Quarterly Report


Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form 10-Q

 

 

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2009

or

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Transition Period From              to             

Commission File Number 001-32887

 

 

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   11-3547680
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)
23 Main Street, Holmdel, NJ   07733
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (732) 528-2600

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report): Not Applicable

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes   x     No   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).     Yes   ¨     No   ¨

 

* The registrant has not yet been phased into the interactive data requirements

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. Check one:

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   x
Non-accelerated filer   ¨   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).     Yes   ¨     No   x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

Class

 

Outstanding at October 31, 2009

Common Stock, par value $0.001   199,815,997 shares

 

 

 


Table of Contents

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.

INDEX

 

       Page
Part I. Financial Information   

Item 1.

   Financial Statements   
  

A)     Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2009 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2008

   2
  

B)      Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009 and 2008

   3
  

C)      Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009 and 2008

   4
  

D)     Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009

   5
  

E)      Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009

   6

Item 2.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    18

Item 3.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    33

Item 4

   Controls and Procedures    33
Part II. Other Information   

Item 1.

   Legal Proceedings    34

Item 1A.

   Risk Factors    34

Item 2.

   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds    34

Item 3.

   Defaults Upon Senior Securities    34

Item 4.

   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    34

Item 5.

   Other Information    34

Item 6.

   Exhibits    35
   Signature    36

Financial Information Presentation

For the financial information discussed in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, other than per share and per line amounts, dollar amounts are presented in thousands, except where noted.


Table of Contents

Part I – Financial Information

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except par value)

 

     September 30,
2009
    December 31,
2008
 
     (unaudited)        
Assets     

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 37,819      $ 46,134   

Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $2,429 and $2,045, respectively

     16,906        17,696   

Inventory, net of allowance of $1,127 and $1,405, respectively

     14,097        10,360   

Deferred customer acquisition costs, current

     18,612        24,002   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     41,935        18,325   
                

Total current assets

     129,369        116,517   

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation

     86,226        98,292   

Software, net of accumulated depreciation

     31,230        34,368   

Deferred customer acquisition costs, non-current

     9,317        20,393   

Debt related costs, net

     7,985        11,541   

Restricted cash

     40,173        39,585   

Intangible assets, net

     4,305        5,400   

Other assets

     9,146        10,809   
                

Total assets

   $ 317,751      $ 336,905   
                
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)     

Liabilities

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 10,498      $ 33,978   

Accrued expenses

     77,755        73,482   

Deferred revenue, current portion

     61,019        63,155   

Current maturities of capital lease obligations

     1,434        1,252   

Current portion of long-term debt

     1,303        1,303   
                

Total current liabilities

     152,009        173,170   

Notes payable, net of discount

     195,398        192,747   

Derivative embedded within convertible note, at fair value

     27,560        —     

Deferred revenue, net of current portion

     11,006        23,058   

Capital lease obligations, net of current maturities

     19,854        20,947   

Other liabilities, net of current portion in accrued expenses

     13,854        17,725   
                

Total liabilities

     419,681        427,647   
                

Commitments and Contingencies

    

Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)

    

Common stock, par value $0.001 per share; 596,950 shares authorized at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008; 199,127 and 158,201 shares issued at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively; 197,425 and 156,648 shares outstanding at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively

     199        158   

Additional paid-in capital

     1,008,303        980,768   

Stock subscription receivable

     (5,195     (5,195

Accumulated deficit

     (1,092,637     (1,052,861

Treasury stock, at cost, 1,702 shares at September 30, 2009 and 1,553 at December 31, 2008

     (12,843     (12,704

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     243        (908
                

Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)

     (101,930     (90,742
                

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficit)

   $ 317,751      $ 336,905   
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  

Operating Revenues:

        

Telephony services

   $ 216,085      $ 216,092      $ 646,437      $ 651,810   

Customer equipment and shipping

     5,420        9,678        19,101        26,101   
                                
     221,505        225,770        665,538        677,911   
                                

Operating Expenses:

        

Direct cost of telephony services (excluding depreciation and amortization of $4,371, $4,908, $14,000 and $14,337, respectivel

     52,044        56,502        155,275        169,586   

Direct cost of goods sold

     17,727        20,835        54,418        61,440   

Selling, general and administrative

     63,187        73,035        202,565        230,358   

Marketing

     57,393        64,911        175,232        191,110   

Depreciation and amortization

     12,881        13,347        39,625        34,670   
                                
     203,232        228,630        627,115        687,164   
                                

Income (loss) from operations

     18,273        (2,860     38,423        (9,253
                                

Other Income (Expense):

        

Interest income

     58        544        228        2,965   

Interest expense

     (13,690     (5,504     (40,911     (16,610

Change in fair value of derivatives

     (62,998     —          (48,878     —     

Gain (loss) on extinguishment of notes

     3,816        —          3,816        —     

Other, net

     15        46        821        (66
                                
     (72,799     (4,914     (84,924     (13,711
                                

Income (loss) before income tax benefit (expense)

     (54,526     (7,774     (46,501     (22,964

Income tax benefit (expense)

     (29     (43     (498     (696
                                

Net income (loss)

   $ (54,555   $ (7,817   $ (46,999   $ (23,660
                                

Net income (loss) per common share:

        

Basic

   $ (0.33   $ (0.05   $ (0.29   $ (0.15
                                

Diluted

   $ (0.33   $ (0.05   $ (0.29   $ (0.15
                                

Weighted-average common shares outstanding:

        

Basic

     167,666        156,299        160,477        156,146   
                                

Diluted

     167,666        156,299        160,477        156,146   
                                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2009     2008  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income (loss)

   $ (46,999   $ (23,660

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization and impairment charges

     38,530        32,563   

Amortization of intangibles

     1,095        2,107   

Change in fair value of derivatives

     48,878        —     

(Gain) loss on early extinguishment of notes

     (3,816     —     

Beneficial conversion on interest in kind on convertible notes

     —          93   

Amortization of discount on notes

     4,109        —     

Accrued interest paid in-kind

     12,513        —     

Allowance for doubtful accounts

     689        (63

Allowance for obsolete inventory

     1,911        1,116   

Amortization of debt related costs

     2,224        2,482   

Loss on disposal of fixed assets

     —          12   

Share-based expense

     6,893        9,203   

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Accounts receivable

     192        (4,847

Inventory

     (5,515     7,747   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (23,564     (9,723

Deferred customer acquisition costs

     16,641        8,661   

Due from related parties

     —          2   

Other assets

     1,663        633   

Accounts payable

     (23,604     (11,244

Accrued expenses

     3,873        (2,252

Deferred revenue

     (14,624     (2,729

Other liabilities

     (4,429     (3,930
                

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     16,660        6,171   
                

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Capital expenditures

     (11,719     (8,417

Purchase of intangible assets

     —          (560

Purchase of marketable securities

     —          (21,375

Maturities and sales of marketable securities

     —          101,316   

Acquisition and development of software assets

     (11,516     (23,589

Increase in restricted cash

     (438     (3,162
                

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

     (23,673     44,213   
                

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Principal payments on capital lease obligations

     (911     (752

Principal payments on notes

     (1,483     —     

Debt related costs

     (251     (8,601

Proceeds from subscription receivable, net

     —          9   

Proceeds from directed share program, net

     —          62   

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     57        48   
                

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     (2,588     (9,234
                

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     1,286        (425
                

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

     (8,315     40,725   

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     46,134        71,542   
                

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 37,819      $ 112,267   
                

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

    

Cash paid during the periods for:

    

Interest

   $ 22,050      $ 14,033   
                

Income taxes

   $ 1,019      $ 696   
                

Non-cash financing transactions during the periods for:

    

Conversion of convertible notes into common stock:

    

Third lien convertible notes, net of discount and debt related costs

   $ 8,846      $ —     
                

Embedded derivative liability within third lien convertible notes

   $ 53,480      $ —     
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Common
Stock
   Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Stock
Subscription
Receivable
    Accumulated
Deficit
    Treasury
Stock
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Total  

Balance at December 31, 2008

   $ 158    $ 980,768      $ (5,195   $ (1,052,861   $ (12,704   $ (908   $ (90,742

Opening adjustment-adoption of FASB ASC 815

        (37,884       7,223            (30,661

Stock option exercises

     1      56                57   

Share-based expense

        6,893                6,893   

Share-based award activity

              (139       (139

Convertible notes conversion

     40      58,470                58,510   

Comprehensive income (loss):

               

Foreign currency translation adjustment

                1,151        1,151   

Net income (loss)

            (46,999         (46,999
                                                       

Total comprehensive income (loss)

     —        —          —          (46,999     —          1,151        (45,848
                                                       

Balance at September 30, 2009

   $ 199    $ 1,008,303      $ (5,195   $ (1,092,637   $ (12,843   $ 243      $ (101,930
                                                       

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

Note 1. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Operations

Vonage Holdings Corp. (“Vonage”, “Company”, “we”, “our”, “us”) is incorporated as a Delaware corporation. We are a technology company that leverages software to enable high-quality voice and messaging services across multiple devices and locations over broadband networks. Our technology serviced approximately 2.45 million subscriber lines as of September 30, 2009. While customers in the United States represented 94% of our subscriber lines at September 30, 2009, we also serve customers in Canada and the United Kingdom.

Unaudited Interim Financial Information

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and information have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and in accordance with the instructions for Form 10-Q. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, these financial statements contain all normal and recurring adjustments considered necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations, cash flows and statement of stockholders’ equity (deficit) for the periods presented. The results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2009 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 3, 2009.

Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Vonage and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, which require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported and disclosed in the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates.

On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including the following:

 

   

those related to the average period of service to a customer (the “customer relationship period”) used to amortize deferred revenue and deferred customer acquisition costs associated with customer activation. For 2008, due to the increase in churn, the customer relationship period was reduced from 60 months to 48 months. In 2009, the customer relationship period was further reduced to 44 months. The impact of this change was not material to the consolidated results of operations;

 

   

the useful lives of property and equipment, software costs and intangible assets;

 

   

assumptions used for the purpose of determining share-based compensation and the fair value of our stock warrant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model (“Model”), and various other assumptions that we believed to be reasonable. The key inputs for this Model are stock price at valuation date, strike price, the dividend yield, risk-free interest rate, life in years and volatility; and

 

   

assumptions used to determine the fair value of the embedded derivative within our convertible notes using the Monte Carlo simulation model. The key inputs are maturity date, risk-free interest rate, current share price and historical volatility of our common stock.

We base our estimates on historical experience, available market information, appropriate valuation methodologies, and on various other assumptions that we believed to be reasonable, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities.

 

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Table of Contents

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets

 

     September 30,
2009
   December 31,
2008

Telecommunications

   $ 9,926    $ 2,977

Marketing

     3,562      4,367

Inventory

     9,497      5

Insurance

     3,035      1,739

Software and hardware maintenance and support

     6,066      2,814

Nontrade receivables

     5,391      4,710

Services

     2,783      1,149

Other prepaids

     1,675      564
             
   $ 41,935    $ 18,325
             

Restricted Cash and Letters of Credit

Our credit card processors have established reserves to cover any exposure that they may have as we collect revenue in advance of providing services to our customers, which is a customary practice for companies that bill their customers in advance of providing services. As such, we provided our credit card processors with cash reserves of $22,173 and a cash collateralized letter of credit for $10,500 and $10,413 as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. We also had a cash collateralized letter of credit for $7,350 and $7,000 as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively, related to lease deposits for our offices. The total amount of collateralized letters of credit was $18,000 and $17,562 at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. In the aggregate, cash reserves and collateralized letters of credit of $40,173 and $39,585 were recorded as long-term restricted cash at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.

Commencing October 1, 2009, all specified unrestricted cash above $30,000, subject to certain adjustments, is swept into a concentration account (the “Concentration Account”), and until the balance in the Concentration Account is at least equal to $30,000, we may not access or make any withdrawals from the Concentration Account. Thereafter, with limited exceptions, we will have the right to withdraw funds from the Concentration Account in excess of $30,000. We made an initial funding of $114 into the Concentration Account with no subsequent funding through November 6, 2009, which will be reflected as restricted cash prospectively.

Software Costs

We capitalize certain costs, such as purchased software and internally developed software that we use for customer acquisition and customer care automation tools, in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 350-40, “Internal-Use Software”. Computer software is stated at cost less accumulated amortization and the estimated useful life is two to three years. Total computer software was $62,397 and $53,429 at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively, substantially all of which were external costs. Accumulated amortization was $31,167 and $19,061 at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. Amortization expense was $5,314 and $4,322, including impairment of $0 and $772, for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $14,657 and $9,052, including impairment of $969 and $772, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Long-Lived Assets

We review the carrying values of our property and equipment for possible impairment whenever circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized to the extent the sum of the undiscounted estimated future cash flow expected to result from the use of the asset is less than the carrying value. We incurred impairment losses of $81 and $1,447, respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, and $2,511 and $1,847, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008. The impairment is mainly for marketing displays, network equipment and computer hardware. Impairment is recorded in the statement of operations as part of depreciation expense.

Debt Related Costs

Costs incurred in raising debt are deferred and amortized as interest expense using the effective interest method over the life of the debt. In connection with our financing transaction in November 2008, we recorded debt related costs of $12,270, which are being amortized over the life of the debt which is five years and seven years. Amortization expense related to these costs is included in interest expense in the consolidated statements of operations and was $708 and $2,224, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively. Accumulated amortization of debt related costs was $4,286 and $478 at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively, including a $1,583 write off of debt related costs associated with the conversion of convertible notes for the three months ended September 30, 2009.

 

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Table of Contents

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets acquired in the settlement of litigation or by direct purchase are accounted for based upon the fair value of assets received.

Patents

In June 2006, we purchased three patents related to the compression of packetized digital signals commonly used in Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) technology at a cost of $5,268. In July 2006, we began amortizing the cost of these patents over their estimated useful lives of 2.7 years. Amortization expense was $424 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, and $484 and $1,453 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively. These patents were fully amortized as of March 31, 2009.

In October 2007, in connection with the settlement of our patent litigation with Sprint, we acquired a license to use Sprint’s portfolio of “Voice over Packet” patents. The fair value assigned to these patents was $5,500. We began amortizing the cost of these patents in October 2007 over their patent lives of 6.6 years. Amortization expense was $206 for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $619 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Annual amortization is approximately $825.

Trademark

In April 2008, in connection with the settlement of a trademark dispute, we acquired the right to use the trademark in question. The fair value assigned to the trademark was $560. This trademark is being amortized over its remaining life of 8 years. Amortization expense was $17 for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and was $52 and $35 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Annual amortization is approximately $70.

Accrued Expenses

 

     September 30
2009
   December 31,
2008

Marketing

   $ 10,974    $ 14,482

Compensation and related taxes and temporary labor

     13,997      14,776

Telecommunications

     10,611      10,614

Professional fees

     3,241      3,439

Litigation

     7,713      5,343

Taxes and fees

     17,529      14,313

Customer credits

     4,943      2,172

Inventory

     524      874

Credit card fees

     438      549

Accrued interest

     3,312      3,350

Other accruals

     4,473      3,570
             
   $ 77,755    $ 73,482
             

Derivatives

In accordance with FASB ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” , which we adopted on January 1, 2009, our $18,000, 20% senior secured third lien notes due 2015 (the “Convertible Notes”) contain an embedded derivative that requires separate valuation from the Convertible Notes. We recognize this embedded derivative as a liability in our consolidated balance sheet at its fair value each period and recognize any change in the fair value in our statement of operations in the period of change. We estimate the fair value of the embedded derivative using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies (see Note 3).

On April 17, 2002, Vonage’s principal stockholder, who is also our Chairman, received a warrant to purchase 514 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.70 per share that expires on June 20, 2012. As a result of the issuance of our Convertible Notes, the exercise price was reduced to $0.58. In accordance with FASB ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” , the warrant had a fair value of $558 which was included as an other liability in the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2009 and in other income (expense) net in our statement of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009. Each reporting date we will update the fair value with any difference reflected within other income (expense), net in the consolidated statement of operations. We estimate the fair value of the warrant using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Effective January 1, 2008, we adopted FASB ASC 820-10-25, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.” This standard establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure about fair value measurements. We did not elect fair value accounting for any assets and liabilities allowed by FASB ASC 825, “Financial Instruments” .

FASB ASC 820-10 defines fair value as the amount that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e., an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. FASB ASC 820-10 also establishes a fair value hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. FASB ASC 820-10 describes the following three levels of inputs that may be used:

Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical assets and liabilities. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs.

Level 2: Observable prices that are based on inputs not quoted on active markets but corroborated by market data. Our common stock warrant with a value of $558 as of September 30, 2009 is included as a Level 2 liability.

Level 3: Unobservable inputs when there is little or no market data available, thereby requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions. The fair value hierarchy gives the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs. The embedded derivative within our Convertible Notes with a value of $27,560 as of September 30, 2009 is included as a Level 3 liability.

The following tables set forth the inputs as of September 30, 2009 and January 1, 2009 and a summary of changes in the the fair value of our Level 3 liabilities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009:

 

     September 30, 2009     January 1, 2009  

Maturity date

     October 31, 2015        October 31, 2015   

Risk- free interest rate

     2.77     2.24

Price of common stock

   $ 1.39      $ 0.66   

Volatility

     109     87

Liabilities:

   Three Months Ended
September 30, 2009
    Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2009
 

Beginning balance

   $ 18,600      $ 32,720   

Increase in value for notes converted

     41,461        32,337   

Fair value adjustment for notes converted

     (53,480     (53,480

Total unrealized loss in earnings

     20,979        15,983   
                

Ending balance

   $ 27,560      $ 27,560   
                

Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of our financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value because of their short maturities. The carrying amounts of our capital leases approximate fair value of these obligations based upon management’s best estimates of interest rates that would be available for similar debt obligations at September 30, 2009. We believe the fair value of our debt at September 30, 2009 was approximately the same as its carrying amount as market conditions, including available interest rates, credit spread relative to our credit rating, and illiquidity, remain relatively unchanged from the issuance date of our debt.

Earnings per Share

Net income (loss) per share has been computed according to FASB ASC 260, “Earnings per Share” , which requires a dual presentation of basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”). Basic EPS represents net income (loss) divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during a reported period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock, including warrants, stock options and restricted stock units under our 2001 Stock Incentive Plan and 2006 Incentive Plan, and the Convertible Notes, were exercised or converted into common stock. The dilutive effect of outstanding warrants, stock options and restricted stock units is reflected in diluted earnings per share by application of the treasury stock method. In applying the treasury stock method for stock-based compensation arrangements, the assumed proceeds are computed as the sum of the amount the employee must pay upon exercise and the amounts of average unrecognized compensation cost attributed to future services. The dilutive effect of the Convertible Notes is reflected in diluted earnings per share using the if-converted method.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, the following were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per common share because of their anti-dilutive effects:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
     2009    2008    2009    2008

Common stock warrants

   514    514    514    514

Convertible notes (1)

   —      17,824    —      17,824

Convertible Notes

   21,962    —      21,962    —  

Restricted stock units

   2,983    3,306    2,983    3,306

Employee stock options

   27,717    29,593    27,717    29,593
                   
   53,176    51,237    53,176    51,237
                   

 

(1)    refers to our convertible notes previously issued in December 2005 and January 2006.

Facility Exit and Restructuring Costs

In June 2009, we announced the closing of our office facility in Canada. The facility exit and restructuring costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 were $340 and $2,464, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, these costs included $89 and $1,063, respectively, for severance and personnel-related costs which were recorded as selling, general and administrative in the statement of operations, $153 and $652, respectively, for lease termination and facilities-related costs which were recorded as selling, general and administrative in the statement of operations and $97 and $749, respectively, for asset impairments which were recorded in the statement of operations as part of depreciation expense. As of September 30, 2009, all of these costs were paid.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In October 2009, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2009-13 (“ASU 2009-13”) “Revenue Recognition (ASC 605), Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”). This ASU provides amendments to the criteria in FASB ASC 605-25 for separating consideration in multiple-deliverable arrangements. ASU 2009-13 changes existing rules regarding recognition of revenue in multiple deliverable arrangements and expands ongoing disclosures about the significant judgments used in applying its guidance. It will be effective for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in the fiscal year beginning on or after June 15, 2010. Early adoption is permitted on a prospective or retrospective basis. We are currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2009-13 on our financial statements.

In June 2009, the FASB issued FASB ASC 820-10, Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly . This ASC provides additional guidance for estimating fair value in accordance with FASB ASC 820-10, when the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have significantly decreased. This ASC also includes guidance on identifying circumstances that indicate a transaction is not orderly. This ASC is effective for interim and annual reporting periods that ended after June 15, 2009. The ASC does not require disclosures for earlier periods presented for comparative purposes at initial adoption. In periods after initial adoption, this ASC requires comparative disclosures only for periods ending after initial adoption. The adoption of FASB ASC 820-10 did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

In May 2008, the FASB affirmed the consensus of FASB ASC 470-20, “Debt with Conversion and other Options (Including Partial Cash Settlement),” which applies to all convertible debt instruments that have a net settlement feature; which means that such convertible debt instruments, by their terms, may be settled either wholly or partially in cash upon conversion. FASB ASC 470-20 requires issuers of convertible debt instruments that may be settled wholly or partially in cash upon conversion to separately account for the liability and equity components in a manner reflective of the issuer’s nonconvertible debt borrowing rate. Previous guidance provided for accounting for this type of convertible debt instrument entirely as debt. FASB ASC 470-20 was effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of FASB ASC 470-20 did not have an impact on our financial statements.

In April 2008, the FASB issued FASB ASC 350-30, “General Intangibles Other than Goodwill .  FASB ASC 350-30 amends the factors an entity should consider in developing renewal or extension assumptions used in determining the useful life of recognized intangible assets under FASB ASC 350-30, “General Intangibles Other than Goodwill .  This new guidance applies prospectively to intangible assets that are acquired individually or with a group of other assets in business combinations after their acquisitions. FASB ASC 350-30 was effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2008. Since this guidance applied prospectively, on adoption, there was no impact to our consolidated financial statements.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

In February 2008, the FASB amended FASB ASC 820, which delayed the effective date of FASB ASC 820 for all nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually), until fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years. These nonfinancial items include assets and liabilities such as reporting units measured at fair value in a goodwill impairment test and nonfinancial assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. The full adoption of FASB ASC 820 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Note 2. Commitments and Contingencies

Litigation

State Attorney General Proceedings. In 2008, Vonage learned that an initial group of twenty-eight states’ attorneys general had begun an investigation into certain of our business practices. We have received document requests from twenty-two of the participating states. The requests seek information that Vonage previously produced to the Wisconsin Attorney General as part of an investigation commenced in November 2007, which consisted of, among other things, sales and retention marketing scripting, advertising disclosures, and information related to our money back guarantee. The most recent requests also seek, among other things, information related to marketing and billing practices, as well as early termination fees. To date, none of the attorney generals have filed a complaint against us or taken other formal action. We have fully cooperated in the investigation and have reached a tentative settlement with the states’ attorneys general to resolve the investigation. The proposed terms of the settlement are being circulated among the thirty-two participating states for consideration, and, if approved, will be finally executed by the Company and the representatives of the participating states and filed for Court approval where such approval is required. We previously made a reserve in connection with this matter in an amount material to our consolidated statement of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, and in September 2009 made a payment into escrow for a portion of the proposed settlement amount. If the settlement is approved, we do not believe that any future amounts recorded in connection with this matter will be material to our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

IPO Litigation. During June and July 2006, Vonage, several of our officers and directors, and the firms who served as the underwriters in our IPO were named as defendants in several purported class action lawsuits arising out of our IPO. On January 9, 2007, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation transferred all complaints to the District of New Jersey. On September 7, 2007, the Court appointed Zyssman Group as the lead plaintiff, and the law firm of Zwerling, Schachter and Zwerling, LLP as lead counsel. On November 19, 2007, the plaintiffs filed the Amended Complaint, which generally alleges: (i) defendants made misstatements regarding subscriber line growth and average monthly churn rate; (ii) defendants failed to disclose problems with facsimile transmissions and a pending fax litigation case; (iii) defendants failed to disclose all patent infringement claims and issues; and (iv) that the Directed Share Program suffered from various infirmities. On January 18, 2008, defendants filed their motions to dismiss the Amended Complaint. On April 6, 2009, the Court hearing the matter dismissed three claims with leave to amend two of them, and declined at such time to dismiss two of the other claims. On April 20, 2009, the plaintiffs filed a motion asking the Court to reconsider the partial dismissal of their claims. On June 3, 2009, the Court granted-in-part and denied-in-part plaintiffs’ motion for reconsideration. On June 16, 2009, Vonage and plaintiffs reached an agreement in principle to settle the litigation, which will include a release and dismissal of all stockholder claims against Vonage and its individual directors and officers who were named as defendants. The settlement is subject to Court approval. On August 25, 2009, the Court entered an Order Preliminarily Approving Settlement, Approving Notice, and Scheduling Fairness Hearing. The fairness hearing on the settlement is scheduled for December 4, 2009. The settlement will be funded by our liability insurance under our directors and officers liability insurance policy.

The firms who served as underwriters to the IPO, pursuant to an indemnification agreement entered into between us and those firms prior to the IPO have demanded that Vonage reimburse them for the costs and fees incurred by them in defense of the IPO litigation. In addition, three of the firms have demanded that Vonage reimburse them for the costs and fees incurred by them in response to various regulatory inquiries by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (formerly the NASD) and the New York Stock Exchange, among other things. Vonage has declined to reimburse these three firms any fees or expenses. The settlement described above does not resolve the IPO underwriters’ claims for indemnification against the Company.

Consumer Class Action Litigations. We have been named in several purported class actions venued in California, New Jersey, and Washington alleging a wide variety of deficiencies with respect to our business practices, marketing disclosures, email marketing and quality issues for both phone and fax service.

For example, there are various class actions, on behalf of both nationwide and state classes, pending in New Jersey, Washington and California generally alleging that we delayed and/or refused to allow consumers to cancel their Vonage service; failed to disclose procedural impediments to cancellation; failed to adequately disclose that their 30-day money back guarantee does not give consumers 30 days to try out our services; suppressed and concealed the true nature of our services and disseminated false advertising

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

about the quality, nature and terms of our services; imposed an unlawful early termination fee; and invoked unconscionable provisions of our Terms of Service to the detriment of customers. On May 11, 2007, plaintiffs in one action petitioned the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (the “Panel”), seeking transfer and consolidation of the pending actions to a single court for coordinated pretrial proceedings. In an Order dated August 15, 2007, the Panel transferred the pending actions to the United States Court for the District of New Jersey, captioned In re Vonage Marketing and Sales Practices Litigation, MDL No. 1862, Master Docket No. 07-CV-3906 (USDC, D.N.J.). On October 1, 2007, counsel for one group of plaintiffs moved before the Court for Consolidation and Appointment of Co-Lead Counsel of the actions, and requested time to file an Amended Consolidated Complaint. On November 6, 2008, the Court entered an Order Granting Consolidation and Appointment of Co-Lead Counsel, and ordered that a consolidated Complaint be filed within 45 days, which Complaint was filed on December 19, 2008. On February 6, 2009, we filed a Motion to Compel Arbitration. On September 1, 2009, the Court denied without prejudice the Motion to Compel Arbitration. Pursuant to the Court’s September 1, 2009 Order, the parties are limited to conducting certain discovery until November 2, 2009. The Company must re-file a Motion to Compel Arbitration or for similar relief by December 2, 2009 or else a schedule will be entered for all remaining discovery, including on class certification. The Company currently intends to re-file a Motion to Compel Arbitration.

Nebraska Public Service Commission. On November 15, 2007, the Director of the Nebraska Telecommunications Infrastructure and Public Safety Department of the Nebraska Public Service Commission filed a complaint (the “PSC Complaint”) before the Nebraska Public Service Commission (the “NPSC”) alleging that Vonage is required to contribute to the Nebraska Universal Service Fund (“NUSF”) and has failed to do so. The PSC Complaint seeks an order compelling Vonage to contribute to the NUSF, as well as administrative penalties. On December 6, 2007, Vonage filed its answer. On or about December 20, 2007, Vonage also brought a complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief against the NPSC in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska. On March 3, 2008, the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska issued a Memorandum and Order granting Vonage’s Motion for a Preliminary Injunction and Declaratory Relief. Specifically, the Court enjoined the NPSC from asserting state jurisdiction over Vonage to force Vonage to contribute to the NUSF and found the NPSC’s assertion of state jurisdiction over Vonage to force Vonage to pay into the NUSF is unlawful as preempted by the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”). On April 1, 2008, the NPSC filed a Notice of Appeal to the 8 th Circuit Court of Appeals. On April 2, 2008, Vonage filed a motion for summary judgment in the District Court, arguing the court should grant our permanent injunction. The District Court, in a May 9, 2008 order, denied Vonage’s request for summary judgment without prejudice. On May 1, 2009, the 8 th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the District Court’s decision to grant Vonage a preliminary injunction. On May 14, 2009, the NPSC filed a petition for rehearing en banc at the 8 th Circuit. On June 5, 2009, the 8 th Circuit denied this petition. On August 3, 2009, the District Court granted Vonage’s request for a permanent injunction.

New Mexico Public Service Commission. On June 27, 2008, the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (“NMPRC”) filed a complaint for Declaratory Judgment (“NMPRC Complaint”) in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, alleging that Vonage is required to contribute to the New Mexico Universal Service Fund (“NMUSF”) and failed to do so. The NMPRC Complaint seeks an order compelling Vonage to contribute to the NMUSF. On or about July 21, 2008, Vonage filed a Motion to Dismiss the NMPRC Complaint, and the NMPRC filed a response to the Motion to Dismiss. On November 12, 2008 the Magistrate Judge issued Proposed Findings and Recommended Disposition, recommending that the Company’s Motion to Dismiss be granted. On November 21, 2008, NMPRC filed its objections to the Magistrate Judge’s recommended disposition, and on December 11, 2008 the Company filed its response to the NMPRC objections to the Magistrate Judge’s recommendation to dismiss the complaint. On January 28, 2009, the District Court Judge heard oral argument and stayed the litigation pending the 8 th Circuit decision in the Nebraska Public Service Commission litigation, referenced above. On July 28, 2009, in light of the 8 th Circuit decision, the Court adopted the Magistrate Judge’s Proposed Findings and Recommended Disposition and granted Vonage’s Motion to Dismiss.

City of New York vs. Verizon and Vonage. On April 21, 2008, the City of New York and the Sheriff of the City of New York filed a complaint (“NYC Complaint”) in New York State Court against Verizon and Vonage, arising out of collection efforts on the $58,000 judgment entered against Vonage in the Verizon vs. Vonage patent litigation. The City alleges that either Verizon or Vonage is liable for $2,900, which represents a poundage fee of 5% of the value of the property sought to be levied upon. On May 13, 2008, Vonage filed a motion to dismiss one count of the NYC Complaint. On May 16, 2008, Verizon filed a motion to dismiss the NYC Complaint in its entirety. The Court denied both motions. On March 19, 2009, Verizon filed a motion for an order granting summary judgment and dismissing all claims against Verizon and on May 1, 2009, Vonage filed a cross-motion for summary judgment seeking dismissal of all claims against Vonage. After Verizon’s and Vonage’s cross-motions for summary judgment were filed and fully briefed, the City advised that it had reached a settlement with Verizon, and it subsequently dismissed its claims against Verizon. The parties are currently engaged in discovery and a decision is pending regarding Vonage’s cross-motion for summary judgment.

PC Management . By letter dated February 2, 2009, PC Management, Inc. (“PCM”) provided written notice to us of its intent to arbitrate a dispute concerning PCM’s right to an early termination fee under a Master Services Agreement (“MSA”) for mobile services. On April 29, 2009, PCM submitted its Arbitration Demand alleging a breach of the MSA and seeking damages, including interest, attorneys’ fees, expenses and arbitration costs, in an amount in excess of $1,875. The parties reached a confidential settlement of the dispute, and the arbitration was dismissed on September 9, 2009. The payment of the settlement amount was immaterial to our consolidated statement of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

IP Matters

Alcatel-Lucent. On November 4, 2008, Vonage received a letter from Alcatel-Lucent initiating an opportunity for Vonage to obtain a non-exclusive patent license to certain of its patents that may be relevant to Vonage’s business. Vonage is currently analyzing the applicability of such patents to its business, as well as additional patents subsequently identified by Alcatel-Lucent. If Vonage determines that these patents are applicable to its business and valid, it may incur expense in licensing them. If Vonage determines that these patents are not applicable to its business or invalid, it may incur expense and damages if there is litigation.

Centre One. On December 5, 2008, Centre One filed a lawsuit against Vonage and its subsidiary Vonage America Inc. in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas alleging that some of Vonage’s products and services are covered by a patent held by Centre One (United States Patent No. 7,068,668) entitled “Method and Apparatus for Interfacing a Public Switched Telephone Network and an Internet Protocol Network for Multi-Media Communication”. The suit also named Verizon Communications Inc. and deltathree Inc. as defendants. Vonage believes Centre One is a firm owned by a sole inventor. We filed our Answer to the Complaint on February 23, 2009, along with a motion to transfer this matter to the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. On April 2, 2009, we filed a motion to sever the case against us from the case against the other defendants. During oral argument on the motions on June 22, 2009, the Court orally denied the motions to transfer and to sever. On June 22, 2009, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“PTO”) granted Verizon’s April 30, 2009 request for inter parte s reexamination of the claims of Centre One’s patent and issued an office action rejecting on multiple grounds as not patentable certain claims of Centre One’s patent. On July 9, 2009, Vonage and Verizon moved to stay the litigation pending the resolution of the inter parte s reexamination. On August 13, 2009, Vonage filed an Amended Answer to First Amended Complaint and Counterclaims in which Vonage added an affirmative defense and counterclaim for a declaration of unenforceability due to inequitable conduct. On September 18, 2009, Centre One filed a Motion for Leave to Supplement its P.R. 3-1 Infringement Contentions in which it seeks to withdraw its allegations of infringement of certain patent claims based on amendments made during the pending reexamination proceedings, and add allegations of infringement of other patent claims. On October 2, 2009, Vonage filed a request for inter partes reexamination of the claims of Centre One’s patent.

From time to time, in addition to those identified above, Vonage is subject to legal proceedings, claims, investigations and proceedings in the ordinary course of business, including claims of alleged infringement of third-party patents and other intellectual property rights, commercial, employment and other matters. In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, Vonage makes a provision for a liability when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss or range of loss can be reasonably estimated. These provisions are reviewed at least quarterly and adjusted to reflect the impacts of negotiations, settlements, rulings, advice of legal counsel, and other information and events pertaining to a particular case. For the quarter ended June 30, 2009, we recorded an additional reserve of $5,000 to cover the potential exposure relating to litigation and contractual disputes; $1,000 and $600 has been recorded as a reduction to customer equipment and shipping and telephony services revenue, respectively, and $3,400 has been recorded as selling, general and administrative expense in the consolidated statement of operations. During the quarter ended September 30, 2009, we made full payment to settle PC Management matter and made a payment into escrow for a portion of the proposed settlement amount with respect to the State Attorney General Proceedings. Litigation is inherently unpredictable. We believe that we have valid defenses with respect to the legal matters pending against Vonage and are vigorously defending these matters. Given the uncertainty surrounding litigation and our inability to assess the likelihood of a favorable or unfavorable outcome in the above noted matters, it is possible that the resolution of one or more of these matters could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, cash flows or results of operations.

Regulation

Telephony services are subject to a broad spectrum of state and federal regulations. Because of the uncertainty over whether VoIP should be treated as a telecommunications or information service, we have been involved in a substantial amount of state and federal regulatory activity. Implementation and interpretation of the existing laws and regulations is ongoing and is subject to litigation by various federal and state agencies and courts. Due to the uncertainty over the regulatory classification of VoIP service, there can be no assurance that we will not be subject to new regulations or existing regulations under new interpretations, and that such change would not introduce material additional costs to our business.

Federal – CALEA

On August 5, 2005, the FCC released an Order extending the obligations of Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (“CALEA”) to interconnected VoIP providers. Under CALEA, telecommunications carriers must assist law enforcement in executing electronic surveillance, which include the capability of providing call content and call-identifying information to a local enforcement agency, or LEA, pursuant to a court order or other lawful authorization.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

The FCC required all interconnected VoIP providers to become fully CALEA compliant by May 14, 2007. To date, we have taken significant steps towards CALEA compliance, which include testing a CALEA solution with the FBI and delivering lawful CALEA requests. We have also implemented alternative solutions that allow CALEA access to call content and call-identifying information. The FCC and law enforcement officials have been advised as to our CALEA progress and our efforts at implementing alternative solutions. We could be subject to an enforcement action by the FCC if our CALEA solution is deemed not fully operational.

Federal – Local Number Portability

On May 13, 2009, the FCC adopted an order that reduced to one business day the amount of time that a telecommunications provider such as Vonage has to port a telephone number to another provider. The North American Numbering Council proposed processes to implement the one-day requirement on November 2, 2009. Telecommunication providers have nine months to implement the process before the one-day requirement becomes effective on July 31, 2010. If Vonage, or third parties it relies upon for porting, have difficulty complying with the new one-day porting requirement after the effective date, it could be subject to FCC enforcement action.

State Telecommunications Regulation

In general, the focus of interconnected VoIP telecommunications regulation is at the federal level. On November 12, 2004, the FCC issued a declaratory ruling providing that our service is subject to federal regulation and preempted the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, or MPUC, from imposing certain of its regulations on us. The FCC’s decision was based on its conclusion that our service is interstate in nature and cannot be separated into interstate and intrastate components. On March 21, 2007, the United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit affirmed the FCC’s declaratory ruling preempting state regulation of Vonage’s service. The 8th Circuit found that it is impossible for Vonage to separate its interstate traffic from its intrastate traffic because of the nomadic nature of the service. As a result, the 8th Circuit held that it was reasonable for the FCC to preempt state regulation of Vonage’s service. The 8th Circuit was clear, however, that the preemptive effect of the FCC’s declaratory ruling may be reexamined if technological advances allow for the separation of interstate and intrastate components of the nomadic VoIP service. Therefore, the preemption of state authority over Vonage’s service under this ruling generally hinges on the inability to separate the interstate and intrastate components of the service.

While this ruling does not exempt us from all state oversight of our service, it effectively prevents state telecommunications regulators from imposing certain burdensome and inconsistent market entry requirements and certain other state utility rules and regulations on our service. State regulators continue to probe the limits of federal preemption in their attempts to apply state telecommunications regulation to interconnected VoIP service. The Nebraska Public Service Commission and New Mexico Public Regulatory Commission cases, discussed above under the Litigation section to this note, are examples of state public utility commission attempts to extend traditional state telecommunications regulation to our service. In these cases, the state public utility commissions are seeking to apply state universal service funding requirements to Vonage. The Kansas Corporation Commission has also taken the position that it has jurisdiction to seek state universal service funding from nomadic VoIP providers. Similarly, the Public Utility Commission of Ohio has adopted rules that would apply state fees for Telephone Relay Service to nomadic VoIP service.

On July 16, 2009, the Nebraska Public Service Commission and the Kansas Corporation Commission filed a petition with the FCC seeking a declaratory ruling or, alternatively, adoption of a rule declaring that state authorities may apply universal service funding requirements to nomadic VoIP providers. A declaratory ruling could have the effect of overruling the May 1, 2009 8th Circuit decision in the Nebraska Public Service Commission litigation discussed above, and could include a finding that the FCC’s 2004 declaratory ruling did not preempt states from assessing services provided by nomadic VoIP providers, such as Vonage, to support state universal service funding. The alternative action requested by the Nebraska Public Service Commission and Kansas Corporation Commission, adoption of a rule, could result in a finding that it is in the public interest to allow states to assess services provided by nomadic VoIP providers, such as Vonage, for state universal service funding on a going forward basis. In addition to this effort, we expect that state public utility commissions and state legislators will continue their attempts to apply state telecommunications regulations to nomadic VoIP service.

State and Municipal Taxes

For a period of time, we did not collect or remit state or municipal taxes (such as sales, excise, utility, use and ad valorem taxes), fees or surcharges (“Taxes”) on the charges to our customers for our services, except that we historically complied with the New Jersey sales tax. We have received inquiries or demands from a number of state and municipal taxing and 911 agencies seeking payment of Taxes that are applied to or collected from customers of providers of traditional public switched telephone network services. Although we have consistently maintained that these Taxes do not apply to our service for a variety of reasons depending on the statute or rule that establishes such obligations, a number of states have changed their statutes as part of the streamlined sales tax initiatives and we are now collecting and remitting sales taxes in those states. In addition, a few states address how VoIP providers should contribute to support public safety agencies, and in those states we began to remit fees to the appropriate state

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

agencies. We have also contacted authorities in each of the other states to discuss how we can financially contribute to the 911 system. We do not know how all these discussions will be resolved, but there is a possibility that we will be required to pay or collect and remit some or all of these Taxes in the future. Additionally, some of these Taxes could apply to us retroactively. As such, we have a reserve of $3,790 at September 30, 2009 as our best estimate of the potential tax exposure for any retroactive assessment. We believe the maximum estimated exposure for retroactive assessments is $13,808 as of September 30, 2009.

Note 3. Long-Term Debt

On October 19, 2008, we entered into definitive agreements (collectively, the “Credit Documentation”) for a financing consisting of (i) a $130,300 senior secured first lien credit facility (the “First Lien Senior Facility”), (ii) a $72,000 senior secured second lien credit facility (the “Second Lien Senior Facility”) and (iii) the sale of $18,000 of our 20% senior secured third lien notes due 2015 (the “Convertible Notes” and, together with the First Lien Senior Facility and the Second Lien Senior Facility, the “Financing”). The funding for this transaction was completed on November 3, 2008.

The co-borrowers under the Financing are Vonage Holdings Corp. and Vonage America Inc., its wholly owned subsidiary. Obligations under the Financing are guaranteed, fully and unconditionally, by our other U.S. subsidiaries (together with the borrowers, the “Credit Parties”), and may in the future be guaranteed by Vonage Limited, a United Kingdom subsidiary of Vonage Holdings Corp. The lenders under the First Lien Senior Facility and the Second Lien Senior Facility and the purchasers of the Convertible Notes were Silver Point Finance, LLC (“Silver Point”), certain of its affiliates, other third parties and affiliates of the Company.

We used the net proceeds of the Financing of $213,133 ($220,300 principal amount less original issue discount of $7,167) plus $40,327 of cash on hand, to repurchase $253,460 of our convertible notes issued in December 2005 and January 2006 (the “Previous Convertible Notes”) in a tender offer that expired on November 3, 2008. For holders of the new debt who were also holders of the Previous Convertible Notes, we recorded a loss on early extinguishment of notes of $30,570 on $174,263 of the repurchase in accordance with FASB ASC 470-50 Debt Modification and Extinguishment . For this $174,263 of the Financing, the First Lien Senior Facility, Second Lien Senior Facility and Convertible Notes were recorded at fair market value of $183,935 with $85,184 allocated to the First Lien Senior Facility, $54,620 allocated to the Second Lien Senior Facility and $44,131 allocated to the Convertible Notes. The excess of the fair market value of the Financing over the Previous Convertible Notes of $9,672, plus $20,452 in fees paid to the holders of the Previous Convertible Notes, $414 of unamortized debt related costs on the Previous Convertible Notes and $32 of unamortized beneficial conversion related to the Previous Convertible Notes comprised the $30,570.

For the remaining $46,037 of the Financing, since many of the purchasers purchased more than one component of the Financing, we allocated the net proceeds of $44,543 (reflecting a reduction of $1,494 for the portion of $7,167 discount attributed to $46,037) to the First Lien Senior Facility, Second Lien Senior Facility and Convertible Notes based upon their relative fair values with $20,138 allocated to the First Lien Senior Facility, $12,652 allocated to the Second Lien Senior Facility and $11,753 allocated to the Convertible Notes.

For the First Lien Senior Facility, an aggregate value of $105,322 or a discount of $24,978 was recorded. This discount is currently amortized to interest expense over the life of the loan using the effective interest method. The accumulated amortization was $4,190 and $766 at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. The amortization for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $1,159 and $3,425, respectively.

For the Second Lien Senior Facility, an aggregate value of $67,273 or a discount of $4,727 was recorded. This discount is currently amortized to interest expense over the life of the loan using the effective interest method. The accumulated amortization was $601 and $116 at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. The amortization for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $164 and $485, respectively.

For the Convertible Notes, an aggregate value of $55,884 or a premium of $37,884 was recorded. Given the magnitude of the premium, this amount was recorded as additional-paid-in capital as prescribed in FASB ASC 470-20-25 Debt with Conversions and Other Options-Recognition” .

The following descriptions summarize certain material terms of the Financing as provided in the Credit Documentation.

First Lien Senior Facility

The loans under the First Lien Senior Facility will mature in October 2013. Principal amounts under the First Lien Senior Facility are repayable in quarterly installments of $326 for each quarter ending December 31, 2008 through September 30, 2011 and $3,258 for each quarter ending December 31, 2011 through September 30, 2013, with the balance due in October 2013. Amounts under the First Lien Senior Facility, at our option, bear interest at:

 

   

the greater of 4.00% and LIBOR plus, in either case, 12.00%, payable on the last day of each relevant interest period or, if the interest period is longer than three months, each day that is three months after the first day of the interest period and the last day of such interest period, or

 

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VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

   

the greater of 6.75% and the higher of (i) the rate quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Money Rates Section as the Prime Rate as in effect from time to time and (ii) the federal funds effective rate from time to time plus 0.50% plus, in either case, 11.00%, payable on the last day of each month in arrears.

Certain events could trigger prepayment obligations under the First Lien Senior Facility. If we have more than $75,000 of specified unrestricted cash in any quarter after January 1, 2009, we may be obligated to prepay without premium certain amounts. To the extent we obtain proceeds from asset sales, insurance/condemnation recoveries or extraordinary receipts, certain prepayments may be required that will be subject to a premium of 8% in year 1, 7% in year 2, 6% in year 3, 5% in year 4 and 3% in the first 9 months of year 5 and no premium thereafter. In addition, any voluntary prepayments or any mandatory prepayments that may be required from proceeds of debt and equity issuances will be subject to a make-whole during the first three years, and thereafter a premium of 5% in year 4 and 3% in the first 9 months of year 5, with the First Lien Senior Facility callable at par thereafter.

Second Lien Senior Facility

The loans under the Second Lien Senior Facility will mature in October 2015. Principal amounts under the Second Lien Senior Facility will be repayable in quarterly installments of $1,800 commencing the later of: (i) the last day of the fiscal quarter after payment-in-full of amounts under the First Lien Senior Facility and (ii) December 31, 2012, with the balance due in October 2015. Amounts under the Second Lien Senior Facility bear interest at 20% payable quarterly in arrears and payable in-kind, or PIK, beginning December 31, 2008 until the third anniversary of the effective date and thereafter 20% payable quarterly in arrears in cash. If the First Lien Senior Facility has not been refinanced in full by the third anniversary of the effective date, then until such refinancing has occurred 70% of the interest due will be payable in cash with the balance payable in PIK. The amount of PIK interest as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 was $14,171 and $2,320, respectively. After payment-in-full of amounts under the First Lien Senior Facility or in the event mandatory payments are waived by lenders under the First Lien Senior Facility, the Second Lien Senior Facility will be subject to prepayment obligations and premiums consistent with those for the First Lien Senior Facility. Voluntary prepayments for the Second Lien Senior Facility may be made at any time subject to a make-whole.

Third Lien Convertible Notes

Subject to conversion, repayment or repurchase of the Convertible Notes, the Convertible Notes mature in October 2015. Subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments (including triggers upon the issuance of common stock below the market price of the common stock or the conversion price of the Convertible Notes), the Convertible Notes are convertible into shares of our common stock at a rate equal to 3,448.2759 shares for each $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes, or approximately $0.29 per share. A permanent increase in the conversion rate, resulting in the issuance of additional shares, may occur if a fundamental change occurs. During the quarter ended September 30, 2009, we received Notices of Conversion from certain note holders indicating their desire to convert their Convertible Notes. In the aggregate $11,631 principal amount of Convertible Notes were converted into 40,107 shares of our common stock. As of September 30, 2009, there were $6,369 principal amount of Convertible Notes outstanding.

Amounts under the Convertible Notes bear interest at 20% that accrues and compounds quarterly until October 30, 2011 at which time such accrued interest may be paid in cash. Any accrued interest not paid in cash on such date will continue to bear interest at 20% that accrues and compounds quarterly and is payable in cash on the maturity date of the Convertible Notes. After October 30, 2011, principal on Convertible Notes will bear interest at 20% payable quarterly in arrears in cash. However, if the First Lien Senior Facility has not been refinanced in full by October 31, 2011, then until such refinancing occurs, the cash interest will be capped at 14% with the balance of 6% accruing and compounding interest quarterly at 20%, to be paid in cash on the maturity date of the Convertible Notes. The amount of accrued and compounding interest as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 was $1,242 and $580, respectively. In connection with note conversions during the quarter ended September 30, 2009, $2,070 was paid for accrued interest.

Subject to specific limitations and the right of holders to convert prior to such time, we may cause the automatic conversion of the Convertible Notes into common stock on or after the third anniversary of the issue date. The amount of Convertible Notes that will be subject to our automatic conversion right will depend on our stock price: (i) if a 30-day volume-weighted average price of our common stock is greater than $3.00 per share, then not less than $12,000 principal amount of the Convertible Notes must remain outstanding after the conversion, (ii) if a 30-day volume-weighted average price of our common stock is greater than $4.50 per share, then not less than $6,000 principal amount of the Convertible Notes must remain outstanding after the conversion and (iii) if a 30-day volume-weighted average price of our common stock is greater than $6.00 per share, then we may cause the mandatory conversion of up to all of the then-outstanding Convertible Notes.

 

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VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

In accordance with FASB ASC 815, which was effective January 1, 2009, we determined that the Convertible Notes contain an embedded derivative that requires separate valuation from the Convertible Notes because an anti-dilution adjustment is triggered upon the issuance of common stock by us below the conversion price of the Convertible Notes. As explained below, we recognize this embedded derivative as a liability in our consolidated balance sheet at its fair value each period and recognize any change in the fair value in our statement of operations in the period of change. The fair value of the embedded derivative is determined using the Monte Carlo simulation model. The key inputs in the model are maturity date, risk-free interest rate, current share price and historical volatility of our common stock.

In accordance with FASB ASC 815, we determined the fair value of the conversion feature and recorded applicable amounts at issuance of the Convertible Notes, at December 31, 2008, at conversion of Convertible Notes during the quarter ended September 30, 2009 and at September 30, 2009:

Issuance . The fair value of the conversion feature at issuance was $39,990 which, upon the adoption of FASB ASC 815, was recorded as a liability with a corresponding reduction in additional-paid-in capital of $37,884, which was the premium originally recorded at issuance. The remaining $2,106 was recorded as a discount to be amortized to interest expense over the life of the loan using the effective interest method. Accumulated amortization of the discount was $1,448 as of September 30, 2009, including a $1,202 write-off of discount on notes related to the conversion of Convertible Notes, and $47 as of December 31, 2008. Amortization for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $57 and $199, respectively.

December 31, 2008 . The fair value of the conversion feature at December 31, 2008 was $32,720. The $7,270 difference between the fair value of the conversion feature at December 31, 2008 and the issuance date, together with the $47 amortization of the discount for the period ended December 31, 2008, were recorded as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings that was recognized as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle as of January 1, 2009 in accordance with FASB ASC 815.

Conversion of Convertible Notes. At the time of conversion of the $11,631 principal amount of Convertible Notes, we determined that the aggregate fair value of the conversion feature of those Convertible Notes was $53,480, which was an increase in value of $41,461 from the fair value of the conversion feature as of June 30, 2009 and a $32,337 increase in the fair value of the conversion feature as of December 31, 2008. These changes in fair value were recorded as an expense within other income (expense), net for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009, respectively. The aggregate fair value of the common stock issued by us in the conversion was $58,510 at the time of conversion, which was recorded as common stock and additional paid-in capital. In addition, in connection with the extinguishment of the converted Convertible Notes, we recorded a gain on extinguishment of $3,816, which represented the difference in the carrying value of those Convertible Notes including the fair value of the conversion feature, which was reduced by the discount of $1,202 and debt related costs of $1,583 associated with those Convertible Notes, and the fair value of the common stock issued at the time of conversion.

September 30, 2009 . For the $6,369 principal amount of Convertible Notes that were not converted as of September 30, 2009, the fair value of the conversion feature of those Convertible Notes at September 30, 2009 was $27,560, which was an increase in value of $20,979 from the fair value of the conversion feature as of June 30, 2009 and a $15,983 increase in value from the fair value of the conversion feature as of December 31, 2008. These changes in fair value were recorded as an expense within other income (expense), net for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009, respectively. Each reporting date we will update the fair value with any difference reflected within other income (expense), net in the consolidated statement of operations.

Note 4. Subsequent Events

From October 1, 2009 through November 6, 2009, an additional $674 principal amount of our Convertible Notes were converted, which leaves us with remaining Convertible Notes of $5,695 as of November 6, 2009, which are convertible into 19,638 shares of our common stock. In connection with these note conversions, $137 was paid for accrued interest.

We have evaluated subsequent events through November 6, 2009.

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

You should read the following discussion together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q and our audited financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. This discussion contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time the statements are made and/or management’s belief as of that time with respect to future events and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to be materially different. Important factors that could cause such differences include but are not limited to: restrictions in our debt agreements that may limit our operating flexibility; any failure to meet New York Stock Exchange listing requirements; the competition we face; worsening economic conditions; our history of net operating losses; our ability to obtain additional financing if needed; results of pending litigation and intellectual property and other litigation that may be brought against us; results of regulatory inquiries into our business practices; differences between our service and traditional phone services, including our 911 service; our dependence on third party facilities, equipment and services; system disruptions or flaws in our technology; our dependence on our customers’ existing broadband connections; uncertainties relating to regulation of VoIP services; and other factors that are set forth in the “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in our Current Reports on Form 8-K. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, and therefore, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date this Form 10-Q is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Financial Information Presentation

For the financial information discussed in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, other than per share, per line amounts, subscriber lines and employees, amounts are presented in thousands, except where noted.

Recent Developments

On August 20, 2009, we announced Vonage World which provides unlimited calling to more than 60 countries, including India, Mexico and China for the current flat monthly rate of $24.99. In addition, the Vonage World offer includes unlimited Vonage Visual Voicemail, which provides “readable voicemail” delivered via email or SMS text message.

On October 5, 2009, we launched Vonage Mobile, our first mobile calling application for smart phones. Vonage Mobile is a free downloadable application that provides seamless, low-cost international calling while on Wi-Fi or cellular networks, depending on the device. Vonage Mobile is available for download on the iPhone ® , BlackBerry ® and iPod touch ® .

We received notification from the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) that we have regained compliance with the NYSE’s continued listing standard for minimum average share price. On October 24, 2008 we received notification from the NYSE that we had fallen below the continued listing standard, which requires a minimum average closing price of $1.00 per share over 30 consecutive trading days. We regained compliance after our closing share price for the 30 trading days ended September 28, 2009 and our closing price on September 28, 2009 exceeded $1.00. In addition to regaining compliance with the price listing standard, we continue to follow all NYSE requirements to regain market capitalization compliance including providing quarterly operational updates to the NYSE. The NYSE requires average market capitalization of not less than $100 million over a 30 day trading period. Our market capitalization as of October 31, 2009 was $316 million. We could regain compliance either at the end of the 18 month plan period available or based on two consecutive quarterly monitoring periods in compliance.

From August 27, 2009 through September 8, 2009, we received Notices of Conversion from certain holders of our 20% senior secured third lien notes due 2015 (the “Convertible Notes”) indicating their desire to convert a portion of the Convertible Notes. The Convertible Notes were converted into shares of our common stock at a rate equal to 3,448.2759 shares for each $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes, or approximately $0.29 per share. In the aggregate $11,631 principal amount of Convertible Notes were converted into 40,107 shares of our common stock. As of September 30, 2009, $2,070 was paid for accrued interest along with the conversion of the Convertible Notes. In addition, from October 1, 2009 through November 6, 2009, an additional $674 principal amount of Convertible Notes were converted into shares of our common stock, which leaves us with remaining Convertible Notes of $5,695 as of November 6, 2009, which are convertible into 19,638 shares of our common stock. In connection with those conversions, $137 was paid for the Convertible Notes interest.

Overview

We are a technology company that leverages software to enable high-quality voice and messaging services across multiple devices and locations over broadband networks. Our technology serviced approximately 2.45 million subscriber lines as of September 30, 2009. While customers in the United States represented 94% of our subscriber lines at September 30, 2009, we also serve customers in Canada and in the United Kingdom.

Our service is portable and we enable our customers to make and receive phone calls with a telephone almost anywhere a broadband Internet connection is available. We transmit these calls using Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, technology, which converts voice signals into digital data packets for transmission over the Internet. At a cost effective rate, each of our calling plans provides a number of basic features typically offered by traditional telephone service providers, plus a wide range of enhanced features that we believe differentiate our service and offer an attractive value proposition to our customers. We also offer a number of premium services for additional costs.

 

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Vonage has developed both a direct sales channel, as represented by web sites and toll free numbers, and a retail distribution channel through regional and national retailers including Wal-Mart. The direct and retail distribution channels are supported through highly integrated advertising campaigns across multiple media such as online, television, direct mail, alternative media, telemarketing, partner marketing and customer referral programs.

Our primary source of revenue is subscription fees that we charge customers for our service plans, primarily on a monthly basis. We also generate revenue from the sale of devices that connect a customer’s phone to the Internet, for international calls customers make that are not included in their service plan, for additional features that customers add to their service plans and through activation fees we charge customers to activate their service (although since May 2009 we have waived activation fees on our residential unlimited plan and also waive these fees for Vonage World.)

Trends in Our Industry and Key Operating Data

A number of trends in our industry have a significant effect on our results of operations and are important to an understanding of our financial statements. Also, the table below includes key operating data that our management uses to measure the growth and operating performance of our business:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  

Gross subscriber line additions

     190,834        238,430        561,089        750,591   

Net subscriber line additions

     (50,191     9,460        (145,327     41,673   

Subscriber lines (at period end)

     2,445,027        2,621,900        2,445,027        2,621,900   

Average monthly customer churn

     3.4     3.0     3.2     3.1

Average monthly revenue per line

   $ 29.89      $ 28.75      $ 29.37      $ 28.96   

Average monthly telephony services revenue per line

   $ 29.16      $ 27.52      $ 28.53      $ 27.84   

Average monthly direct cost of telephony services per line

   $ 7.02      $ 7.20      $ 6.85      $ 7.24   

Marketing costs per gross subscriber line addition

   $ 300.75      $ 272.24      $ 312.31      $ 254.61   

Employees (excluding temporary help) (at period end)

     1,239        1,573        1,239        1,573   

Broadband adoption.  The number of U.S. households with broadband Internet access has grown significantly. We expect this trend to continue. We benefit from this trend because our service requires a broadband Internet connection and our potential addressable market increases as broadband adoption increases.

Changing competitive landscape.  We are facing increasing competition from other companies that offer multiple services such as cable television, video services, voice and broadband Internet service. These competitors are offering VoIP or other voice services as part of a bundle. In addition, certain competitors have developed integrated offerings that we cannot provide and that may be more attractive to customers. For example, as wireless providers offer more minutes at lower prices and companion landline alternative services, their services have become more attractive to households as a replacement for wireline service. We also compete against established alternative voice communication providers and independent VoIP service providers. Some of these service providers may choose to sacrifice revenue in order to gain market share and have offered their services at lower prices or for free.

Gross subscriber line additions.  Gross subscriber line additions for a particular period are calculated by taking the net subscriber line additions during that particular period and adding to that the number of subscriber lines that terminated during that period. This number does not include subscriber lines both added and terminated during the period, where termination occurred within the first 30 days after activation. The number does include, however, subscriber lines added during the period that are terminated within 30 days of activation but after the end of the period.

Net subscriber line additions.  Net subscriber line additions for a particular period reflect the number of subscriber lines at the end of the period, less the number of subscriber lines at the beginning of the period.

Subscriber lines.  Our subscriber lines include, as of a particular date, all subscriber lines from which a customer can make an outbound telephone call on that date. Our subscriber lines include fax lines and SoftPhones but do not include our virtual phone numbers or toll free numbers, which only allow inbound telephone calls to customers. As part of a database review, we identified 16,802 subscriber lines that did not meet the criteria for inclusion as subscriber lines as of December 31, 2008. We recorded an adjustment as of January 1, 2009 for these lines which we considered to be immaterial to the current and prior periods. This adjustment had no impact to our financial statements but will impact per line metrics. Subscriber lines including this adjustment decreased from 2,621,900 as of September 30, 2008 to 2,445,027 as of September 30, 2009. Excluding the adjustment, we believe that the decrease in our subscriber lines was primarily due to increasing wireless substitution, competition, particularly from cable companies, worsening economic conditions, reduced marketing spend during the second quarter of 2009 and customer acquisition and targeting efforts not being as effective as planned before and during our recent transition to a new advertising agency. We had positive net subscriber lines following the launch of Vonage World in August 2009.

 

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Average monthly customer churn.  Average monthly customer churn for a particular period is calculated by dividing the number of customers that terminated during that period by the simple average number of customers during the period, and dividing the result by the number of months in the period. The simple average number of customers during the period is the number of customers on the first day of the period, plus the number of customers on the last day of the period, divided by two. Terminations, as used in the calculation of churn statistics, do not include customers terminated during the period if termination occurred within the first 30 days after activation. Our average monthly customer churn was 3.4% and 3.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. We believe this increase was driven by increasing wireless substitution, worsening economic conditions and the quality of our service. We are working to address network quality and improve the quality of our customer service in order to decrease churn. We monitor churn on a daily basis and use it as an indicator of the level of customer satisfaction. Other companies may calculate churn differently, and their churn data may not be directly comparable to ours. Customers who have been with us for a year or more tend to have a lower churn rate than customers who have not. Our churn will fluctuate over time due to increased competitive pressures including wireless substitution, market place perception of our services and our ability to provide high quality customer care and network quality and add future innovative products and services.

Average monthly revenue per line.  Average monthly revenue per line for a particular period is calculated by dividing our total revenue for that period by the simple average number of subscriber lines for the period, and dividing the result by the number of months in the period. The simple average number of subscriber lines for the period is the number of subscriber lines on the first day of the period, plus the number of subscriber lines on the last day of the period, divided by two. Our average monthly revenue per line increased to $29.89 for the three months ended September 30, 2009 compared to $28.75 for the three months ended September 30, 2008. This increase was due primarily to pricing actions that we have taken in the past year.

Average monthly telephony services revenue per line.  Average monthly telephony services revenue per line for a particular period is calculated by dividing our total telephony services revenue for that period by the simple average number of subscriber lines for the period, and dividing the result by the number of months in the period. Our average monthly telephony services revenue per line increased to $29.16 for the three months ended September 30, 2009 from $27.52 for the three months ended September 30, 2008. This increase was due primarily to pricing actions that we have taken in the past year.

Average monthly direct cost of telephony services per line.  Average monthly direct cost of telephony services per line for a particular period is calculated by dividing our direct cost of telephony services for that period by the simple average number of subscriber lines for the period, and dividing the result by the number of months in the period. We use the average monthly direct cost of telephony services per line to evaluate how effective we are at managing our costs of providing service. Our average monthly direct cost of telephony services per line was $7.02 for the three months ended September 30, 2009 compared to $7.20 for the three months ended September 30, 2008 due primarily to the decrease in customer base, continued emphasis on management of call routing for domestic and international calls and the implementation of more favorable rates with our service providers. These improvements were partially offset by costs from higher international call volume associated with Vonage World.

Marketing cost per gross subscriber line addition.  Marketing cost per gross subscriber line addition is calculated by dividing our marketing expense for a particular period by the number of gross subscriber line additions during the period. Marketing expense does not include the cost of certain customer acquisition activities, such as rebates and promotions, which are accounted for as an offset to revenues, or customer equipment subsidies, which are accounted for as direct cost of goods sold. As a result, it does not represent the full cost to us of obtaining a new customer. Marketing cost per gross subscriber line addition increased to $300.75 for the three months ended September 30, 2009 compared to $272.24 for the three months ended September 30, 2008 due primarily to a reduction in gross subscriber line additions compared to the prior year primarily due to worsening economic conditions and customer acquisition and targeting efforts not being as effective as planned.

Employees.  Employees represent the number of personnel that are on our payroll and exclude temporary or outsourced labor.

Regulation.  Our business has developed in an environment largely free from regulation. The United States and other countries, however, are examining how VoIP services should be regulated, and a number of initiatives could have an impact on our business. For example, the FCC has concluded that wireline broadband Internet access, such as DSL and Internet access provided by cable companies, is an information service and is subject to lighter regulation than telecommunications services. This order may give providers of wireline broadband Internet access the right to discriminate against our services, charge their customers an extra fee to use our service or block our service. In August 2008, however, the FCC found that a major cable operator’s network management practices, which had the effect of degrading certain applications, were not allowed under the FCC’s 2005 network neutrality policy statement. The cable operator is currently appealing the FCC’s decision in the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. In September 2009, the Chairman of the FCC announced his intention to adopt the principles in the FCC’s 2005 network neutrality policy statement as formal rules. He also proposed adding two new principles to the formal rules, including an explicit non-discrimination principle and a transparency principle, which requires broadband providers to disclose network management practices to consumers, content providers, and application providers. Also the Chairman’s proposed rules would apply to both wireline and wireless carrier broadband networks. It was not clear whether the 2005 network neutrality policy statement applied to wireless carrier broadband networks. If the Chairman’s proposed rules are adopted, Vonage may have expanded opportunities to provide VoIP service over wireless carrier broadband networks. Given these recent developments, we believe it is unlikely that blocking or discrimination by broadband network operators will occur on a widespread basis, but if it does, it would have a material adverse effect on us. See also the discussion under “Regulation” in note 2 to our financial statements included herein for a discussion of certain other regulatory issues that impact us.

 

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Operating Revenues

Operating revenues consists of telephony services revenue and customer equipment and shipping revenue.

Telephony services revenue.  Substantially all of our operating revenues are telephony services revenue. In the United States, we have four residential plans, “Vonage World”, “Residential Premium Unlimited”, “Vonage Pro” and “Basic 500,” and two small office and home office calling plans, “Small Business Premium Unlimited Minutes” and “Small Business Basic 1500 Minutes.” Each of our unlimited plans offers unlimited domestic calling as well as unlimited calling to Puerto Rico, Canada and selected European countries, subject to certain restrictions, and each of our basic plans offers a limited number of domestic calling minutes per month. We also offer international calling plans that are bundled with our Residential Premium Unlimited plan where a customer can make calls to a chosen international region. The “Vonage World” plan launched in August 2009 offers unlimited calling across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, unlimited international calling to over sixty countries including India, Mexico and Canada, subject to certain restrictions, and free voicemail to text messages with Vonage Visual Voicemail. Under our basic plans, we charge on a per minute basis when the number of domestic calling minutes included in the plan is exceeded for a particular month. International calls (except for calls to Puerto Rico, Canada and certain European countries under our unlimited plans and a variety of countries under international calling plans and Vonage World) are charged on a per minute basis. These per minute fees are not included in our monthly subscription fees. We offer similar plans in Canada and the United Kingdom.

We derive most of our telephony services revenue from monthly subscription fees that we charge our customers under our service plans. We also offer residential fax service, virtual phone numbers, toll free numbers and other services, for each of which we charge an additional monthly fee. One business fax line is included with each of our two small office and home office plans, but we charge monthly fees for additional business fax lines. We automatically charge these fees to our customers’ credit cards, debit cards and electronic check payments, or ECP, monthly in advance. We also automatically charge the per minute fees not included in our monthly subscription fees to our customers’ credit cards, debit cards or ECP monthly in arrears unless they exceed a certain dollar threshold, in which case they are charged immediately.

By collecting monthly subscription fees in advance and certain other charges immediately after they are incurred, we are able to reduce the amount of accounts receivable that we have outstanding, thus allowing us to have lower working capital requirements. Collecting in this manner also helps us mitigate bad debt losses, which are recorded as a reduction to revenue. If a customer’s credit card, debit card or ECP is declined, we generally suspend international calling capabilities as well as the customer’s ability to incur domestic usage charges in excess of their plan minutes. Historically, in most cases, we are able to correct the problem with the customer within the current monthly billing cycle. If the customer’s credit card, debit card or ECP could not be successfully processed during three billing cycles (i.e. the current and two subsequent monthly billing cycles), we terminate the account.

We also generate revenue by charging a fee for activating service but from time to time we may forgo collecting this fee. For example, since May 2009 we have waived activation fees on our Residential Premium Unlimited plan and also waive these fees for Vonage World. In these instances when no activation fee is being collected, no customer acquisition costs are deferred. We may charge an activation fee to our direct channel customers, or those customers who purchase equipment directly from us, and to our retail channel customers, or those customers who purchase equipment from retail stores. In 2007, for our direct channel customers, activation fees, together with the related customer acquisition amounts for equipment, were deferred and amortized over the estimated average customer relationship period of 60 months. In 2007, for our retail channel customers, rebates and retailer commissions up to but not exceeding the activation fee, were also deferred and amortized over the estimated average customer relationship period of 60 months. Starting January 1, 2008, due to the increase in churn, the customer relationship period was reduced to 48 months for both the direct and retail channel. The amortization of deferred customer equipment expense is recorded to direct cost of goods sold. The amortization of deferred rebates is recorded as a reduction to telephony services revenue and the amortization of deferred retailer commissions is recorded as marketing expense. For 2009, the average customer relationship period was further reduced to 44 months based upon analysis of historical trends. The impact of this change was not material to the consolidated results of operations.

In the United States, we charge regulatory recovery fees on a monthly basis to defray the costs associated with regulatory consulting and compliance as well as related litigation, E-911 compliance and to cover taxes that we are charged by the suppliers of telecommunications services. In addition, we charge customers Federal Universal Service Fund, or USF, and related fees, which fees we record as revenue.

We also generate revenue by charging a disconnect fee to those customers who terminate their service within two years of activation for customers who signed up prior to May 29, 2009 and within one year of activation thereafter. Disconnect fees are recorded as revenue at the time the customer terminates service.

Telephony services revenue is offset by the cost of certain customer acquisition activities, such as rebates and promotions.

Customer equipment and shipping revenue. Customer equipment and shipping revenue consists of revenue from sales of customer equipment to our wholesalers or directly to customers and retailers. In addition, customer equipment and shipping revenue includes the fees when collected that we charge our customers for shipping any equipment to them.

 

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Operating Expenses

Operating expenses consist of direct cost of telephony services, royalties, direct cost of goods sold, selling, general and administrative expense, marketing expense and depreciation and amortization.

Total direct cost of telephony services . Total direct cost of telephony services primarily consists of fees that we pay to third parties on an ongoing basis in order to provide our services. These fees include:

 

   

Access charges that we pay to other telephone companies to terminate domestic and international calls on the public switched telephone network. These costs represented approximately 41% and 42% of our direct cost of telephony services for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, with a portion of these payments ultimately being made to incumbent telephone companies. When a Vonage subscriber calls another Vonage subscriber, we do not pay an access charge.

 

   

The cost of leasing internet transit services from multiple internet service providers. This internet connectivity is used to carry VoIP session initiation signaling and packetized audio media between our subscribers and our regional data centers.

 

   

The cost of leasing from other telephone companies the telephone numbers that we provide to our customers. We lease these telephone numbers on a monthly basis.

 

   

The cost of co-locating our regional data connection point equipment in third-party facilities owned by other telephone companies, Internet service providers, or co-location facility providers.

 

   

The cost of providing local number portability, which allows customers to move their existing telephone numbers from another provider to our service. Only regulated telecommunications providers have access to the centralized number databases that facilitate this process. Because we are not a regulated telecommunications provider, we must pay other telecommunications providers to process our local number portability requests.

 

   

The cost of complying with FCC regulations regarding VoIP emergency services, which require us to provide enhanced emergency dialing capabilities to transmit 911 calls for all of our customers.

 

   

Taxes that we pay on our purchase of telecommunications services from our suppliers or imposed by government agencies such as Federal USF and related fees.

 

   

Royalties for use of third-party intellectual property.

Direct cost of goods sold.  Direct cost of goods sold primarily consists of costs that we incur when a customer first subscribes to our service. These costs include:

 

   

The cost of the equipment that we provide to customers who subscribe to our service through our direct sales channel in excess of activation fees when an activation fee is collected. The cost of customer equipment is deferred up to the activation fee collected and amortized over the estimated average customer relationship period.

 

   

The cost of the equipment that we sell directly to retailers.

 

   

The cost of shipping and handling for customer equipment, together with the installation manual, that we ship to customers.

 

   

The cost of certain products or services that we give customers as promotions.

Selling, general and administrative expense. Selling, general and administrative expense includes:

 

   

Compensation and benefit costs for all employees, which is the largest component of selling, general and administrative expense and includes customer care, research and development, network engineering and operations, sales and marketing, executive, legal, finance, human resources and business development personnel.

 

   

Share-based expense related to share-based awards to employees, directors and consultants.

 

   

Outsourced labor related to customer care and retail in-store support activities.

 

   

Transaction fees paid to credit card, debit card and ECP companies, which include a per transaction charge in addition to a percent of billings charge.

 

   

Rent and related expenses.

 

   

Professional fees for legal, accounting, tax, public relations, lobbying and development activities.

 

   

Litigation settlements.

 

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Table of Contents

Marketing expense.  Marketing expense consists of:

 

   

Advertising costs, which comprise a majority of our marketing expense and include online, television, direct mail, alternative media, promotions, sponsorships and inbound and outbound telemarketing.

 

   

Creative and production costs.

 

   

The costs to serve and track our online advertising.

 

   

Certain amounts we pay to retailers for newspaper insert advertising, product placement and activation commissions.

 

   

The cost associated with our customer referral program.

Depreciation and amortization expenses. Depreciation and amortization expenses include:

 

   

Depreciation of our network equipment, furniture and fixtures, and employee computer equipment.

 

   

Amortization of leasehold improvements and purchased and developed software.

 

   

Amortization of intangible assets (patents and trademarks).

 

   

Loss on disposal or impairment of property and equipment.

Other Income (Expense)

Other Income (Expense) consists of:

 

   

Interest income on cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.

 

   

Interest expense on notes payable, patent litigation judgments and settlements and capital leases.

 

   

Amortization of debt related costs.

 

   

Accretion of notes.

 

   

Gain (loss) on extinguishment of notes.

 

   

Change in fair value of derivatives.

 

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Table of Contents

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth, as a percentage of consolidated operating revenues, our consolidated statement of operations for the periods indicated:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  

Operating Revenues:

        

Telephony services

   98   96   97   96

Customer equipment and shipping

   2      4      3      4   
                        
   100      100      100      100   
                        

Operating Expenses:

        

Direct cost of telephony services (excluding depreciation and amortization)

   23      25      23      25   

Direct cost of goods sold

   8      9      8      9   

Selling, general and administrative

   29      32      30      34   

Marketing

   26      29      26      28   

Depreciation and amortization

   6      6      6      5   
                        
   92      101      93      101   
                        

Income (loss) from operations

   8      (1   7      (1
                        

Other Income (Expense):

        

Interest income

   —        —        —        —     

Interest expense

   (6   (2   (6   (2

Change in fair value of derivatives

   (28   —        (7   —     

Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of notes

   2      —        1      —     

Other, net

   —        —        —        —     
                        
   (32   (2   (12   (2

Income (loss) before income tax benefit (expense)

   (24   (3   (5   (3

Income tax benefit (expense)

   —        —        —        —     
                        

Net income (loss)

   (24 )%    (3 )%    (5 )%    (3 )% 
                        

Summary of Results for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008

Telephony Services Revenue and Direct Cost of Telephony Services

(in thousands, except percentages)

 

       Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2009    2008    Dollar
Change
    Percent
Change
    2009    2008    Dollar
Change
    Percent
Change
 

Telephony services

   $ 216,085    $ 216,092    $ (7   (0 %)    $ 646,437    $ 651,810    $ (5,373   (1 %) 

Direct cost of telephony services (1)

     52,044      56,502      (4,458   (8 %)      155,275      169,586      (14,311   (8 %) 

 

(1) Excludes depreciation and amortization of $4,371, $4,908, $14,000 and $14,337, respectively

Telephony services revenue.  For the three months ended September 30, 2009, telephony services revenue decreased by $7, or 0%, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2008. There was a decrease in the number of subscriber lines from 2,621,900 at September 30, 2008 to 2,445,027 at September 30, 2009. The decrease in subscriber lines and changes in plan mix translated into a decrease in monthly subscription fees of $4,371 and in activation fees of $1,228, which included an offset of $457 for the change in our customer life from 48 months to 44 months in the first quarter of 2009. There was also an increase in credits we issued to subscribers of $2,260, a decrease of $207 in overage in domestic plan minutes usage, a decrease in fees that we charged for disconnecting our service of $258 and a decrease of $622 in other revenue. The reduction in revenue from lower volume of international per minute usage following introduction of our Vonage World plan with free unlimited calls to more than 60 countries, as partially offset by an increase in revenues from customers on international plans, was $1,263. These was also an increase in additional features we provided to customers of $233, an increase in regulatory fees that we collected from subscribers of $7,542, which included $2,042 of USF and related fees, and a decrease of $2,427 in bad debt expense.

 

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Table of Contents

For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, telephony services revenue decreased by $5,373, or 1%, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2008. This was primarily driven by the decrease in the number of subscriber lines. The decrease in subscriber lines and changes in plan mix translated into a decrease in monthly subscription fees of $15,678, in overage in plan minutes usage of $736 and in other revenue of $1,008. These decreases were offset by an increase in regulatory fees that we collected from subscribers of $7,298, which included an increase of $2,141 of USF and related fees, an increase in activation fees of $202, which included $3,595 for the change in our customer life from 48 months to 44 months in the first quarter of 2009. There was also a decrease in credits we issued to subscriber of $1,037, an increase in fees of $840 for additional features we provided to customers, an increase in fees that we charge for disconnecting our service of $733 and a decrease in bad debt expense of $733. The reduction in revenue from lower volume of international per minute usage following introduction of our Vonage World plan with free unlimited calls to more than 60 countries, as partially offset by an increase in revenues from customers on international plans, was $1,206.

Direct cost of telephony services. For the three months ended September 30, 2009 compared to 2008, the decrease in direct cost of telephony services of $4,458, or 8%, was primarily due to the decrease in our network costs of $4,053, which includes costs for co-locating in other carriers’ facilities, for leasing phone numbers, routing calls on the Internet, and transferring calls to and from the Internet to the public switched telephone network and E-911 costs. There was also a decrease in termination costs of $2,825, which are costs that we pay other phone companies for terminating phone calls, and a decrease of taxes that we pay on our purchase of telecommunications services from our suppliers of $132, which was offset by an increase of USF and related fees imposed by government agencies of $2,042 and in international usage cost of $539, in part due to increased international call volume following the introduction of our Vonage World plan.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared to 2008, the decrease in direct cost of telephony services of $14,311, or 8%, was primarily due to the decrease in our network costs of $11,411, which includes costs for co-locating in other carriers’ facilities, for leasing phone numbers, routing calls on the Internet, and transferring calls to and from the Internet to the public switched telephone network and E-911 costs. There was also a decrease in termination costs of $5,199, which are costs that we pay other phone companies for terminating phone calls, a decrease of taxes that we pay on our purchase of telecommunications services from our suppliers of $955 and a decrease in other cost of $177, which was offset by the increase of USF and related fees imposed by government agencies of $2,141 and in international usage cost of $1,288, in part due to increased international call volume following the introduction of our Vonage World plan.

Customer Equipment and Shipping Revenue and Direct Cost of Goods Sold

(in thousands, except percentages)

 

       Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2009     2008     Dollar
Change
    Percent
Change
    2009     2008     Dollar
Change
    Percent
Change
 

Customer equipment and shipping revenue

   $ 5,420      $ 9,678      $ (4,258   (44 %)    $ 19,101      $ 26,101      $ (7,000   (27 %) 

Direct cost of goods sold

     17,727        20,835        (3,108   (15 %)      54,418        61,440        (7,022   (11 %) 
                                                    

Customer equipment and shipping gross loss

   $ (12,307   $ (11,157   $ (1,150   (10 %)    $ (35,317   $ (35,339   $ 22      0
                                                    

Customer equipment and shipping revenue. For the three months ended September 30, 2009 compared to 2008, our customer equipment and shipping revenue decreased by $4,258, or 44%, primarily due to less period over period customer additions and the introduction of a new promotion in May 2009 that eliminated equipment and shipping fees for customers who signed up for our residential unlimited plan, which resulted in a decrease in the dollar value of customer equipment sales net of rebates of $2,021 and a decrease in customer shipping revenue of $2,237.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared to 2008, our customer equipment and shipping revenue decreased by $7,000, or 27%, primarily due to the impact of a $1,000 reserve to cover the potential exposure relating to litigation, less period over period customer additions and the introduction of a new promotion in May 2009 that eliminated equipment and shipping fees for customers who signed up for our residential unlimited plan, which resulted in a decrease in the dollar value of customer equipment sales net of rebates of $1,556 and a decrease in customer shipping revenue of $4,444.

Direct cost of goods sold. For the three months ended September 30, 2009 compared to 2008, the decrease in direct cost of goods sold of $3,108, or 15%, was primarily due to a decrease in customer equipment costs of $1,218 resulting from fewer period over period customer additions and a corresponding decrease in shipping costs of $777. There was also a decrease in amortization costs on deferred customer equipment of $692 including $282 due to the change of our customer life from 48 months to 44 months in the first quarter of 2009 and a decrease in waived activation fees for new customers of $421.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared to 2008, the decrease in direct cost of goods sold of $7,022, or 11%, was primarily due to a decrease in customer equipment costs of $6,535 resulting from fewer period over period customer additions and lower promotional activity and a corresponding decrease in shipping costs of $2,282, which was offset by higher amortization costs on deferred customer equipment of $168 including $2,902 due to the change of our customer life from 48 months to 44 months in the first quarter of 2009 and an increase in waived activation fees for new customers of $1,627.

 

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Table of Contents

Selling, General and Administrative

(in thousands, except percentages)

 

       Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2009    2008    Dollar
Change
    Percent
Change
    2009    2008    Dollar
Change
    Percent
Change
 

Selling, general and administrative

   $ 63,187    $ 73,035    $ (9,848   (13 %)    $ 202,565    $ 230,358    $ (27,793   (12 %) 

Selling, general and administrative. For the three months ended September 30, 2009 compared to 2008, there was a decrease in selling, general and administrative expense of $9,848, or 13%. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in salaries, recruiting and outsourced temporary labor of $5,440, a decrease in facility and other costs of $2,488 and a decrease in share-based cost of $2,109. We reduced the number of kiosk locations, which decreased our retail kiosk costs by $1,360. These decreases were offset by an increase in settlements cost of $328 and an increase in professional fees of $1,380, primarily related to consulting.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared to 2008, there was a decrease in selling, general and administrative expense of $27,793, or 12%. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in professional fees of $5,541, primarily related to consulting, a decrease in salaries, recruiting and outsourced temporary labor of $16,025, and a decrease in credit card fees of $629. Additionally, we reduced the number of kiosks locations, which decreased our retail kiosk costs by $3,958. We also had a decrease facility and other costs of $4,975 and a decrease in share-based cost of $2,310, which was offset by an increase in the cost for settlements and the potential exposure related to litigation and contractual disputes of $2,055, an increase in severance costs of $958 primarily due to the close down of our Canada facility and an increase in tax expense of $2,632.

Marketing

(in thousands, except percentages)

 

       Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2009    2008    Dollar
Change
    Percent
Change
    2009    2008    Dollar
Change
    Percent
Change
 

Marketing

   $ 57,393    $ 64,911    $ (7,518   (12 %)    $ 175,232    $ 191,110    $ (15,878   (8 %) 

Marketing. For the three months ended September 30, 2009 compared to 2008, marketing expense decreased by $7,518, or 12% primarily related to a decrease in alternative media of $2,211, in online advertising of $8,078, in retail advertising of $1,834, in direct mail costs of $3,791 and in other marketing of $671. These decreases were offset by an increase in television advertising of $9,067. For the three months ended September 30, 2009, we reduced marketing spending as we completed the transition to our new agencies and continued the development of new advertising and eliminated inefficient non-media spending.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared to 2008, marketing expense decreased by $15,878, or 8% primarily related to a decrease in alternative media of $5,153, in online advertising of $13,179, in retail advertising of $4,494 and in direct mail costs of $410. These decreases were offset by an increase in television advertising of $6,697 and in other marketing of $661. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, we reduced marketing spending as we completed the transition to our new agencies and continued the development of new advertising and eliminated inefficient non-media spending.

Depreciation and Amortization

(in thousands, except percentages)

 

       Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2009    2008    Dollar
Change
    Percent
Change
    2009    2008    Dollar
Change
   Percent
Change
 

Depreciation and amortization

   $ 12,881    $ 13,347    $ (466   (3 %)    $ 39,625    $ 34,670    $ 4,955    14

Depreciation and amortization. The decrease in depreciation and amortization of $466, or 3%, for the three months ended September 30, 2009 compared to 2008, was primarily due to a decrease in depreciation of network equipment and computer equipment of $973, including impairment charge of $594, and a decrease in amortization related to patents of $484. These decreases were offset by an increase in software amortization of $991, including impairment charge of $772.

The increase in depreciation and amortization of $4,955, or 14%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared to 2008, was primarily due to an increase in software amortization of $5,605, including impairment charge of $197, and an increase in depreciation of network equipment and computer equipment of $362, including impairment charge of $467. These increases were offset by a decrease in amortization related to patents of $1,012.

 

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Table of Contents

Other Income (Expense)

(in thousands, except percentages)

 

       Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2009     2008     Dollar
Change
    Percent
Change
    2009     2008     Dollar
Change
    Percent
Change
 

Interest income

   $ 58      $ 544      $ (486   (89 %)    $ 228      $ 2,965      $ (2,737   (92 %) 

Interest expense

     (13,690     (5,504     (8,186   (149 %)      (40,911     (16,610     (24,301   (146 %) 

Change in fair value of derivatives

     (62,998     —          (62,998   *        (48,878     —          (48,878   *   

Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of notes

     3,816        —          3,816      *        3,816        —          3,816      *   

Other, net

     15        46        (31   (67 %)      821        (66     887      *   
                                                    
   $ (72,799   $ (4,914   $ (67,885     $ (84,924   $ (13,711   $ (71,213  
                                                    

Interest income. For the three months ended September 30, 2009 compared to 2008, the decrease in interest income of $486, or 89%, was due to the decrease in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared to 2008, the decrease in interest income of $2,737, or 92%, was due to the decrease in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.

Interest expense. For the three months ended September 30, 2009 compared to 2008, the increase in interest expense of $8,186, or 149%, was primarily due to an increase in interest expense on the new credit facilities and convertible notes compared to the convertible notes that we refinanced in November 2008 of $8,374, which was offset by a decrease in other interest expense of $188.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared to 2008, the increase in interest expense of $24,301, or 146%, was primarily due to an increase in interest expense on the new credit facilities and convertible notes compared to the convertible notes that we refinanced in November 2008 of $24,814, which was offset by a decrease in other interest expense of $513.

Change in fair value of derivatives. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, the increase is primarily due to the recording of the change in the fair value of the conversion feature contained within our convertible notes, which was determined to be an embedded derivative under FASB ASC 815, of $62,440 and $48,320 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively. We also recorded $558 for the fair value of our common stock warrant for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009.

Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of notes. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, we recorded $3,816 gain associated with conversion of our Convertible Notes.

Other. We recognized $792 in other income for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 for the net proceeds we received from a key-man term life insurance policy related to the passing of a former executive.

Income Tax Benefit (Expense)

(in thousands, except percentages)

 

       Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2009     2008     Dollar
Change
   Percent
Change
    2009     2008     Dollar
Change
   Percent
Change
 

Income tax benefit (expense)

   $ (29   $ (43   $ 14    33   $ (498   $ (696   $ 198    28

Provision for Income Taxes

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, we had net losses for financial reporting purposes. Although we historically have had net losses for financial reporting purposes, in certain jurisdictions we are not able to file a consolidated income tax return, which prevents us from offsetting taxable losses from some subsidiaries against taxable income of other subsidiaries. As such, we have incurred income tax expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008.

As of September 30, 2009, we had net operating loss carryforwards for U.S. federal and state tax purposes of $745,546 and $706,319, respectively, expiring at various times from years ending 2020 through 2028. In addition, we had net operating loss carryforwards for Canadian tax purposes of $53,686 expiring through 2027. We also had net operating loss carryforwards for United Kingdom tax purposes of $37,450 with no expiration date. Recognition of deferred tax assets will require generation of future taxable income. There can be no assurance that we will generate sufficient taxable income in future years. Therefore, we established a valuation allowance on net deferred tax assets of $381,480 as of September 30, 2009.

 

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Table of Contents

Net Income (Loss)

(in thousands, except percentages)

 

       Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2009     2008     Dollar
Change
    Percent
Change
    2009     2008     Dollar
Change
    Percent
Change
 

Net income (loss)

   $ (54,555   $ (7,817   $ (46,738   (598 %)    $ (46,999   $ (23,660   $ (23,339   (99 %) 

Net Income (Loss). Based on the explanations described above, we had net losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Overview

The following table sets forth a summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated:

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2009     2008  
     (dollars in thousands)  

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

   $ 16,660      $ 6,171   

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

     (23,673     44,213   

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     (2,588     (9,234

For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, we generated income from operations and positive operating cash flow. Historically, we have generated negative cash flows from operations. Our primary sources of funds have been proceeds from private placements of our preferred stock, private placements of convertible notes and borrowings under credit facilities, an initial public offering of our common stock, operating revenues and borrowings under notes payable from our principal stockholder and Chairman, which were subsequently converted into shares of our preferred stock. We have used these proceeds for working capital, funding operating losses, IP litigation settlements, repaying our prior convertible notes and other general corporate purposes.

Although our historical net losses were driven primarily by start-up costs and the cost of developing our technology, more recently our results of operations have been impacted by investments in marketing, settlement of our IP litigation and refinancing costs. In addition to marketing, we plan to continue to invest in research and development, our network infrastructure and customer care. In 2007, we announced a plan seeking to balance growth with profitability. We intend to continue to pursue growth because we believe it will position us as a strong competitor in the long term. Although we believe we will achieve consistent profitability in the future, we ultimately may not be successful and we may never achieve consistent profitability. We believe that cash flow from operations and cash on hand will fund our operations for at least the next twelve months.

November 2008 Financing

On October 19, 2008, we entered into definitive agreements (collectively, the “Credit Documentation”) for a financing, which we completed on November 3, 2008, with Silver Point Finance, LLC (“Silver Point”), certain of its affiliates, other third parties and affiliates of us. The financing consisted of (i) a $130,300 senior secured first lien credit facility (the “First Lien Senior Facility”), (ii) a $72,000 senior secured second lien credit facility (the “Second Lien Senior Facility”) and (iii) the sale of the Convertible Notes (together with the First Lien Senior Facility and the Second Lien Senior Facility, the “Financing”).

Amounts borrowed under the Financing are secured by substantially all of the assets of us and our U.S. subsidiaries (the “Credit Parties”). The collateral secures the First Lien Senior Facility on a first lien basis, the Second Lien Senior Facility on a second lien basis and the Convertible Notes on a third lien basis, subject to an inter creditor agreement.

Commencing October 1, 2009, all specified unrestricted cash above $30,000, subject to certain adjustments, is swept into a concentration account (the “Concentration Account”), and until the balance in the Concentration Account is at least equal to $30,000, we may not access or make any withdrawals from the Concentration Account. Thereafter, with limited exceptions, we will have the right to withdraw funds from the Concentration Account in excess of $30,000. We made an initial funding of $114 into the Concentration Account with no subsequent funding through November 6, 2009.

The Credit Documentation includes customary representations and warranties of the Credit Parties. In addition, Credit Documentation for the Financing contains affirmative and negative covenants that affect, and in many respects may significantly limit or prohibit, among other things, the Credit Parties’ ability to incur, prepay, refinance or modify indebtedness; enter into acquisitions, investments, sales, mergers, consolidations, liquidations and dissolutions; invest in foreign subsidiaries, repurchase and redeem stock; modify material contracts; engage in transactions with affiliates and 5% stockholders; change lines of business; and make marketing expenditures under contracts with a duration in excess of one year that exceed (i) $95,000 until December 31, 2009 and (ii) for each quarter thereafter, an amount equal to 20% of consolidated pre-marketing

 

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operating income for the four quarters immediately preceding such quarter. Board approval must be obtained for any long-term commitment or series of related long-term commitments that would result in aggregate marketing expenditures by any of the Credit Parties of more than $25,000 during the term of the Financing. In addition, we must comply with certain financial covenants, which include a total leverage ratio, senior lien leverage ratios, minimum consolidated adjusted EBITDA, a fixed charge coverage ratio, maximum consolidated capital expenditures, minimum consolidated liquidity and minimum consolidated pre-marketing operating income. As of September 30, 2009, we were in compliance with all covenants, including financial covenants, under the Credit Documentation.

The Credit Documentation contains events of default that may permit acceleration of the debt under the Credit Documentation and a default interest rate of 3% above the interest rate which would otherwise be applicable. If an event of default has occurred, and the debt under the Financing becomes due and payable as a result, such payment will be subject to a make-whole (or the prepayment premium, if applicable to the First Lien Senior Facility in years 4 and 5) and, in the case of the Convertible Notes, liquidated damages payable in the form of shares of common stock for any loss of the option to convert in whole or in part. Conversion rights will continue to exist while the Convertible Notes are outstanding notwithstanding acceleration or maturity, including as a result of a voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy.

We used the net proceeds of the Financing of $213,133, plus cash on hand of $40,327, to repurchase $253,460 of our previous convertible notes in a tender offer that expired on November 3, 2008. We also incurred $27,050 of debt related costs in connection with the Financing.

First and Second Lien Senior Facility

The loans under the First Lien Senior Facility will mature in October 2013 and were issued at an original issuance discount of $7,167. Principal amounts under the First Lien Senior Facility are repayable in quarterly installments of $326 for each quarter ending December 31, 2008 through September 30, 2011 and $3,258 for each quarter ending December 31, 2011 through September 30, 2013, with the balance due in October 2013. Certain events could trigger prepayment obligations and premium payments under the First Lien Senior Facility. Amounts under the First Lien Senior Facility, at our option, bear interest at:

 

   

the greater of 4.00% and LIBOR plus, in either case, 12.00%, payable on the last day of each relevant interest period or, if the interest period is longer than three months, each day that is three months after the first day of the interest period and the last day of such interest period, or

 

   

the greater of 6.75% and the higher of (i) the rate quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Money Rates Section as the Prime Rate as in effect from time to time and (ii) the federal funds effective rate from time to time plus 0.50% plus, in either case, 11.00%, payable on the last day of each month in arrears.

The loans under the Second Lien Senior Facility will mature in October 2015. Principal amounts under the Second Lien Senior Facility will be repayable in quarterly installments of $1,800 commencing the later of: (i) the last day of the fiscal quarter after payment-in-full of amounts under the First Lien Senior Facility and (ii) December 31, 2012, with the balance due in October 2015. Amounts under the Second Lien Senior Facility bear interest at 20% payable quarterly in arrears and payable in kind, or PIK, beginning December 31, 2008 until the third anniversary of the effective date and thereafter 20% payable quarterly in arrears in cash. If the First Lien Senior Facility has not been refinanced in full by the third anniversary of the effective date, then until such refinancing has occurred 70% of the interest due will be payable in cash with the balance payable in PIK. The amount of PIK interest as of September 30, 2009 was $14,171.

After payment-in-full of amounts under the First Lien Senior Facility or in the event mandatory payments are waived by lenders under the First Lien Senior Facility, the Second Lien Senior Facility will be subject to prepayment obligations and premiums consistent with those for the First Lien Senior Facility. Voluntary prepayments for the Second Lien Senior Facility may be made at any time subject to a make-whole.

Convertible Notes

Subject to conversion, repayment or repurchase of the Convertible Notes, the Convertible Notes mature in October 2015. Subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments (including triggers upon the issuance of common stock below the market price of the common stock or the conversion price of the Convertible Notes), the Convertible Notes are convertible into shares of our common stock at a rate equal to 3,448.2759 shares for each $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes, or approximately $0.29 per share. A permanent increase in the conversion rate, resulting in the issuance of additional shares, may occur if a fundamental change occurs. During the quarter ended September 30, 2009, we received Notices of Conversion from certain note holders indicating their desire to convert their Convertible Notes. In the aggregate $11,631 principal amount of Convertible Notes were converted into 40,107 shares of our common stock. As of September 30, 2009, there were $6,369 principal amount of Convertible Notes outstanding.

Amounts under the Convertible Notes bear interest at 20% that accrues and compounds quarterly until October 30, 2011 at which time such accrued interest may be paid in cash. Any accrued interest not paid in cash on such date will continue to bear interest at 20% that accrues and compounds quarterly and is payable in cash on the maturity date of the Convertible Notes. After October 30, 2011, principal on Convertible Notes will bear interest at 20% payable quarterly in arrears in cash. However, if the First Lien

 

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Senior Facility has not been refinanced in full by October 31, 2011, then until such refinancing occurs, the cash interest will be capped at 14% with the balance of 6% accruing and compounding interest quarterly at 20%, to be paid in cash on the maturity date of the Convertible Notes. The amount of accrued and compounding interest as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 was $1,242 and $580, respectively. In connection with note conversions during the quarter ended September 30, 2009, $2,070 was paid for accrued interest.

Subject to specific limitations and the right of holders to convert prior to such time, we may cause the automatic conversion of the Convertible Notes into common stock on or after the third anniversary of the issue date. The amount of Convertible Notes that will be subject to our automatic conversion right will depend on our stock price: (i) if a 30-day volume-weighted average price of our common stock is greater than $3.00 per share, then not less than $12,000 principal amount of the Convertible Notes must remain outstanding after the conversion, (ii) if a 30-day volume-weighted average price of our common stock is greater than $4.50 per share, then not less than $6,000 principal amount of the Convertible Notes must remain outstanding after the conversion and (iii) if a 30-day volume-weighted average price of our common stock is greater than $6.00 per share, then we may cause the mandatory conversion of up to all of the then-outstanding Convertible Notes.

From October 1, 2009 through November 6, 2009, an additional $674 principal amount of our Convertible Notes were converted, which leaves us with remaining Convertible Notes of $5,695 as of November 6, 2009, which are convertible into 19,638 shares of our common stock. In connection with these note conversions, $137 was paid for accrued interest.

State and Local Sales Taxes

We also have contingent liabilities for state and local sales taxes. As of September 30, 2009, we had a reserve of $3,790. If our ultimate liability exceeds this amount, it could affect our liquidity unfavorably. However, we do not believe it would significantly impair our liquidity.

Capital expenditures

For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, capital expenditures were primarily for the implementation of software solutions and purchase of network equipment. Our capital expenditures for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 were $23,235, of which $11,516 was for software acquisition and development. For 2009, we believe our capital expenditures will be approximately $35,000 to $40,000.

Operating Activities

Cash provided by operating activities increased to $16,660 during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared to $6,171 for the prior year period, primarily due to lower marketing expenditures and overall tighter controls on costs partially offset by lower revenues as our overall customer base has decreased over the past year and higher interest expense associated with our November 2008 Financing.

Changes in working capital requirements include changes in accounts receivable, prepaid and other assets, accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities and deferred revenue and costs. Cash used for working capital requirements increased by $31,685 during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared to the prior year period primarily due to the timing of payments including prepayments to take advantage of discounts negotiated with vendors prior to the establishment of the Concentration Account and an increase in inventory on hand due to lower gross line additions.

Investing Activities

Cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 of $23,673 was attributable to capital expenditures of $11,719, development of software assets of $11,516 and $438 for the decrease in restricted cash.

Cash provided by investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 of $44,213 was attributable to net sales and purchases of marketable securities of $79,941 offset by capital expenditures, purchase of intangible assets and development of software assets of $32,566 and $3,162 for the increase in restricted cash.

Financing Activities

Cash used in financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 of $2,588 was attributable to $911 in capital lease payments, $1,483 in first lien facility principal payment and $251 in additional debt related cost.

Cash used in financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 of $9,234 was primarily for debt related costs of $8,601 and capital lease payments of $752.

 

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Summary of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our significant accounting policies are summarized in Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements. The following describes our critical accounting policies and estimates:

Use of Estimates

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, which require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported and disclosed in the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates.

On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including the following:

 

   

those related to the average period of service to a customer used to amortize deferred revenue and deferred customer acquisition costs associated with customer activation. For 2008, due to the increase in churn, the customer relationship period was reduced from 60 months to 48 months. In 2009, the customer relationship period was further reduced to 44 months. The impact of this change was not material to the consolidated results of operations;

 

   

the useful lives of property and equipment;

 

   

assumptions used for the purpose of determining share-based compensation and the estimated fair value of our stock warrant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model (“Model”), and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable. The key inputs for this Model are stock price at valuation date, strike price, the dividend yield, risk-free interest rate, life in years and volatility; and

 

   

assumptions used to determine the estimated fair value of the embedded derivative within our convertible notes using the Monte Carlo simulation model. The key inputs are maturity date, risk-free interest rate, current share price and historical volatility of our common stock.

We base our estimates on historical experience, available market information, appropriate valuation methodologies, and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities.

Revenue Recognition

Operating revenues consist of telephony services revenues and customer equipment (which enables our telephony services) and shipping revenues. The point in time at which revenues are recognized is determined in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104, Revenue Recognition, and FASB ASC 605-50-25, Customer Payments and Incentives-Customers Accounting for Certain Consideration Received from Vendor (Including a Reseller of the Vendor’s Products) .

Substantially all of our operating revenues are telephony services revenues, which are derived primarily from monthly subscription fees that customers are charged under our service plans. We also derive telephony services revenues from per minute fees for international calls and for any calling minutes in excess of a customer’s monthly plan limits. Monthly subscription fees are automatically charged to customers’ credit cards, debit cards or ECP in advance and are recognized over the following month when services are provided. Revenues generated from international calls and from customers exceeding allocated call minutes under limited minute plans are recognized as services are provided, that is, as minutes are used, and are billed to a customer’s credit cards, debit cards or ECP in arrears. As a result of our multiple billing cycles each month, we estimate the amount of revenues earned from international calls and from customers exceeding allocated call minutes under limited minute plans but not billed from the end of each billing cycle to the end of each reporting period. These estimates are based primarily upon historical minutes and have been consistent with our actual results.

We also generate revenue by charging a fee for activating service but from time to time we may forgo collecting this fee. In these instances when no activation fee is being collected, no customer acquisition costs are deferred. We may charge an activation fee to our direct channel customers, or those customers who purchase equipment directly from us, and to our retail channel customers, or customers who purchase equipment from retail stores. In 2007, for our direct channel customers, activation fees, together with the related customer acquisition amounts for equipment, were deferred and amortized over the estimated average customer relationship period of 60 months. In 2007, for our retail channel customers, rebates and retailer commissions up to but not exceeding the activation fee, were also deferred and amortized over the estimated average customer relationship period of 60 months. Starting January 1, 2008, due to the increase in churn, the customer relationship period was reduced to 48 months for both the direct and retail channel. The amortization of deferred customer equipment expense is recorded to direct cost of goods sold. The amortization of deferred rebates is recorded as a reduction to telephony services revenue and the amortization of deferred retailer commissions is recorded as marketing expense. For 2009, the average customer relationship period was further reduced to 44 months based upon analysis of historical trends. The impact of this change was not material to the consolidated results of operations.

We also provide rebates to customers who purchase their customer equipment from retailers and satisfy minimum service period requirements. These rebates in excess of activation fees are recorded as a reduction of revenues over the service period based upon the estimated number of customers that will ultimately earn and claim the rebates.

 

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Customer equipment and shipping revenues include sales to our retailers, who subsequently resell this customer equipment to customers. Revenues were reduced for payments to retailers and rebates to customers, who purchased their customer equipment through these retailers, to the extent of customer equipment and shipping revenues.

Inventory

Inventory consists of the cost of customer equipment and is stated at the lower of cost or market, with cost determined using the average cost method. We provide an inventory allowance for customer equipment that has been returned by customers but may not be able to be re-issued to new customers or returned to the manufacturer for credit.

Income Taxes

We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected tax consequences of temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts using tax rates in effect for the year the differences are expected to reverse. We have recorded a valuation allowance on the assumption that it is more likely than not that we will not generate taxable income.

Net Operating Loss Carryforwards

As of September 30, 2009, we had net operating loss carryforwards for U.S. federal and state tax purposes of $745,546 and $706,319, respectively, expiring at various times from years ending 2020 through 2028. In addition, we had net operating loss carryforwards for Canadian tax purposes of $53,686 expiring through 2027. We also had net operating loss carryforwards for United Kingdom tax purposes of $37,450 with no expiration date.

Under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change” (generally defined as a greater than 50% change (by value) in its equity ownership over a three-year period), the corporation’s ability to use its pre-change of control net operating loss carry forward and other pre-change tax attributes against its post-change income may be limited. The Section 382 limitation is applied annually so as to limit the use of our pre-change net operating loss carryforwards to an amount that generally equals the value of our stock immediately before the ownership change multiplied by a designated federal long-term tax-exempt rate. In addition, we may be able to increase the base Section 382 limitation amount during the first five years following the ownership change to the extent it realizes built-in gains during that time period. A built-in gain generally is gain or income attributable to an asset that was held at the date of the ownership change and that had a fair market value in excess of the tax basis at the date of the ownership change. Section 382 provides that any unused Section 382 limitation amount can be carried forward and aggregated with the following year’s available net operating losses. Due to the cumulative impact of our equity issuances over the three year period ended April 2005, a change of ownership occurred upon the issuance of our previously outstanding Series E Preferred Stock at the end of April 2005. As a result, $171,147 of the total U.S. net operating losses will be subject to an annual base limitation of $39,374. As noted above, we believe we may be able to increase the base Section 382 limitation for built-in gains during the first five years following the ownership change.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In October 2009, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2009-13 (“ASU 2009-13”) “Revenue Recognition (Topic 605), Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”). This ASU provides amendments to the criteria in FASB ASC 605-25 for separating consideration in multiple-deliverable arrangements. ASU 2009-13 changes existing rules regarding recognition of revenue in multiple deliverable arrangements and expands ongoing disclosures about the significant judgments used in applying its guidance. It will be effective for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in the fiscal year beginning on or after June 15, 2010. Early adoption is permitted on a prospective or retrospective basis. We are currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2009-13 on our financial statements.

In June 2009, the FASB issued FASB ASC 820-10, Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly . This ASC provides additional guidance for estimating fair value in accordance with FASB ASC 820-10, when the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have significantly decreased. This ASC also includes guidance on identifying circumstances that indicate a transaction is not orderly. This ASC is effective for interim and annual reporting periods that ended after June 15, 2009. The ASC does not require disclosures for earlier periods presented for comparative purposes at initial adoption. In periods after initial adoption, this ASC requires comparative disclosures only for periods ending after initial adoption. The adoption of FASB ASC 820-10 did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

In May 2008, the FASB affirmed the consensus of FASB ASC 470-20, “Debt with Conversion and other Options (Including Partial Cash Settlement) , which applies to all convertible debt instruments that have a net settlement feature; which means that such convertible debt instruments, by their terms, may be settled either wholly or partially in cash upon conversion. FASB ASC 470-20 requires issuers of convertible debt instruments that may be settled wholly or partially in cash upon conversion to separately account for the liability and equity components in a manner reflective of the issuer’s nonconvertible debt borrowing rate. Previous guidance provided for accounting for this type of convertible debt instrument entirely as debt. FASB ASC 470-20 was effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of FASB ASC 470-20 did not have an impact on our financial statements.

 

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In April 2008, the FASB issued FASB ASC 350-30, “General Intangibles Other than Goodwill .  FASB ASC 350-30 amends the factors an entity should consider in developing renewal or extension assumptions used in determining the useful life of recognized intangible assets under FASB ASC 350-30, “General Intangibles Other than Goodwill .  This new guidance applies prospectively to intangible assets that are acquired individually or with a group of other assets in business combinations after their acquisitions. FASB ASC 350-30 was effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2008. Since this guidance applied prospectively, on adoption, there was no impact to our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2008, the FASB amended FASB ASC 820, which delayed the effective date of FASB ASC 820 for all nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually), until fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years. These nonfinancial items include assets and liabilities such as reporting units measured at fair value in a goodwill impairment test and nonfinancial assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. The full adoption of FASB ASC 820 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

We are exposed to financial market risks, including changes in currency exchange rates and interest rates.

Foreign Exchange Risk

We sell our products and services in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Changes in currency exchange rates affect the valuation in our financial statements of the assets and liabilities of these operations. We also have a portion of our sales denominated in Euros, the Canadian dollar and the British Pound, which are also affected by changes in currency exchange rates. Our financial results could be affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates, although foreign exchange risks have not been material to our financial position or results of operations to date.

Interest Rate and Debt Risk

Our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to our long-term debt and to a lesser degree investments.

On October 19, 2008, we entered into definitive agreements for a financing consisting of (i) a $130,300 First Lien Senior Facility, (ii) a $72,000 Second Lien Senior Facility and (iii) the sale of $18,000 of our Convertible Notes. The funding for this transaction was completed on November 3, 2008. We are exposed to interest rate risk since amounts under the First Lien Senior Facility, at our option, bear interest at:

 

   

the greater of 4.00% and LIBOR plus, in either case, 12.00%, payable on the last day of each relevant interest period or, if the interest period is longer than three months, each day that is three months after the first day of the interest period and the last day of such interest period, or

 

   

the greater of 6.75% and the higher of (i) the rate quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Money Rates Section as the Prime Rate as in effect from time to time and (ii) the federal funds effective rate from time to time plus 0.50% plus, in either case, 11.00%, payable on the last day of each month in arrears.

The interest rate on the Second Lien Senior Facility and Convertible Notes are fixed. As of September 30, 2009, if the interest rate on the Company’s variable rate debt changed by 1%, the Company’s annual debt service payment would change by approximately $1,300.

We have no investments at September 30, 2009. Historically, we invested in a variety of securities that consisted primarily of investments in interest-bearing demand deposit accounts with financial institutions, money market funds and highly liquid debt securities of corporations and municipalities. By policy, we limited the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer. During 2008, due to the economic downturn in the banking industry and in anticipation of the use of cash on hand to repay a portion of our previous convertible notes in November 2008, management decided to convert all of our marketable securities into cash.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) required by Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b), our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer have concluded that as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Changes in Internal Controls. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Part II—Other Information

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

We are subject to a number of lawsuits, government investigations and claims arising out of the conduct of our business. See a discussion of our litigation matters in Note 2 of Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements beginning on page 11, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. This information should be read in conjunction with the risk factors in such Annual Report.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Use of Proceeds from Initial Public Offering

On May 23, 2006, the Securities and Exchange Commission declared effective our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-131659) relating to our IPO. After deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses, our net proceeds from the offering equaled approximately $491,144, which includes $1,896 of costs incurred in 2005. We have invested the net proceeds of the offering in short-term, interest bearing securities pending their use to fund our expansion, including funding marketing expenses and operating losses. Except for payments made in 2008 in connection with IP litigation settlements and debt repayment, there has been no material change in our planned use of proceeds from our IPO as described in our final prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b). We did not use any of the net proceeds from the IPO until the year ended December 31, 2006. Through September 30, 2009, we used $457,967 of the net proceeds from the IPO to fund operating activities, including $218,075 for IP litigation settlements, $40,327 to note holders of our previously issued convertible notes and $27,050 for debt related costs related to the Financing in November 2008 and $104,064 for capital expenditures, software development and patent purchases.

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

None

 

Item 5. Other Information

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement

On November 5, 2009, we entered into an Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Marc P. Lefar, our Chief Executive Officer. In accordance with the original employment agreement, we and Mr. Lefar have discussed in good faith the award of additional equity as a result of a determination that the financing completed by us in November 2008 was substantially more dilutive than the transaction contemplated by the financing commitment letter executed by us in July 2008 prior to Mr. Lefar joining us. We made a grant in September of options to purchase 1,000,000 shares of our common stock and have agreed to make another grant of options to purchase 1,000,000 shares on December 1, 2009. The amended agreement provides the parties will continue to discuss in good faith the award of additional equity in connection with the determination.

The amended agreement deletes reference to bonus opportunities for Mr. Lefar that have expired. The original agreement also provided that Mr. Lefar would be provided (i) payment of or reimbursement for amounts up to a maximum of $600,000 plus the cost of commercial air travel (i.e., the cost of a first-class, fully refundable, direct flight booked one week prior to travel), to be used by Mr. Lefar for private air travel, (ii) payment of or reimbursement for the cost of housing (i.e., furnished housing, including utilities) and (iii) gross-up for tax purposes of any income arising from such expense payments or reimbursements that are treated as nondeductible taxable income. We have agreed to extend these benefits to Mr. Lefar for each year during the duration of the term of the amended agreement.

2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

We currently expect to hold our 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in May 2010 (the “2010 Annual Meeting”) in Holmdel, New Jersey. As we disclosed in our proxy statement relating to our 2009 annual meeting of stockholders (the “2009 Annual Meeting”), because the expected date of the 2010 Annual Meeting is more than 30 days from the anniversary of our 2009 Annual Meeting, we have set a new deadline for the receipt of stockholder proposals submitted in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), for inclusion in our proxy materials for the 2010 Annual Meeting. In order to be considered timely, such proposals must be received by our Corporate Secretary no later than January 15, 2010. Proposals should be addressed to: Vonage Holdings Corp., Attn: Corporate Secretary, 23 Main Street, Holmdel, New Jersey 07733 and must also comply with Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act regarding the inclusion of stockholder proposals in company-sponsored proxy materials. Stockholder proposals failing to comply with the procedures of Rule 14a-8 will be excluded.

Stockholders also have the right under our bylaws to directly nominate director candidates and make other shareholder proposals by following specified procedures in advance notice provisions in our bylaws. For a stockholder proposal for the 2010 Annual Meeting that is not intended to be included in our proxy statement under Rule 14a-8, including director nominations, the stockholder must (1) provide the information required by our bylaws and (2) give timely notice to our Corporate Secretary at the address above in accordance with our bylaws, which, in general, require that the notice be received by our Corporate Secretary not earlier than the 120th day prior to the annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of (A) the 90th day prior to the annual meeting and (B) the tenth day following the day on which notice of the date of the annual meeting is mailed or public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting is made, whichever first occurs. Candidates nominated by stockholders in accordance with the procedures set forth in the bylaws will not be included in our proxy card for the annual meeting. You may contact our Corporate Secretary at Vonage Holdings Corp., Attn: Corporate Secretary, 23 Main Street, Holmdel, New Jersey 07733 for a copy of the relevant bylaw provisions regarding the requirements for making stockholder proposals and nominating director candidates.

 

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Item 6. Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description of Exhibit

  10.1*

   Amended and Restated Vonage Holding Corp. 2009 Incentive Plan(1)

  10.2*

   Letter Agreement, dated July 15, 2009, between Vonage Holdings Corp. and Kurt Rogers (1)

  10.3*

   Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated November 5, 2009 between Vonage Holdings Corp. and Marc P. Lefar(1)

  31.1

   Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002(1)

  31.2

   Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002(1)

  32.1

   Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002(1)

 

* Management Contract or Compensatory plan or arrangement.
(1) Filed herewith.

 

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Table of Contents

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

  VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.

Dated: November 6, 2009

  By:  

/s/    JOHN S. REGO

   

John S. Rego

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

and Treasurer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer and Duly Authorized Officer)

 

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Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description of Exhibit

  10.1*

   Amended and Restated Vonage Holding Corp. 2009 Incentive Plan(1)

  10.2*

   Letter Agreement, dated July 15, 2009, between Vonage Holdings Corp. and Kurt Rogers (1)

  10.3*

   Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated November 5, 2009 between Vonage Holdings Corp. and Marc P. Lefar(1)

  31.1

   Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002(1)

  31.2

   Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002(1)

  32.1

   Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002(1)

 

* Management Contract or Compensatory plan or arrangement.
(1) Filed herewith.

 

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EXHIBIT 10.1

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.

2006 INCENTIVE PLAN

Amended as of October 2, 2009

 

1. Purposes of the Plan

The purposes of the Plan are to (a) promote the long-term success of the Company and its Subsidiaries and to increase stockholder value by providing Eligible Persons with incentives to contribute to the long-term growth and profitability of the Company by offering them an opportunity to obtain a proprietary interest in the Company through the grant of equity-based other incentive awards and (b) assist the Company in attracting, retaining and motivating highly qualified individuals who are in a position to make significant contributions to the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

2. Definitions and Rules of Construction

(a) Definitions

For purposes of the Plan, the following capitalized words shall have the meanings set forth below:

Affiliate ” means any Parent or Subsidiary.

Annual Award ” means an Award granted pursuant to Section 11 of the Plan.

Award ” means an Option, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Stock Appreciation Right, Performance Stock, Performance Unit, Annual Award or Other Award granted by the Committee pursuant to the terms of the Plan.

Award Document ” means an agreement, certificate or other type or form of document or documentation approved by the Committee that sets forth the terms and conditions of an Award. An Award Document may be in written, electronic or other media, may be limited to a notation on the books and records of the Company and, unless the Committee requires otherwise, need not be signed by a representative of the Company or a Participant.

Beneficial Owner ” has the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.

Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted from time to time.


Change of Control ” means:

(i) Any Person becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 30 percent or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; or

(ii) The following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the number of directors then serving: individuals who, on the Effective Date, constitute the Board and any new director (other than a director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including, but not limited to, a consent solicitation, relating to the election of directors of the Company) whose appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved or recommended by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then still in office who either were directors on the Effective Date or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved or recommended; or

(iii) There is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Company or any Subsidiary with any other corporation, other than (A) a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or any parent thereof), in combination with the ownership of any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, more than 50 percent of the combined voting power of the securities of the Company or such surviving entity or any parent thereof outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or (B) a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 30 percent or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; or

(iv) The stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or there is consummated an agreement for the sale or disposition by the company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an entity, more than 50 percent of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any Award the payment or settlement of which will accelerate upon a Change of Control provides for a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, no event set forth herein shall constitute a Change of Control for purposes of the Plan or any Award Document unless such event also constitutes a “change in ownership,” “change in effective control,” or “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.

 

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Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the applicable rulings and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Committee ” means the Compensation Committee of the Board, any successor committee thereto or any other committee appointed from time to time by the Board to administer the Plan, which committee shall meet the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code, Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act and the applicable rules of the Exchange; provided , however , that, if any Committee member is found not to have met the qualification requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, any actions taken or Awards granted by the Committee shall not be invalidated by such failure to so qualify.

Common Stock ” means the common stock of the Company or such other class of share or other securities as may be applicable under Section 14 of the Plan.

Company ” means Vonage Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation, or any successor to all or substantially all of the Company’s business that adopts the Plan.

Effective Date ” means the effective date of the initial public offering of the Company.

Eligible Persons ” means the individuals or entities described in Section 4(a) of the Plan who are eligible for Awards under the Plan.

Exchange ” means the New York Stock Exchange or such other securities exchange or quotation system on which the Company may be listed from time to time.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Fair Market Value ” means, with respect to a share of Common Stock, the fair market value thereof as of the relevant date of determination, as determined in accordance with the valuation methodology approved by the Committee. In the absence of any alternative valuation methodology approved by the Committee, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall equal the closing selling price of a share of Common Stock on the trading day for which such valuation is made as reported on the Exchange or such other securities exchange or quotation system as may be designated by the Committee. For any date that is not a trading day, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock for such date will be determined by using the closing sale price for the immediately preceding trading day and with the timing above adjusted accordingly.

Incentive Stock Option ” means an Option that is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.

 

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Non-Employee Director ” means any member of the Board who is not an officer or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary.

Nonqualified Stock Option ” means an Option that is not intended to comply with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.

Option ” means an Incentive Stock Option or Nonqualified Stock Option granted pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan.

Other Award ” means any form of Award other than an Option, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Stock Appreciation Right, Performance Stock, Performance Unit or Annual Award granted pursuant to Section 12 of the Plan.

Parent ” means a corporation that owns or beneficially owns a majority of the outstanding voting stock or voting power of the Company. Notwithstanding the above, with respect to an Incentive Stock Option, Parent shall have the meaning set forth in Section 424(e) of the Code.

Participant ” means an Eligible Person who has been granted an Award under the Plan.

Performance Goal ” means the performance measures established by the Committee, from among the performance criteria provided in Section 6(h) of the Plan, and set forth in the applicable Award Document.

Performance Period ” means the period established by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Award Document over which Performance Goals are measured.

Performance Stock ” means a Target Number of Shares granted pursuant to Section 10(a) of the Plan.

Performance Unit ” means a right to receive a Target Number of Shares or cash in the future granted pursuant to Section 10(b) of the Plan.

Permitted Transferees ” means any immediate family member, family trust or other entity established for the benefit of the Participant and/or an immediate family member thereof if, with respect to such proposed transferee, the Company would be eligible to use a Form S-8 for the registration of the sale of the Common Stock subject to such Award under the Securities Act.

Person ” means any person, entity or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, except that such term shall not include (i) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its Affiliates, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, (iv) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company, or (v) a person or group as used in Rule 13d-1(b) under the Exchange Act.

 

4


Plan ” means this Vonage Holdings Corp. 2006 Incentive Plan, as amended or restated from time to time.

Plan Limit ” means the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued for all purposes under the Plan as set forth in Section 5(a) of the Plan.

Plan Year ” means the fiscal year of the Company or, if different, the calendar year, as determined by the Committee.

Prior Plan ” means the 2001 Stock Incentive Plan of Vonage Holdings Corp.

Restricted Stock ” means one or more Shares granted or sold pursuant to Section 9(a) of the Plan.

Retirement Plan ” means the Vonage 401(k) Retirement Plan or any successor thereto.

Restricted Stock Unit ” means a right to receive one or more Shares (or cash, if applicable) in the future granted pursuant to Section 9(b) of the Plan.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Shares ” means shares of Common Stock, as may be adjusted pursuant to Section 14 of the Plan.

Stock Appreciation Right ” means a right to receive all or some portion of the appreciation on Shares granted pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan.

Subsidiary ” means a business venture (including, without limitation, joint venture or limited liability company) in which the Company has a controlling interest, as determined by the Board. Notwithstanding the above, with respect to an Incentive Stock Option, “Subsidiary” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 424(f) of the Code.

Substitute Award ” means any Award granted upon assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, outstanding employee equity awards previously granted by a company or other entity acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines pursuant to the terms of an equity compensation plan that was approved by the stockholders of such company or other entity.

Target Number ” or “ Target Payment ” means the target number of Shares or cash value established by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Award Document.

 

5


(b) Rules of Construction

The masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include the feminine pronoun, and the singular form of a word shall be deemed to include the plural form, unless the context requires otherwise. Unless the text indicates otherwise, references to sections are to sections of the Plan.

 

3. Administration

(a) Committee

The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which shall have full power and authority, subject to the express provisions hereof, to:

(i) select the Participants from the Eligible Persons;

(ii) grant Awards in accordance with the Plan;

(iii) determine the number of Shares subject to each Award or the cash amount payable in connection with an Award;

(iv) determine the terms and conditions of each Award, including, without limitation, those related to term, permissible methods of exercise, vesting, cancellation, payment, settlement, exercisability, Performance Periods, Performance Goals, and the effect, if any, of a Participant’s termination of employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or, subject to Section 6(d), a Change of Control of the Company;

(v) subject to Sections 17 and 18(e), amend the terms and conditions of an Award after the granting thereof;

(vi) specify and approve the provisions of the Award Documents delivered to Participants in connection with their Awards;

(vii) construe and interpret any Award Document delivered under the Plan;

(viii) make factual determinations in connection with the administration or interpretation of the Plan;

(ix) adopt, prescribe, amend, waive and rescind administrative regulations, rules and procedures relating to the Plan;

(x) employ such legal counsel, independent auditors and consultants as it deems desirable for the administration of the Plan and to rely upon any advice, opinion or computation received therefrom;

(xi) vary the terms of Awards to take account of tax and securities law and other regulatory requirements or to procure favorable tax treatment for Participants;

(xii) correct any defects, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in any Award Document or the Plan; and

 

6


(xiii) make all other determinations and take any other action desirable or necessary to interpret, construe or implement properly the provisions of the Plan or any Award Document.

(b) Plan Construction and Interpretation

The Committee shall have full power and authority, subject to the express provisions hereof, to construe and interpret the Plan.

(c) Determinations of Committee Final and Binding

All determinations by the Committee in carrying out and administering the Plan and in construing and interpreting the Plan shall be made in the Committee’s sole discretion and shall be final, binding and conclusive for all purposes and upon all persons interested herein.

(d) Delegation of Authority

To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board or the Committee may delegate to a subcommittee or subcommittees of the Committee or to one or more officers of the Company the power to grant Options and other Awards that constitute rights under Delaware law (subject to any limitations under the Plan) to employees or officers of the Company or any of its present or future Affiliates and to exercise such other powers under the Plan as the Board or the Committee may determine, provided that the Board or the Committee shall fix the terms of the Awards to be granted by such officers (including the exercise price of the Awards, which may include a formula by which the exercise price will be determined) and the maximum number of shares subject to such Awards that the officers may grant; provided further, however, that no officer shall be authorized to grant Awards to any “executive officer” of the Company (as defined by Rule 3b-7 under the Exchange Act) or to any “officer” of the Company (as defined by Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act), nor shall such delegation apply to Section 17 of the Plan. The Board may not delegate authority under this Section 3(d) to grant restricted stock, unless Delaware law then permits such delegation. For purposes of the Plan, reference to the Committee shall be deemed to refer to any subcommittee, subcommittees, or other persons or groups of persons to whom the Board or the Committee delegates authority pursuant to this Section 3(d).

(e) Liability of Committee

Subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations: (i) no member of the Board or Committee (or its delegates) shall be liable for any good faith action or determination made in connection with the operation, administration or interpretation of the Plan and (ii) the members of the Board or the Committee (and its delegates) shall be entitled to indemnification and reimbursement in the manner provided in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation as it may be amended from time to time. In the performance of its responsibilities with respect to the Plan, the Committee shall be entitled to rely upon information and/or advice furnished by the Company’s officers or employees, the Company’s accountants, the Company’s counsel and any other party the Committee deems necessary, and no member of the Committee shall be liable for any action taken or not taken in reliance upon any such information and/or advice.

 

7


(f) Action by the Board

Anything in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations, any authority or responsibility that, under the terms of the Plan, may be exercised by the Committee may alternatively be exercised by the Board.

 

4. Eligibility

(a) Eligible Persons

Awards may be granted to officers, employees, directors, Non-Employee Directors, consultants, advisors and independent contractors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or joint ventures, partnerships or business organizations in which the Company or its Subsidiaries have an equity interest; provided , however , that only employees of the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary may be granted Incentive Stock Options. The Committee shall have the authority to select the persons to whom Awards may be granted and to determine the type, number and terms of Awards to be granted to each such Participant. Under the Plan, references to “employment” or “employed” include the engagement of Participants who are consultants, advisors and independent contractors of the Company or its Subsidiaries and the service of Participants who are Non-Employee Directors, except for purposes of determining eligibility to be granted Incentive Stock Options.

(b) Grants to Participants

The Committee shall have no obligation to grant any Eligible Person an Award or to designate an Eligible Person as a Participant solely by reason of such Eligible Person having received a prior Award or having been previously designated as a Participant. The Committee may grant more than one Award to a Participant and may designate an Eligible Person as a Participant for overlapping periods of time.

 

5. Shares Subject to the Plan

(a) Plan Limit

Subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 14, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued for all purposes under the Plan (the “ Plan Limit ”) shall be equal to (x) 15 percent of (1) the number of issued and outstanding Shares, from time to time, divided by (2) 0.85, less (y) the number of Shares that are available for issuance under the Prior Plan. In addition, following termination of the Prior Plan, the Plan Limit shall be increased by the number of any remaining Shares available for issuance under the Prior Plan or that become available for issuance upon cancellation or expiration, without exercise or settlement, of awards under the Prior Plan. Shares to be issued under the Plan may be authorized and unissued shares, issued shares that have been reacquired by the Company (in the open-market or in private transactions) and that are being held in treasury, or a combination thereof.

 

8


(b) Rules Applicable to Determining Shares Available for Issuance

The number of Shares remaining available for issuance will be reduced by the number of Shares subject to outstanding Awards and, for Awards that are not denominated by Shares, by the number of Shares actually delivered upon settlement or payment of the Award. For purposes of determining the number of Shares that remain available for issuance under the Plan, (i) the number of Shares that are tendered by a Participant or withheld by the Company to pay the exercise price of an Award or to satisfy the Participant’s tax withholding obligations in connection with the exercise or settlement of an Award and (ii) all of the Shares covered by a stock-settled Stock Appreciation Right, to the extent exercised, will not be added back to the Plan Limit. In addition, for purposes of determining the number of Shares that remain available for issuance under the Plan, the number of Shares corresponding to Awards under the Plan that are forfeited or cancelled or otherwise expire for any reason without having been exercised or settled or that is settled through issuance of consideration other than Shares (including, without limitation, cash) shall be added back to the Plan Limit and again be available for the grant of Awards; provided , however , that this provision shall not be applicable with respect to (i) the cancellation of a Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem with an Option upon the exercise of the Option or (ii) the cancellation of an Option granted in tandem with a Stock Appreciation Right upon the exercise of the Stock Appreciation.

(c) Special Limits

Anything to the contrary in Section 5(a) notwithstanding, but subject to adjustment under Section 14, the following special limits shall apply to Shares available for Awards under the Plan:

(i) the maximum number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to awards of Incentive Stock Options shall equal 20,000,000 Shares;

(ii) the maximum number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to Options and Stock Appreciation Rights granted to any Eligible Person in any calendar year shall equal 10,000,000 Shares;

(iii) the maximum amount that may be paid pursuant to Annual Awards granted to any Eligible Person in any calendar year is $5,000,000; and

(iv) the maximum amount that may be paid and the maximum number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to Awards (other than those Awards set forth in Section 5(c)(ii) and 5(c)(iii)) that may be awarded to any Eligible Person in any calendar year is $10,000,000 (with respect to Awards denominated in cash) or 10,000,000 Shares (with respect to Awards denominated in Shares).

(d) Any Shares underlying Substitute Awards shall not be counted against the number of Shares remaining for issuance and shall not be subject to Section 5(c).

 

9


6. Awards in General

(a) Types of Awards

Awards under the Plan may consist of Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Stock, Performance Units, Annual Awards and Other Awards. Any Award described in Sections 7 through 12 may be granted singly or in combination or tandem with any other Award, as the Committee may determine. Awards under the Plan may be made in combination with, in replacement of, or as alternatives to awards or rights under any other compensation or benefit plan of the Company, including the plan of any acquired entity.

(b) Terms Set Forth in Award Document

The terms and conditions of each Award shall be set forth in an Award Document in a form approved by the Committee for such Award, which Award Document shall contain terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to applicable laws, the Committee may accelerate (i) the vesting or payment of any Award, (ii) the lapse of restrictions on any Award or (iii) the date on which any Award first becomes exercisable. The terms of Awards may vary among Participants, and the Plan does not impose upon the Committee any requirement to make Awards subject to uniform terms. Accordingly, the terms of individual Award Documents may vary.

(c) Termination of Employment

The Committee shall specify at or after the time of grant of an Award the provisions governing the disposition of an Award in the event of a Participant’s termination of employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations, in connection with a Participant’s termination of employment, the Committee shall have the discretion to accelerate the vesting, exercisability or settlement of, eliminate the restrictions and conditions applicable to, or extend the post-termination exercise period of an outstanding Award. Such provisions may be specified in the applicable Award Document or determined at a subsequent time.

(d) Change of Control

(i) The Committee shall have full authority to determine the effect, if any, of a Change of Control of the Company or any Subsidiary on the vesting, exercisability, settlement, payment or lapse of restrictions applicable to an Award, which effect may be specified in the applicable Award Document or determined at a subsequent time. Subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations, the Board or the Committee shall, at any time prior to, coincident with or after the effective time of a Change of Control, take such actions as it may consider appropriate, including, without limitation: (A) providing for the acceleration of any vesting conditions relating to the exercise or settlement of an Award or that an Award shall terminate or expire unless exercised or settled in full on or before a date fixed by the Committee; (B) making such adjustments to the Awards then outstanding as the Committee deems appropriate to reflect such Change of Control; (C) causing the Awards then outstanding to be assumed, or new rights substituted therefor, by the surviving corporation in such Change of Control; or (D) permitting or

 

10


requiring Participants to surrender outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights in exchange for a cash payment equal to the difference between the highest price paid for a Share in the Change of Control transaction and the Exercise Price of the Award.

(ii) Subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations, the Committee may provide, in an Award Document or subsequent to the grant of an Award, for the accelerated vesting, exercisability and/or the deemed attainment of a Performance Goal with respect to an Award upon specified events similar to a Change of Control.

(iii) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any Award Document, the provisions of this Section 6(d) may not be terminated, amended, or modified upon or after a Change of Control in a manner that would adversely affect a Participant’s rights with respect to an outstanding Award without the prior written consent of the Participant. Subject to Section 17, the Board, upon recommendation of the Committee, may terminate, amend or modify this Section 6(d) at any time and from time to time prior to a Change of Control.

(e) Dividends and Dividend Equivalents

The Committee may provide Participants with the right to receive dividends or payments equivalent to dividends or interest with respect to an outstanding Award, which payments can either be paid currently or deemed to have been reinvested in Shares, and can be made in Shares, cash or a combination thereof, as the Committee shall determine; provided , however , that the terms of any reinvestment of dividends must comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no dividends or dividend equivalents shall be paid with respect to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights.

(f) Fractional Shares

No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to any Award under the Plan. The Committee shall determine whether cash, Awards, or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of fractional Shares, or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

(g) Rights of a Stockholder

A Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to Shares covered by an Award (including voting rights) until the date the Participant or his nominee becomes the holder of record of such Shares. No adjustment shall be made for dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to such date, except as provided in Section 14.

(h) Performance-Based Awards

(i) The Committee may determine whether any Award under the Plan is intended to be “performance-based compensation” as that term is used in Section 162(m) of the Code. Any such Awards designated to be “performance-based compensation” shall be conditioned on the achievement of one or more Performance Goals to the extent required by Section 162(m) of the Code and will be subject to all other conditions and requirements of Section 162(m). The

 

11


Performance Goals will be comprised of specified levels of one or more of the following performance measures as the Committee deems appropriate: net earnings or net income (before or after taxes); earnings per share; net sales or revenue growth; net operating profit; return measures (including, but not limited to, return on assets, capital, equity, sales, or revenue); cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow, cash flow return on equity, and cash flow return on investment); earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation, and/or amortization; gross or operating margins; productivity ratios; share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total shareholder return); expense targets; margins; operating efficiency; market share; customer satisfaction; working capital targets; cash value added; economic value added; market penetration; and product introductions, in each case determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (subject to modifications approved by the Committee) consistently applied on a business unit, divisional, subsidiary or consolidated basis or any combination thereof. The Performance Goals may be described in terms of objectives that are related to the individual Participant or objectives that are Company-wide or related to a Subsidiary, division, department, region, function or business unit and may be measured on an absolute or cumulative basis or on the basis of percentage of improvement over time, and may be measured in terms of Company performance (or performance of the applicable Subsidiary, division, department, region, function or business unit) or measured relative to selected peer companies or a market or other index. In addition, for Awards not intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may establish Performance Goals based on other criteria as it deems appropriate.

(ii) The Participants will be designated, and the applicable Performance Goals will be established, by the Committee within 90 days following the commencement of the applicable Performance Period (or such earlier or later date permitted or required by Section 162(m) of the Code). Each Participant will be assigned a Target Number or Target Payment payable if Performance Goals are achieved. Any payment of an Award granted with Performance Goals shall be conditioned on the written certification of the Committee in each case that the Performance Goals and any other material conditions were satisfied. The Committee may determine, at the time of Award grant, that if performance exceeds the specified Performance Goals, the Award may be settled with payment greater than the Target Number or Target Payment, but in no event may such payment exceed the limits set forth in Section 5(c). The Committee retains the right to reduce any Award notwithstanding the attainment of the Performance Goals.

(i) Deferrals

In accordance with the procedures authorized by, and subject to the approval of, the Committee, Participants may be given the opportunity to defer the payment or settlement of an Award to one or more dates selected by the Participant; provided , however , that the terms of any deferrals must comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, Section 409A of the Code. No deferral opportunity shall exist with respect to an Award unless explicitly permitted by the Committee on or after the time of grant.

 

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(j) Repricing of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights

Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, an Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall not be granted in substitution for a previously granted Option or Stock Appreciation Right being canceled or surrendered as a condition of receiving a new Award, if the new Award would have a lower exercise price than the Award it replaces, nor shall the exercise price of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right be reduced once the Option or Stock Appreciation Right is granted. The foregoing shall not (i) prevent adjustments pursuant to Section 14 or (ii) apply to grants of Substitute Awards.

 

7. Terms and Conditions of Options

(a) General

The Committee, in its discretion, may grant Options to Eligible Persons and shall determine whether such Options shall be Incentive Stock Options or Nonqualified Stock Options. Each Option shall be evidenced by an Award Document that shall expressly identify the Option as an Incentive Stock Option or Nonqualified Stock Option, and be in such form and contain such provisions as the Committee shall from time to time deem appropriate.

(b) Exercise Price

The exercise price of an Option shall be fixed by the Committee at the time of grant or shall be determined by a method specified by the Committee at the time of grant. In no event shall the exercise price of an Option be less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant; provided , however that the exercise price of a Substitute Award granted as an Option shall be determined in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and may be less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value.

(c) Term

An Option shall be effective for such term as shall be determined by the Committee and as set forth in the Award Document relating to such Option, and the Committee may extend the term of an Option after the time of grant; provided , however , that the term of an Option may in no event extend beyond the tenth anniversary of the date of grant of such Option.

(d) Exercise; Payment of Exercise Price

Options shall be exercised by delivery of a notice of exercise in a form approved by the Company. Subject to the provisions of the applicable Award Document, the exercise price of an Option may be paid (i) in cash or cash equivalents, (ii) by actual delivery or attestation to ownership of freely transferable Shares already owned by the person exercising the Option, (iii) by a combination of cash and Shares equal in value to the exercise price, (iv) through net share settlement or similar procedure involving the withholding of Shares subject to the Option with a value equal to the exercise price or (v) by such other means as the Committee may authorize.

 

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(e) Incentive Stock Options

The exercise price per Share of an Incentive Stock Option shall be fixed by the Committee at the time of grant or shall be determined by a method specified by the Committee at the time of grant, but in no event shall the exercise price of an Incentive Stock Option be less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant. No Incentive Stock Option may be issued pursuant to the Plan to any individual who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock possessing more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, unless (i) the exercise price determined as of the date of grant is at least 110 percent of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant of the Shares subject to such Incentive Stock Option and (ii) the Incentive Stock Option is not exercisable more than five years from the date of grant thereof. No Participant shall be granted any Incentive Stock Option that would result in such Participant receiving a grant of Incentive Stock Options that would have an aggregate Fair Market Value in excess of $100,000, determined as of the time of grant, and that would be exercisable for the first time by such Participant during any calendar year. No Incentive Stock Option may be granted under the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the date on which the Plan is adopted by the Board. The terms of any Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan shall comply in all respects with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code, or any successor provision thereto, as amended from time to time.

 

8. Terms and Conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights

(a) General

The Committee, in its discretion, may grant Stock Appreciation Rights to Eligible Persons. A Stock Appreciation Right shall entitle a Participant to receive, upon satisfaction of the conditions to payment specified in the applicable Award Document, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value on the exercise date of the number of Shares for which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised over the grant price for such Stock Appreciation Right specified in the applicable Award Document. The grant price per share of Shares covered by a Stock Appreciation Right shall be fixed by the Committee at the time of grant or, alternatively, shall be determined by a method specified by the Committee at the time of grant, but in no event shall the grant price of a Stock Appreciation Right be less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant; provided , however , that the grant price of a Substitute Award granted as a Stock Appreciation Rights shall be in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and may be less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value. Payments to a Participant upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right may be made in cash or Shares, having an aggregate Fair Market Value as of the date of exercise equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value on the exercise date of the number of Shares for which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised over the grant price for such Stock Appreciation Right. The term of a Stock Appreciation Right settled in Shares shall not exceed ten years.

(b) Stock Appreciation Rights in Tandem with Options

A Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem with an Option may be granted either at the same time as such Option or subsequent thereto. If granted in tandem with an

 

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Option, a Stock Appreciation Right shall cover the same number of Shares as covered by the Option (or such lesser number of shares as the Committee may determine) and shall be exercisable only at such time or times and to the extent the related Option shall be exercisable, and shall have the same term as the related Option. The grant price of a Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem with an Option shall equal the per-share exercise price of the Option to which it relates. Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem with an Option, the related Option shall be canceled automatically to the extent of the number of Shares covered by such exercise; conversely, if the related Option is exercised as to some or all of the shares covered by the tandem grant, the tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall be canceled automatically to the extent of the number of Shares covered by the Option exercise.

 

9. Terms and Conditions of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units

(a) Restricted Stock

The Committee, in its discretion, may grant or sell Restricted Stock to Eligible Persons. An Award of Restricted Stock shall consist of one or more Shares granted or sold to an Eligible Person, and shall be subject to the terms, conditions and restrictions set forth in the Plan and established by the Committee in connection with the Award and specified in the applicable Award Document. Restricted Stock may, among other things, be subject to restrictions on transferability, vesting requirements or other specified circumstances under which it may be canceled.

(b) Restricted Stock Units

The Committee, in its discretion, may grant Restricted Stock Units to Eligible Persons. A Restricted Stock Unit shall entitle a Participant to receive, subject to the terms, conditions and restrictions set forth in the Plan and the applicable Award Document, one or more Shares. Restricted Stock Units may, among other things, be subject to restrictions on transferability, vesting requirements or other specified circumstances under which they may be canceled. If and when the cancellation provisions lapse, the Restricted Stock Units shall become Shares owned by the applicable Participant or, at the sole discretion of the Committee, cash, or a combination of cash and Shares, with a value equal to the Fair Market Value of the Shares at the time of payment.

 

10. Terms and Conditions of Performance Stock and Performance Units

(a) Performance Stock

The Committee may grant Performance Stock to Eligible Persons. An Award of Performance Stock shall consist of a Target Number of Shares granted to an Eligible Person subject to achievement of Performance Goals over the applicable Performance Period, and shall be subject to the terms, conditions and restrictions set forth in the Plan and established by the Committee in connection with the Award and specified in the applicable Award Document.

 

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(b) Performance Units

The Committee, in its discretion, may grant Performance Units to Eligible Persons. A Performance Unit shall entitle a Participant to receive, subject to the terms, conditions and restrictions set forth in the Plan and established by the Committee in connection with the Award and specified in the applicable Award Document, a number of Shares or cash based on the Target Number or Target Payment, but which may vary above or below the Target Number or Target Payment, and the level of achievement of the Performance Goals under the Award over the applicable Performance Period. At the sole discretion of the Committee, Performance Units shall be settled through the delivery of Shares or cash, or a combination of Shares and cash, with a value equal to the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares as of the last day of the applicable Performance Period.

 

11. Terms and Conditions of Annual Awards

The Committee, in its discretion, may grant Annual Awards to Eligible Persons with respect to a Plan Year. An Annual Award shall entitle a Participant to receive, subject to the terms, conditions and restrictions set forth in the Plan and established by the Committee in connection with the Award and specified in the applicable Award Document, payment of an amount based on the Target Payment, but which may vary above or below the Target Payment, and the level of achievement of the Performance Goals under the Award over the applicable Plan Year. At the sole discretion of the Committee, Annual Awards shall be settled through the delivery of cash or Shares, or a combination of cash and Shares, with the value of any Shares deemed to be equal to their Fair Market Value as of the last day of the applicable Plan Year.

 

12. Other Awards

The Committee shall have the authority to specify the terms and provisions of other forms of equity-based or equity-related Awards not described above that the Committee determines to be consistent with the purpose of the Plan and the interests of the Company, which Awards may provide for cash payments based in whole or in part on the value or future value of Shares, for the acquisition or future acquisition of Shares, or any combination thereof.

 

13. Certain Restrictions

(a) Transfers

No Award shall be transferable other than pursuant to a beneficiary designation under Section 13(c), by last will and testament or by the laws of descent and distribution or, except in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, pursuant to a domestic relations order, as the case may be; provided , however , that the Committee may, subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations and such terms and conditions as it shall specify, permit the transfer of an Award, other than an Incentive Stock Option, for no consideration to a Permitted Transferee. Any Award transferred to a Permitted Transferee shall be further transferable only by last will and testament or the laws of descent and distribution or, for no consideration, to another Permitted Transferee of the Participant.

 

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(b) Award Exercisable Only by Participant

During the lifetime of a Participant, an Award shall be exercisable only by the Participant or by a Permitted Transferee to whom such Award has been transferred in accordance with Section 13(a). The grant of an Award shall impose no obligation on a Participant to exercise or settle the Award.

(c) Beneficiary Designation

The beneficiary or beneficiaries of the Participant to whom any benefit under the Plan is to be paid in case of his death before he receives any or all of such benefit shall be determined under the Retirement Plan. In lieu of such determination, a Participant may, from time to time, name any beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive any benefit in case of his death before he receives any or all of such benefit. Each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing (in such form or manner as may be prescribed by the Committee) with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime. In the absence of a valid designation under the Retirement Plan or as provided above, if no validly designated beneficiary survives the Participant or if each surviving validly designated beneficiary is legally impaired or prohibited from receiving the benefits under an Award, the Participant’s beneficiary shall be the Participant’s estate.

 

14. Recapitalization or Reorganization

(a) Authority of the Company and Stockholders

The existence of the Plan, the Award Documents and the Awards granted hereunder shall not affect or restrict in any way the right or power of the Company or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or business, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of stock or of options, warrants or rights to purchase stock or of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stocks whose rights are superior to or affect the Shares or the rights thereof or which are convertible into or exchangeable for Shares, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.

(b) Change in Capitalization

Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or any Award Document, the number and kind of Shares authorized for issuance under Section 5, including the maximum number of Shares available under the special limits provided for in Section 5(c), may be equitably adjusted in the sole discretion of the Committee in the event of a stock split, reverse stock spit, stock dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, partial or complete liquidation, reclassification, merger, consolidation, separation, extraordinary cash dividend, split-up, spin-off, combination, exchange of Shares, warrants or rights offering to purchase Shares at a price substantially below Fair Market Value, or any other corporate event or distribution of stock or property of the Company affecting the Shares in order to preserve, but not increase, the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan. In addition, upon the occurrence of any of

 

17


the foregoing events, the number and kind of Shares subject to any outstanding Award and the exercise price per Share (or the grant price per Share, as the case may be), if any, under any outstanding Award may be equitably adjusted (including by payment of cash to a Participant) in the sole discretion of the Committee in order to preserve the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available to Participants. Such adjustments shall be made by the Committee. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, such adjusted Awards shall be subject to the same restrictions and vesting or settlement schedule to which the underlying Award is subject.

 

15. Term of the Plan

Unless earlier terminated pursuant to Section 17, the Plan shall terminate on the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, except with respect to Awards then outstanding. No Awards may be granted under the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date.

 

16. Effective Date

The Plan shall become effective on the Effective Date, subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company prior thereto.

 

17. Amendment and Termination

Subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations, the Board may at any time terminate or, from time to time, amend, modify or suspend the Plan; provided , however , that no termination, amendment, modification or suspension (i) will be effective without the approval of the stockholders of the Company if such approval is required under applicable laws, rules and regulations, including the rules of the Exchange and (ii) shall materially and adversely alter or impair the rights of a Participant in any Award previously made under the Plan without the consent of the holder thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall have broad authority to amend the Plan or any Award under the Plan without the consent of a Participant to the extent it deems necessary or desirable (a) to comply with, take into account changes in, or interpretations of, applicable tax laws, securities laws, employment laws, accounting rules and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, (b) to take into account unusual or nonrecurring events or market conditions (including, without limitation, the events described in Section 14), or (c) to take into account significant acquisitions or dispositions of assets or other property by the Company.

 

18. Miscellaneous

(a) Tax Withholding

The Company or a Subsidiary, as appropriate, may require any individual entitled to receive a payment of an Award to remit to the Company, prior to payment, an amount sufficient to satisfy any applicable tax withholding requirements. In the case of an Award payable in Shares, the Company or a Subsidiary, as appropriate, may permit or require a Participant to satisfy, in whole or in part, such obligation to remit taxes by directing the Company to withhold shares that would otherwise be received by such individual or to repurchase shares that were issued to the Participant to satisfy the minimum statutory

 

18


withholding rates for any applicable tax withholding purposes, in accordance with all applicable laws and pursuant to such rules as the Committee may establish from time to time. The Company or a Subsidiary, as appropriate, shall also have the right to deduct from all cash payments made to a Participant (whether or not such payment is made in connection with an Award) any applicable taxes required to be withheld with respect to such payments.

(b) No Right to Awards or Employment

No person shall have any claim or right to receive Awards under the Plan. Neither the Plan, the grant of Awards under the Plan nor any action taken or omitted to be taken under the Plan shall be deemed to create or confer on any Eligible Person any right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof, or to interfere with or to limit in any way the right of the Company or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof to terminate the employment of such Eligible Person at any time. No Award shall constitute salary, recurrent compensation or contractual compensation for the year of grant, any later year or any other period of time. Payments received by a Participant under any Award made pursuant to the Plan shall not be included in, nor have any effect on, the determination of employment-related rights or benefits under any other employee benefit plan or similar arrangement provided by the Company and the Subsidiaries, unless otherwise specifically provided for under the terms of such plan or arrangement or by the Committee.

(c) Securities Law Restrictions

An Award may not be exercised or settled, and no Shares may be issued in connection with an Award, unless the issuance of such shares (i) has been registered under the Securities Act, (ii) has qualified under applicable state “blue sky” laws (or the Company has determined that an exemption from registration and from qualification under such state “blue sky” laws is available) and (iii) complies with all applicable foreign securities laws. The Committee may require each Participant purchasing or acquiring Shares pursuant to an Award under the Plan to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that such Eligible Person is acquiring the Shares for investment purposes and not with a view to the distribution thereof. All certificates for Shares delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such stock-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Exchange, and any applicable securities law, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

(d) Section 162(m) of the Code

The Plan is intended to comply in all respects with Section 162(m) of the Code; provided , however , that in the event the Committee determines that compliance with Section 162(m) of the Code is not desired with respect to a particular Award, compliance with Section 162(m) of the Code will not be required. In addition, if any provision of this Plan would cause Awards that are intended to constitute “qualified performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, to fail to so qualify, that provision shall be severed from, and shall be deemed not to be a part of, the Plan, but the other provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect.

 

19


(e) Section 409A of the Code

Notwithstanding any contrary provision in the Plan or an Award Document, if any provision of the Plan or an Award Document contravenes, or would cause an Award to be subject to additional taxes, accelerated taxation, interest and/or penalties under, Section 409A of the Code, such provision of the Plan or Award Document may be modified by the Committee without consent of the Participant in any manner the Committee deems reasonable or necessary. In making such modifications the Committee shall attempt, but shall not be obligated, to maintain, to the maximum extent practicable, the original intent of the applicable provision without contravening the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. Moreover, any discretionary authority that the Committee may have pursuant to the Plan shall not be applicable to an Award to the extent such Award is subject to, and such discretionary authority would contravene, Section 409A of the Code.

(f) Awards to Individuals Subject to Laws of a Jurisdiction Outside of the United States

To the extent that Awards under the Plan are awarded to Eligible Persons who are domiciled or resident outside of the United States or to persons who are domiciled or resident in the United States but who are subject to the tax laws of a jurisdiction outside of the United States, the Committee may adjust the terms of the Awards granted hereunder to such person (i) to comply with the laws, rules and regulations of such jurisdiction and (ii) to permit the grant of the Award not to be a taxable event to the Participant. The authority granted under the previous sentence shall include the discretion for the Committee to adopt, on behalf of the Company, one or more sub-plans applicable to separate classes of Eligible Persons who are subject to the laws of jurisdictions outside of the United States.

(g) Satisfaction of Obligations

Subject to applicable law, the Company may apply any cash, Shares, securities or other consideration received upon exercise or settlement of an Award to any obligations a Participant owes to the Company and the Subsidiaries in connection with the Plan or otherwise, including, without limitation, any tax obligations or obligations under a currency facility established in connection with the Plan.

(h) No Limitation on Corporate Actions

Nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed to prevent the Company or any Subsidiary from taking any corporate action, whether or not such action would have an adverse effect on any Awards made under the Plan. No Participant, beneficiary or other person shall have any claim against the Company or any Subsidiary as a result of any such action.

(i) Unfunded Plan

The Plan is intended to constitute an unfunded plan for incentive compensation. Prior to the issuance of Shares, cash or other form of payment in connection with an Award, nothing contained herein shall give any Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company. The Committee may, but is not obligated, to

 

20


authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the obligations created under the Plan to deliver Shares with respect to awards hereunder.

(j) Successors

All obligations of the Company under the Plan with respect to Awards granted hereunder shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.

(k) Application of Funds

The proceeds received by the Company from the sale of Shares pursuant to Awards will be used for general corporate purposes.

(l) Award Document

In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the Plan and any Award Document, the Plan shall govern and the Award Document shall be interpreted to minimize or eliminate any such conflict or inconsistency.

(m) Headings

The headings of Sections herein are included solely for convenience of reference and shall not affect the meaning of any of the provisions of the Plan.

(n) Severability

If any provision of this Plan is held unenforceable, the remainder of the Plan shall continue in full force and effect without regard to such unenforceable provision and shall be applied as though the unenforceable provision were not contained in the Plan.

(o) Expenses

The costs and expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company.

(p) Arbitration

Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to the Plan that cannot be resolved by the Participant on the one hand, and the Company on the other, shall be submitted to arbitration in the State of New Jersey under the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration Association; provided , however , that any such submission by the Participant must be made within one year of the date of the events giving rise to such dispute, controversy or claim. The determination of the arbitrator shall be conclusive and binding on the Company and the Participant, and judgment may be entered on the arbitrator’s award in any court having jurisdiction. The expenses of such arbitration shall be borne by the Company; provided , however , that each party shall bear its own legal expenses unless the Participant is the prevailing party, in which case the Company shall promptly pay or

 

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reimburse the Participant for the reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by the Participant in connection with such contest or dispute (excluding any fees payable pursuant to a contingency fee arrangement).

(q) Governing Law

Except as to matters of federal law, the Plan and all actions taken thereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

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EXHIBIT 10.2

[VONAGE LETTERHEAD]

July 15, 2009

Kurt Rogers

18 Ardmore Rd

Scarsdale, NY 10583

Dear Kurt:

We are pleased to inform you that after careful consideration Vonage America, Inc. (the “Company”) has decided to extend this offer of employment, subject to the required approvals of the Board of Directors of Vonage Holdings Corp. This Offer Letter sets forth the terms of the Company’s offer, which, if you accept, will govern your employment.

1. Employment

 

  (a) You will be employed in the position of Chief Legal Officer.

 

  (b) You will report to Marc Lefar, Chief Executive Officer.

 

  (c) Your employment will commence on 7/27/09.

2. Location

You will work at the Company’s headquarters on a regular full-time basis, presently located in Holmdel, NJ.

3. Compensation

 

  (a) The Company will pay you an annual base salary (“Base Salary”) of $365,000, less applicable withholding, payable in equal installments in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll practices for similarly situated employees, but in no event less frequently than biweekly in arrears.

 

  (b) In addition to base salary, you will be eligible for a Target Bonus Opportunity (“TBO”) of up to 60% of your base salary. You should understand, however, that TBO payouts are not guaranteed and are granted in the Company’s sole discretion based on individual and Company performance. When made, TBO payouts are generally paid in March. You must be employed on the payout date to receive any TBO payout. The company will not pro-rate any TBO payout for 2009.


  (c) You will also be paid a sign on bonus of $30,000, less applicable withholdings, to be paid during the first week after the commencement of your employment. In the event you voluntarily end your employment with the Company prior to the first full year of employment, you will be required to repay any paid sign on bonus amounts.

4. Stock Options

In addition, you will be granted an option under Vonage Holding Corp.’s Incentive Plan to purchase 450,000 shares of Vonage Holding Corp.’s common stock in accordance with the Incentive Plan (the number of shares and exercise price are subject to adjustment based on subsequent stock splits, reverse stock splits, other adjustments, or recapitalizations). The options will vest and become exercisable as to 1/4 th of the shares on each of the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of the date of the award, which will be the first trading day of the month following approval by the Board of Directors. The exercise price will be the closing price of a share of Vonage stock on the date of the award. The stock option grant will be governed by and subject to the terms of Vonage Holding Corp.’s Incentive Plan and your individual stock option agreement. A copy of the Incentive Plan and form of individual stock option agreement are included with this Offer Letter. Your actual individual stock option agreement will be forwarded to you at a later time, once the Board of Directors approves the grant and the exercise price is established.

5. Benefits

 

  (a) Participation in the health and dental plan of the Company begins after sixty (60) days of employment in accordance with the terms of the plans. Enclosed is information regarding the benefits offered to all the Company employees.

 

  (b) The Company will reimburse you for your reasonable out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred or paid by you for the continuation of your current medical and dental benefits (excluding all other benefits, including vision benefits, which shall be your responsibility) during the sixty (60) day waiting period in the amount of 100% of such costs up to a maximum of $4,000.

 

  (c) You are eligible to participate in the Company’s 401k plan on the first day of the month following the completion of three (3) months of employment

 

  (d) If you choose to participate in these benefits, you will receive a Summary Plan Description for the health and dental insurance, as well as the 401k plans. (A copy of the plan documents is available from the Plan Administrator.) In the event of a discrepancy between this Offer Letter and the plan documents, the plan documents govern.

 

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  (e) You will annually be entitled to 20 Flexible Days Off (FDO) to be used in accordance with our Flexible Days Off policy

6. Lodging

The Company shall provide you, for period of twelve (12) months, lodging accommodations, in accordance with our Travel & Expense policy when working at the Holmdel, NJ location.

7. Severance

In addition, in the event your employment is terminated by the Company without “Cause” or by you with “Good Reason”, as defined below, you will be entitled to severance pay equal to twelve (12) months of your then-current base salary., less applicable withholding, which will be paid by the Company during its regular payroll cycle over the twelve (12) month period following your employment termination, provided you execute (and do not revoke) a Separation Agreement and General Release.

Cause ” means (i) material willful failure to perform your employment duties (not as consequence of any illness, accident or other disability), (ii) continued, willful failure to carry out any reasonable lawful direction of the Company, (iii) diverting or usurping a corporate opportunity of the Company, (iv) fraud, willful malfeasance, gross negligence or recklessness in the performance of employment duties, (v) other serious, willful misconduct which causes material injury to the Company or its reputation, including, but not limited to, willful or gross misconduct toward any of the Company’s other employees, and (vi) conviction of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude.

Good Reason ” means: (i) a material decrease in your base salary; (ii) a material diminution of your authorities, duties or responsibilities; (iii) a change in principle work location more than 25 miles south, or west of Holmdel, NJ (iv) a failure of the Company to pay material compensation due and payable to you in connection with your employment; provided, however, that no event or condition described in clauses (i) through (iii) shall constitute Good Reason unless (x) you give the Company’s most senior Human Resources employee written notice of your intention to terminate your employment for Good Reason and the grounds for such termination within 45 days after the occurrence of the event giving rise to the “Good Reason” termination and (y) such grounds for termination (if susceptible to correction) are not corrected by the Company within 30 days of its receipt of such notice (or, in the event that such grounds cannot be corrected within such 30-day period, the Company has not taken all reasonable steps within such 30 day period to correct such grounds as promptly as practicable thereafter). If the Company does not correct the grounds for termination during such 30-day cure period, your

 

3


termination of employment for “Good Reason” may become effective within 30 days after the end of the cure period. Unless otherwise advised by the Company, you will be expected to perform services for the Company during the cure period.

8. Miscellaneous

 

  (a) This offer is contingent on: (i) you signing and returning to the Company the (a) Confidentiality and Innovations Agreement, (b) Non-Compete Agreement, and (c) Pre-Employment Questionnaire (copies of which are enclosed with this Offer Letter); and (ii) a successful background check and reference verification. Your responses to the Pre-Employment Questionnaire may require a follow-up discussion.

 

  (b) You hereby represent to the Company that you are under no obligation or agreement that would prevent you from becoming an employee of the Company, or adversely impact your ability to perform the expected responsibilities. By accepting this offer, you agree that no trade secret or proprietary information not belonging to you or the Company will be disclosed or used by you at the Company.

 

  (c) This Offer Letter is not an employment contract and does not create an implied or express guarantee of continued employment. By accepting this offer, you are acknowledging that you are an employee at-will. This means that either you or the Company may terminate your employment at any time and for any reason or for no reason. Upon your acceptance, this Offer Letter will contain the entire agreement and understanding between you and the Company and supersedes any prior or contemporaneous agreements, understandings, communications, offers, representations, warranties, or commitments by or on behalf of the Company, whether written or oral. The terms of your employment may be amended in the future other than increases in compensation. The terms of your employment may only be amended in the future by the written agreement of you and the Company.

 

  (d) This Offer Letter shall be interpreted to avoid any penalty sanctions under section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). If any payment or benefit cannot be provided or made at the time specified herein without incurring sanctions under section 409A of the Code, then such benefit or payment shall be provided in full at the earliest time thereafter when such sanctions shall not be imposed. You shall be solely responsible for any tax imposed under section 409A of the Code and in no event shall the Company have any liability with respect to any tax, interest or other penalty imposed under section 409A of the Code. Severance pay under this Offer Letter is intended to comply with the “severance pay” exception to section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, to the maximum extent applicable

If section 409A applies to payments under this Offer Letter, this Offer Letter shall be administered in accordance with section 409A, including the six-month delay

 

4


for “specified employees.” Any payments under this Agreement that are required to be postponed pursuant to section 409A shall be postponed for a period of six months after termination of employment, as required by section 409A. The accumulated postponed amount, with interest as described below, shall be paid to you in a lump sum payment within ten days after the end of the six-month period. If you die during the postponement period prior to the payment of the postponed amount, the amounts withheld on account of section 409A, with interest, shall be paid to the personal representative of your estate within 60 days after the date of your death. If amounts are postponed on account of section 409A, the postponed amounts will be credited with interest for the postponement period at the prime rate published in the Wall Street Journal on your termination date.

Distributions upon termination of employment may only be made upon a “separation from service” as determined under section 409A. Each payment under this Offer Letter shall be treated as a separate payment for purposes of section 409A. In no event may, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of any payment to be made under this Offer Letter. All reimbursements and in kind benefits provided under this Offer Letter shall be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of section 409A of the Code.

United States law requires all companies to verify an employee’s authorization to work in the United States. If you accept this offer, you will need to bring certain documents with you on your first day that allows the Company to verify your work authorization. Enclosed is an Employment Eligibility Verification (form I-9). Please review the form and bring the appropriate documents required for employment verification on your start date. You will be asked to complete the form in the presence of a witness on your start date.

Also enclosed are a Direct Deposit Authorization Form and an Employee Withholding Allowance Certificate (W-4). Please complete these forms and bring them with you on your start date.

If these terms are agreeable to you, please sign and date the Offer Letter in the appropriate space at the bottom and return it to me by July 17, 2009. We are excited at the prospect of your joining the Company, and look forward to your future contributions.

 

Sincerely,
/s/ Marc Lefar
Marc Lefar
Chief Executive Officer

 

Agreed and Accepted:
Name:   /s/ Kurt Rogers
  Kurt Rogers
Date:   7/27/09

 

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EXHIBIT 10.3

EXECUTION COPY

AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (“ Agreement ”), dated November 5, 2009, by and between VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Marc P. Lefar (the “ Executive ”).

WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company previously entered into an Employment Agreement, dated July 29, 2008 (the “ Original Agreement ”); and

WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company desire to amend and restate the Original Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth below;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties agree as follows:

1. Employment and Duties .

(a) General . The Executive shall serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, reporting to the Company’s Board of Directors (the “ Board ”). The Company has taken all necessary and appropriate action to obtain Board approval to increase the number of directors on the Board, and the Executive has been elected to the Board effective with, and subject to, his commencement of employment. Thereafter, during the Executive’s term of employment, the Board shall nominate the Executive for re-election as a member of the Board at the expiration of the then current term, provided that the foregoing shall not be required to the extent prohibited by legal or regulatory requirements. The Executive shall have the duties, responsibilities, and authority customarily held by the chief executive officer of a public corporation. All employees of the Company shall report to the Executive or one of his designees. The Executive shall also perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time require, consistent with the general level and type of duties and responsibilities customarily associated with such position. The Executive’s principal place of employment shall be the principal offices of the Company, currently located in the Holmdel, New Jersey area; provided , however , that the Executive understands and agrees that he shall be required to travel from time to time for business reasons.

(b) Exclusive Services . For so long as the Executive is employed by the Company, the Executive shall devote his full-time working time to his duties hereunder, shall conform to and use his good faith efforts to comply with the lawful and good faith directions and instructions given to him by the Board and shall use his good faith efforts to promote and serve the interests of the Company. Further, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, render services to any other person or organization without the consent of the Board or otherwise engage in activities that would interfere significantly with the faithful performance of his duties hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive may serve on (i) corporate boards, with the Board’s prior consent, or (ii) civic or charitable boards or engage in charitable activities without remuneration therefor. Additionally, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive may manage his personal investments, and serve as an executor, trustee, or in a similar

 


fiduciary capacity in connection therewith, provided that such activities do not contravene the first sentence of this Section 1(b).

2. Term of Employment . The term of employment under this Agreement (the “ Term ”) commenced as of July 29, 2008 (the “ Effective Date ”) and shall terminate on the third anniversary of the Effective Date; provided , however, that the Term shall be automatically extended without further action of either party for additional one-year periods, unless written notice of either party’s intention not to extend has been given to the other party at least 90 days prior to the expiration of the then-effective Term. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the event of a Change of Control of the Company, the Term shall be automatically extended without further action of either party for an additional one-year period from the date of such Change of Control if the Term would otherwise be terminated within such one-year period, subject to further automatic renewals as provided above. A “ Change of Control ” as used herein shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Company’s 2006 Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time (the “ Incentive Plan ”); provided , however , that subpart (i) of such definition shall not apply to the acquisition of Beneficial Ownership (as defined in the Incentive Plan), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company by Silver Point Finance, LLC to the extent Silver Point Finance, LLC has Beneficial Ownership of less than 35% of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities.

3. Compensation and Other Benefits . Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Company shall pay and provide the following compensation and other benefits to the Executive during the Term as compensation for services rendered hereunder:

(a) Base Salary . The Company shall pay to the Executive an annual base salary (the “ Base Salary ”) of not less than $850,000, payable in substantially equal installments at such intervals as may be determined by the Company in accordance with its ordinary payroll practices as applicable to senior executives as established from time to time. The Base Salary shall be reviewed for increase by the Compensation Committee of the Board in good faith, based upon the Executive’s performance, not less often than annually. The Base Salary may be increased, but not decreased below its then current level, from time to time by the Board, and as so increased shall thereafter be the “ Base Salary .”

(b) One-Time Payment. The Executive acknowledges receipt of a one-time payment equal to $865,000, paid in a single lump sum within two business days following the Effective Date, to induce the Executive to join the Company and to compensate the Executive for early termination of his prior business affairs.

(c) Sign-On Option Grant and 2009 Option Grants . On the Effective Date, the Executive was issued a one-time sign-on option grant of 6,500,000 nonqualified stock options (the “ Options ”) to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at a price per share equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the Effective Date. The Options were granted under the form of stock option agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A . Notwithstanding anything to the

 

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contrary in the Incentive Plan or any stock option agreement thereunder, the following provisions of this Section 3(c) shall govern the terms of the Options (and all other outstanding options issued by the Company to the Executive to the extent specifically provided). Upon (i) a Change of Control of the Company, all outstanding Options shall become fully vested and exercisable immediately prior to such Change of Control, and (ii) termination of the Executive’s employment without Cause by the Company or by the Executive for Good Reason (in either case, other than in the context of a Change of Control of the Company), then an additional amount of outstanding Options granted by the Company to the Executive shall become vested and immediately exercisable as of the date of such termination in accordance with the provisions of the immediately following sentence. For each outstanding Option, such additional amount shall be equal to the number of Options that would vest on the next vesting tranche multiplied by a fraction where (1) the numerator is 12 plus the number of full and fractional months that had elapsed between the Option vesting date immediately prior to such termination and such termination date, and (2) the denominator is 12. Upon a non-renewal of this Agreement by the Company, the Executive shall vest pro rata in the next vesting tranche to the extent he continues to be employed by the Company beyond the expiration of the Term, such pro rata portion to be based on the full and fractional months that elapse from the day immediately after the expiration of the Term through his termination of employment with the Company. Upon a termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company without Cause or for non-renewal, or by the Executive for Good Reason, all outstanding options granted by the Company to the Executive (whether part of the Options or not) shall (to the extent vested) remain exercisable for at least 180 days after the termination, or until the end of the term of the option, if earlier. Upon a termination of the Executive’s employment by the Executive without Good Reason, all vested outstanding options granted by the Company to the Executive shall remain exercisable for at least 60 days after termination, or until the end of the term of the option, if earlier. In light of the dilution associated with the transactions contemplated by the Company’s First Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement, Second Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement and Third Lien Note Purchase Agreement, each dated as of October 19, 2008 (the “ Financing Transactions ”), the Company awarded to the Executive, as of September 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009, option grants for an aggregate of 2,000,000 nonqualified stock options (the “ 2009 Options ”) to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock. The 2009 Options were granted under the form of stock option agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A . The parties hereto agree to discuss in good faith the award of additional Company equity to the Executive to address the dilution associated with the Financing Transactions. In the event the parties hereto are unable to resolve in good faith whether the proposed award of additional Company equity is proportional in light of such dilution, they agree to submit the issue to arbitration on an expedited basis in accordance with Section 12 of this Agreement for the arbitrator to make such determination.

(d) Annual Cash Bonus . Except as otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board in its sole discretion, the Executive shall not be entitled to any bonus for 2008 performance. For 2009 performance, the Executive shall be eligible to receive a lump sum performance-based bonus targeted at 75% of his Base Salary (the applicable percentage of his Base Salary being referred to herein as the “ Bonus Target Percentage ”) in accordance with the Company’s annual bonus program, as

 

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applicable to senior executives as in effect from time to time (the “ Bonus Program ”). For performance in 2010 and each fiscal year thereafter during the Term, the Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual lump sum performance-based bonus targeted at 100% of his Base Salary in accordance with the Bonus Program. The Bonus Target Percentage shall be reviewed for increase by the Compensation Committee of the Board in good faith not less often than annually. The Bonus Target Percentage may be increased, but not decreased below its then current level, from time to time by the Board, and as so increased shall thereafter be the “ Bonus Target Percentage .” The amount, if any, of the Executive’s annual bonus shall be determined by the Board and should be paid in the calendar year following the calendar year for which it was earned prior to March 15th. The bonus shall be prorated for any year in which the Executive’s employment is terminated due to: (i) the Executive’s resignation for Good Reason; (ii) the Company’s termination of the Executive’s employment without Cause; (iii) the Executive’s death or disability (as defined in Section 4(c) below); or (iv) the Company’s delivery of a notice of non-renewal pursuant to Section 2 hereof. If the Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company for Cause or the Executive resigns from his employment other than for Good Reason prior to the end of the fiscal year for which the bonus is payable, the Executive shall not receive any portion of such bonus.

(e) Employee Benefit Plans . The Executive shall be entitled to participate in all employee welfare, pension, and fringe benefit plans, programs and arrangements of the Company, in accordance with their respective terms, as may be amended from time to time, and on a basis no less favorable than that made available to other senior executives of the Company.

(f) Expenses . The Company shall reimburse the Executive for reasonable travel and other business-related expenses incurred by the Executive in the fulfillment of his duties hereunder upon presentation of written documentation thereof, in accordance with the applicable expense reimbursement policies and procedures of the Company as in effect from time to time. Permitted business expenses shall include first-class airplane travel for Company business trips. The reimbursement of all expenses under this Section 3(f) shall be subject to Section 4(d)(vii) of this Agreement.

(g) Vacation . The Executive shall be entitled to 20 days paid time off for each fiscal year during the Term. If the Executive does not use any portion of the allotted paid time off in any fiscal year, the Executive shall be entitled to add any and all unused paid time off to the paid time off permitted under this Agreement for the following fiscal year.

(h) Housing and Relocation Benefits . While the Executive is employed during the Term, and until such time, if any, as the Executive shall relocate to the New Jersey area, the Company shall pay, or reimburse the Executive for, the cost of housing ( i.e. , furnished housing, including utilities) for the Executive while the Executive is at the Company’s principal offices, to be paid, if reimbursed, to the Executive monthly in arrears subject to the submission of reasonable documentation. The Company shall gross up for tax purposes any income arising from such payment or reimbursement that is treated as nondeductible taxable income to the Executive so that the economic benefit is

 

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the same to the Executive as if such payment or benefits were provided on a non-taxable basis to the Executive. The Executive shall also be entitled to relocation benefits customarily made available to a chief executive officer. The payment or reimbursement of all expenses under this Section 3(h) shall be subject to Section 4(d)(vii) of this Agreement.

(i) Travel Benefits. While the Executive is employed during the Term, the Company shall promptly pay, or reimburse the Executive for, the Executive’s commercial air and car transport between his residence in Atlanta, Georgia and the Company’s principal offices. The Company shall also promptly pay, or reimburse the Executive for, the costs of his private air travel from and to the Company’s principal offices in Holmdel, New Jersey (subject to the submission of reasonable documentation) in (a) an annual amount up to a maximum of $250,000 in 2008 and $600,000 in 2009 and subsequent calendar years while employed during the Term, plus (b) an amount equal to the cost of commercial air travel for each trip (i.e., the cost of a first-class, fully refundable, direct flight booked one week prior to travel) while employed during the Term. The benefit described in the immediately preceding sentence shall cease if the Executive relocates to the New Jersey area. The Company shall gross up for tax purposes any income arising from such payment or reimbursement of commuting expenses that is treated as nondeductible taxable income to the Executive so that the economic benefit is the same to the Executive as if such payment or benefits were provided on a non-taxable basis to the Executive. If requested by the Company, the Executive will participate in agreements from time to time to reasonably allocate costs of such travel among himself and other employees who are passengers on such flights. The payment or reimbursement of all expenses under this Section 3(i) shall be subject to Section 4(d)(vii) of this Agreement.

(j) Legal Fees. Upon presentation of appropriate documentation, the Company shall pay the Executive’s reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection with the negotiation and documentation of this Agreement, up to a maximum of $15,000, and to the extent such amount is taxable to the Executive, the Company shall gross up for tax purposes any income arising from such fees so that the economic benefit is the same to the Executive as if such payment was provided on a non-taxable basis to the Executive. The reimbursement of all expenses under this Section 3(j) shall be subject to Section 4(d)(vii) of this Agreement.

(k) Other Benefits and Perquisites . The Executive shall be entitled to such other benefits and perquisites as may be available generally to other senior executives of the Company. The reimbursement of all expenses under this Section 3(k) shall be subject to Section 4(d)(vii) of this Agreement.

4. Termination of Employment .

(a) Termination for Cause; Resignation Without Good Reason .

(i) If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause, or if the Executive resigns from his employment hereunder other

 

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than for Good Reason, the Executive shall only be entitled to payment of any unpaid Base Salary through and including the date of termination or resignation, any unpaid expense reimbursement or tax gross ups, any accrued but unused vacation, any unpaid bonus for a completed fiscal year and any other amounts or benefits required to be paid under this Agreement through the date of termination or resignation, including but not limited to those under Sections 3(b), 3(f), 3(h), 3(i) and 3(j) hereof (in each case only to the extent earned or accrued prior to such date of termination or resignation), or provided by law or under any plan, program, policy or practice of the Company (the “ Other Accrued Compensation and Benefits ”). The Executive shall have no further right under this Agreement to receive any other compensation or benefits after such termination or resignation of employment.

(ii) For purposes of this Agreement, “ Cause ” shall mean: (A) any act or omission that constitutes a material breach by the Executive of his obligations under this Agreement; (B) the willful and continued failure or refusal of the Executive (not as a consequence of illness, accident or other incapacity) to perform the duties reasonably required of him hereunder; (C) the Executive’s conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, (x) any felony or (y) another willful crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude or which reflects negatively upon the Company in a material manner or otherwise materially impairs or impedes its operations; (D) the Executive’s engaging in any willful misconduct, gross negligence or act of dishonesty with regard to the Company or his material duties, which conduct is injurious to the Company and its subsidiaries or affiliates (collectively, the “ Company Group ”); (E) the Executive’s material breach of either a material written policy of the Company or, to the extent the Executive is aware of such rules or has been informed by the Company’s counsel, the relevant rules of any governmental or regulatory body applicable to the Company; or (F) the Executive’s refusal to follow the lawful directions of the Board; provided , however , that no event or condition described in clauses (A), (B), (E) or (F) shall constitute Cause unless (i) the Company first gives the Executive written notice of its intention to terminate his employment for Cause and the grounds for such termination, and (ii) such grounds for termination (if susceptible to correction) are not corrected by the Executive within 30 days of his receipt of such notice (or, in the event that such grounds cannot be corrected within such 30-day period, the Executive has not taken all reasonable steps within such 30-day period to correct such grounds as promptly as practicable thereafter).

(iii) For purposes of this Agreement, “ Good Reason ” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events without the Executive’s prior written consent: (A) a failure by the Company to timely pay material compensation due and payable to the Executive in connection with his employment; (B) a material diminution in the Executive’s Base

 

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Salary or Bonus Target Percentage; (C) a material diminution of the authority, duties or responsibilities of the Executive from those set forth in this Agreement, including without limitation, ceasing to be the chief executive officer of the Company (or its ultimate parent following a Change of Control) or the removal of the Executive from the Board by the Company (other than for Cause) or the failure to re-elect the Executive to serve on the Board; (D) the Company requiring the Executive to be based at any office or location more than 50 miles from the Holmdel, New Jersey area; or (E) a material breach by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement; provided , however , that no event or condition described in clauses (A) through (E) shall constitute Good Reason unless (x) the Executive gives the Company within 60 days of the occurrence of the Good Reason event, written notice of his intention to terminate his employment for Good Reason and the grounds for such termination, and (y) such grounds for termination (if susceptible to correction) are not corrected by the Company within 30 days of its receipt of such notice (or, in the event that such grounds cannot be corrected within such 30-day period, the Company has not taken all reasonable steps within such 30-day period to correct such grounds as promptly as practicable thereafter). Such termination for Good Reason by the Executive must occur within 120 days of the occurrence of the Good Reason event.

(b) Termination Without Cause; Resignation for Good Reason; Company Non-extension .

(i) If, prior to the expiration of the Term, the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause, or if the Executive resigns from his employment hereunder for Good Reason, or if the Executive’s employment terminates due to non-extension by the Company pursuant to Section 2 hereof, the Company shall pay the Executive, subject to Section 4(d) below: (A) a pro rata portion of his bonus (if any) for the year in which the termination of employment occurs, which amount shall be payable in the calendar year following the calendar year of termination prior to March 15th; (B) an amount equal to the Executive’s Base Salary (at the rate in effect on the date the Executive’s employment is terminated) for a two-year period ( provided that the period shall be one year in the event of the Executive’s termination of employment due to the Company’s non-extension of the Term pursuant to Section 2 hereof) following the Executive’s termination of employment as described in this Section 4(b), which amount shall be payable in lump sum 60 days following the separation from service, provided that subsections (iii) and (iv) below are complied with; and (C) the Other Accrued Compensation and Benefits. In addition to the foregoing, the Company shall pay up to a maximum amount of $50,000 for outplacement services for the Executive, such payment to be made to an agency selected by the Executive, based on the customary fees charged by nationally rated firms engaged in such services. The Executive shall have no further rights

 

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under this Agreement to receive any other compensation or benefits after such termination or resignation of employment.

(ii) If, prior to the expiration of the Term, the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause, or if the Executive resigns from his employment hereunder for Good Reason, or if the Executive’s employment terminates due to non-extension by the Company pursuant to Section 2 hereof, the Company shall pay the Executive on a monthly basis the group medical, dental and vision continuation coverage premiums for the Executive and his dependents under COBRA in excess of the amount the Executive would have paid if he were an active employee for the COBRA continuation coverage period, provided that the Executive or his dependents are eligible and remain eligible for COBRA coverage; and provided , further , that in the event that the Executive receives group health coverage from another employer of him (in which event the Executive shall promptly notify the Company in writing), such continuation of coverage by the Company under this Section 4(b)(ii) shall immediately cease. For purposes of this Agreement, “ COBRA ” shall mean the requirements of (1) Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and (2) Section 4980B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”).

(iii) The Company shall not be required to make the payments and provide the benefits provided for under Sections 4(b)(i) (other than the Other Accrued Compensation and Benefits) and 4(b)(ii), unless the Executive executes and delivers to the Company a release in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B , and the release has become effective and irrevocable in its entirety.

(iv) If, following a termination of employment without Cause or a resignation for Good Reason, the Executive materially breaches provisions of Sections 5 or 7 hereof, the Executive shall not be eligible, as of the date of such material breach, for the payments and benefits described in Sections 4(b)(i) and 4(b)(ii), and any and all obligations and agreements of the Company with respect to such payments shall thereupon cease (and the Company shall be entitled to recoup any and all such payments and benefits previously paid or awarded to the Executive), provided , however , that no event or condition described in Sections 5 or 7 shall constitute a breach unless (i) the Company first gives the Executive written notice of its intention to terminate his payments and benefits described in Sections 4(b)(i) and 4(b)(ii) and the grounds for such loss of eligibility for payments and benefits, and (ii) such grounds for termination of payments and benefits (if susceptible to correction) are not corrected by the Executive within 30 days of his receipt of such notice (or, in the event that such grounds cannot be corrected within such 30-day period, the

 

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Executive has not taken all reasonable steps within such 30-day period to correct such grounds as promptly as practicable thereafter).

(c) Termination Due to Death or Disability . The Executive’s employment with the Company shall terminate automatically on the Executive’s death. In the event of the Executive’s disability, the Company shall be entitled to terminate his employment. In the event of termination of the Executive’s employment by reason of the Executive’s death or disability, the Company shall pay to the Executive (or his estate, as applicable), subject to Section 4(d) below, (i) a pro rata portion of the Executive’s bonus (if any) for the year in which the termination of employment occurs, which amount shall be payable in the year following the year of termination of employment prior to March 15th; (ii) the Executive’s Base Salary through and including the date of termination; (iii) an amount equal to 12 months of the Executive’s Base Salary (at the rate in effect on the date the Executive’s employment is terminated), which amount shall be payable in a lump sum 60 days following the separation from service, provided that such amount shall be reduced (but in no event to an amount below zero) by the projected tax-adjusted amount of disability payments, excluding any supplemental disability benefits funded through employee contributions, to be received by the Executive during the six (6) month period following such separation; and (iv) the Other Accrued Compensation and Benefits. For purposes of this Agreement, “ disability ” means that the Executive has been unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment for 180 days in any one-year period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that as a result of absence because of mental or physical incapacity the Executive incurs a “separation from service” within the meaning of such term under Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and guidance issued thereunder (“ Section 409A ”), the Executive shall on such date automatically be terminated from employment as a disability termination.

(d) Payments Subject to Section 409A .

(i) The intent of the parties is that payments and benefits under this Agreement comply with Section 409A (except to the extent exempt as short-term deferrals or otherwise) and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be in compliance therewith. If the Executive notifies the Company (with specificity as to the reason therefor) that the Executive believes that any provision of this Agreement (or of any award of compensation, including equity compensation or benefits) would cause the Executive to incur any additional tax or interest under Section 409A or the Company independently makes such determination, the Company shall, after consulting with the Executive, reform such provision to attempt to comply with Section 409A through good faith modifications to the minimum extent reasonably appropriate to conform with Section 409A. To the extent that any provision hereof is modified in order to comply with Section 409A, such modification shall be made in good faith and shall, to the maximum extent reasonably possible, maintain the original intent and economic benefit to the Executive and the Company of the applicable

 

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provision without violating the provisions of Section 409A. If the Executive notifies the Company (with specificity as to the reason therefor) that the Executive believes that any of the Company’s plans, programs or payroll practices would cause the Executive to incur any additional tax or interest under Section 409A, the Company shall in good faith discuss with the Executive any proposed modifications to such plans, programs or payroll practices that are reasonably necessary to comply with Section 409A.

(ii) Subject to this Section 4(d), payments or benefits under Sections 4(b) or 4(c) shall begin only upon the date the Executive incurs a “separation from service” within the meaning of such term under Section 409A. For purposes of any such provision of this Agreement, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms shall mean “separation from service.” The provisions under this Section 4(d) shall apply with respect to distribution of the payments and benefits, if any, to be provided to the Executive under Sections 4(b) and 4(c), as applicable.

(iii) It is intended that each installment, if any, of the payments and benefits provided under Sections 4(b) and 4(c) shall be treated as a separate “payment” for purposes of Section 409A. Neither the Company nor the Executive shall have the right to accelerate or defer the delivery of any such payments or benefits except to the extent specifically permitted or required by Section 409A.

(iv) Each installment of the payments and benefits due under Sections 4(b) or 4(c) that, in accordance with the dates and terms set forth herein, will in all circumstances, regardless of when the separation from service occurs, be paid within the Short-Term Deferral Period (as hereinafter defined) shall be treated as a short-term deferral within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) to the maximum extent permissible under Section 409A. For purposes of this Agreement, the “ Short-Term Deferral Period ” means the period ending on the later of the 15 th day of the third month following the end of the Executive’s tax year in which the separation from service occurs and the 15 th day of the third month following the end of the Company’s tax year in which the separation from service occurs; and

(v) If, as of the date of the “separation from service” of the Executive from the Company, the Executive is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of that term under Section 409A(a)(2)(B), then with regard to any payment or the provision of any benefit that is specified herein as subject to this Section or is otherwise considered “deferred compensation” under Section 409A (whether under this Agreement, any other plan, program, payroll practice or any equity grant) and is payable upon the Executive’s separation from service, such payment or benefit shall not be made or provided until the date which is the earlier of (A) the

 

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expiration of the six (6)-month-and-one-day period measured from the date of such “separation from service” of the Executive, and (B) the date of the Executive’s death (the “ Delay Period ”) and this Agreement and each such plan, program, payroll practice or equity grant shall hereby be deemed amended accordingly. Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, all payments and benefits delayed pursuant to this Section (whether they would have otherwise been payable in a single sum or in installments in the absence of such delay) shall be paid or reimbursed to the Executive in a lump sum with interest at the prime rate as published in the Wall Street Journal on the first business day of the Delay Period ( provided that any payment measured by a change in value that continues during the Delay Period shall not be credited with interest for the Delay Period), and any remaining payments and benefits due under this Agreement shall be paid or provided in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for them herein.

(vi) The determination of whether and when a separation from service of the Executive from the Company has occurred shall be made in a manner consistent with, and based on the presumptions set forth in, Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h). Solely for purposes of this Section 4(d)(vi), “ Company ” shall include all persons with whom the Company would be considered a single employer under Sections 414(b) and 414(c) of the Code.

(vii) All reimbursements and in-kind benefits provided under this Agreement shall be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A to the extent that such reimbursements or in-kind benefits are subject to Section 409A. All expenses or other reimbursements paid pursuant herewith that are taxable income to the Executive shall in no event be paid later than the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which the Executive incurs such expense or pays such related tax. With regard to any provision herein that provides for reimbursement of costs and expenses or in-kind benefits, except as permitted by Section 409A, the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit, the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, of in-kind benefits, provided during any taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, in any other taxable year, provided that the foregoing clause shall not be violated without regard to expenses reimbursed under any arrangement covered by Section 105(b) of the Code solely because such expenses are subject to a limit related to the period the arrangement is in effect and such payments shall be made on or before the last day of the Executive’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense occurred. Any tax gross-up shall be made no later than the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which the Executive remits the related tax.

 

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(viii) Whenever a payment under this Agreement specifies a payment period with reference to a number of days (e.g., “payment shall be made within thirty (30) days following the date of termination”), the actual date of payment within the specified period shall be within the sole discretion of the Company.

(e) Notice of Termination . Any termination of employment by the Company or the Executive shall be communicated by a written “ Notice of Termination ” to the other party hereto given in accordance with Section 22 of this Agreement. In the event of a termination by the Company for Cause, or resignation by the Executive for Good Reason, the Notice of Termination shall (i) indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) specify the date of termination, which date shall not be more than 30 days after the giving of such notice. The failure by the Executive or the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of the Executive or the Company, respectively, hereunder or preclude the Executive or the Company, respectively, from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive’s or the Company’s rights hereunder to the extent that such fact or circumstance is on the same asserted basis within the definition for the termination. In the event of a termination by the Company without Cause, or resignation by the Executive other than for Good Reason, the Notice of Termination shall specify the date of termination, which date shall not be less than 30 days after the giving of such notice.

(f) Resignation from Directorships and Officerships . The termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason shall constitute the Executive’s resignation from (i) any director, officer, or employee position the Executive has with members of the Company Group, and (ii) all fiduciary positions (including as a trustee) the Executive holds with respect to any employee benefit plans or trusts established by the Company. The Executive agrees that this Agreement shall serve as written notice of resignation in this circumstance.

5. Confidentiality .

(a) Confidential Information . The Executive has entered into and is subject to the Company’s Employee Confidentiality and Innovations Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C .

(b) Exclusive Property . The Executive confirms that all Confidential Information (as defined in the Employee Confidentiality and Innovations Agreement) is and shall remain the exclusive property of the Company Group. All business records, papers and documents kept or made by the Executive relating to the business of the Company Group shall be and remain the property of the Company Group. Upon the request and at the expense of the Company Group, the Executive shall promptly make all disclosures, execute all instruments and papers, and perform all acts reasonably necessary to vest and confirm in the Company Group, fully and completely, all rights created or

 

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contemplated by this Section 5(b). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive shall maintain ownership and use of his rolodex and other address books.

6. Noncompetition . The Executive has entered into and is subject to the Company’s Non-Compete Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D .

7. Non-Solicitation and Non-Hire . The Executive has agreed and now confirms that for a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending 12 months following the Executive’s termination of employment with the Company (the “ Restricted Period ”), other than in the good faith performance of his duties to the Company as chief executive officer, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly: (a) interfere with or attempt to interfere with the relationship between any person who is, or was during the then-most recent 12-month period, an employee, officer, representative or agent of the Company Group, or solicit or induce or attempt to solicit or induce any of them to leave the employ of any member of the Company Group or violate the terms of their respective contracts, or any employment arrangements, with such entities; or (b) hire, recruit or attempt to hire any person who was employed by any member of the Company Group at any time during the then-most recent 12-month period; provided , that this clause (b) shall not apply to the recruitment or hiring of any individual whose employment with any member of the Company Group has been terminated for a period of six months or longer; or (c) induce or attempt to induce any customer, client, supplier, licensee or other business relation of any member of the Company Group to cease doing business with any member of the Company Group, or in any way interfere with the relationship between any member of the Company Group and any customer, client, supplier, licensee or other business relation of any member of the Company Group, provided the foregoing clause (c) shall not apply to consumers. Nothing in this Section 7 shall be violated by the Executive serving upon request as a reference, so long as he does not have a business relationship with the person to whom the reference is being given, and nothing in this Section 7 shall be violated by the Executive engaging in general advertising that is not specifically targeted at the persons referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (c) that have a relationship with a member of the Company Group. As used herein, the term “ indirectly ” shall include, without limitation, the Executive’s authorizing the use of the Executive’s name by any competitor of any member of the Company Group to induce or interfere with any employee or business relationship of any member of the Company Group.

8. Certain Remedies .

(a) Injunctive Relief . Without intending to limit the remedies available to either party hereto, including, but not limited to, those set forth in Section 12 hereof, each of the parties hereto agrees that a breach of any of the covenants contained in Sections 5, 6, 7 or 10 of this Agreement may result in material and irreparable injury to the other party for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it shall not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of such a breach or threat thereof, any non-breaching party shall be entitled to seek a temporary restraining order or a preliminary or permanent injunction, or both, without bond or other security, restraining the breaching party from engaging in activities prohibited by the covenants contained in Sections 5, 6, 7 or 10 of this Agreement or such other relief as may be required specifically to enforce any of the covenants

 

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contained in this Agreement. Such injunctive relief in any court shall be available to the non-breaching party in lieu of, or prior to or pending determination in, any arbitration proceeding.

(b) Extension of Restricted Period . In addition to the remedies the Company may seek and obtain pursuant to Section 12 hereof, the Restricted Period may, in the court’s discretion, be extended by any and all periods during which the Executive shall be found by a court possessing personal jurisdiction over him to have been in violation of the covenants contained in Sections 5 through 7 of this Agreement.

9. Defense of Claims . The Executive agrees that, during the Term, and for a period of six months after termination of the Executive’s employment, upon request from the Company, the Executive shall cooperate with the Company in connection with any matters the Executive worked on during his employment with the Company and any related transitional matters. In addition, the Executive agrees to cooperate with the Company in the defense of any claims or actions that may be made by or against the Company Group, except if the Executive’s reasonable interests are adverse to the Company Group in such claim or action. The Company agrees to promptly reimburse the Executive for all of the Executive’s reasonable travel and other direct expenses incurred, or to be reasonably incurred, to comply with the Executive’s obligations under this Section 9.

10. Nondisparagement . Each of the Company and the Executive agrees during the term hereof and for one year thereafter not to make, directly or indirectly (with the intent to damage the other), any derogatory, negative or disparaging public statement about the other party hereto (or, as applicable, any other member of the Company Group, any current or former officers, directors, or employees thereof). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or restrict the Executive or the Company from, truthfully and in good faith: (i) disclosing that the Executive is no longer employed by the Company; (ii) making any disclosure of information required by law; (iii) providing information to, or testifying or otherwise assisting in any investigation or proceeding brought by, any federal regulatory or law enforcement agency or legislative body, any self-regulatory organization, or the Company’s designated legal, compliance or human resources officers; (iv) filing, testifying, participating in or otherwise assisting in a proceeding relating to an alleged violation of any federal, state or municipal law relating to fraud, or any rule or regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any self-regulatory organization; or (v) making statements (in the case of the Executive) in the good faith performance of his duties to the Company.

11. Source of Payments . All payments provided under this Agreement, other than payments made pursuant to a plan which provides otherwise, shall be paid in cash from the general funds of the Company, and no special or separate fund shall be established, and no other segregation of assets shall be made, to assure payment. The Executive shall have no right, title or interest whatsoever in or to any investments which the Company may make to aid the Company in meeting its obligations hereunder. To the

 

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extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company hereunder, such right shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured creditor of the Company.

12. Arbitration . Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement or otherwise in connection with the Executive’s employment by the Company that cannot be mutually resolved by the parties to this Agreement and their respective advisors and representatives shall be settled exclusively by arbitration in New Jersey in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association before one arbitrator of exemplary qualifications and stature, who shall be selected jointly by an individual to be designated by the Company and an individual to be selected by the Executive, or if such two individuals cannot promptly agree on the selection of the arbitrator, who shall be selected by the American Arbitration Association. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the arbitrator shall allow for discovery sufficient to adequately arbitrate any claims, including access to essential documents and witnesses. The award of the arbitrator with respect to such dispute or controversy shall be in writing with sufficient explanation to allow for such meaningful judicial review as is permitted by law, and that such decision shall be enforceable in any court of competent jurisdiction and shall be binding on the parties hereto. The remedies available in arbitration shall be identical to those allowed at law. The arbitrator shall be entitled to award to the prevailing party in any arbitration or judicial action under this Agreement reasonable attorneys’ fees and any costs of the arbitration payable by such party, consistent with applicable law, provided that no such award shall be made against the Executive unless the arbitrator finds the Executive’s positions in such arbitration or dispute to have been frivolous or taken in bad faith.

13. Nonassignability; Binding Agreement .

(a) By the Executive . This Agreement and any and all of the Executive’s rights, duties, obligations or interests hereunder shall not be assignable or delegable by the Executive.

(b) By the Company . This Agreement and any and all of the Company’s rights, duties, obligations or interests hereunder shall not be assignable by the Company, except as incident to a reorganization, merger or consolidation, or transfer of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets and then only if the Company’s obligations hereunder are assumed by the assignee.

(c) Binding Effect . This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto, any successors to or permitted assigns of the Company, and the Executive’s heirs and the personal representatives of the Executive’s estate.

14. Withholding . Any payments made or benefits provided to the Executive under this Agreement shall be reduced by any applicable withholding taxes or other amounts required to be withheld by law or contract.

 

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15. Excise Tax .

(a) In the event it shall be determined that any payment, benefit or distribution (or combination thereof) by the Company, any of the Company’s affiliates, one or more trusts established by the Company for the benefit of its employees, or any other person or entity, to or for the benefit of the Executive (whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, or otherwise pursuant to or by reason of any other agreement, policy, plan, program or arrangement, including without limitation any stock option, stock appreciation right, phantom equity awards or similar right, or the lapse or termination of any restriction on the vesting or exercisability of any of the foregoing) (a “ Payment ”) would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code by reason of being “contingent on a change in ownership or control” of the Company, within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code (or any successor provision thereto) or any interest or penalties are incurred by the Executive with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest and penalties, hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Excise Tax ”), then the Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional payment or payments (a “ Gross-Up Payment ”) in an amount such that after payment by the Executive of all taxes (including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including, without limitation, any income taxes (and any interest and penalties imposed with respect thereto) and the Excise Tax imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, the Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments.

(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 15(a) hereof, all determinations required to be made under this Section 15, including whether and when a Gross-Up Payment is required and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determination, shall be made by a nationally recognized certified public accounting firm as may be designated by the Company, and reasonably satisfactory to the Executive (the “ Accounting Firm ”), which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within fifteen (15) business days of the closing of the change in ownership or control of the Company, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as determined pursuant to this Section 15, shall be paid by the Company to the Executive (or to the appropriate taxing authority on the Executive’s behalf) when due immediately prior to the date the Executive is required to make payment of any Excise Tax or other taxes. If the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, it shall so indicate to the Executive in writing. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive absent a contrary determination by the Internal Revenue Service or a court of competent jurisdiction; provided , however , that no such determination shall eliminate or reduce the Company’s obligation to provide any Gross-Up Payment that shall be due as a result of such contrary determination. As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code (or any successor provision thereto) and the possibility of similar uncertainty regarding state or local tax law at the time of any determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that the amount of the Gross-Up Payment determined by the Accounting Firm to be due to (or on behalf of) the Executive is lower than the amount actually due (“ Underpayment ”). In the event that the Company exhausts its remedies pursuant to Section 15(c) and the Executive thereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, the Accounting

 

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Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred as promptly as possible and notify the Company and the Executive of such calculations, and any such Underpayment (including the Gross-Up Payment to the Executive) shall be promptly paid by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive within five (5) business days after receipt of such determination and calculations.

(c) The Executive shall notify the Company in writing of any claim by the Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the payment by the Company of any Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be given as soon as practicable but no later than ten (10) business days after the Executive is informed in writing of such claim and shall apprise the Company of the nature of such claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be paid. The Executive shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the thirty (30) day period following the date on which he gives such notice to the Company (or such shorter period ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to such claim is due). If the Company notifies the Executive in writing prior to the expiration of such period that it desires to contest such claim, the Executive shall (i) give the Company any information which is in the Executive’s possession reasonably requested by the Company relating to such claim, (ii) take such action in connection with contesting such claim as the Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to time, including, without limitation, accepting legal representation with respect to such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by the Company, (iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order to effectively contest such claim, and (iv) permit the Company to participate in any proceedings relating to such claim; provided , however , that the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and expenses (including additional interest and penalties) incurred in connection with such contest and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or income tax (including interest and penalties with respect thereto) imposed as a result of such representation and payment of costs and expenses. Without limitation on the foregoing provisions of this Section 15(c), the Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection with such contest and, at its sole option, may pursue or forego any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the taxing authority in respect of such claim and may, at its sole option, either direct the Executive to pay the tax claimed and sue for a refund or contest the claim in any permissible manner, and the Executive agrees to prosecute such contest to a determination before any administrative tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as the Company shall determine; provided , further , that if the Company directs the Executive to pay such claim and sue for a refund, the Company shall pay the amount of such claim to the Executive, and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income tax (including interest or penalties with respect thereto) imposed with respect to such payment or with respect to any imputed income with respect to such payment (including the applicable Gross-Up Payment); provided , further , that if the Executive is required to extend the statute of limitations to enable the Company to contest such claim, the Executive may limit this extension solely to such contested amount. The Company’s control of the contest shall be limited to issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment would be payable hereunder and the Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority. The reimbursement

 

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of expenses incurred by the Executive due to a tax contest or litigation addressing the existence or amount of an Excise Tax liability shall be reimbursed promptly, but in no event be made later than the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which the taxes that are subject of the contest or litigation are remitted to the taxing authority (or if no taxes are remitted as a result of such audit or litigation, the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which the audit is completed or there is a final and nonappealable settlement or other resolution of the litigation). In addition, without extending the time of any obligation in this Section 15, any tax Gross-Up Payment shall be made no later than the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which the Executive remits the related tax.

(d) If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount paid by the Company pursuant to this Section 15, the Executive becomes entitled to receive any refund with respect to a Gross-Up Payment, the Executive shall promptly pay to the Company the amount of such refund received (together with any interest paid or credited thereon after taxes applicable thereto). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the obligation to refund any amount shall be a violation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, such obligation to refund shall be null and void.

(e) To the extent that the applicable regulations under Code Section 280G permits a later recalculation by the Company, or requires a later recalculation, of whether the Payments are subject to the Excise Tax, the provisions of this Section 15 shall again be applied based upon such recalculation.

16. Amendment; Waiver . This Agreement may not be modified, amended or waived in any manner, except by an instrument in writing signed by both parties hereto. The waiver by either party of compliance with any provision of this Agreement by the other party shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement, or of any subsequent breach by such party of a provision of this Agreement.

17. Governing Law . All matters affecting this Agreement, including the validity thereof, are to be governed by, and interpreted and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New Jersey applicable to contracts executed in and to be performed in that State.

18. Survival of Certain Provisions . The rights and obligations set forth in Sections 3(c), 3(d), 4(a), 4(b), 4(c) and 4(d), Sections 5 through 12 and Section 15 hereof shall survive any termination or expiration of this Agreement.

19. Entire Agreement; Supersedes Previous Agreements . This Agreement, together with the (i) Employee Confidentiality and Innovations Agreement, (ii) Non-Compete Agreement, (iii) Options, (iv) 2009 Options and (v) Indemnification Agreement, dated as of July 29, 2008, between the Company and the Executive, each as amended from time to time, contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the matters covered herein and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous negotiations, commitments, agreements and writings with respect to the subject matter hereof, all such other negotiations, commitments, agreements and

 

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writings shall have no further force or effect, and the parties to any such other negotiation, commitment, agreement or writing shall have no further rights or obligations thereunder. The parties hereto confirm that the Original Agreement is hereby terminated and is of no further force or effect.

20. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed by either of the parties hereto in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

21. Headings . The headings of sections herein are included solely for convenience of reference and shall not control the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

22. Notices . All notices or communications hereunder shall be in writing, addressed as follows:

To the Company:

23 Main Street

Holmdel, N.J. 07733

Attention: Chief Legal Officer

To the Executive:

Marc P. Lefar

at the last address on record with the Company

All such notices shall be conclusively deemed to be received and shall be effective (i) if sent by hand delivery, upon receipt, or (ii) if sent by electronic mail or facsimile, upon confirmation of receipt by the sender of such transmission, or (iii) if sent by courier or certified or registered U.S. mail, upon receipt.

23. Severability . In the event that any court having jurisdiction shall determine that any restrictive covenant or other provision contained in this Agreement shall be unreasonable or unenforceable in any respect, then such covenant or other provision shall be deemed limited to the extent that such other court deems it reasonable or enforceable, and as so limited shall remain in full force and effect. In the event that such court shall deem any such covenant or other provision wholly unenforceable, the remaining covenants and other provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be signed by its officer pursuant to the authority of its Board, and the Executive has executed this Agreement, as of the day and year first written above.

 

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.
By   /s/ Jeffrey A. Citron                11.6.2009
Name:   Jeffrey A. Citron
Title:   Chairman of the Board

 

ACCEPTED AND AGREED:
/s/ Marc P. Lefar
Marc P. Lefar
Date:   11/4/09

 

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Exhibit A

Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement

 

Exhibit A


Exhibit A

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.

2006 INCENTIVE PLAN

NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

Participant ”:                                     

Date of Award ”:                             

This Agreement, effective as of the Date of Award set forth above, represents the grant of Nonqualified Stock Options by Vonage Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation (the ” Company ”), to the Participant named above, pursuant to the provisions of the Vonage Holdings Corp. 2006 Incentive Plan (the ” Plan ”). Capitalized terms have the meanings ascribed to them under the Plan, unless specifically set forth herein.

The parties hereto agree as follows:

 

  1. Grant of Options

The Company hereby grants to the Participant Nonqualified Stock Options to purchase Shares in the manner and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement as follows:

(a) Number of Shares Covered by the Options :                     

(b) “ Option Price ”: $              per Share

(c) “ Option Term ”: The Options have been granted for a period of ten years, ending on the tenth anniversary of the Date of Award.

 

  2. Vesting of Options

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 2, the Options vest and become exercisable as to 1/4 th of the Shares on the calendar day before each of the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of the Date of the Award.

(b) To the extent not previously vested in accordance with this Section 2, in the event of a Change of Control (which, for purposes of this Agreement, shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2 (or any successor section thereto) of that certain Employment Agreement, dated as of July [_], 2008, between the Company and the Participant, as such agreement may be amended from time to time (the “Employment Agreement” )), the Options will fully vest and become exercisable immediately prior to such Change of Control.


(c) To the extent not previously vested in accordance with this Section 2, in the event that the Participant’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by the Participant for Good Reason, the Options will (i) vest and become exercisable in accordance with Section 3(c) (or any successor section thereto) of the Employment Agreement and (ii) remain exercisable until they terminate in accordance with Section 4 below.

(d) To the extent not previously vested in accordance with this Section 2, in the event that the Employment Agreement is not renewed by the Company in accordance with Section 2 (or any successor section thereto) of the Employment Agreement, and the Participant continues to be employed by the Company beyond the expiration of the Term (as defined in the Employment Agreement), the Options will (i) vest and become exercisable in accordance with Section 3(c) (or any successor section thereto) of the Employment Agreement and (ii) remain exercisable until they terminate in accordance with Section 4 below.

(e) To the extent not previously vested in accordance with this Section 2, in the event of the Participant’s death, the Options will (i) vest and become exercisable as of the date thereof as to one-half the number of unvested Shares covered thereby and (ii) remain exercisable until they terminate in accordance with Section 4 below.

(f) To the extent not previously vested in accordance with this Section 2, in the event of the Participant’s disability, the Options will (i) vest and become exercisable as of the date thereof as to one-half the number of unvested Shares covered thereby and (ii) remain exercisable until they terminate in accordance with Section 4 below.

(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if the Participant’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company with Cause, the Options will terminate immediately and be of no force or effect.

(h) To the extent vested in accordance with this Section 2, the Options will remain exercisable until they terminate in accordance with Section 4 below.

(i) For purposes of this Section 2, the terms “ Cause ,” “ Good Reason ” and “ disability ” shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Employment Agreement.

 

  3. Exercise of Options

The Options may be exercised by any means specified in Section 7(d) of the Plan, as well as by a broker cashless exercise procedure, all of which the Committee hereby approves.

 

  4. Termination of Options

To the extent vested in accordance with Section 2 above, the Options will terminate, and be of no force or effect, upon the earlier of:

 

2


(a) the date of termination of the Participant’s employment if such termination is for Cause, the first anniversary of such date if the Participant’s employment terminates for a reason as set forth in Sections 2(e) or 2(f) above, 60 days following such date if such termination is due to the Participant’s resignation without Good Reason, or 180 days following such date if such termination is for any other reason; and

(b) the expiration of the Option Term.

 

  5. Rights as Stockholder

The Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder of the Company with respect to the Shares covered by the Options until such time as the Option Price has been paid and the Shares have been issued and delivered to the Participant.

 

  6. Transferability

Unless permitted by the Committee in accordance with the terms of the Plan, the Options may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and, during the Participant’s lifetime, may be exercised only by the Participant or in the event of the Participant’s legal incapacity, the Participant’s legal guardian or representative.

 

  7. Miscellaneous

(a) This Agreement and the rights of the Participant hereunder are subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, as the same may be amended from time to time, as well as to such rules and regulations as the Committee may adopt for administration of the Plan. If there is any inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the Plan’s terms shall completely supersede and replace the conflicting terms of this Agreement.

(b) This Agreement shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required or, the Committee determines are advisable. The Participant agrees to take all steps the Company determines are necessary to comply with all applicable provisions of federal and state securities law in exercising his rights under this Agreement. The Committee shall have the right to impose such restrictions on any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of the Option as it deems necessary or advisable under applicable federal securities laws, the rules and regulations of any stock exchange or market upon which Shares are then listed or traded, and/or any blue sky or state securities laws applicable to Shares. It is expressly understood that the Committee is authorized to administer, construe, and make all determinations necessary or appropriate to the administration of the Plan and this Agreement, all of which shall be binding upon the Participant.

 

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(c) The Options are intended not to provide for a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding the forgoing or any provision of the Plan or this Agreement, if any provision of this Agreement or the Plan contravenes Section 409A of the Code or could cause the Participant to incur any tax, interest or penalties under Section 409A of the Code, the Committee may, in its sole discretion and without the Participant’s consent, modify such provision in order to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or to satisfy the conditions of any exception therefrom, or otherwise to avoid the imposition of the additional income tax and interest under Section 409A of the Code, while maintaining, to the maximum extent practicable, the original intent and economic benefit to the Participant, without materially increasing the cost to the Company, of the applicable provision.

(d) Delivery of the Shares underlying the Options upon exercise will be subject to the Participant satisfying all applicable federal, state, local and foreign taxes. The Company shall have authority to deduct or withhold from all amounts payable to the Participant in connection with the Options, or require the Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy any applicable taxes required by law. The Participant shall have the right to cover the minimum statutory withholding by directing the Company to withhold Shares that would otherwise be received by him, by utilization of a cashless broker transaction or by any other means permitted by Section 18 of the Plan.

(e) To the extent not preempted by federal law, this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Participant have executed this Agreement as of the Date of Award.

 

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
 
Participant

 

4


Exhibit B

Form of Confidential Separation Agreement and General Release

 

Exhibit B


CONFIDENTIAL SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE

This CONFIDENTIAL SEPARATION AGREEMENT and GENERAL RELEASE (hereinafter referred to as this “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between Marc P. Lefar (“Executive”) and Vonage Holdings Corp. (defined herein to include its affiliates, subsidiaries, predecessors and successors and hereinafter referred to as “Vonage” or “the Company”), effective as of [              ] (the “Effective Date”). Executive and Vonage are hereafter referred to as the “Parties.”

WHEREAS, Executive was employed by Vonage as its Chief Executive Officer;

WHEREAS, Executive and Vonage entered into an Employment Agreement, dated as of July 29, 2008 (the “Employment Agreement”);

WHEREAS, [description of nature of termination];

WHEREAS, Vonage and Executive have read this Agreement and have had the opportunity to review it with their respective legal counsel; and

WHEREAS, Vonage and Executive desire to resolve any and all issues and claims between them, including without limitation Executive’s employment and his separation therefrom, as well as any and all issues and claims arising from or relating to the Employment Agreement, and to reach an amicable accord and settlement concerning their future relationship.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual promises herein contained, it is agreed as follows:

1. Separation and Post-Employment Benefits . Executive ceased performing duties for Vonage on [              ] (the “Termination Date”), and Executive’s services on any and all boards of directors, boards of trustees and executive and/or management committees of Vonage of which he was a member ended on such date. The terms of Executive’s separation from Vonage are now being agreed to, as described herein.

2. Salary . Executive agrees that Vonage has no obligation to make, and will not make, any additional salary payments to Executive that have not already been paid, except for any and all earned, accrued or owed amounts, but not yet paid, to which Executive is entitled up to and including the Termination Date, including any unpaid expense reimbursement or tax gross ups, any accrued but unused vacation and any other amounts or benefits required to be paid under the Employment Agreement or provided by law or under any plan, program, policy or practice of Vonage (“Other Accrued Compensation and Benefits”), payable in a lump sum within five (5) days after the revocation period described in Paragraph 18(d) below. Any further entitlement that Executive may have to compensation shall be governed by the terms of this Agreement.


3. Non-Admission . It is specifically understood and agreed that this Agreement does not constitute and is not to be construed as an admission or evidence of (a) any violation by Vonage or Executive, of any federal, state or municipal law, statute or regulation, or principle of common law or equity, (b) the commission by Executive or Vonage of any other actionable wrong, or (c) any wrongdoing of any kind whatsoever on the part of Executive or Vonage, and shall not be offered, argued or used for that purpose.

4. General Release .

(a) In exchange for the consideration provided in this Agreement, and as a material inducement for both Parties entering into this Agreement, Executive for himself, his heirs, executors, administrators, trustees, legal representatives, successors and assigns (hereinafter collectively referred to for purposes of this Paragraph 4 as “Executive”) hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, releases and forever discharges Vonage and its past, present and future affiliates and related entities, parent and subsidiary corporations, divisions, shareholders, predecessors, future officers, directors, trustees, fiduciaries, administrators, executives, agents, representatives, successors and assigns (hereinafter collectively referred to for purposes of this Paragraph 4 as “Vonage”) for any and all waivable claims, charges, demands, sums of money, actions, rights, promises, agreements, causes of action, obligations and liabilities of any kind or nature whatsoever, at law or in equity, whether known or unknown, existing or contingent, suspected or unsuspected, apparent or concealed, foreign or domestic (hereinafter collectively referred to as “claims”) which he has now or in the future may claim to have against Vonage based upon or arising out of any facts, acts, conduct, omissions, transactions, occurrences, contracts, claims, events, causes, matters or things of any conceivable kind or character existing or occurring or claimed to exist or to have occurred prior to the Effective Date in any way whatsoever relating to or arising out of Executive’s employment with Vonage. Such claims include, but are not limited to, claims arising under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq .; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq .; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq .; the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, 29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq .; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq .; the Equal Pay Act of 1963, 29 U.S.C. § 206(d); Section 806 of the Corporate and Criminal Fraud Accountability Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq .; the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. §1681 et seq .; any other federal, state or local statutory laws including, but not limited to, the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, the Conscientious Employee Protection Act, the New Jersey Wage Payment Law, the New Jersey Family Leave Act, all as amended; the common law of the State of New Jersey; any claim under any local ordinance, including, but not limited to, any ordinance addressing fair employment practices; any common law claims, including but not limited to actions in tort, defamation and breach of contract; any claim or damage arising out of Executive’s employment with or separation from Vonage (including a claim for retaliation) under any common law theory or any federal, state or local statute or ordinance not expressly referenced above; and any and all claims for counsel fees and costs.

(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, and subject to the provisions of Paragraphs 4(d) and 4(e) below, Executive represents and affirms that he has not filed or caused to be filed on his behalf any claim for relief against Vonage or any releasee and, to the best of his knowledge and belief, no outstanding claims for relief have been filed or asserted against Vonage or any releasee on his behalf.

 

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(c) In waiving and releasing any and all waivable claims whether or not now known, Executive understands that this means that, if he later discovers facts different from or in addition to those facts currently known by him, or believed by him to be true, the waivers and releases of this Agreement will remain effective in all respects — despite such different or additional facts and his later discovery of such facts, even if he would not have agreed to this Agreement if he had prior knowledge of such facts.

(d) Nothing in this Paragraph, or elsewhere in this Agreement, prevents or prohibits Executive from filing a claim with a government agency, such as the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, that is responsible for enforcing a law on behalf of the government. However, Executive understands that, because Executive is waiving and releasing, among other things, any and all claims for monetary damages and any other form of personal relief (per Paragraph 4(a) above), Executive may only seek and receive non-monetary forms of relief through any such claim.

(e) Nothing in this Paragraph, or elsewhere in this Agreement, is intended as, or shall be deemed or operate as, a release by Executive of his rights under the Parties’ Indemnification Agreement, dated as of July 29, 2008, as amended from time to time (the “Indemnification Agreement”), or any other rights to indemnification relating to his performance of services as an officer and/or director of Vonage, including but not limited to those rights to indemnification set forth in Vonage’s Certificate of Incorporation as in effect on the date hereof (the “Certificate of Incorporation”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Paragraph 4(e) are intended as recitals only and are not intended to provide Executive with any additional contractual rights beyond those contained in the Indemnification Agreement or the Certificate of Incorporation. Furthermore, nothing herein shall affect Executive’s rights to Other Accrued Compensation and Benefits in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or as provided in Section 6 hereof.

5. Consideration and Post-Employment Benefits .

(a) Vonage, for and in consideration of the undertakings of Executive set forth herein and pursuant to Paragraph 4(b)(i) of the Employment Agreement, and intending to be legally bound, and provided that Executive does not revoke this Agreement pursuant to Paragraph 18(d) below, agrees that Vonage will pay or provide the following to Executive, subject to Section 4(d) of the Employment Agreement: (1) a pro rata portion of his bonus, if any, for [the year in which the termination of employment occurs], which amount shall be payable in [the calendar year following the calendar year of termination] prior to March 15th; (2) $[              ], which represents an amount equal to Executive’s base salary (at the rate in effect on the Termination Date) for a [two-year/one-year] period following the Termination Date, which amount shall be payable in lump sum 60 days following the separation from service; (3) to the extent Executive is entitled to the Additional Bonus (as defined in the Employment Agreement), the Additional Bonus, which amount shall be payable in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(l) of the Employment Agreement, and (4) at the request of Executive, an amount not exceeding $50,000 for outplacement services for Executive, such payment to be made to an agency selected by Executive, based on the customary fees charged by nationally rated firms engaged in such services. Any payment for the outplacement services addressed in clause (4) will be paid by [December 31 of the year following cessation of such outplacement services]. All payments are

 

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subject to applicable tax withholding. Executive shall be solely responsible for all taxes on the payments under this Agreement. Additionally, Vonage shall pay to Executive on a monthly basis the group medical, dental and vision continuation coverage premiums for Executive and his dependents under COBRA in excess of the amount Executive would have paid if he were an active employee for the COBRA continuation coverage period, provided that Executive or his dependents are eligible and remain eligible for COBRA coverage; and provided , further , that in the event that Executive receives group health coverage from another employer of him (in which event, Executive shall promptly notify Vonage in writing), such continuation of coverage by Vonage hereunder shall immediately cease. For purposes of this Agreement, “COBRA” shall mean the requirements of (1) Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and (2) Section 4980B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if Executive materially breaches provisions of Vonage’s Employee Confidentiality and Innovations Agreement, dated as of July 29, 2008 (the “Confidentiality Agreement”), or Section 7 of the Employment Agreement, Executive shall not be eligible, as of the date of such material breach, for the payments and benefits described in Paragraph 5(a) above, and any and all obligations and agreements of Vonage with respect to such payments shall thereupon cease (and Vonage shall be entitled to recoup any and all such payments and benefits previously paid or awarded to Executive), provided , however , that no event or condition described in the Confidentiality Agreement or Section 7 of the Employment Agreement shall constitute a breach unless (i) Vonage first gives Executive written notice of its intention to terminate his payments and benefits described in Paragraph 5(a) above and the grounds for such loss of eligibility for payments and benefits, and (ii) such grounds for termination of payments and benefits (if susceptible to correction) are not corrected by Executive within 30 days of his receipt of such notice (or, in the event that such grounds cannot be corrected within such 30-day period, Executive has not taken all reasonable steps within such 30-day period to correct such grounds as promptly as practicable thereafter).

(c) In accordance with the provisions of Section 3(c) of the Employment Agreement and the Parties’ Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement dated as of July 29, 2008 [describe any other equity agreements between Vonage and Executive](collectively, the “Equity Agreement”), the Parties agree that [describe Executive’s equity] are vested with respect to [              ] shares of Vonage’s Common Stock (the “Vested Equity”), and that any options underlying such Vested Equity are immediately exercisable and shall remain exercisable until [              ]. Other than the Vested Equity, all equity awarded by Vonage to Executive has terminated and is of no further force or effect.

6. Prior Agreements . This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements entered into by Vonage and Executive, except for the following: (1) Sections 3(c), 3(d), 3(l) and 4(d), Sections 5 through 12 and Section 15 of the Employment Agreement, which terms survive the termination of the Employment Agreement pursuant to Section 18 thereof, (2) the Parties’ Non-Compete Agreement dated as of July 29, 2008, (3) the Confidentiality Agreement, (4) the Equity Agreement and (5) the Indemnification Agreement. [List other appropriate agreements between Vonage and Executive.]

 

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7. Resignation from Directorships and Officerships . Pursuant to Paragraph 4(f) of the Employment Agreement, Executive affirms that his notice of resignation submitted on [              ] constitutes his immediate resignation from (i) any director, officer or employee position that Executive has with Vonage, and (ii) all fiduciary positions (including as a trustee) Executive holds with respect to any employee benefit plans or trusts established by Vonage.

8. Confidentiality of Agreement . Executive agrees to keep secret and strictly confidential the terms of this Agreement (except to the extent this Agreement is publicly filed) and further represents and warrants that he will not disclose, make known, discuss or relay any information concerning this Agreement, or any of the discussions leading up to this Agreement, to anyone (other than members of his immediate family, accountants or attorneys who have first agreed to keep said information confidential and to not disclose it to others), and that he has not done so. The foregoing shall not prohibit or restrict such disclosure as required by law or in connection with Vonage’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental or regulatory body or as may be necessary for the prosecution or defense of claims relating to the performance or enforcement of this Agreement or prohibit or restrict Executive (or Executive’s attorney) or Vonage from responding to any such inquiry about this settlement or its underlying facts and circumstances by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the New York Stock Exchange, any other self-regulatory organization, or in response to a duly served and effective subpoena or discovery request in the course of any litigation. Prior to making any disclosure other than to his immediate family, accountants or attorneys, Executive shall provide Vonage with as much notice as practicable that he has been requested or compelled to make disclosure and shall cooperate with Vonage to maintain the confidentiality of this Agreement to the fullest extent possible.

9. Return of Property and Documents . Executive represents and warrants that he has returned, or will immediately return, to Vonage all Vonage property (including, without limitation, any and all computers, BlackBerries, identification cards, card key passes, corporate credit cards, corporate phone cards, files, memoranda, keys and software) in Executive’s possession and that he has not, and will not, retain any duplicates or reproductions of such items. Executive further represents and warrants that he has delivered to Vonage all copies of any Confidential Information (as defined in the Confidentiality Agreement) in his possession or control and has destroyed all copies of any analyses, compilations, studies or other documents in his possession that contain any Confidential Information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall maintain ownership and use of his rolodex and other address books, and Vonage agrees to cooperate with Executive in the transfer to Executive of cell phone and BlackBerry numbers used by Executive if such numbers are registered in Vonage’s name.

10. Notices . All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder to Vonage shall be in writing and shall be delivered, either by hand, by facsimile, by overnight courier or by certified mail, return receipt requested, duly addressed as indicated below or to such changed address as Vonage may subsequently designate:

Vonage Holdings Corp.

23 Main Street

Holmdel, New Jersey 07733

Attention: Office of Chief Legal Officer

 

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Any such notice, request, demand or other communication to Vonage delivered in the manner specified above shall be deemed duly given only upon receipt by Vonage.

All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder to Executive shall be in writing and shall be delivered, either by hand, by facsimile, by overnight courier, or by certified mail, return receipt requested, duly addressed as indicated below or to such changed address as Executive may subsequently designate:

Marc P. Lefar

at the last address on record with Vonage

Any such notice, request, demand or other communication to Executive delivered in the manner specified above shall be deemed duly given only upon receipt by Executive.

11. Severability . If, at any time after the Effective Date, any provision of this Agreement shall be held by any court of competent jurisdiction or arbitrator to be illegal, void or unenforceable, such provision shall be of no force and effect. The illegality or unenforceability of such provision, however, shall have no effect upon, and shall not impair the enforceability of, any other provision of this Agreement, provided , however , that upon finding that Paragraph 4(a) is illegal and/or unenforceable, Vonage shall be released from any obligation to make any payment pursuant to Paragraph 5 of this Agreement, and Executive shall repay to Vonage any and all amounts already received pursuant to Paragraph 5.

12. Choice of Law; Arbitration . The terms of this Agreement and all rights and obligations of the Parties, including its enforcement, shall be interpreted and governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey, without regard to conflicts of law principles. Pursuant to Section 12 of the Employment Agreement, which is incorporated by operation thereof and reference herein, any disputes arising out of this Agreement and which are mandatorily arbitrable shall be settled exclusively by arbitration before the American Arbitration Association at a location in New Jersey.

13. Injunctive Relief . Notwithstanding the limited agreement to arbitrate set forth in Paragraph 12 of this Agreement, any claim alleging breach of the non-disparagement obligations under Section 10 of the Employment Agreement or alleging breach of Paragraph 8 of this Agreement may be brought in any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction in the State of New Jersey, where the parties consent to jurisdiction and agree not to argue that it is an inconvenient forum for resolution of the claim. A material breach of Section 10 of the Employment Agreement or Paragraph 8 of this Agreement shall be considered to be irreparable harm, where no adequate remedy at law would be available in respect thereof. The Parties agree that neither Party will have any obligation to post a bond to obtain said injunctive relief.

14. Modification of Agreement . No provision of this Agreement may be modified, altered, waived or discharged unless such modification, alteration, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by the Parties hereto. No waiver by either Party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other Party shall be

 

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deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.

15. Withholding . Vonage may withhold from amounts payable or benefits provided under this Agreement any and all federal, state and local taxes that are required to be withheld and reported by any applicable laws and regulations. Vonage may also withhold and report any amounts necessary pursuant to the benefit plans, policies or arrangements of Vonage or otherwise, in accordance with any applicable Vonage policies, laws and/or regulations.

16. Entire Agreement; Headings . Other than as set forth in Paragraph 6 hereof, this Agreement sets forth the entire agreement between the Parties hereto and any and all prior and contemporaneous agreements, discussions or understandings between the Parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof, including relating to severance payments or compensation, have been and are merged into and superseded by this Agreement. The headings of the sections contained in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be deemed to control or affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Agreement.

17. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which will constitute one and the same instrument.

18. EXECUTIVE ACKNOWLEDGES AND WARRANTS THAT:

(a) he has read the terms of this Agreement and that he understands its terms and effects, including the fact that he has agreed to release and forever discharge Vonage or any releasee from any legal action arising out of his employment relationship with Vonage, the terms and conditions of that employment relationship, and the termination of that employment relationship;

(b) he has signed this Agreement voluntarily and knowingly in exchange for the consideration described and referenced herein, which he acknowledges as adequate and satisfactory to him;

(c) he has been informed that he has the right to consider this Agreement for a period of twenty-one (21) days from receipt prior to entering into this Agreement and he has signed on the date indicated below after concluding that this Agreement is satisfactory;

(d) he has been informed that he has the right to revoke this Agreement for a period of seven (7) days following his execution of this Agreement by giving written notice to Vonage to the attention of Office of Chief Legal Officer, Vonage Holdings Corp., 23 Main Street, Holmdel, New Jersey 07733. This Agreement shall not be effective or enforceable until Executive’s right to revoke this Agreement has lapsed;

(e) he has been and is hereby advised in writing by Vonage to consult with an attorney prior to signing this Agreement and he has consulted with his attorney and fully discussed and reviewed the terms of this Agreement with his attorney;

(f) neither Vonage, nor any of its agents, representatives or attorneys have made any representations to Executive concerning the terms or effects of this Agreement other than those contained and referenced herein; and

 

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(g) this Agreement shall be governed, interpreted and enforced by and under the laws of the State of New Jersey, without regard to choice of law principles.

 

    VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.
By:         By:    
  MARC P. LEFAR      
Dated:         Dated:    

 

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Exhibit C

Form of Employee Confidentiality and Innovations Agreement

 

Exhibit C


Execution Copy

Employee Confidentiality and Innovations Agreement

In consideration of my employment with Vonage Holdings Corp. (“Vonage”) (if such employment has not yet commenced) or my continued employment with Vonage, as the case may be, I agree to be bound by the terms of this Employee Confidentiality and Innovations Agreement (this “Agreement.”). I understand that as a result of my employment with Vonage (“Employment”), I may have access to information of a confidential nature about Vonage’s business, through the delivery of documents and permitted visits to Vonage’s premises. I understand that Vonage needs to maintain the confidentiality of that information, and I agree, as set forth below, to treat such information confidentially.

In addition, I understand and agree that if I develop Innovations (as defined in this Agreement) as a result of or in connection with my Employment, Vonage will have rights in those Innovations as set forth in this Agreement.

Terms of Agreement

 

A. Confidential Information

 

1. “Confidential Information” means all information, whether written or oral, tangible or intangible, and including trade secrets and data of whatever nature, disclosed by Vonage or any of its representatives or agents, whether before or after the date of this Agreement, or which may otherwise be made available or become known to me, which is either expressly designated by Vonage as being confidential or is disclosed under circumstances that should reasonably indicate to me that the disclosed information ought to be treated as confidential. “Confidential Information” shall not include information which

 

  (i) becomes or has been generally available to the public other than as a result of disclosure by me in violation of this Agreement,

 

  (ii) was in my possession from a third-party source prior to its disclosure by Vonage or its representatives,

 

  (iii) becomes available to myself from a third-party source other than Vonage or its representatives, or

 

  (iv) is independently developed by myself without use of any of the Confidential Information. The burden of establishing the availability of the foregoing exceptions shall be on myself;

provided , however , that in (ii) and (iii) above the third-party source obtained the information without violation of the rights of Vonage and all restrictions on use or


disclosure of such information from that third-party source are observed by myself.

 

2. I agree to use Confidential Information only for purposes directly related to my Employment. Without prior written consent of Vonage, I agree not to disclose any Confidential Information in any manner whatsoever, in whole or in part.

 

3. If I am requested or required (by oral questions, interrogatories, requests for information or documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand or similar process) to disclose Confidential Information supplied to it, I shall promptly notify Vonage of such request(s). If, in the opinion of my legal counsel, I am compelled to disclose Confidential Information to any tribunal or else stand liable for contempt or suffer other censure or penalty, I may do so without liability under this Agreement, provided I make reasonable efforts to have my disclosure limited to the narrowest scope practicable under the circumstances, including cooperation in any request for a protective order and seeking to have any proceedings held in camera , with a sealed record.

 

4. Upon termination of my Employment for any reason, I shall, upon request, promptly deliver to Vonage all copies of any Confidential Information in my possession or control and shall destroy all copies of any analyses, compilations, studies or other documents in my possession that contain any Confidential Information.

 

B. Innovations

 

1. Innovations ” means discoveries, developments, concepts and ideas, whether or not protectable under law, relating to Vonage’s present and prospective business activities, the name and extent of those business activities being known to me by reason of my Employment, such as (but not limited to) inventions, know-how, discoveries, improvements, original works of authorship, designs, software, source code, object code, programs, formulas, processes, developments, trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights, service marks, logos and related proprietary information and materials, whether patentable, copyrightable, subject to trademark registration, or not, and all drafts, proposals, sketches, revisions and demonstration and “beta” versions thereof, written, created, developed or produced or to be written, created, developed or produced.

 

2. In consideration of my Employment, I acknowledge and agree that all Innovations created by me (either working alone or as part of a group)

 

  (i) during the term of my Employment, and

 

  (ii)

within six months after the end of the term if they (a) were made using equipment, supplies, facilities or trade secret information of Vonage, or (b) were developed at least in part on Vonage’s time, or (c) relate either to Vonage’s present or prospective business activities known to me when the Innovation was conceived, or (d) result from any work that I perform in the course of my employment,

 

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shall be the property of Vonage, free of any reserved or other rights of any kind on my part. To achieve that result:

 

  (i) I hereby permanently, irrevocably, exclusively and absolutely assign to Vonage all right, title and interest in and to all Innovations and all right, title and interest in and to all patents, domain names, trade secrets, trademarks and other intellectual property derived therefrom, effective when each Innovation first becomes capable of being so assigned, transferred or vested;

 

  (ii) I agree to deliver all Innovations to Vonage no later than the end of the term of my Employment, unless Vonage requests otherwise;

 

  (iii) As to any Innovation that is a copyrightable work, I agree that such Innovation constitutes and shall constitute a work made-for-hire as defined in the United States Copyright Act of 1976; that Vonage is and shall be the author of said work made-for hire and the owner of all rights in and to such Innovation throughout the universe, in perpetuity and in all languages, for all now known or hereafter existing uses, media and forms, including, without limitation, the copyrights therein and thereto throughout the universe for the initial term and any and all extensions and renewals thereof; and that Vonage shall have the right to make such changes therein and such uses thereof as it may deem necessary or desirable. To the extent that such copyrightable Innovation is not recognized as a work-made-for-hire, I hereby permanently, irrevocably, exclusively and absolutely assign, transfer and convey to Vonage, without reservation, all of my right, title and interest throughout the universe in perpetuity in such Innovation, including, without limitation, all rights of copyright and copyright renewal in such Innovation or any part thereof; and

 

  (iv) I hereby waive all rights of “droit moral” or “moral rights of authors” or any similar rights or principles of law which I may now or later have in the Innovations. I warrant and represent that I have the right to execute this certificate, that each Innovation is and shall be new and original with me and not an imitation or copy of any other material, and that to the best of my knowledge, each of the Innovations does not and shall not violate or infringe upon any common law or statutory right of any party including, without limitation, contractual rights, copyrights, trademarks, patents, service marks and rights of privacy, publicity, or any other right of any person or entity and is not the subject of any litigation or claim that might give rise to litigation.

 

3. I agree to execute such further documents and do such other act as may be reasonably required by Vonage or its successors, licensees, or assignees to evidence or effectuate Vonage’s rights under this Agreement. Vonage’s rights in the Innovations may be assigned, licensed, or otherwise transferred.

 

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4. I hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint Vonage with full power of substitution, to be my true and lawful attorney to execute, acknowledge, swear and file all instruments and documents, and to take any action which shall be deemed necessary, appropriate or desirable to perfect its rights in any Innovation created by me (working alone or as part of a group). This appointment shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable and survive my death, disability or bankruptcy.

 

5. Except as the context otherwise requires, “Vonage” also includes all Affiliates of Vonage. “Affiliate” means any person that directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with Vonage.

 

6. This Agreement shall be construed under and governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey applicable to contracts executed and wholly performed in that state. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to its subject matter and may not be amended or modified except by a written instrument executed by each of the patties. No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege hereunder.

 

7. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement shall become effective when signed by each of the parties on any counterpart, whether or not all of the parties have signed any one counterpart.

Execution

MY SIGNATURE below SIGNIFIES THAT I have COMPLETELY READ, and FULLY UNDERSTAND and AGREE to this CONFIDENTIALITY AND INVENTIONS AGREEMENT.

 

           
Applicant Print Name     Home Address of Applicant
       
Signature of Applicant     Date
       
Vonage Signature     Date

 

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Exhibit D

Form of Non-Compete Agreement

 

Exhibit D


Execution Copy

NON-COMPETE AGREEMENT

AGREEMENT , dated this 29 th day of July, 2008, by and between Vonage Holdings Corp. and its subsidiaries, a Delaware corporation with principal executive offices at 23 Main Street, Holmdel, New Jersey 07733 (“Vonage”), and Marc P. Lefar (“Employee”).

In consideration of Employee’s employment with Vonage or continued employment with Vonage, as the case may be, Employee agrees to be bound by the terms of this Non-Compete Agreement (“Agreement”) as follows:

 

  1. Restriction on Competition . During the period of Employee’s employment with Vonage and for a period of twelve (12) months thereafter, Employee will not provide services to the portion of any entity that sells and markets residential/home broadband connectivity or broadband voice service (a “Competitive Entity”) as an employee thereof or as a direct individual consultant thereto (or through an entity specifically formed for the purpose of evading the limitations hereof) anywhere within the “Territory,” that term meaning within the United States and Canada in those States and provinces (or States and provinces contiguous thereto) in which Vonage conducts or is substantially prepared to conduct its business on the date of Employee’s employment termination. Nothing contained in this Section 1 shall be deemed to prohibit Employee from acquiring or holding, solely for investment, publicly traded securities of a Competitive Entity, provided such securities do not, in the aggregate, constitute more than five percent (5%) of any class or series of outstanding securities of such Competitive Entity.

 

  2. Specific Remedies . If Employee commits a breach of any of the provisions of Section 1, Vonage shall have the right to have such provisions specifically enforced by any court having equity jurisdiction, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach will cause irreparable injury to Vonage and that money damages will not provide an adequate remedy.

 

  3. Independence, Severability and Non-Exclusivity . The right enumerated in Section 2 shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any other rights and remedies available to Vonage at law or in equity. If any of the covenants contained in Section 1 (“Covenants”) or any part of any of them, is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, this shall not affect the remainder, or rights or remedies under this Agreement, which shall be given full effect without regard to the invalid portions. The parties intend to and do hereby confer jurisdiction on courts located within the geographical scope of the Covenants. If any of the Covenants is held to be invalid or unenforceable because of the duration or geographical area, the parties agree that the court making such determination shall have the power to reduce the duration and/or area and, in its reduced form, such Covenant shall then be enforceable. No such holding of invalidity or unenforceability in one jurisdiction shall bar or in any way affect Vonage’s right to the relief provided in Section 2 or otherwise in the courts of any other jurisdiction within the geographical scope of the Covenants.


  4. Successors; Binding Agreement . This Agreement and all obligations of Employee hereunder shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, Vonage and Vonage’s successors in interest.

 

  5. Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties hereto relating to its subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior negotiations, discussions, preliminary agreements and agreements relating to that subject matter.

 

  6. Law Governing . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey (without giving effect to conflicts of law provisions).

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the day and year set forth above.

 

Vonage Holdings Corp.     AGREED AND ACCEPTED:
By:          
      Employee Signature
Name:          
Title:          
      Date

 

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EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATION

PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Marc P. Lefar, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Vonage Holdings Corp.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: November 5, 2009    

/s/ Marc P. Lefar

    Marc P. Lefar
    Chief Executive Officer

EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATION

PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, John S. Rego, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Vonage Holdings Corp.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: November 5, 2009    

/s/ John S. Rego

    John S. Rego
    Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Marc P. Lefar, certify to my knowledge pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that the Quarterly Report of Vonage Holdings Corp. on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2009, fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that information contained in such Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Vonage Holdings Corp.

 

Date: November 5, 2009    

/s/ Marc P. Lefar

    Marc P. Lefar
    Chief Executive Officer

I, John S. Rego, certify to my knowledge pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that the Quarterly Report of Vonage Holdings Corp. on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2009, fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that information contained in such Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Vonage Holdings Corp.

 

Date: November 5, 2009    

/s/ John S. Rego

    John S. Rego
    Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer