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SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement [ ] Confidential, for Use of the
Commission Only (as permitted
by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or
Section 240.14a-12
INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the
amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how
it was determined):
4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
5) Total fee paid:
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting
fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
1) Amount Previously Paid:
2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
3) Filing Party:
4) Date Filed:
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[INTUITIVE SURGICAL LOGO]
INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC.
1340 W. MIDDLEFIELD ROAD
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA 94043
------------------------
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MAY 24, 2001
------------------------
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual meeting of stockholders of Intuitive
Surgical, Inc. will be held at the Hyatt Rickey's, 4219 El Camino Real, Palo
Alto, California 94306, on Thursday, May 24, 2001, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific time,
for the following purposes:
- to elect Class I members of the Board of Directors for the Company;
- to ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's independent
auditors for the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2001;
- to transact any other business which is properly brought before the
meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Please refer to the attached proxy statement, which forms a part of this
Notice and is incorporated herein by reference, for further information with
respect to the business to be transacted at the annual meeting.
Stockholders of record at the close of business on April 17, 2001 are
entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting or any adjournment or
postponement thereof. The list of stockholders will be available for examination
for ten days prior to the annual meeting at Intuitive Surgical, Inc., 1340 W.
Middlefield Road, Mountain View, California 94043. All stockholders are
cordially invited to attend the annual meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors
/s/ LONNIE M. SMITH
Lonnie M. Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Mountain View, California
April 19, 2001
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INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC.
------------------------
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
MAY 24, 2001
------------------------
INTRODUCTION
GENERAL
This proxy statement is furnished to our stockholders in connection with
the solicitation of proxies for use at our annual meeting of stockholders to be
held on May 24, 2001 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific time, for the purposes of:
- electing Class I members of the Board of Directors for the Company;
- ratifying the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's independent
auditors for the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2001;
- transacting any other business which is properly brought before the
meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
A copy of our Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31,
2000 and this proxy statement and accompanying proxy card will be first mailed
to stockholders on or about April 19, 2001.
This solicitation is made on behalf of our Board of Directors and we will
pay the costs of solicitation. Our directors, officers and employees may also
solicit proxies by telephone, telegraph, fax or personal interview. We will
reimburse banks, brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries
for reasonable expenses incurred by them in sending proxy material to our
stockholders. We have retained Computershare Trust Co. to assist in the
solicitation of proxies with respect to shares of our common stock held of
record by brokers, nominees and institutions for a customary fee not to exceed
two thousand dollars.
Our principal executive offices are located at 1340 W. Middlefield Road,
Mountain View, California 94043, telephone (650) 237-7000.
SHARES ENTITLED TO VOTE AND REQUIRED VOTE
Our outstanding common stock constitutes the only class of securities
entitled to vote at the meeting. Stockholders of record of the common stock at
the close of business on April 17, 2001 are entitled to notice of, and to vote
at, the meeting. As of March 31, 2001, 35,828,944 shares of our common stock
were issued and outstanding. The presence at the meeting, in person or by proxy,
of a majority of the shares of the common stock issued and outstanding on April
17, 2001 will constitute a quorum. Each share of common stock is entitled to one
vote.
VOTING PROCEDURES
A proxy card is enclosed for your use. We ask that you sign, date and
return the proxy card in the accompanying envelope, which is postage prepaid if
you mail it in the United States.
You have choices on each of the matters to be voted upon at the meeting.
Concerning the election of the directors, by checking the appropriate box on
your proxy card you may:
- vote for the director nominees; or
- withhold authority to vote for some or all of the director nominees.
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Concerning the ratification of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's
independent auditors, you may, with respect to the proposed ratification:
- approve the ratification;
- disapprove the ratification; or
- abstain from voting for or against the ratification.
Unless there are different instructions on the proxy, all shares
represented by valid proxies (and not revoked before they are voted) will be
voted at the meeting FOR (1) the election of the director nominees listed in
Proposal No. 1 and (2) the ratification of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's
independent auditors. With respect to any other business which may properly come
before the meeting and be submitted to a vote of stockholders, proxies will be
voted in accordance with the best judgment of the designated proxy holders.
Shares represented by proxies that reflect abstentions or "broker
non-votes" (i.e., shares held by a broker or nominee which are represented at
the meeting, but with respect to which the broker or nominee is not empowered to
vote on a particular proposal) will be counted as shares that are present and
entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum. The
director nominees shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares
present or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the
election of a director. Ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP
requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of common
stock represented at and entitled to vote at the meeting.
Stockholders of record may vote by either completing and returning the
enclosed proxy card prior to the meeting, voting in person at the meeting, or
submitting a signed proxy card at the meeting.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. ACCORDINGLY, PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN THE
ACCOMPANYING PROXY CARD WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON.
You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is actually voted at the
meeting by:
- delivering written notice of revocation to our Secretary at 1340 W.
Middlefield Road, Mountain View, California 94043;
- submitting a later dated proxy; or
- attending the meeting and voting in person.
Your attendance at the meeting will not, by itself, constitute revocation
of your proxy. You may also be represented by another person present at the
meeting by executing a form of proxy designating that person to act on your
behalf. Shares may only be voted by or on behalf of the record holder of shares
as indicated in our stock transfer records. If you are a beneficial stockholder
but your shares are held of record by another person, such as a stock brokerage
firm or bank, that person must vote the shares as the record holders in
accordance with the beneficial holder's instructions.
All votes cast at the meeting will be tabulated by the persons appointed by
us to act as inspectors of election for the meeting.
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PROPOSAL NO. 1:
ELECTION OF NOMINEES TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Board of Directors currently consists of seven members, divided into
three classes. Two Class I directors are to be elected at the Annual Meeting to
serve a three-year term expiring at the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or
until a successor has been elected and qualified. The remaining five directors
will continue to serve their respective terms.
Scott S. Halsted and Alan J. Levy have been nominated by the Board of
Directors to serve as Class I directors.
Shares represented by the accompanying proxy will be voted for the election
of the nominees recommended by the Board of Directors unless the proxy is marked
in such a manner so as to withhold authority to vote. In the event that any
nominee should be unavailable for election as a result of an unexpected
occurrence, such shares will be voted for the election of such substitute
nominee as management may propose. Each person nominated for election has agreed
to serve if elected, and management has no reason to believe that any nominee
will be unable to serve.
The names of the nominees and directors, their ages as of March 31, 2001
and certain other information about them are set forth below:
DIRECTOR
NAME OF NOMINEE OR DIRECTOR AGE PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION SINCE
--------------------------- --- -------------------- --------
Scott S. Halsted(1).................. 41 General Partner, Morgan Stanley Dean 1997
Witter Venture Partners
Alan J. Levy(2)...................... 63 President and Chief Executive Officer 2000
of Vertis Neuroscience, Inc.
Russell C. Hirsch, M.D., Ph.D.(2).... 38 Managing Partner, Prospect Venture 1995
Partners
Frederic H. Moll..................... 49 Vice President and Medical Director 1995
of the Company
James A. Lawrence(1)................. 48 Executive Vice President and Chief 2000
Financial Officer of General Mills,
Inc.
Lonnie M. Smith...................... 56 President and Chief Executive Officer 1996
of the Company
Richard J. Kramer(1)................. 58 Former President and CEO, Catholic 2000
Healthcare West
- ---------------
(1) member of audit committee
(2) member of compensation committee
The principal occupations and positions for at least the past five years of
the directors nominees named above are as follows:
NOMINEES FOR ELECTION FOR A THREE-YEAR TERM EXPIRING AT THE 2004 ANNUAL MEETING
OF STOCKHOLDERS
SCOTT S. HALSTED has been a member of our Board of Directors since March
1997. Mr. Halsted joined Morgan Stanley in 1987, and has been a general partner
at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Venture Partners since 1997. Mr. Halsted currently
serves as a director of several private healthcare companies. Mr. Halsted
received A.B. and B.E. degrees in Biomechanical Engineering from Dartmouth
College and an M.M. degree from Northwestern University.
ALAN J. LEVY, PH.D. has been a member of our Board of Directors since
February 2000. He has been the President, Chief Executive Officer and member of
the board of directors of Vertis Neuroscience, Inc., a
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biotechnology company, since 1999. From 1993 to 1998, Mr. Levy was the
President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of
Heartstream, Inc., a medical device company. From 1989 to 1993, Mr. Levy was the
President, Chief Operating Officer and a member of the board of directors of
Heart Technology, Inc., a medical device company. From 1966 to 1989, Mr. Levy
held various positions at Ethicon, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson Company,
and was a member of the board of directors of Ethicon from 1980 to 1989. Mr.
Levy received a B.S. in Chemistry from City College of New York, and a Ph.D. in
Organic Chemistry from Purdue University.
CLASS II DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE UNTIL THE 2002 ANNUAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS
RUSSELL C. HIRSCH, M.D., PH.D. has been a member of our Board of Directors
since December 1995. Dr. Hirsch has been a Managing Partner of Prospect Venture
Partners since 2001. Prior to joining Prospect Venture Partners, Dr. Hirsch was
a member of the Health Care Technology Group at Mayfield Fund, a venture capital
firm. He joined Mayfield Fund in 1992, served as a Venture Partner from 1993 to
1994 and a General Partner from 1995-2000. From 1984 to 1992, Dr. Hirsch
conducted research in the laboratories of Nobel Laureate Harold Varmus, M.D.,
and Don Ganem, M.D., at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Hirsch
received a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Chicago and an M.D. and a
Ph.D. from the University of California, San Francisco.
FREDERIC H. MOLL, M.D. is a co-founder of Intuitive Surgical and has served
as Vice President, Medical Director and as a member of our Board of Directors
since our inception. In 1989, Dr. Moll co-founded Origin Medsystems, Inc., a
medical device company and served as Medical Director through 1995. Origin was
acquired by Eli Lilly & Company in 1992 and is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Tyco Health Care. In 1984, Dr. Moll founded Endotherapeutics, Inc., a medical
device company, which was acquired by United States Surgical Corporation in
1992. Dr. Moll received a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, an
M.S. in Management from Stanford University's Sloan Program and an M.D. from the
University of Washington.
CLASS III DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE UNTIL THE 2003 ANNUAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS
JAMES A. LAWRENCE has been a member of our Board of Directors since March
2000. He has been Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
General Mills, Inc. since 1998. Mr. Lawrence has also held positions as
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Northwest Airlines, and
President and Chief Executive Officer of Pepsi-Cola Asia, Middle East, Africa.
He has also chaired and co-founded LEK Partnership, a corporate strategy and
merger/acquisition consulting firm headquartered in London, England. Mr.
Lawrence currently serves as a director of TransTechnology Corporation and
Avnet, Inc. Mr. Lawrence holds a B.A. in Economics from Yale University and an
M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
LONNIE M. SMITH has been our President and Chief Executive Officer since
May 1997 and has served as a member of our Board of Directors since December
1996. From 1977 until joining Intuitive Surgical, Mr. Smith was with Hillenbrand
Industries, Inc., a public holding company, serving as the Senior Executive Vice
President, a member of the Office of the President, and director since 1982, as
Executive Vice President of American Tourister, Inc., from 1978 to 1982, and as
a Senior Vice President of Corporate Planning from 1977 to 1978. Mr. Smith has
also held positions with The Boston Consulting Group and IBM. Mr. Smith
currently serves as a director of Biosite Diagnostics, Inc. Mr. Smith received a
B.S.E.E. from Utah State University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
RICHARD J. KRAMER has been a member of our Board of Directors since
February 2000. From 1989 to 1999, he served as the President and Chief Executive
Officer of Catholic Healthcare West, a multi-state health care provider. From
1982 to 1989, Mr. Kramer was Executive Vice President of Allina Health, an
integrated health care system. Mr. Kramer received a B.S. in Rehabilitation
Education from Pennsylvania State University, an M.S. in Rehabilitation
Counseling from Syracuse University and an M.S. in Hospital & Health Care
Administration from the University of Minnesota.
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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Directors currently receive no cash compensation from us for their services
as members of the board or for attendance at committee meetings. Directors may
be reimbursed for expenses in connection with attendance at Board of Directors
and committee meetings.
In consideration for attending our board and committee meetings, in
February 2000 we granted each of Messrs. Kramer and Levy, and in March 2000 we
granted Mr. Lawrence, options to purchase 20,000 shares of our common stock at
$3.00 per share. These options vest in 48 equal monthly installments. In
February 2001, we granted each of Messrs. Halsted and Hirsch options to purchase
20,000 shares of our common stock at $8.625 per share, equal to the fair market
price of the stock to the public. These options vest in 36 equal monthly
installments.
In March 2000, we adopted the 2000 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option
Plan to provide for the automatic grant of options to purchase shares of common
stock to our non-employee directors who are not employees of Intuitive Surgical
or any affiliate of Intuitive Surgical. Any non-employee director elected after
the closing of the initial public offering receives an initial option to
purchase 20,000 shares of common stock. Starting at the annual stockholder
meeting in 2001, all non-employee directors will receive an annual option to
purchase 5,000 shares of common stock.
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
During the period from January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2000 (the "Last
Fiscal Year"), our Board of Directors held four meetings. Our Board of Directors
has two standing committees, the audit committee and the compensation committee.
The Board does not have a standing nominating committee.
The audit committee has responsibility for reviewing and making
recommendations regarding our employment of independent accountants, the annual
audit of our financial statements, and our internal controls, accounting
practices and policies. The members of the audit committee are Scott Halsted,
Richard Kramer and James Lawrence. In the Last Fiscal Year, the audit committee
met three times and each member of the audit committee attended 100% of those
meetings.
The compensation committee has responsibility for determining the nature
and amount of compensation for our management and for administering our employee
benefit plans. The members of the compensation committee are Alan Levy and
Russell Hirsch. In the Last Fiscal Year, the compensation committee met two
times and each member of the compensation committee attended 100% of those
meetings.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires that our executive officers and
directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of
our equity securities, file reports of ownership and changes in ownership (Forms
3, 4 and 5) with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Executive officers,
directors and greater-than-ten-percent holders are required to furnish us with
copies of all of these forms which they file.
Based solely on our review of these reports or written representations from
certain reporting persons, we believe that during the fiscal year ended December
31, 2000, all filing requirements applicable to our officers, directors,
greater-than-ten-percent beneficial owners and other persons subject to Section
16(a) of the Exchange Act were met.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS
A VOTE FOR THE DIRECTORS
NOMINATED IN PROPOSAL NO. 1.
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PROPOSAL NO. 2:
RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Board of Directors has appointed Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's
independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2001, and the
stockholders are being asked to ratify such selection. Ernst & Young LLP has
been engaged as the Company's independent auditors since 1996. Representatives
of Ernst & Young LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, and will
be given an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and are
expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR
RATIFICATION OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT
AUDITORS IN PROPOSAL NO. 2.
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The information in the following table sets forth the ownership of our
common stock as of March 31, 2001, by (i) each person who, to our knowledge,
beneficially owns more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our common stock;
(ii) each named executive officer (as listed on page 11); (iii) each of our
directors; and (iv) all of our directors and executive officers, as a group. As
of March 31, 2001, we had 35,828,944 shares of common stock outstanding.
NUMBER OF SHARES PERCENTAGE
NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL OWNER(1) BENEFICIALLY OWNED(1) OWNERSHIP(1)
--------------------------------------- --------------------- ------------
5% STOCKHOLDERS
Entities affiliated with Mayfield Fund(2)................... 3,522,477 9.83%
2800 Sand Hill Road, Suite 250
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Investor (Guernsey) Limited................................. 2,529,545 7.06%
National Westminster House
Le Truchot, St. Peter Port
Guernsey Channel Islands, GY1 4PW
PatMarK Company, Inc. ...................................... 2,287,500 6.39%
700 State Route 46 East
Batesville, IN 47006
Invista Capital Management, LLC(3).......................... 2,254,481 6.29%
699 Walnut
1900 Hub Tower
Des Moines, IA 50309
Allan G. Lozier............................................. 1,948,386 5.44%
6336 Pershing Dr.
Omaha, NE 68110
DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE OFFICERS
Frederic H. Moll, M.D. ..................................... 1,500,000 4.19%
Robert G. Younge(4)......................................... 1,276,000 3.56%
Scott S. Halsted(5)......................................... 1,190,049 3.32%
Lonnie M. Smith(6).......................................... 1,000,000 2.79%
Susan K. Barnes(7).......................................... 225,000 *
Russell C. Hirsch, M.D., Ph.D(8)............................ 51,801 *
Richard J. Kramer(9)........................................ 20,000 *
James A. Lawrence........................................... 20,000 *
Alan J. Levy(10)............................................ 20,000 *
All Named Executive Officers and Directors as a group (9
persons).................................................. 5,302,850 14.80%
- ---------------
* Represents less than 1% of the issued and outstanding shares.
(1) Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission and generally includes voting or
investment power with respect to securities. Shares of common stock subject
to options and warrants which are currently exercisable, or will become
exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2001, are deemed outstanding for
computing the percentage of the person or entity holding such securities
but are not outstanding for computing the percentage of any other person or
entity. Except as indicated by footnote, and subject to the community
property laws where applicable, to our knowledge the persons named in the
table above have sole voting and investment power with respect to all
shares of common stock shown as beneficially owned by them. The table above
is based upon information supplied by officers, directors, and principal
stockholders and Schedules 13D and 13G, if any, filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each
person is our address at 1340 W. Middlefield Road, Mountain View,
California 94043.
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(2) Represents (a) 3,294,936 shares held by Mayfield VIII, (b) 173,417 shares
held by Mayfield Associates Fund II, and (c) 54,124 shares held by OR
Trust.
(3) As of December 31, 2000, Invista Capital Management reported that it
beneficially owned 2,254,481 shares of the Company's common stock of which
it held shared power to vote or direct the vote of all such shares. The
number of shares beneficially owned is based solely on a joint Schedule 13G
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 14, 2001.
(4) Includes 300,000 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60
days of March 31, 2001, 30,000 shares held by Diane Lauren Sotos, Trustee
of the Younge Irrevocable Trust fbo Ellen Sotos McCoy dated June 25, 1996,
and 3,000 shares held by Arthur G. Closson, Custodian fbo Eric Roy Younge,
under the CUTMA, to age 21. Mr. Younge disclaims beneficial ownership of
the shares held for the benefit of Ellen Sotos McCoy and Eric Roy Younge.
(5) Includes 1,074,765 shares held by Morgan Stanley Venture Partners III,
L.P., 103,188 shares held by Morgan Stanley Venture Investors III, L.P.,
and 6,111 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of
March 31, 2001. Mr. Halsted, a director of Intuitive Surgical, is a general
partner of the general partner of Morgan Stanley Venture Partners III, L.P.
and Morgan Stanley Venture Investors III, L.P. Mr. Halsted disclaims
beneficial ownership of shares held by such entities except to the extent
of his proportionate partnership interest therein.
(6) Includes 200,000 shares held by McKRAM Investors, L.P. Mr. Smith, a partner
of McKRAM, disclaims beneficial ownership of shares held by such entity
except to the extent of his proportionate partnership interest therein.
(7) Includes 25,000 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60
days of March 31, 2001.
(8) Includes 6,111 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60
days of March 31, 2001.
(9) Includes 17,000 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60
days of March 31, 2001.
(10) Includes 20,000 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60
days of March 31, 2001.
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CERTAIN INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Set forth below is information regarding each of our executive officers as
of March 31, 2001.
NAME AGE POSITION
---- --- --------
Lonnie M. Smith............................ 56 President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Susan K. Barnes............................ 47 Vice President, Finance, Chief Financial
Officer and Assistant Secretary
Frederic H. Moll, M.D. .................... 49 Vice President, Medical Director, and Director
Robert G. Younge........................... 49 Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
The principal occupations and positions for at least the past five years of
the executive officers named above are as follows:
LONNIE M. SMITH. See biographical information under the heading "Class III
Directors Continuing in Office until the 2003 Annual Meeting of Stockholders"
above.
SUSAN K. BARNES has been our Vice President, Finance, Chief Financial
Officer and Assistant Secretary since May 1997. From January 1995 to September
1996, Ms. Barnes founded and served as Managing Director of the Private Equity
Group of Jefferies and Company, Inc., an investment bank. From January 1994 to
January 1995, she founded and served as Managing General Partner of Westwind
Capital Partners, a private equity fund. From June 1991 to January 1994, Ms.
Barnes served as Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director of BLUM Capital
Partners, L.P., formerly Richard C. Blum & Associates, Inc., a merchant banking
firm. From September 1985 to June 1991, she served as Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer of NeXT Computer, Inc., a computer company. Ms. Barnes
received a B.A. from Bryn Mawr College and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School,
University of Pennsylvania.
FREDERIC H. MOLL, M.D. See biographical information under the heading
"Class II Directors Continuing in Office until the 2002 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders" above.
ROBERT G. YOUNGE is a co-founder of Intuitive Surgical and has served as
our Vice President and Chief Technology Officer since November 1999. From our
inception to November 1999, Mr. Younge served as our Vice President,
Engineering. Mr. Younge co-founded Acuson Corporation, a medical device company,
in 1979 and served as Vice President, Engineering and in various other
capacities until co-founding Intuitive Surgical. From 1994 to December 1995, Mr.
Younge managed the Product Engineering Group at Acuson which introduced the
Aspen System in 1996. In 1991, he founded Acuson's Transducer Division and
served as its General Manager until 1994. The Transducer Division introduced
Acuson's first flexible endoscopic transducer. Mr. Younge received a B.S.E.E.
and an M.S.E.E. from Stanford University.
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth summary information concerning the
compensation paid to our chief executive officer and each of the other most
highly compensated executive officers of the Company for services to the Company
in all capacities for the three fiscal years ended December 31, 2000, December
31, 1999, and December 31, 1998.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
LONG TERM
COMPENSATION
------------
ANNUAL COMPENSATION SECURITIES
-------------------- UNDERLYING OTHER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY BONUS OPTIONS COMPENSATION
--------------------------- ---- --------- -------- ------------ ------------
Lonnie M. Smith............................. 2000 $325,000 -- --
President and 1999 300,000 -- --
Chief Executive Officer 1998 300,000 -- --
Susan K. Barnes............................. 2000 $202,500 $36,000 5,000
Vice President and 1999 191,643 -- 20,000
Chief Financial Officer 1998 180,000 -- --
Frederic H. Moll, M.D. ..................... 2000 $205,000 -- --
Vice President and 1999 196,643 -- --
Medical Director 1998 186,667 -- --
Robert G. Younge............................ 2000 $205,000 -- --
Vice President and 1999 194,965 -- --
Chief Technology Officer 1998 180,000 -- --
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
In February 1997, we entered into an agreement with Lonnie M. Smith, our
President and Chief Executive Officer, providing that, in the case of
involuntary termination other than for cause, his salary and benefits will
continue to be paid for a period of one year from the date of termination. Cause
as defined in the agreement includes conviction for any felony, participation in
a fraud or act of dishonesty against us, willful breach of our policies, or a
material breach by Mr. Smith of his employment agreement or of his proprietary
information and inventions agreement.
OPTION GRANTS IN FISCAL YEAR 2000
The following table sets forth each grant of stock options during the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2000, to each of the individuals listed on the
previous table.
The exercise price of each option was equal to the fair value of our common
stock as valued by the board of directors on the date of grant. The exercise
price may be paid in cash, in shares of our common stock valued at fair value on
the exercise date or through a cashless exercise procedure involving a same-day
sale of the purchased shares.
The potential realizable value is calculated based on the ten-year term of
the option at the time of grant. Stock price appreciation of 5% and 10% is
assumed pursuant to rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission
and does not represent our prediction of our stock price performance. The
potential realizable values at 5% and 10% appreciation are calculated by:
- Multiplying the number of shares of common stock subject to a given
option by the initial public offering price of $9.00 per share;
- Assuming that the aggregate stock value derived from that calculation
compounds at the annual 5% or 10% rate shown in the table until the
expiration of the options; and
- Subtracting from that result the aggregate option exercise price.
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The shares listed in the following table under "Number of Securities
Underlying Options Granted" are subject to vesting. Upon completion of six
months of service from the vesting start date, 12.5% of the option shares vest
and the balance vest in a series of equal monthly installments over the next 42
months of service. The option has a ten-year term, subject to earlier
termination if the optionee's service with us ceases.
Percentages shown under "Percentage of Total Options Granted to Employees
in Fiscal Year 2000" are based on an aggregate of 823,600 options granted to
employees of Intuitive Surgical under our stock option plans during the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2000.
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
-------------------------------- POTENTIAL REALIZABLE
PERCENTAGE OF VALUE AT ASSUMED
NUMBER OF TOTAL OPTIONS ANNUAL RATES OF
SECURITIES GRANTED TO STOCK PRICE APPRECIATION
UNDERLYING EMPLOYEES EXERCISE FOR OPTION TERM
OPTIONS IN FISCAL PRICE PER EXPIRATION -------------------------
NAME GRANTED YEAR 2000 SHARE DATE 5% 10%
---- ---------- ------------------- --------- ---------- ---------- -----------
Lonnie M. Smith............ -- -- -- -- -- --
Susan K. Barnes............ 5,000 0.61% $3.00 3/17/2010 $58,300 $101,718
Frederic H. Moll, M.D. .... -- -- -- -- -- --
Robert G. Younge........... -- -- -- -- -- --
FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
The following table sets forth the number and value of securities
underlying unexercised options that are held by each of the individuals listed
in the Summary Compensation Table as of December 31, 2000. No shares were
acquired on the exercise of stock options by these individuals during the year
ended December 31, 2000.
Amounts shown under the column "Value of Unexercised In-The-Money Options
at December 31, 2000" are based on the fair market price of $8.50 on that date,
without taking into account any taxes that may be payable in connection with the
transaction, multiplied by the number of shares underlying the option, less the
exercise price payable for these shares. Our stock option plans allow for the
early exercise of options granted to employees. All options exercised early are
subject to repurchase by us at the original exercise price, upon the optionee's
cessation of service prior to the vesting of the shares.
NUMBER OF SECURITIES VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS AT
OPTIONS AT DECEMBER 31, 2000 DECEMBER 31, 2000
--------------------------------- ------------------------------
NAME EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
---- ---------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Lonnie M. Smith........................... -- -- -- --
Susan K. Barnes........................... 25,000 -- $ 137,500 --
Frederic H. Moll, M.D. ................... -- -- -- --
Robert G. Younge.......................... 300,000 -- $2,400,000 --
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000, the compensation committee
consisted of Russell C. Hirsch, M.D., Ph.D. and Alan J. Levy, Ph.D., none of
whom is a present or former officer or employee of Intuitive Surgical, Inc. In
addition, during the Last Fiscal Year, none of our officers had an "interlock"
relationship, as that term is defined by the SEC, to report.
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COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
During 2000, the compensation committee of the Board of Directors was
comprised of Russell C. Hirsch, M.D., Ph.D. and Alan J. Levy, Ph.D., two
non-employee directors, who administered our executive compensation programs and
policies. The Committee is responsible for establishing and monitoring the
general compensation policies and compensation plans of the Company, as well as
the specific compensation levels for executive officers. The Committee also has
the authority and power to grant stock options under the Company's 1996 Equity
Incentive Plan and 2000 Equity Incentive Plan. Executive officers who are also
directors have not participated in deliberations or decisions involving their
own compensation.
The following is the compensation committee's report submitted to the Board
of Directors addressing the compensation of our executive officers for fiscal
2000.
COMPENSATION POLICY AND PHILOSOPHY
Our executive compensation policy is designed to:
- attract and retain qualified executives who will contribute to our
long-term success; and
- reward executives for achieving our goals, and to link executive
compensation and stockholder interests through equity-based plans.
We believe that in order to attract and retain qualified executives, our
compensation policies must be competitive with comparable companies in similar
industries. The compensation mix reflects a balance of cash payments, consisting
of base salary, cash bonus payments, and long-term stock-based incentives in the
form of stock options. The emphasis in incentive compensation is placed on stock
options that more closely align the financial interests of our employees with
our shareholders.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION COMPONENTS
As discussed below, our executive compensation package is primarily
comprised of three components: base salary, annual incentive bonuses and stock
options.
Base Salary. The Committee establishes base salaries for executive officers
based on its review of the base salaries of executive officers in comparable
companies and in similar industries. Base salaries for executives are reviewed
annually and adjusted based on industry compensation surveys and individual
experience and performance in achieving our objectives.
Annual Incentive Bonuses. Our Incentive Plan provides a cash incentive
opportunity for all non-commissioned employees including executive officers.
Achievement of specific company metrics determine overall plan payment levels,
then individual performance levels are considered to determine individual
incentive payments. Bonuses were paid to employees and certain executives in
2000 for performance achieved during fiscal year 1999.
Long Term Incentive Compensation. Our Equity Incentive Plans provide for
long-term incentive compensation for our employees including executive officers.
A significant portion of the total compensation package for our executive
officers is in the form of stock option awards. These awards give employees an
equity interest in the Company, thereby aligning the interests of executive
officers and stockholders and providing incentive to maximize stockholder value.
Stock option positions for all employees including executives were reviewed in
2000 and adjusted based on industry surveys, number of options previously
granted, as well as contributions to our success.
COMPENSATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
The compensation for our Chief Executive Officer, Lonnie Smith, for fiscal
2000 was comprised of a base salary component and long-term incentive
compensation in the form of stock options. The Committee met in July 2000 to
review the performance and compensation of Mr. Smith following the criteria
discussed above
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under "Executive Compensation Components." The Committee adjusted Mr. Smith's
base salary to conform to base salaries paid to similar positions in comparable
industries and to recognize his performance.
INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 162(m)
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code limits our tax deduction to $1
million for compensation paid to certain executive officers named in the proxy
unless the compensation is performance based. Since the cash compensation paid
by the Company to each of its executive officers is expected to be well below $1
million and the Committee believes that options granted will meet the
requirements for qualifying as performance-based, the Committee believes that
these limitations did not impact the company in Fiscal 2000. It is the
Committee's intention to qualify, to the extent reasonable, the executive
officers' compensation for deductibility under applicable tax law.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Russell C. Hirsch, M.D., Ph.D.
Alan J. Levy, Ph.D.
The foregoing compensation committee report shall not be deemed
incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under these acts, except
to the extent the Company specifically incorporates by reference into such
filings.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
Our audit committee was established on March 17, 2000, and adopted its
audit committee charter on March 17, 2000, a copy of which is attached to this
proxy statement as Annex A. During fiscal 2000, the audit committee of the Board
of Directors was comprised of Scott C. Halsted, Richard J. Kramer, and James A.
Lawrence at least two of whom are "independent" directors, as determined in
accordance with Rule 4200(a)(15) of the Nasdaq Stock Market's regulations.
Management is responsible for the Company's internal controls and the
financial reporting process. The independent auditors are responsible for
performing an independent audit of the Company's consolidated financial
statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices and to
issue a report thereon. The audit committee's responsibility is to monitor and
oversee these processes. The following is the audit committee's report submitted
to the Board of Directors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000.
The audit committee has:
- reviewed and discussed the Company's audited financial statements with
management and the independent auditors;
- discussed with Ernst & Young LLP, the Company's independent auditors, the
matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No.
61, as may be modified or supplemented; and
- received from Ernst & Young LLP the written disclosures and the letter
regarding their independence as required by Independence Standards Board
Standard No. 1, as may be modified or supplemented, and discussed the
auditors' independence with them.
In addition, based on the review and discussions referred to above, the
audit committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial
statements be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
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FEES PAID TO ERNST AND YOUNG LLP
Audit Fees. The aggregate fees billed by Ernst & Young LLP for professional
services for the audit of the Company's consolidated financial statements for
fiscal 2000 and the review of the consolidated financial statements included in
the Company's Forms 10-Q for fiscal 2000 were $214,000.
Financial Information Systems Design and Implementation Fees. There were no
fees billed by Ernst & Young LLP for financial information systems design and
implementation fees for fiscal 2000.
All Other Fees. The aggregate fees billed to the Company for all other
professional services rendered by Ernst & Young LLP for fiscal 2000 was
$304,000. Of these fees, $280,000 relate to audit related services (which
generally includes fees for accounting consultations and SEC Registration
Statements), as well as $24,000 for tax compliance and consulting services.
The Company's audit committee has considered whether the provision of
services described above under the captions "Audit Fees," "Financial Information
Systems Design and Implementation Fees," and "All Other Fees" are compatible
with maintaining the principal auditor's independence, and has determined that
the provision of such services to the Company does not compromise the principal
auditor's independence.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Scott C. Halsted
Richard J. Kramer
James A. Lawrence
The foregoing audit committee report shall not be deemed incorporated by
reference any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, and shall not
otherwise be deemed filed under these acts, except to the extent the company
specifically incorporates by reference into such filings.
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STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph compares our cumulative total stockholder return on the
common stock (no dividends have been paid thereon) with the cumulative total
return of (1) the Nasdaq Composite Index and (2) the S&P Healthcare Index, over
the indicated periods extending through the end of 2000.
The historical stock market performance of the common stock shown below is
not necessarily indicative of future stock performance.
COMPARISON OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN AMONG
INTUITIVE SURGICAL, NASDAQ COMPOSITE, AND S&P HEALTHCARE INDEX
[PERFORMANCE GRAPH]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6/12/00 9/00 12/00
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. 100 131 94
NASDAQ Composite 100 97 66
S&P Healthcare Index 100 109 121
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The stock performance graph above shall not be deemed incorporated by
reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this proxy
statement into any filing under the Securities Act or under the Exchange Act,
except to the extent we specifically incorporate this information by reference,
and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under these acts.
OTHER INFORMATION
OTHER MATTERS AT THE MEETING
We do not know of any matters to be presented at the annual meeting other
than those mentioned in this proxy statement. If any other matters are properly
brought before the annual meeting, it is intended that the proxies will be voted
in accordance with the best judgment of the person or persons voting the
proxies.
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INDEPENDENT PUBLIC AUDITORS
Our auditors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 were Ernst & Young
LLP. Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP are expected to be present at the
Annual Meeting, and will be given an opportunity to make a statement if they
desire to do so, and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate
questions.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2002 ANNUAL MEETING
Any stockholder who meets the requirements of the proxy rules under the
Exchange Act may submit to the Board of Directors proposals to be considered for
submission to the stockholders at the annual meeting in 2002. Your proposal must
comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and be
submitted in writing by notice delivered or mailed by first-class United States
mail, postage prepaid, to our Secretary at Intuitive Surgical, Inc., 1340 W.
Middlefield Road, Mountain View, California 94043 and must be received no later
than December 21, 2001. Your notice must include:
- your name and address and the text of the proposal to be introduced;
- the number of shares of stock you hold of record, beneficially own and
represent by proxy as of the date of your notice; and
- a representation that you intend to appear in person or by proxy at the
meeting to introduce the proposal specified in your notice.
The chairman of the meeting may refuse to acknowledge the introduction of
your proposal if it is not made in compliance with the foregoing procedures or
the applicable provisions of our Bylaws. Our Bylaws also provide for separate
notice procedures to recommend a person for nomination as a director or to
propose business to be considered by stockholders at a meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors
/s/ LONNIE M. SMITH
Lonnie M. Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Mountain View, California
April 19, 2001
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ANNEX A
CHARTER OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
I. PURPOSE
The primary function of the Audit Committee (the "Committee") is to assist
the Board of Directors ("the Board") of Intuitive Surgical, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, (the "Company") in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities by
reviewing: the financial reports and other financial information provided by the
Company to any governmental body or the public; the Corporation's systems of
internal controls regarding finance, accounting, legal compliance and ethics
that management and the Board have established; and the Company's auditing,
accounting and financial reporting processes generally. Consistent with this
function, the Audit Committee should encourage continuous improvement of, and
should foster adherence to, the corporation's policies, procedures and practices
at all levels. The Audit Committee's primary duties and responsibilities are to:
- Serve as an independent and objective party to monitor the Company's
financial reporting process and internal control system.
- Review and appraise the audit efforts of the Company's independent
accountants and internal auditing department.
- Provide an open avenue of communication among the independent
accountants, financial and senior management, the internal auditing
department, and the Board of Directors.
II. COMPOSITION
The Audit Committee shall be comprised of three (3) or more directors as
determined by the Board, each of whom shall meet the independence and experience
requirements of Nasdaq.
III. POWERS AND DUTIES
The operation of the Committee shall be subject to the provisions of the
Bylaws of the Company, as in effect from time to time, and to Section 141 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law. The Committee shall have the full power and
authority to carry out the following responsibilities:
1. Holding such regular meetings as may be necessary and such special
meetings as may be called by the Chairman of the Audit Committee or at
the request of the independent accountants or the General Auditor;
2. Creating an agenda for the ensuing year;
3. Reviewing and evaluating the performance of the independent auditors
and making annual recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding
the appointment or termination of the independent auditors;
4. Conferring with the independent auditors and the internal auditors
concerning the scope, extent and procedures of their examinations of
the books and records of the Company and its subsidiaries; reviewing
and approving the independent accountants' annual engagement letter;
reviewing and approving the Company's internal audit charter, annual
audit plans and budgets; directing the special attention of the
auditors to specific matters or areas deemed by the Committee or the
auditors to be of special significance; and authorizing the auditors to
perform such supplemental reviews or audits as the Committee may deem
desirable;
5. Reviewing with management, the independent auditors and internal
auditors significant risks and exposures, audit activities and
significant audit findings;
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6. Reviewing the range and cost of audit and non-audit services performed
by the independent auditors; evaluating the possible effects of such
non-audit services on the independence of the auditors;
7. Reviewing with senior management of the Company and the independent
auditors, upon completion of their audit, financial results for the
year, as reported in the Company's financial statements, supplemental
disclosures to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") or other
disclosures;
8. Receiving and reviewing written statements from the independent
auditors delineating all relationships between the auditors and the
Company consistent with the independence standard defined by Nasdaq
Rule 4200(15)(a); to consider and discuss with the auditors any
disclosed relationships or services that could effect the auditors
objectivity and independence; and, if so determined by the Audit
Committee, take or recommend appropriate action to oversee the
independence of the auditors;
9. Preparing the report required by the rules of the SEC to be included in
the Company's annual proxy statement;
10. Reviewing with management and the independent auditors the Company's
financial statements for each interim period and any changes in
accounting principles or the application therein that have occurred
during the interim period;
11. Reviewing the adequacy of the Company's systems of internal control;
12. Obtaining from the independent auditors and internal auditors their
recommendations regarding internal controls and other matters relating
to the accounting procedures and the books and records of the Company
and its subsidiaries and reviewing the correction of controls deemed to
be deficient;
13. Reviewing the programs and policies of the Company designed to ensure
compliance with applicable laws and regulations and monitoring the
results of these compliance efforts;
14. Reporting through its Chairman to the Board of Directors following the
meetings of the Audit Committee;
15. Reviewing the powers of the Committee and this Charter annually and
reporting and making recommendations to the Board of Directors on these
responsibilities or on changes to this Charter;
16. Conducting or authorizing investigations into any matters within the
Audit Committee's scope of responsibilities. The Audit Committee shall
be empowered to retain independent counsel, accountants, or others to
assist it in the conduct of any investigation;
17. Considering such other matters in relation to the financial affairs of
the Company and its accounts, and in relation to the internal and
external audit of the Company as the Audit Committee may, in its
discretion, determine to be advisable.
IV. MINUTES AND REPORTS
Minutes of each meeting of the Committee shall be kept and distributed to
each member of the Committee, members of the Board who are not members of the
Committee and the Secretary of the Company. The Chairperson of the Committee
shall report to the Board from time to time, or whenever so requested by the
Board.
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[INTUITIVE SURGICAL LOGO]
22
PROXY INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC. PROXY
PROXY SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS -- MAY 24, 2001
The undersigned, revoking all prior proxies, hereby appoints Lonnie M. Smith and
Susan K. Barnes, or each or either of them, proxies for the undersigned, with
full power of substitution, to vote all shares of common stock of Intuitive
Surgical, Inc. which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting
of stockholders to be held in Palo Alto, California on May 24, 2001 at 2:00
p.m., or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, upon such business as may
properly come before the meeting or at any adjournment or postponement thereof
including without limiting such general authorization, the proposals described
on this card and in the accompanying proxy statement.
Unless otherwise specified below, this proxy will be voted FOR the election
of directors, and FOR the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young, LLP
as independent auditors.
Common Stock
Important: Please mark boxes to give voting instructions
1. ELECTION OF CLASS I DIRECTORS -- Nominees: FOR WITHHELD FOR ALL ------------------------------
Scott S. Halsted and Alan J. Levy, PhD. ALL ALL EXCEPT Nominee Exceptions
[ ] [ ] [ ]
2. Ratifying the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
Independent Auditors for the Company. [ ] [ ] [ ]
(Continued and to be signed on reverse side)
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The undersigned agrees that said proxies may vote in accordance with their
discretion with respect to any other matters which may properly come before this
meeting. Should any nominee for director become unavailable, discretionary
authority is conferred to vote for a substitute. The undersigned instructs such
proxies to vote as directed on this proxy.
This Proxy should be dated, signed by
the shareholder exactly as printed at
the left and returned promptly in the
enclosed envelope. Persons signing in
a fiduciary capacity should so
indicate.
Dated:
-------------------------------------,
2001
-------------------------------------
(Signature)
-------------------------------------
(Signature if held jointly)
[ ] I PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING