Rest of the answer
qualify as independent, a director must meet each standard; that is, a director must not have “a relationship which, in the opinion of the Company’s board of directors, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director” and the director must not have any relationship that is proscribed by the “bright line” standards.
The controlling nature of a board’s determination of independence is reflected in interpretive material issued by NASDAQ. For example, an interpretation of the independence standards set forth in the Nasdaq Listed Company Manual as IM-5605, “Definition of Independence - Rule 5605(a)(2),” states:
Similarly, for purposes of paragraph (B) of the Rule, compensation received by a director for former service as an interim Executive
Officer need not be considered as compensation in determining independence after such service, provided such interim employment did not last longer than one year. Nonetheless, the Company’s board of directors still must consider whether such former employment and any compensation received would interfere with the director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director.2 (emphasis added).
Under Nasdaq Listed Company Rule 5605(a)(2)(B), “The following persons shall not be considered independent:… (B) a director who accepted or who has a Family Member who accepted any compensation from the
Company in excess of $120,000 during any period of twelve consecutive months within the three years preceding the determination of independence…” Clause (B) provides an exception, however, for “compensation paid to a Family
Member who is an employee (other than an Executive Officer) of the Company.”
This interpretive material is set forth as IM-5605 in the Nasdaq Listed Company Manual at:
http://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com/NASDAQTools/PlatformViewer.asp?selectednode=chp%5F1%5F1%5F4%5F3&manual=%2Fnasdaq%2Fmain%2Fnasdaq%2 Dequityrules%2F.
Similarly, in NASDAQ interpretation 2012-2, NASDAQ evaluates whether a compensation arrangement with a director is or is not covered by the employment relationship provisions set forth under the “bright line” independence requirements of Rule 5605(a)(2)(B). Although NASDAQ determines that the facts before it do not preclude the director from being independent under Rule 5605(a)(2)(B), the interpretation goes on to emphasize the necessity of the company’s board of directors determining whether a relationship exists which, in the opinion of the board, would interfere with the director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Specifically, the interpretive opinion (the full text of which is attached as Appendix A to this letter) states:
Notwithstanding this conclusion [that the bright line standard is not applicable], pursuant to Listing Rule 5605(a)(2) and IM-5605, the company’s board has the responsibility to make an affirmative determination that no relationship exists that would impair the independence of any individual serving as an independent director. In assessing the Director’s independence, the
Board should consider his prior service as the company’s Chief Executive Officer and the Payments made to him pursuant to the Transition Agreement, along with any other relationships that the Director has with the company and its executive officers and employees, in order to determine whether any of these relationships individually or in the aggregate may interfere with the Director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out his responsibilities of a director.
Thus, under NASDAQ listing standards, a company’s board of directors makes the determination of whether a director is “independent.” A director’s or nominee’s individual view of her status is not controlling. In this regard, it is important to note, as the EW Proxy now concedes, that at the meeting of the Company’s Board of Directors on February 26, 2015, following a review of the definition of “independent director,” the Company’s Board unanimously determined that Governor Miller, Dr. Irani, and Messrs. Hagenbuch, Shoemaker, Virtue, and Wayson qualify as independent directors of the Company. Ms. Wynn participated in this Board meeting and, as she has done for over a dozen years, voted without objection in determining that she and Mr. Wynn do not qualify as independent. The Company believes that, contrary to what is suggested in the EW Preliminary Proxy, it is important to note that the Board’s determination of independence at its February 26, 2015 meeting occurred after the Board had voted to reduce the size of the Board and to re-nominate only Messrs. Hagenbuch and Virtue as the Company’s nominees.
Under the NASDAQ listing standards, a board must affirmatively determine whether a director qualifies as independent. Under Item 407(a)(3) of Regulation S-K, a company’s proxy statement must describe, “[f]or each director and nominee for director that is identified as independent, … any transactions, relationships or arrangements not disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) … that were considered by the board of directors under the applicable independence definitions in determining that the director is independent.” Accordingly, on page 9 of the Definitive Proxy
Statement, the Company states:
In assessing independence, the Board considered all relevant facts and circumstances, including that none of the independent directors or their immediate family members has any economic relationship with the Company other than the receipt of his director’s compensation and compensation provided to directors’ immediate family members, as defined under NASDAQ listing standards, which was less than $120,000 in the aggregate and was not for consulting or advisory services. None of the independent directors or their immediate family members is engaged in any related party transaction with the Company.
We respectfully believe that the foregoing disclosure satisfies the Company’s disclosure obligations regarding its determination of director independence under Item 407(a)(3) of Regulation S-K.
Acknowledgement
We hereby inform you on behalf of the Company that the Company acknowledges that:
• the Company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosures in the filing;
Staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff comments do not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing; and the Company may not assert staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States.