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8-K - FORM 8-K - PHOENIX TECHNOLOGIES LTD | f54246e8vk.htm |
EX-99.2 - EX-99.2 - PHOENIX TECHNOLOGIES LTD | f54246exv99w2.htm |
EXHIBIT
99.1
EXECUTION VERSION
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
This Settlement Agreement (this Agreement) is made and entered into as of November
25, 2009, by and among Phoenix Technologies Ltd. (the Company or Phoenix
Technologies) and the entities and natural persons listed on Exhibit A hereto (collectively,
the Ramius Group) (each of the Company and the Ramius Group, a Party to this
Agreement, and collectively, the Parties).
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, the Company and the Ramius Group have engaged in various discussions and
communications concerning the Companys business, financial performance and strategic plans; and
WHEREAS, the Ramius Group duly submitted a nomination letter to the Company on November 9,
2009 (the Nomination Letter) nominating four (4) individuals as director candidates for
election to the Companys board of directors (the Board) at the 2010 annual meeting of
shareholders of the Company (including any adjournment or postponement thereof, the 2010
Annual Meeting);
WHEREAS, the Company and the members of the Ramius Group have determined (i) that the
interests of the Company and its stockholders would be best served at this time by, among other
things, avoiding an election contest and the expense and disruption that may result therefrom and
(ii) to come to an agreement with respect to the composition of the Board, certain matters related
to the 2010 Annual Meeting and certain other matters, as provided in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual covenants and
agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound
hereby, agree as follows:
1. Board Matters; Board Appointments; 2010 Annual Meeting; Committee Appointments; 2011
Annual Meeting.
(a) Upon execution of this Agreement, the Company shall take all necessary actions to
(i) increase the size of the Board from five (5) to ten (10) members and (ii) appoint Dale L.
Fuller, Jeffrey C. Smith, Edward Terino, Kenneth Traub and Patrick Little (the New
Appointees) to fill the vacancies on the Board created by increasing its size to ten (10)
members.
(b) Upon execution of this Agreement, the Ramius Group hereby withdraws its Nomination Letter
for the election of four (4) directors at the 2010 Annual Meeting.
(c) Upon execution of this Agreement, the Company will take all action necessary in
furtherance of the appointment of Messrs. Fuller, Smith and Terino to the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee of the Board. The directors serving on the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee prior to the execution of this Agreement will
remain members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee upon the execution of this
Agreement.
(d) The Company hereby confirms that effective as of the execution of this Agreement Michael
Clair has resigned as chairman of the Board. Mr. Clair will remain a member of the Board following
his resignation as chairman. Upon execution of this Agreement, in accordance with the Companys
bylaws, the Company shall take all action necessary in furtherance of the appointment of Mr. Smith
as the chairman of the Board.
(e) The Company agrees that it shall take no action at any time prior to the final
certification of the results of the 2010 Annual Meeting to (i) remove Mr. Smith as chairman of the
Board or (ii) remove Messrs. Fuller, Smith and Terino as members of the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee.
(f) The Company agrees that it will use its commercially reasonable efforts to hold the 2010
Annual Meeting by February 1, 2010, but in any event no later than February 15, 2010. The Company
agrees that prior to the time that it mails its definitive proxy statement for the 2010 Annual
Meeting, the Company shall take all necessary actions to (i) decrease the size of the Board from
ten (10) to nine (9) members effective as of the 2010 Annual Meeting and (ii) nominate the New
Appointees for election to the Board at the 2010 Annual Meeting together with four (4) existing
directors for inclusion in the Companys slate of nominees (the 2010 Nominees) with terms
expiring at the Companys 2011 annual shareholder meeting (the 2011 Annual Meeting). The
Company shall take no other action to increase or decrease the size of the Board prior to the final
certification of the results of the 2010 Annual Meeting.
(g) The Company agrees that it will recommend, support and solicit proxies for the election of
the New Appointees in the same manner as for the Companys other 2010 Nominees up for election at
the 2010 Annual Meeting.
(h) If any New Appointee leaves the Board (whether by resignation or otherwise) before the
conclusion of the 2010 Annual Meeting, the Ramius Group will be entitled to recommend to the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee replacement director(s) (each of whom will be deemed
a New Appointee for purposes of this Agreement) who will qualify as independent pursuant to
NASDAQ listing standards. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will not unreasonably
withhold acceptance of any replacement director(s) recommended by the Ramius Group. In the event
the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not accept a replacement director(s)
recommended by the Ramius Group, the Ramius Group will have the right to recommend additional
replacement director(s) for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The
Company will cause the Board to appoint such replacement director(s) to the Board no later than
five (5) business days after the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees recommendation of
such replacement director(s).
(i) The parties hereto acknowledge that the only matters that may be presented by the Company
for consideration at the 2010 Annual Meeting include (i) the election of the 2010 Nominees, (ii)
the ratification of the Companys independent registered public accounting firm, (iii) an amendment
to the Companys 2007 Equity Incentive Plan (the 2007 Plan) to increase the number of shares
issuable under the Plan by 1,500,000 shares of Common
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Stock and (iv) any proposals submitted by stockholders pursuant to Rule 14a-8 for inclusion in
the Companys proxy materials for the 2010 Annual Meeting.
(j) At the 2010 Annual Meeting, the Ramius Group agrees to appear in person or by proxy and
vote all shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by it and its affiliates in favor of the
election to the Board of the 2010 Nominees. The Ramius Group shall cause to be executed proxies for
the 2010 Nominees (in the form utilized by the Company to solicit proxies for all stockholders) so
as to vote all shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by it and its affiliates in favor of the
election of the 2010 Nominees to the Board. The Ramius Group shall not withdraw or modify any such
proxies. From the date hereof through the 2010 Annual Meeting, neither the Company, the Ramius
Group nor any member of the Ramius Group shall directly or indirectly make any statements or engage
in any activities in opposition to the election of the 2010 Nominees at the 2010 Annual Meeting or
enter into any agreement, understanding or arrangement with the purpose or effect to cause or
further any of the foregoing.
(k) Neither the Ramius Group nor any member of the Ramius Group shall (i) nominate any person
for election at the 2010 Annual Meeting or (ii) submit any proposal for consideration at, or bring
any other business before, the 2010 Annual Meeting, directly or indirectly. The Ramius Group shall
not enter into any agreement, understanding or arrangement with the purpose or effect to cause or
further any of the foregoing or otherwise engage in any activities with the purpose or effect to
cause or further any of the foregoing.
2. Representations and Warranties of the Company.
The Company represents and warrants to the Ramius Group that (a) the Company has the corporate
power and authority to execute the Agreement and to bind it thereto, (b) this Agreement has been
duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, constitutes a valid and binding
obligation and agreement of the Company, and is enforceable against the Company in accordance with
its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws generally affecting the rights of
creditors and subject to general equity principles and (c) the execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement by the Company does not and will not violate or conflict with (i) any law, rule,
regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to it, or (ii) result in any breach or violation
of or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both could become a
default) under or pursuant to, or result in the loss of a material benefit under, or give any right
of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any organizational document, agreement,
contract, commitment, understanding or arrangement to which the Company is a party or by which it
is bound.
3. Representations and Warranties of the Ramius Group.
The Ramius Group shall cause its Affiliates to comply with the terms of this Agreement. The
Ramius Group represents and warrants to the Company that (a) this Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Ramius Group, and is a valid and binding obligation of
the Ramius Group, enforceable against the Ramius Group in accordance with its terms, except as
enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws generally affecting the rights of creditors and
subject to general equity principles, (b) the execution of this Agreement, the
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consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the fulfillment of the terms
hereof, in each case in accordance with the terms hereof, will not conflict with, or result in a
breach or violation of the organizational documents of the Ramius Group as currently in effect and
(c) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by each member of the Ramius Group
does not and will not violate or conflict with (i) any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or
decree applicable to it, or (ii) result in any breach or violation of or constitute a default (or
an event which with notice or lapse of time or both could become a default) under or pursuant to,
or result in the loss of a material benefit under, or give any right of termination, amendment,
acceleration or cancellation of, any organizational document, agreement, contract, commitment,
understanding or arrangement to which such member is a party or by which it is bound.
4. Press Release.
Promptly following the execution of this Agreement, the Company and the Ramius Group shall
jointly issue a mutually agreeable press release (the Mutual Press Release) announcing
the terms of this Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B. Prior to the issuance of
the Mutual Press Release, neither the Company nor Ramius shall issue any press release or public
announcement regarding this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party.
5. Ramius Group Ownership.
Through the conclusion of the 2010 Annual Meeting, the Ramius Group agrees to maintain
beneficial ownership of at least 90% of the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned in
the aggregate by the members of the Ramius Group as of the date of this Agreement. Messrs. Fuller,
Terino, Traub and Little shall not be deemed to be members of the Ramius Group solely for the
purposes of this Section 5. Following the conclusion of the 2010 Annual Meeting, if at any
time the Ramius Groups aggregate beneficial ownership of Common Stock decreases to less than 2.5%
of the Companys then outstanding shares of Common Stock, then Mr. Smith shall promptly resign from
the Board.
6. Specific Performance.
Each of the members of the Ramius Group, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand,
acknowledges and agrees that irreparable injury to the other party hereto would occur in the event
any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms
or were otherwise breached and that such injury would not be adequately compensable in damages. It
is accordingly agreed that the members of the Ramius Group or any of them, on the one hand, and the
Company, on the other hand (the Moving Party), shall each be entitled to specific
enforcement of, and injunctive relief to prevent any violation of, the terms hereof, and the other
party hereto will not take action, directly or indirectly, in opposition to the Moving Party
seeking such relief on the grounds that any other remedy or relief is available at law or in
equity.
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7. Expenses.
The Company shall reimburse the Ramius Group for its reasonable, documented out-of-pocket fees
and expenses (including legal expenses) incurred in connection with the matters related to the 2010
Annual Meeting and the negotiation and execution of this Agreement, provided that such
reimbursement shall not exceed $15,000 in the aggregate.
8. Severability.
If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms,
provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and
shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be
the intention of the parties that the parties would have executed the remaining terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions without including any of such which may be hereafter declared invalid,
void or unenforceable. In addition, the parties agree to use their best efforts to agree upon and
substitute a valid and enforceable term, provision, covenant or restriction for any of such that is
held invalid, void or enforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction.
9. Notices.
Any notices, consents, determinations, waivers or other communications required or permitted
to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been
delivered: (i) upon receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by facsimile
(provided confirmation of transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file
by the sending party); or (iii) one (1) business day after deposit with a nationally recognized
overnight delivery service, in each case properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The
addresses and facsimile numbers for such communications shall be:
If to the Company:
Phoenix Technologies Ltd.
915 Murphy Ranch Road
Milpitas, California
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile: (408) 570-1044
915 Murphy Ranch Road
Milpitas, California
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile: (408) 570-1044
With a copy to:
Cooley Godward Kronish LLP
Five Palo Alto Square
3000 El Camino Real
Palo Alto, CA 94306-2155
Attention: Elias Blawie, Esq.
Facsimile: (650) 618-0343
Five Palo Alto Square
3000 El Camino Real
Palo Alto, CA 94306-2155
Attention: Elias Blawie, Esq.
Facsimile: (650) 618-0343
If to the Ramius Group or any member of the Ramius Group:
Ramius Value and Opportunity Master Fund Ltd
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c/o RCG Starboard Advisors, LLC
599 Lexington Avenue, 20th Floor
New York, New York 10022
Attention: Jeffrey C. Smith
599 Lexington Avenue, 20th Floor
New York, New York 10022
Attention: Jeffrey C. Smith
Owen S. Littman
Telephone: (212) 845-8900
Facsimile: (212) 845-7986
Facsimile: (212) 845-7986
With a copy to:
Olshan Grundman Frome Rosenzweig & Wolosky LLP
Park Avenue Tower
65 East 55th Street
New York, New York 10022
Attention: Steven Wolosky, Esq.
Facsimile: (212) 451-2222
Park Avenue Tower
65 East 55th Street
New York, New York 10022
Attention: Steven Wolosky, Esq.
Facsimile: (212) 451-2222
10. Applicable Law.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of
the State of Delaware without reference to the conflict of laws principles thereof. Each of the
Parties hereto irrevocably agrees that any legal action or proceeding with respect to this
Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder, or for recognition and enforcement of
any judgment in respect of this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder brought
by the other party hereto or its successors or assigns, shall be brought and determined exclusively
in the Delaware Court of Chancery and any state appellate court therefrom within the State of
Delaware (or, if the Delaware Court of Chancery declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular
matter, any state or federal court within the State of Delaware). Each of the Parties hereto hereby
irrevocably submits with regard to any such action or proceeding for itself and in respect of its
property, generally and unconditionally, to the personal jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts and
agrees that it will not bring any action relating to this Agreement in any court other than the
aforesaid courts. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in
any action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement, (i) any claim that it is not personally
subject to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts for any reason, (ii) any claim that it or its
property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process
commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment,
attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise) and (iii) to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable legal requirements, any claim that (A) the suit, action or
proceeding in such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (B) the venue of such suit, action or
proceeding is improper or (C) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in
or by such courts.
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11. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts which
together shall constitute a single agreement.
12. Entire Agreement; Amendment and Waiver; Successors and Assigns.
This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties hereto with respect to its
subject matter. There are no restrictions, agreements, promises, representations, warranties,
covenants or undertakings between the parties other than those expressly set forth herein. No
modifications of this Agreement can be made except in writing signed by an authorized
representative of each the Company and the Ramius Group. No failure on the part of any party to
exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder shall operate as a
waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of such right, power or remedy by such
party preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or
remedy. All remedies hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any other remedies provided
by law. The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of,
and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors, heirs, executors, legal
representatives, and permitted assigns. No party shall assign this Agreement or any rights or
obligations hereunder without, with respect to any member of the Ramius Group, the prior written
consent of the Company, and with respect to the Company, the prior written consent of the Ramius
Group.
13. Mutual Non-Disparagement.
Each of the Parties covenants and agrees that none of it or its respective subsidiaries,
affiliates, successors, assigns, officers, employees or directors shall in any way disparage,
attempt to discredit, or otherwise call into disrepute, the other Parties or such other Parties
subsidiaries, affiliates, successors, assigns, officers (including any current officer of a Party
or a Parties subsidiaries who no longer serves in such capacity following the execution of this
Agreement), directors (including any current director of a Party or a Parties subsidiaries who no
longer serves in such capacity following the execution of this Agreement), employees, stockholders,
agents, attorneys or representatives, or any of their products or services, in any manner that
would damage the business or reputation of such other Parties, their products or services or their
subsidiaries, affiliates, successors, assigns, officers (or former officers), directors (or former
directors), employees, agents, attorneys or representatives.
[The remainder of this page intentionally left blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the duly authorized
signatories of the parties as of the date hereof.
PHOENIX TECHNOLOGIES LTD. |
||||
By: | /s/ Woodson Hobbs | |||
Name: | Woodson Hobbs | |||
Title: | President & CEO | |||
THE RAMIUS GROUP:
RAMIUS VALUE AND OPPORTUNITY MASTER FUND LTD |
||
By:
|
RCG Starboard Advisors, LLC, | |
its investment manager | ||
RCG PB, LTD | ||
By:
|
Ramius Advisors, LLC, its investment advisor |
|
RAMIUS ENTERPRISE MASTER FUND LTD | ||
By:
|
Ramius Advisors, LLC, | |
its investment advisor | ||
RCG STARBOARD ADVISORS, LLC | ||
By:
|
Ramius LLC, | |
its sole member |
RAMIUS ADVISORS, LLC | ||
By:
|
Ramius LLC, | |
its sole member | ||
RAMIUS LLC | ||
By:
|
Cowen Group, Inc., | |
its sole member | ||
COWEN GROUP, INC. | ||
RCG HOLDINGS LLC | ||
By:
|
C4S & Co., L.L.C., | |
as managing member | ||
C4S & CO., L.L.C. |
By: | /s/ Jeffrey M. Solomon | |||
Name: | Jeffrey M. Solomon | |||
Title: | Authorized Signatory | |||
/s/ Jeffrey M. Solomon
|
||
JEFFREY M. SOLOMON |
||
Individually and as attorney-in-fact for Peter A. Cohen, Morgan B. Stark and
Thomas W. Strauss, |
||
/s/ Jeffrey C. Smith |
||
JEFFREY C. SMITH |
||
/s/ Dale L. Fuller |
||
DALE L. FULLER |
||
/s/ Edward Terino |
||
EDWARD TERINO |
||
/s/ Patrick Little |
||
PATRICK LITTLE |
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/s/ Kenneth Traub |
||
KENNETH TRAUB |
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SCHEDULE A
The Ramius Group
RAMIUS VALUE AND OPPORTUNITY MASTER FUND LTD
RCG PB, LTD
RAMIUS ENTERPRISE MASTER FUND LTD
RAMIUS ADVISORS, LLC
RCG STARBOARD ADVISORS, LLC
RAMIUS LLC
COWEN GROUP, INC.
RCG HOLDINGS LLC
C4S & CO., L.L.C.
PETER A. COHEN
MORGAN B. STARK
THOMAS W. STRAUSS
JEFFREY M. SOLOMON
DALE L. FULLER
JEFFREY C. SMITH
EDWARD TERINO
PATRICK LITTLE
KENNETH TRAUB
The Ramius Group
RAMIUS VALUE AND OPPORTUNITY MASTER FUND LTD
RCG PB, LTD
RAMIUS ENTERPRISE MASTER FUND LTD
RAMIUS ADVISORS, LLC
RCG STARBOARD ADVISORS, LLC
RAMIUS LLC
COWEN GROUP, INC.
RCG HOLDINGS LLC
C4S & CO., L.L.C.
PETER A. COHEN
MORGAN B. STARK
THOMAS W. STRAUSS
JEFFREY M. SOLOMON
DALE L. FULLER
JEFFREY C. SMITH
EDWARD TERINO
PATRICK LITTLE
KENNETH TRAUB
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EXHIBIT B
Phoenix Technologies Adds Five Directors to Newly Created Board Seats
Reaches Agreement with Largest Shareholder
Milpitas, CA (BusinessWire November 25, 2009) Phoenix Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: PTEC), a
global leader in core systems firmware, security solutions and instant-on operating systems
environments, today announced that it has reached an agreement with RCG Starboard Advisors, LLC, a
subsidiary of Ramius LLC, and certain of its affiliates (collectively, the Ramius Group)
regarding the composition of the companys Board of Directors. Under the terms of the agreement,
the company will immediately expand its board to include ten members, adding Jeffrey C. Smith, Dale
L. Fuller, Edward Terino, Kenneth Traub, and Patrick Little as new directors. Mr. Smith will
become Chairman of the Board of Directors. As part of the settlement agreement, one existing
director will not stand for re-election at the 2010 Annual Meeting, at which time the Board will be
reduced to nine members. The annual meeting will be held no later than February 15, 2010.
Woody Hobbs, Phoenixs CEO stated, We are pleased we were able to reach an agreement with Ramius
which enables us to work together with our new Board members to build value for all of our
shareholders, customers, and employees. We welcome Jeff and the new board members and look forward
to working with them as we continue to evolve our business plan.
Jeff Smith, representing the Ramius Group, stated, We are excited to have the opportunity to work
with the Phoenix Technologies Board and executive team in their efforts to continue serving their
customers with world class products and maximizing shareholder value.
About Phoenix Technologies Ltd.
Phoenix Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: PTEC), the leader in PC 3.0(TM) products, services and embedded
technologies, pioneers open standards and delivers innovative solutions that enable the PC
industrys top system builders and specifiers to differentiate their systems, reduce time-to-market
and increase their revenues. The Companys flagship products and services SecureCore Tiano,
Embedded BIOS, Phoenix Freeze, FailSafe, HyperSpace, and eSupport.com are revolutionizing the PC
user experience by delivering unprecedented performance, security, reliability, continuity, and
ease-of-use. The Company established industry leadership and created the PC clone industry with its
original BIOS product in 1983. Phoenix has over 210 technology patents issued and pending, and has
shipped firmware in over one billion systems. Phoenix is headquartered in Milpitas, California with
offices worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.phoenix.com.
Phoenix, Phoenix Technologies, Phoenix SecureCore, SecureCore Tiano, Embedded BIOS, Phoenix Freeze,
FailSafe, HyperSpace, PC 3.0, eSupport.com and the Phoenix Technologies logo are trademarks and/or
registered trademarks of Phoenix Technologies Ltd. All other marks are the marks of their
respective owners.
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About Ramius LLC
Ramius LLC is an investment advisor that manages assets in a variety of alternative investment
strategies. Ramius LLC is headquartered in New York with offices located in London, Luxembourg,
Tokyo, Hong Kong and Munich.
Investor Relations Contacts:
Phoenix Technologies Ltd.
Richard Arnold
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer
Tel. +1 408 570 1256
investor_relations@phoenix.com
Richard Arnold
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer
Tel. +1 408 570 1256
investor_relations@phoenix.com
The Piacente Group, Investor Relations
Kristen McNally or Brandi Floberg
Tel. +1 212 481 2050
phoenix@thepiacentegroup.com
Kristen McNally or Brandi Floberg
Tel. +1 212 481 2050
phoenix@thepiacentegroup.com
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