salary from $250,000 to $375,000 effective July 1, 2004.
(5) Difference represents an increase in annual salary from $225,000 to $300,000 effective July 1, 2004.
(6) Includes $4,260 of country-club dues, $1,500 of ePlus' employer 401(k) matching contributions, and
$121,800 of compensation related to the Supplemental Benefit Plan, which is a nonqualified deferred
compensation plan.
(7) Includes $1,320 of ePlus' employer 401(k) matching contribution and $4,575 of country-club dues.
(8) Includes $3,735 of country-club dues.
(9) Includes $1,440 of ePlus' employer 401(k) matching contribution and $48,720 of compensation related to the
Supplemental Benefit Plan, which is a nonqualified deferred compensation plan.
(10) Includes $1,440 of ePlus' employer 401(k) matching contribution and $48,720 of compensation related to the
Supplemental Benefit Plan, which is a nonqualified deferred compensation plan.
-15-
Fiscal Year-End Option Values
The following table sets forth information regarding the value of unexercised
options held by the named executive officers at the end of fiscal year 2005. The
named executive officers did not exercise any options during fiscal year 2005.
Number of Securities Value of Unexercised
Underlying Unexercised Options In-the-Money Options at Fiscal
at Fiscal Year-End (#) Year-End($)(1)
------------------------------ ---------------------------------
Name Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable
------------------------- ------------- --------------- -------------- -----------------
Phillip G. Norton.......... 305,000 300,000 $1,065,600 $206,560
Bruce M. Bowen............. 145,000 50,000 497,150 40,000
Kleyton L. Parkhurst....... 225,000 65,000 823,600 110,500
Steven J. Mencarini........ 101,700 56,000 218,800 68,200
-------------------------
(1) Based on a last sale price of $11.67 per share as of the close of business on March 31, 2005.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table gives information about ePlus' common stock that may be
issued upon the exercise of options, warrants, and rights under all of ePlus'
existing equity compensation plans as of March 31, 2005, including the ePlus
inc. Amended and Restated 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan, Amended and Restated
Incentive Stock Option Plan, Amended and Restated Outside Director Stock Option
Plan, and Amended and Restated Nonqualified Stock Option Plan.
Number of securities
remaining available for
Number of securities to Weighted-average future issuance under equity
be issued upon exercise exercise price of compensation plans
of outstanding options, outstanding options, (excluding securities
Plan Category warrants, and rights warrants, and rights reflected in column)
-------------------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------- ------------------------------
Equity compensation plans
approved by security holders...... 2,166,182 $9.43 283,341
Equity compensation plans not
approved by security holders...... -- -- --
Total............................. 2,166,182 $9.43 283,341
Employment Contracts and Termination of Employment and Change in Control
Arrangements
ePlus has entered into employment agreements with Phillip G. Norton and Bruce M.
Bowen, each effective as of September 1, 1996, and with Kleyton L. Parkhurst and
Steven J. Mencarini, effective as of October 31, 2003. Each of Messrs. Norton's
and Bowen's employment agreements provided for an initial term of three years,
and is subject to an automatic one-year renewal at the expiration thereof unless
ePlus or the employee provides notice of an intention not to renew at least
three months prior to expiration. Each of Messrs. Parkhurst's and Mencarini's
employment agreements provided for an initial term of two years, and is subject
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to an automatic one-year renewal at the expiration thereof unless ePlus provides
at least six months' prior notice of termination or the employee resigns for any
reason.
The current annual base salaries ($375,000 in the case of Phillip G. Norton;
$300,000 in the case of Bruce M. Bowen; $200,000 in the case of Kleyton L.
Parkhurst; and $225,000 in the case of Steven J. Mencarini) are in effect and
each employee may be eligible for commissions or performance bonuses. The
performance bonuses for Phillip G. Norton and Bruce M. Bowen are discretionary,
based on the performance of ePlus and as approved by the Compensation Committee.
The performance bonuses for Kleyton L. Parkhurst and Steven J. Mencarini are
paid based upon performance criteria established by Phillip G. Norton and Bruce
M. Bowen.
Under the employment agreements, each receives certain other benefits, including
medical, insurance, death and long-term disability benefits, employer 401(k)
contributions, and reimbursement of employment-related expenses. Mr. Bowen's
country-club dues are paid by ePlus. In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005,
the amount of these dues totaled $4,260. The employment agreements of Messrs.
Norton and Bowen contain a covenant not to compete on the part of each, whereby,
in the event of a voluntary termination of employment, upon expiration of the
term of the agreement, or upon the termination of employment by ePlus for cause,
each is subject to restrictions on acquiring, consulting with, or otherwise
engaging in or assisting in the providing of capital needs for competing
business activities or entities within the United States for a period of one
year after the date of such termination or expiration of the term of the
employment agreement.
Under his original employment agreement, Phillip G. Norton was granted options
to acquire 130,000 shares of common stock at a price per share equal to $8.75.
These options have a ten-year term and became exercisable and vested in 25%
increments over four years, ending on November 20, 1999. In February 1998, Mr.
Norton was also granted options to purchase 25,000 shares of common stock at a
price per share equal to $12.65; however, these options expired without being
exercised on February 5, 2003. In August 1999, Mr. Norton was granted options to
purchase 175,000 shares of common stock at a price per share equal to $7.75. In
November 2004, Mr. Norton was granted options to purchase 258,200 shares of
common stock at a price per share equal to $10.87 and 41,800 shares at a price
per share equal to $11.96.
Under his original employment agreement, Bruce M. Bowen was granted options to
acquire 15,000 shares of common stock at a price per share equal to $8.75. These
options have a ten-year term and became exercisable and vested in 25% increments
over four years, ending on November 20, 1999. In February 1998, Mr. Bowen was
also granted options to purchase 15,000 shares of common stock at a price per
share equal to $11.50 and in August 1999 was granted options to purchase 115,000
shares of common stock at a price per share equal to $7.75. In November 2004,
Mr. Bowen was granted options to purchase 50,000 shares of common stock at a
price per share equal to $10.87.
Under his original employment agreement, Kleyton L. Parkhurst was granted
options to acquire 100,000 shares of common stock at a price per share equal to
$6.40. These options have a ten-year term and became exercisable and vested in
25% increments over four years ending on November 20, 1999. In February 1998,
Mr. Parkhurst was also granted options to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock
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at a price per share equal to $11.50 and in September 1998 was granted options
to purchase 50,000 shares of common stock at a price per share of $8.75. In
August 1999, Mr. Parkhurst was granted options to purchase 20,000 shares of
common stock at a price per share equal to $7.75 and in September 2000 was
granted options to purchase 30,000 shares of common stock at a price per share
equal to $17.375. In June 2002, Mr. Parkhurst was also granted 30,000 options to
purchase common stock at a price per share equal to $6.97. In November 2004, Mr.
Parkhurst was granted options to purchase 50,000 shares of common stock at a
price per share equal to $10.87.
In connection with his original employment, Steven J. Mencarini was granted
options to acquire 16,200 shares of common stock at a price per share equal to
$12.75. These options have a ten-year term, and become exercisable and vest in
20% increments over five years at the end of each year of service, and are
subject to acceleration upon certain conditions. In September 1997, Mr.
Mencarini was also granted options to purchase 5,100 shares of common stock at a
price per share equal to $13.25 and in December 1997 was granted options to
purchase 9,400 shares of common stock at a price per share equal to $12.25. In
February 1998, Mr. Mencarini was granted options to purchase 5,000 shares of
common stock at a price per share equal to $11.50; in October 1998, he was
granted options to purchase 25,000 shares of common stock at a price per share
equal to $8.00; in August 1999 he was granted options to purchase 20,000 shares
of common stock at a price per share equal to $7.75; in September 2000 he was
granted options to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock at a price per share
equal to $17.375; and in December 2000 he was granted options to purchase 5,000
shares of common stock at a price per share equal to $7.75. In June 2002, Mr.
Mencarini was also granted 12,000 options to purchase common stock at a price
per share equal to $6.97 per share. In November 2004, Mr. Mencarini was granted
options to purchase 50,000 shares of common stock at a price per share equal to
$10.87.
ePlus maintains key-man life insurance on Mr. Norton in the amount of $11
million.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
For the year ended March 31, 2005, all decisions regarding executive
compensation were made by the Compensation Committee with respect to Mr. Norton
and Mr. Bowen. Compensation for other executives was made by the Committee, Mr.
Norton, or Mr. Bowen consistent with Compensation Committee policy. The members
of the Compensation Committee as of March 31, 2005 were C. Thomas Faulders III
(Chairman), Terrence O'Donnell, Lawrence S. Herman, and Milton E. Cooper, Jr.
None of the executive officers of ePlus currently serves on the compensation
committee of another entity or any other committee of the board of directors of
another entity performing similar functions.
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PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph shows the value as of March 31, 2005 of a $100 investment
made on March 31, 2000 in ePlus' common stock (with dividends, if any,
reinvested), as compared with similar investments based on (1) the value of the
Nasdaq Stock Market Index (U.S.) (with dividends reinvested) and (2) the value
of the Nasdaq financial index. The stock performance shown below is not
necessarily indicative of future performance.
3/01 3/02 3/03 3/04 3/05
EPLUS INC. 27.74 28.65 21.74 39.15 35.23
NASDAQ STOCK MARKET (U.S.) 47.07 41.31 21.97 38.41 37.26
NASDAQ FINANCIAL 106.28 129.20 117.54 167.48 171.63
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CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
Advances and Loans to Employees
ePlus has in the past provided loans and advances to employees. Such balances
are to be repaid from personal funds or commissions earned by the employees on
successful sales or financing arrangements obtained on behalf of ePlus. Loans
and advances to employees outstanding as of March 31, 2005 totaled $21,181.
There were no loans or extensions of credit by ePlus or any ePlus subsidiary to
any of the ePlus Directors or executive officers.
Leases with Related Parties
ePlus leases certain office space from related parties. During the year ended
March 31, 2005, ePlus paid $517,936 in rent to an entity controlled by Phillip
G. Norton, our Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer. All leases with
related parties are approved in advance by the Board of Directors.
Indemnification Agreements
We have entered into separate but identical indemnification agreements with each
of our Directors and executive officers, and we expect to enter into similar
indemnification agreements with persons who become Directors or executive
officers in the future. The indemnification agreements provide that ePlus will
indemnify the Director or officer against any expenses or liabilities incurred
in connection with any proceeding in which the Director or officer may be
involved as a party or otherwise, by reason of the fact that the Director or
officer is or was a Director or officer of ePlus or by reason of any action
taken by or omitted to be taken by the Director or officer while acting as an
officer or Director of ePlus. However, ePlus is only obligated to provide
indemnification under the indemnification agreements if:
(1) The Director or officer was acting in good faith and in a manner the
Director or officer reasonably believed to be in the best interests of
ePlus, and, with respect to any criminal action, the Director or
officer had no reasonable cause to believe the Director's or officer's
conduct was unlawful;
(2) The claim was not made to recover profits made by the Director or
officer in violation of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, as amended,
or any successor statute;
(3) The claim was not initiated by the Director or officer;
(4) The claim was not covered by applicable insurance; or
(5) The claim was not for an act or omission of a Director of ePlus from
which a Director may not be relieved of liability under Section
103(b)(7) of the DGCL. Each Director and officer has undertaken to
repay ePlus for any costs or expenses paid by ePlus if it is
ultimately determined that the Director or officer is not entitled to
indemnification under the indemnification agreements.
-20-
Future Transactions
ePlus' policy requires that all material transactions between ePlus and its
officers, Directors, or other affiliates must be approved by a majority of the
disinterested members of the Board of Directors of ePlus, and be on terms no
less favorable to ePlus than could be obtained from unaffiliated third parties.
-21-
PROPOSAL 1
To Elect Two Class III Directors to Serve for Three Years and Until Their
Respective Successors Have Been Duly Elected and Qualified.
The Board of Directors has concluded that the re-election of Phillip G. Norton
and Bruce M. Bowen as Class III Directors is in the best interest of ePlus and
recommends stockholder approval of the re-election of Phillip G. Norton and
Bruce M. Bowen as Class III Directors. The remaining four Directors will
continue to serve in their positions for the remainder of their terms.
Biographical information concerning Mr. Norton and Mr. Bowen, and ePlus' other
Directors, can be found under "Directors and Executive Officers."
Unless otherwise instructed or unless authority to vote is withheld, all signed
proxies will be voted for the election of Phillip G. Norton and Bruce M. Bowen
as Class III Directors. Although the Board of Directors of ePlus does not
contemplate that such nominees will be unable to serve, if such a situation
arises prior to the Annual Meeting, the persons named in the enclosed Proxy Card
will vote for the election of such other person or persons as may be nominated
by the Board of Directors.
Vote Required for Approval. The two persons receiving the greatest number of
affirmative votes cast at the Annual Meeting will be elected as Class III
Directors.
Board of Directors Recommendation. The Board of Directors unanimously recommends
that you vote in favor of the election of Phillip G. Norton and Bruce M. Bowen
as Class III Directors.
PROPOSAL 2
To Ratify the Appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as ePlus' Independent
Auditors for ePlus' Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2006.
Subject to stockholder ratification, the Audit Committee has reappointed the
firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent auditors to examine ePlus'
financial statements for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2006. Deloitte &
Touche has audited ePlus' financial statements since the Company's inception. If
the stockholders do not ratify this appointment, the Board of Directors and the
Audit Committee will review the Audit Committee's future selection of
independent registered public accounting firms.
Representatives of Deloitte & Touche are expected to attend the Annual Meeting
and will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire and to respond
to appropriate questions.
Vote Required for Approval. The affirmative vote of the holders of at least a
majority of the shares of common stock present in person or by proxy and
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting on the proposal will constitute approval
of Proposal 2.
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Audit Committee Recommendation. The Audit Committee unanimously recommends that
you vote in favor of the ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche
LLP as independent auditors for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2006.
Fees Incurred by Deloitte & Touche LLP. The following table shows the fees paid
or accrued by ePlus for the audit and other services provided by Deloitte &
Touche LLP for fiscal 2005 and 2004.
2005 2004
---- ----
Audit Fees $517,000 $409,000
Audit-Related Fees 8,000 21,000
Tax Fees 0 0
All Other Fees 0 0
-------- --------
Total $525,000 $430,000
AUDIT FEES. The aggregate fees to be charged by Deloitte & Touche LLP for
professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005 and for the reviews of the financial
statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for that fiscal year
are $517,000. The aggregate fees charged by Deloitte & Touche LLP for
professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004 and for the reviews of the financial
statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for that fiscal year
were $409,000 (of this amount, $59,000 was initially billed during the fiscal
year ended March 31, 2005).
AUDIT-RELATED FEES. Fees billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP for audit-related
services rendered for Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Section 404 advisory services for the
fiscal year ended March 31, 2005 were $8,000. Fees billed by Deloitte & Touche
LLP for audit-related services rendered for due-diligence services associated
with acquisitions for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004 were $21,000 (this
amount was initially billed during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005).
TAX FEES. There were no fees billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP for tax-related
services rendered for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2005 or 2004.
ALL OTHER FEES. There were no other fees billed in the last two fiscal years for
professional services rendered by Deloitte & Touche LLP.
There were no non-audit related services provided by Deloitte & Touche LLP
during the last two fiscal years. The Audit Committee pre-approves all auditing
services (which may entail providing comfort letters in connection with
securities underwriting), and all non-audit services provided to ePlus by
Deloitte & Touche LLP, subject to a de minimis exception as set forth by the
SEC.
OTHER PROPOSED ACTION
The Board of Directors does not intend to bring any other matters before the
Annual Meeting, nor does the Board of Directors know of any matters which other
persons intend to bring before the Annual Meeting. If, however, other matters
not mentioned in this Proxy Statement properly come before the Annual Meeting,
the persons named in the accompanying Form of Proxy will vote thereon in
accordance with the recommendation of the Board of Directors.
-23-
You should note that ePlus' Bylaws provide that in order for a stockholder to
bring business before a Meeting or to make a nomination for the election of
Directors, the stockholder must give written notice complying with the
requirements of the Bylaws to the Secretary of ePlus not later than 90 days in
advance of the Meeting or, if later, the seventh day following the first public
announcement of the date of the Meeting.
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
Executive sessions of non-management Directors are held, and any non-management
Director can request that an executive session be scheduled at any time.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AND SUBMISSIONS
If any stockholder wishes to present a proposal for inclusion in the proxy
materials to be solicited by the ePlus Board of Directors with respect to the
next Annual Meeting of Stockholders, that proposal must be presented to ePlus'
management prior to April 10, 2006.
In accordance with ePlus' Bylaws, for a stockholder proposal or nomination to be
considered at a Meeting of Stockholders, the proposal must be submitted in
writing to the Secretary of ePlus not less than 90 days in advance of such
Meeting or, if later, the seventh day following the first public announcement of
the date of such Meeting.
Whether or not you expect to be present at the Annual Meeting, please sign and
return the enclosed Proxy Card promptly. Your vote is important. If you are a
stockholder of record and attend the Annual Meeting and wish to vote in person,
you may withdraw your proxy at any time prior to the vote.
COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD
Individuals may communicate with the Board of Directors of ePlus by sending
correspondence to:
ePlus
Attn: Corporate Secretary
Mailstop 192
13595 Dulles Technology Drive
Herndon, VA 20171-3413
-24-
Communications that are intended for non-management Directors should be sent to
the above address, to the attention of the Chairman of the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee.
-25-
[FORM OF PROXY CARD]
Please fold and detach card at perforation before mailing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY ALL PROXIES RECEIVED WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE CHOICES SPECIFIED ON SUCH PROXIES. THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY A PROXY WILL BE
VOTED IN FAVOR OF A PROPOSAL IF NO CONTRARY SPECIFICATION IS MADE. ALL VALID
PROXIES OBTAINED WILL BE VOTED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE APPOINTED PROXIES WITH
RESPECT TO ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT MAY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING.
1. To elect two Class III Directors, each to serve a term of three years and
until their successors have been duly elected and qualified.
TO VOTE FOR BOTH THE NOMINEES LISTED BELOW
[ ] FOR BOTH THE NOMINEES LISTED BELOW [ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
Phillip G. Norton Bruce M. Bowen
OR TO VOTE FOR EACH NOMINEE SEPARATELY
Phillip G. Norton [ ] FOR [ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
Bruce M. Bowen [ ] FOR [ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
2. To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as ePlus' independent
auditors for ePlus' fiscal year ending March 31, 2006.
[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE.
ePlus inc.
c/o National City Bank
Corporate Trust Operations
Locator 5232
P.O. ox 92301
Cleveland, OH 44101-4301
------------------------
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
Regardless of whether you plan to attend the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders, you can be sure your shares are represented at the
meeting by promptly returning your proxy in the enclosed envelope.
Please fold and detach card at perforation before mailing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ePlus inc. Annual Meeting of Stockholders Of Proxy
ePlus inc.
September 22, 2005
THE PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints Kleyton L. Parkhurst and Steven J. Mencarini,
and each or either of them, proxies, with power of substitution, to vote all
shares of the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of ePlus inc., a
Delaware corporation, to be held on September 22, 2005 at 8:00 a.m. at the ePlus
Headquarters Building located at 13595 Dulles Technology Drive, Herndon,
Virginia 20171-3413, or at any adjournment thereof, upon the matters set forth
in the Proxy Statement for such Meeting, and in their discretion, upon such
other business as may properly come before the Meeting.
Dated:________________________________________________, 2005
____________________________________________________________
(Signature)
____________________________________________________________
(Signature if held jointly)
NOTE: When shares are held by joint tenants, both should
sign. Persons signing as Executor, Administrator, Trustee,
etc. should so indicate. Please sign exactly as the name
appears on the proxy.