UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
________________
Form 10-K/A
Amendment No. 1
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(Mark One) | |
R | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended January 31, 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: 0-25674
SkillSoft Public Limited Company
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Republic of Ireland | None |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
107 Northeastern Boulevard | 03062 |
Nashua, New Hampshire | (Zip Code) |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(603) 324-3000
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered |
Ordinary Shares, €0.11 | NASDAQ Global Market |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes R No £
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes £ No R
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 R 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 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was require to submit and post such files). Yes £ No £
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. £
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 definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer R | Accelerated filer £ | ||
Non-accelerated filer £ | Smaller reporting company £ | ||
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes £ No R
The approximate aggregate market value of voting shares held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of July 31, 2008 was $1,148,713,349.
On May 20, 2009, the registrant had outstanding 96,683,460 ordinary shares (issued or issuable in exchange for the registrant’s outstanding American Depositary Shares (ADSs)).
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
None.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This Annual Report on Form 10-K/A is being filed as Amendment No. 1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of SkillSoft Public Limited Company (the “Registrant” or the “Company”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on April 1, 2009, for the purpose of amending the following: Items 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15.
SKILLSOFT PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
FORM 10-K/A
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Ex-10.9 2002 Stock Option Plan | ||||||
Our Board of Directors has adopted written policies and procedures for the review of any transaction, arrangement or relationship in which SkillSoft is a participant, the amount involved exceeds $50,000, and one of our executive officers, directors, director nominees or 5% stockholders (or their immediate family members), each of whom we refer to as a “related person,” has a direct or indirect material interest.
If a related person proposes to enter into such a transaction, arrangement or relationship, which we refer to as a “related person transaction,” the related person must report the proposed related person transaction to our Vice President, Administration. The policy calls for the proposed related person transaction to be reviewed and, if deemed appropriate, approved by the Board of Directors’ Audit Committee. Whenever practicable, the reporting, review and approval will occur prior to entry into the transaction. If advance review and approval is not practicable, the committee will review, and, in its discretion, may ratify the related person transaction. The policy also permits the chairman of the audit committee to review and, if deemed appropriate, approve proposed related person transactions that arise between audit committee meetings, subject to ratification by the audit committee at its next meeting. Any related person transactions that are ongoing in nature will be reviewed annually.
The committee will review and consider such information regarding the related person transaction as it deems appropriate under the circumstances. The committee may approve or ratify the transaction only if the committee determines that, under all of the circumstances, the transaction is in, or is not inconsistent with, SkillSoft’s best interests. The committee may impose any conditions on the related person transaction that it deems appropriate.
In addition to the transactions that are excluded by the instructions to the SEC’s related person transaction disclosure rule, the Board has determined that the following transactions do not create a material direct or indirect interest on behalf of related persons and, therefore, are not related person transactions for purposes of this policy:
interests arising solely from the related person’s position as an executive officer of another entity (whether or not the person is also a director of such entity), that is a participant in the transaction, where (a) the related person owns in the aggregate less than a 5% equity interest in such entity, (b) the related person and his or her immediate family members are not involved in the negotiation of the terms of the transaction and do not receive any special benefits as a result of the transaction, (c) the amount involved in the transaction equals less than 1% of the annual consolidated gross revenues of the other entity that is a party to the transaction, and (d) the amount involved in the transaction equals less than 1% of SkillSoft’s annual consolidated gross revenues; and |
a transaction that is specifically contemplated by provisions of our Articles of Association or Memorandum of Association. |
The policy provides that transactions involving compensation of executive officers shall be reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee in the manner specified in its charter.
The son-in-law of Charles Moran, our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, is employed in our sales organization and receives annual compensation in excess of $120,000 (consistent with others in similar roles). This individual was hired before becoming Mr. Moran’s son-in-law. Mr. Moran does not participate in the supervision of or compensation decisions regarding this individual, and we believe the compensation of this individual is fair and commensurate with what it would be if he had no relationship to Mr. Moran.
Director Independence
Under applicable NASDAQ rules, a director will only qualify as an “independent director” if, in the opinion of our Board of Directors, that person does not have a relationship which would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Under the Corporate Governance Guidelines we adopted in connection with the settlement of our securities class action litigation, our Board of Directors must propose director nominees for election such that, should the shareholders elect those nominees, two-thirds of the members of our Board of Directors will be independent directors. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines, which are available on our website at www.SkillSoft.com also include a heightened definition of independence for purposes of that requirement.
Our Board has determined that none of Messrs. Gross, Boyce, Krzywicki, Meagher or von Prondzynski has a relationship which would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director and that each of these directors is an “independent director” as defined under Rule 4200(a)(15) of the NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. Marketplace Rules and our Corporate Governance Guidelines.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services; Auditors’ Fees
The following table summarizes the fees of Ernst & Young, our registered public accounting firm, billed to us for each of the last two fiscal years.
Fee Category | Fiscal Year Ended January 31, 2009 | Fiscal Year Ended January 31, 2008 | ||||||
Audit Fees (1) | $ | 1,664,000 | $ | 1,853,000 | ||||
Audit-Related Fees (2) | $ | 20,000 | $ | 252,835 | ||||
Tax Fees (3) | $ | 1,780,000 | $ | 634,500 | ||||
Total Fees | $ | 3,464,000 | $ | 2,740,335 |
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(1) | Audit fees consist of fees for the audit of our financial statements, the audit of our internal control over financial reporting, the review of the interim financial statements in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, other professional services provided or accrued for in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2009 and January 31, 2008. |
(2) | Audit-related fees consist of fees for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit and the review of our financial statements and which are not reported under “Audit Fees.” These services relate to accounting consultations and employee benefit plan audits. Due diligence and related work performed in connection with the acquisition of NETg, which closed on May 14, 2007, totaled approximately $239,000 for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2008. |
(3) | Tax fees consist of fees for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning services. Tax compliance services, which relate to preparation of original and amended tax returns and claims for refunds, accounted for $242,000 of the total tax fees billed in the fiscal year ended January 31, 2009 and $167,500 of the total tax fees billed in the fiscal year ended January 31, 2008. Tax advice and tax planning services relate to a transfer pricing analysis, tax advice, assistance with tax audits and appeals, tax advice related to mergers and acquisitions, employee benefit plans and requests for rulings or technical advice related to matters concerning various taxing authorities. |
Pre-approval Policies and Procedures
The Audit Committee has adopted policies and procedures relating to the approval of all audit and non-audit services that are to be performed by our registered public accounting firm. These policies and procedures generally provide that we will not engage our independent registered public accounting firm to render audit or non-audit services unless the service is specifically approved in advance by the Audit Committee or the engagement is entered into pursuant to one of the pre-approval procedures described below.
From time to time, the Audit Committee may pre-approve specified types of services that are expected to be provided to us by our registered independent public accounting firm during the next 12 months. Any such pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or type of services to be provided and is also generally subject to a maximum dollar amount.
The Audit Committee has also delegated to the Chair of the Audit Committee the authority to approve any audit or non-audit services to be provided to us by our registered public accounting firm. Any approval of services by the Chair of the Audit Committee pursuant to this delegated authority is reported on and ratified at the next meeting of the Audit Committee.
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) | Documents Filed as a Part of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 1, 2009: |
1. | Financial Statements. The following documents are filed as Appendix B to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 1, 2009 and are included as part of such report: |
Financial Statements:
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Loss
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
2. | Financial Statement Schedules. All Financial Statement Schedules have been omitted since they are either not required, not applicable, or the information is otherwise included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 1, 2009 |
3. | Exhibits. The Exhibits listed in the Exhibit Index immediately preceding such Exhibits are filed as part of and incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K/A. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
SKILLSOFT PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY | ||||
By: | /s/ Charles E. Moran | |||
Charles E. Moran, | ||||
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer | ||||
Date: May 28, 2009
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. | Title |
2.1 | Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 10, 2002, by and among SmartForce Public Limited Company, SkillSoft Corporation and Slate Acquisition Corp. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to SkillSoft PLC’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 14, 2002 (File No. 000-25674)). |
2.2 | Stock and Asset Purchase Agreement among T.N.H. France SARL, T.N.H. Holdings GmbH, The Thomson Corporation (Australia) Pty Ltd, Thomson Information and Solutions Limited, Thomson Global Resources, Thomson Learning Inc., SkillSoft Public Limited Company and SkillSoft Corporation, dated October 25, 2006 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to SkillSoft PLC’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 26, 2006 (File No. 000-25674)). |
2.3 | Side Letter to Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 14, 2007, by and among SkillSoft Public Limited Company, SkillSoft Corporation, Thompson Learning Inc., Thomson Global Resources, T.N.H. France SARL, T.N.H. Holdings GmbH, The Thomson Corporation (Australia) Pty Ltd., and Thomson Information & Solutions Limited (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 of SkillSoft PLC’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 14, 2007 (File No. 000-25674)). |
3.1 | Memorandum of Association of SkillSoft PLC as amended on March 24, 1992, March 31, 1995, April 28, 1998, January 26, 2000, July 10, 2001, September 6, 2002 and November 19, 2002 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to SkillSoft PLC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2002 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 21, 2003 (File No. 000-25674)). |
3.2 | Articles of Association of SkillSoft PLC as amended on July 6, 1995, April 28, 1998, January 26, 2000, July 10, 2001, September 6, 2002 and November 19, 2002 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to SkillSoft PLC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2002 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 21, 2003 (File No. 000-25674)). |
4.1 | Specimen certificate representing the ordinary shares of SkillSoft PLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to SkillSoft PLC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2003 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, 2003 (File No. 000-25674)). |
4.2 | Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement (including the form of American Depositary Receipt), dated as of April 13, 1995 as amended and restated as of September 4, 2002, among SkillSoft PLC, The Bank of New York, as Depositary, and each Owner and Beneficial Owner from time to time of American Depositary Receipts issued thereunder (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to SkillSoft PLC’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 14, 2002 (File No. 000-256740)). |
4.3 | Amended and Restated Restricted Deposit Agreement (including the form of American Depositary Receipt), dated as of November 30, 1995 and amended and restated as of September 4, 2002, among SkillSoft PLC, The Bank of New York, as Depositary, and each Owner and Beneficial Owner from time to time of American Depositary Receipts issued thereunder (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to SkillSoft PLC’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 14, 2002 (File No. 000-25674)). |
4.4 | Restricted Deposit Agreement (B) dated as of June 8, 1998 and amended and restated as of September 4, 2002 among SkillSoft PLC, The Bank of New York, and the owners and beneficial owners of Restricted American Depositary Receipts (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to SkillSoft PLC’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 14, 2002 (File No. 000-25674)). |
10.1** | Form of Indemnification Agreement between CBT Systems USA, Ltd. (formerly, Thornton Holdings, Ltd.) and its directors and officers dated as of April 1995 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to SkillSoft PLC’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 declared effective with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 13, 1995 (File No. 333-89904)). |
10.2** | Form if Indemnification Agreement between SmartForce (USA) and its directors and officers dated as of September 6, 2002 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to SkillSoft PLC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2003 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, 2003 (File No. 000 25674)). |
10.3** | Book24x7.com, Inc. 1994 Stock Option Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to SkillSoft PLC's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2002 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 21, 2003 (File No. 000-25674)). |
10.4** | 1994 Share Option Plan (Incorporated be reference to Exhibit 10.2 to SkillSoft PLC’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 declared effective with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 13, 1995 (File No. 333-89904)). |
10.5** | 1996 Supplemental Stock Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to SkillSoft PLC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2006 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 8, 2006 (File No. 000-25674)). |
10.6** | 1998 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to SkillSoft PLC's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2002 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 21, 2003 (File No. 000-25674)). |
10.7** | 2001 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to SkillSoft PLC's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2002 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 21, 2003 (File No. 000-25674)). |
10.8** | 2001 Outside Director Option Plan, as amended (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to SkillSoft PLC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2007 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 10, 2007 (File No. 000-25674)). |
10.9* | 2002 Share Option Plan, as amended December 15, 2006. |
10.10** | 2004 Employee Share Purchase Plan, as amended (Incorporated by reference to Appendix C to SkillSoft PLC's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 28, 2004 (File No. 000-25674)). |
10.11**† | Employment Agreement dated June 10, 2002 between SkillSoft PLC and Charles E. Moran, as amended December 23, 2008. |
10.12**† | Employment Agreement dated as of June 10, 2002 between SkillSoft PLC and Jerald A. Nine, Jr., as amended December 23, 2008. |
10.13 | Registration Rights Agreement dated as of June 10, 2002 between SkillSoft PLC and Warburg Pincus Ventures, L.P. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.27 to SkillSoft PLC’s Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-4 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 30, 2002 (File No. 333-90872)). |
10.14**† | Employment Agreement dated January 12, 1998 between SkillSoft Corporation and Mark A. Townsend, as amended December 29, 2008. |
10.15**† | Employment Agreement dated January 12, 1998 between SkillSoft Corporation and Thomas J. McDonald, as amended December 23, 2008. |
10.16**† | Employment Agreement dated effective September 6, 2002 between SkillSoft PLC and Colm Darcy, as amended December 23, 2008. |
10.17**† | Form of Indemnification Agreement by and between SkillSoft Corporation and its directors and officers dated as of March 2009. |
10.18 | Lease agreement, dated June 9, 2004, as amended, by and between Hewlett-Packard Company and SkillSoft Corporation (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to SkillSoft PLC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2006 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 13, 2006 (File No. 000-25674)). |
10.19** | Form of Director Option Agreement for initial grants under the 2001 Director Option Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to SkillSoft PLC’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 4, 2006 (File No. 000-25674)). |
10.20** | Form of Director Option Agreement for subsequent grants under the 2001 Director Option Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 to SkillSoft PLC’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 4, 2006 (File No. 000-25674)). |
10.21** | Form of Option Agreement under 2002 Share Option Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to SkillSoft PLC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2004 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 9, 2004 (File No. 000-25674)). |
10.22** | Summary of Fiscal 2008 Executive Incentive Compensation Program. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to SkillSoft PLC’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 25, 2007 (File No. 000-25674)). |
10.23 | Release and Settlement Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to SkillSoft PLC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2005 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 9, 2005 (File No. 000-25674)). |
10.24 | Credit Agreement, dated May 14, 2007, among SkillSoft PLC, SkillSoft Corporation, Credit Suisse, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Keybank National Association, Silicon Valley Bank, and the lenders party thereto (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of SkillSoft PLC’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 14, 2007 (File No. 000-25674)). |
10.25 | Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated May 14, 2007, among SkillSoft PLC, SkillSoft Corporation and the subsidiary guarantors party thereto (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of SkillSoft PLC’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 14, 2007 (File No. 000-25674)). |
10.26 | Amendment No.1, dated July 7, 2008, to Credit Agreement and to Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, each dated May 14, 2007 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of SkillSoft PLC’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 11, 2008 (File No. 000-25674)). |
10.27 | Summary of Fiscal 2009 Executive Cash Incentive Compensation Program (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to SkillSoft PLC’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 17, 2008 (File No. 000-25674)). |
21.1† | List of Significant Subsidiaries. |
23.1† | Consent of Ernst & Young LLP |
31.1† | Certification of SkillSoft PLC’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a- 14(a)/Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
31.2† | Certification of SkillSoft PLC’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a- 14(a)/Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
31.3* | Certification of SkillSoft PLC’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a- 14(a)/Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
31.4* | Certification of SkillSoft PLC’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a- 14(a)/Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
32.1† | Certification of SkillSoft PLC’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a- 14(b)/Rule 15d-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
32.2† | Certification of SkillSoft PLC’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a- 14(b)/Rule 15d-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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† | Filed with our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2009. |
* | Filed herewith. |
** | Denotes management or compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed by registrant pursuant to Item 15(c) of this report on Form 10-K. |