Revised Definitive Proxy Statement

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

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 under Rule 14a-12

 

 

NETFLIX, 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)(1) 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:

 

  

 

 


LOGO

 

Netflix, Inc.

100 Winchester Circle

Los Gatos, California 95032

 


 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON MAY 28, 2009

 


 

To the Stockholders of Netflix, Inc.:

 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Netflix, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), will be held on May 28, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. local time at the Company’s corporate headquarters at 100 Winchester Circle, Los Gatos, California 95032, for the following purposes:

 

  1.   To elect two Class I directors to hold office until the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders;

 

  2.   To ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2009; and

 

  3.   To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the meeting.

 

These business items are described more fully in the Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice. Only stockholders who owned our common stock at the close of business on March 31, 2009 can vote at this meeting or any adjournments that may take place.

 

All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the meeting in person. However, to assure your representation at the meeting, you are urged to mark, sign and return the enclosed proxy as promptly as possible in the postage-prepaid envelope for that purpose. Your stock will be voted in accordance with the instructions you have given. Any stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting may vote in person by attending the meeting even if he or she has previously returned a proxy. Please note, however, that if your shares of record are held by a broker, bank or other nominee and you wish to attend and vote in person at the meeting, you must obtain from the record holder a proxy issued in your name.

 

For ten days prior to the meeting, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting will be available for examination by any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting during ordinary business hours at the address of the Company’s executive offices noted above.

 

By order of the Board of Directors
LOGO
David Hyman
General Counsel and Secretary

 

April 6, 2009

Los Gatos, California


NETFLIX, INC.

100 Winchester Circle

Los Gatos, California 95032

 


 

PROXY STATEMENT

FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON MAY 28, 2009

 


 

INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING

 

General

 

The attached proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of Netflix, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 28, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. local time (the “Annual Meeting”), or at any adjournment or postponement of this meeting, for the purposes set forth in this Proxy Statement and in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Annual Meeting will be held at the Company’s corporate headquarters at 100 Winchester Circle, Los Gatos, California 95032.

 

We intend to mail this Proxy Statement and accompanying proxy card to stockholders on or about April 22, 2009.

 

Our principal executive offices are located at 100 Winchester Circle, Los Gatos, California 95032, and our telephone number is (408) 540-3700. Our Internet Web site address is www.netflix.com.

 

Revocability of Proxies

 

Any proxy given pursuant to this solicitation may be revoked by the person giving it at any time before its use by delivering to the Company’s Secretary, at the address of the Company’s executive offices noted above, written notice of revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date or by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not, by itself, revoke a proxy. Please note, however, that if your shares of record are held by a broker, bank or other nominee and you wish to attend and vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you must obtain from the record holder a proxy issued in your name.

 

Voting and Solicitation

 

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 31, 2009, referred to as the Record Date, will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. At the close of business on the Record Date, there were 58,495,014 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote. Each holder of record of shares of common stock on that date will be entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting.

 

Proxies properly executed, duly returned to the Company and not revoked will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the specifications made. Where no specifications are given, such proxies will be voted “FOR” all nominees and “FOR” all other proposals described in this Proxy Statement. It is not expected that any matters other than those referred to in this Proxy Statement will be brought before the Annual Meeting. If, however, any matter not described in this Proxy Statement is properly presented for action at the Annual Meeting, the persons named as proxies in the enclosed form of proxy will have authority to vote according to their own discretion.

 

1


The required quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting is a majority of the votes eligible to be cast by holders of shares of common stock issued and outstanding on the Record Date. Shares that are voted “FOR,” “AGAINST,” “WITHHELD” or “ABSTAIN,” referred to as the Votes Cast, are treated as being present at the Annual Meeting for purposes of establishing a quorum. An abstention will have the same effect as a vote against a proposal. Broker non-votes will be counted for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum for the transaction of business, but such non-votes will not be counted for purposes of determining the number of Votes Cast with respect to the particular proposal on which a broker has expressly not voted. Thus, a broker non-vote will not affect the outcome of the voting on a particular proposal.

 

The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company. In addition to soliciting stockholders by mail and dissemination to its employees, the Company will request that banks and brokers and other persons representing beneficial owners of the shares forward the proxy solicitation material to such beneficial owners, and the Company may reimburse these parties for their reasonable out-of-pocket costs. The Company may use the services of its officers, directors and others to solicit proxies, personally or by telephone, facsimile or electronic mail, without additional compensation.

 

Stockholder Proposals

 

Proposals of stockholders that are intended to be presented at our 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in the proxy materials for such meeting must comply with the requirements of SEC Rule 14a-8 and must be received by our Secretary no later than December 7, 2009 in order to be included in the Proxy Statement and proxy materials relating to our 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. A stockholder proposal or a nomination for director that will not be included in our Proxy Statement and proxy materials, but that a stockholder intends to present in person at the meeting, must generally be submitted to our Secretary no earlier than February 6, 2010, and no later than March 8, 2010.

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON MAY 28, 2009

 

The proxy statement, notice of Annual Meeting, form of proxy and annual report to stockholders are available at http://ir.netflix.com/annuals.cfm.

 

You may find our Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings, including our annual reports on Form 10-K, on our Investor Relations Web site at http://ir.netflix.com/sec.cfm.

 

For directions to attend the Annual Meeting in person, visit our Web site at http://ir.netflix.com/annuals.cfm.

 

Stockholders will be able to obtain copies of the annual meeting materials, including the proxy statement, notice of annual meeting, form of proxy and annual report to stockholders for future annual meetings by visiting http://ir.netflix.com or sending an e-mail to ir@netflix.com.

 

2


PROPOSAL ONE

 

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

Nominees

 

Two Class I directors, Richard N. Barton and Charles H. Giancarlo, are to be elected at the Annual Meeting. Mr. Barton has been elected by the Company’s stockholders at previous annual meetings. Mr. Giancarlo has been a director of the Company since April of 2007 but has not previously been subject to stockholder election. Mr. Giancarlo was initially identified by the Nominating and Governance Committee as a candidate for director through his professional activities including his positions with Cisco Systems. Unless otherwise instructed, the proxy holders will vote the proxies received by them for Messrs. Barton and Giancarlo, each of whom is presently a director of the Company. If either of Messrs. Barton and Giancarlo is unable or declines to serve as a director at the time of the Annual Meeting, the proxies will be voted for a substitute nominee designated by the Board to fill the vacancy, or if no substitute has been nominated, for the remaining nominees. It is not expected that either Messrs. Barton or Giancarlo will be unable to serve as a director, and each has agreed to serve as a director of the Company if elected. The term of office of each director elected at this Annual Meeting will continue until the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held in 2012 or until such director’s successor has been duly elected or appointed and qualified, or until his earlier resignation or removal.

 

Vote Required; Recommendation of Board

 

The two candidates receiving the highest number of affirmative Votes Cast will each be elected as Class I directors.

 

THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE NOMINEES LISTED BELOW.

 

Nominee


   Age

  

Principal Occupation


Richard N. Barton

   41    Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Zillow, Inc.

Charles H. Giancarlo

   51    Managing Director, Silver Lake

 

Richard N. Barton has served as one of the Company’s directors since May 2002. In late 2004, Mr. Barton co-founded Zillow, Inc. where he is now Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. Additionally, Mr. Barton is a Venture Partner with Benchmark Capital. Previously, Mr. Barton founded Expedia, Inc. in 1994 and was its President, Chief Executive Officer and director from November 1999 to March 2003. Mr. Barton was a director of InterActiveCorp from February 2003 until January 2005. Mr. Barton holds a B.S. in industrial engineering from Stanford University.

 

Charles H. Giancarlo has served as one of the Company’s directors since April 2007. Currently, Mr. Giancarlo is chairman of the board of directors of Avaya, a leading enterprise communications systems company. Mr. Giancarlo also is a Managing Director at Silver Lake, a private equity firm, where he has served since December 2007. Previously, Mr. Giancarlo held a variety of roles at Cisco Systems, Inc., a provider of Internet Protocol (IP)-based networking and other products related to the communications and information technology industry from 1994 through 2007. Most recently, he was President of Cisco-Linksys, LLC, a position he held since June 2004 and Cisco’s Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer, a position he held since July 2005. From July 2004 to July 2005, he was Chief Technology Officer. Prior to that, Mr. Giancarlo was Senior Vice President and General Manager of Product Development, from July 2001 to July 2004. He also served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Commercial Business Segment from May 1999 to July 2001, managing one of Cisco’s fastest growing business segments. In May 1997, he was appointed to establish Cisco’s Global Alliances and ran the division as Senior Vice President until May 1999. In his first Cisco role after joining the company through the acquisition of Kalpana, Inc., Mr. Giancarlo held the title of Vice

 

3


President of Business Development, from December 1994 to May 1997. Mr. Giancarlo holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from Brown University and the University of California at Berkeley, respectively, and an MBA from Harvard University.

 

Directors Not Standing For Election and Executive Officers

 

The members of the Board whose terms or directorships do not expire at the Annual Meeting and who are not standing for election at this year’s Annual Meeting and our executive officers are set forth below:

 

Name


   Age

   Class/Term
Expiration


  

Principal Occupation


Directors               

Timothy M. Haley

   54    Class II/2010   

Managing Director, Redpoint Ventures

Michael N. Schuh

   65    Class II/2010   

Managing Member, Foundation Capital

Gregory S. Stanger

   44    Class II/2010   

Investor

A. George (Skip) Battle

   65    Class III/2011   

Investor

Reed Hastings

   48    Class III/2011   

Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board, Netflix, Inc.

Jay C. Hoag

   50    Class III/2011   

General Partner, Technology Crossover Ventures

Other Executive Officers               

Neil Hunt

   47      

Chief Product Officer, Netflix, Inc.

Leslie Kilgore

   43      

Chief Marketing Officer, Netflix, Inc.

Barry McCarthy

   55      

Chief Financial Officer, Netflix, Inc.

Patty McCord

   55      

Chief Talent Officer, Netflix, Inc.

Ted Sarandos

   44      

Chief Content Officer, Netflix, Inc.

 

Timothy M. Haley has served as one of the Company’s directors since June 1998. Mr. Haley is a co-founder of Redpoint Ventures, a venture capital firm, and has been a Managing Director of the firm since October 1999. Mr. Haley has been a Managing Director of Institutional Venture Partners, a venture capital firm, since February 1998. From June 1986 to February 1998, Mr. Haley was the President of Haley Associates, an executive recruiting firm in the high technology industry. Mr. Haley currently serves on the board of directors of several private companies. Mr. Haley holds a B.A. from Santa Clara University.

 

Michael N. Schuh has served as one of the Company’s directors since February 1999. From August 1998 to the present, Mr. Schuh has served as a Managing Member of Foundation Capital, a venture capital firm. Prior to joining Foundation Capital, Mr. Schuh was a founder and Chief Executive Officer of Intrinsa Corporation, a supplier of productivity solutions for software development organizations from 1994 to 1998. Mr. Schuh serves on the board of directors of several private companies. Mr. Schuh holds a B.S.E.E. from the University of Maryland.

 

Gregory S. Stanger has served as one of the Company’s directors since June 2005. Mr. Stanger has served as a venture partner at Technology Crossover Ventures, a venture capital firm, since June 2005 and was an executive in residence from December 2003 to June 2005. Mr. Stanger served as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and director of Expedia, Inc. from February 2002 to September 2003 and as its Chief Financial Officer from October 1999 to September 2003. Before joining Expedia, he served as Senior Director, Corporate Development of Microsoft Corporation and held other positions within Microsoft’s Finance and Corporate Development departments since 1991. Mr. Stanger serves on the board of directors of Drugstore.com, Infovell, Inc. and Global Market Insite, Inc. Mr. Stanger received a B.A. from Williams College and an M.B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley.

 

A. George (Skip) Battle has served as one of the Company’s directors since June 2005. Mr. Battle was previously Executive Chairman of the Board of Ask Jeeves, Inc. which was acquired by IAC/InterActiveCorp in July 2005. He was Chief Executive Officer of Ask Jeeves from 2000 to 2003. From 1968 until his retirement in

 

4


1995, Mr. Battle served in management roles at Arthur Andersen LLP and then Andersen Consulting LLP (now Accenture), where he became worldwide managing partner of market development and a member of the firm’s executive committee. Educated at Dartmouth College and the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Mr. Battle currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Fair Isaac Corporation, a director of Advent Software, Inc. and Expedia, Inc., and a member of the board of the Masters Select family of mutual funds. He was previously a director of PeopleSoft, Inc. and Barra, Inc.

 

Reed Hastings has served as our Chief Executive Officer since September 1998 and our Chairman of the Board since inception. Mr. Hastings served as Chief Executive Officer of Pure Atria Software, a maker of software development tools, from its inception in October 1991 until it was acquired by Rational Software Corporation, in August 1997. Mr. Hastings holds an M.S.C.S. degree from Stanford University and a B.A. from Bowdoin College.

 

Jay C. Hoag has served as one of the Company’s directors since June 1999. Since June 1995, Mr. Hoag has served as a founding General Partner at Technology Crossover Ventures, a private equity and venture capital firm. Mr. Hoag serves on the board of directors of Tech Target and several private companies. Mr. Hoag holds an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan and a B.A. from Northwestern University.

 

Neil Hunt has served as the Company’s Chief Product Officer since 2002 and as its Vice President Internet Engineering from 1999 to 2002. From 1997 to 1999, Mr. Hunt was Director of Engineering for Rational Software. Mr. Hunt holds a doctorate in computer science from the University of Aberdeen, U.K. and a bachelors degree from the University of Durham, U.K.

 

Leslie Kilgore has served as the Company’s Chief Marketing Officer (formerly Vice President of Marketing) since March 2000. From February 1999 to March 2000, Ms. Kilgore served as Director of Marketing for Amazon.com, Inc., an Internet retailer. Ms. Kilgore served as a brand manager for The Procter & Gamble Company, a manufacturer and marketer of consumer products, from August 1992 to February 1999. Ms. Kilgore holds an M.B.A. from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business and a B.S. from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

 

Barry McCarthy has served as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer since April 1999 and its Secretary from May 1999 to June 2007. From January 1993 to December 1999, Mr. McCarthy was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Music Choice, a music programming service distributed over direct broadcast satellite and cable systems. From June 1990 to December 1992, Mr. McCarthy was Managing Partner of BMP Partners, a financial consulting and advisory firm. From 1982 to 1990, Mr. McCarthy was an Associate, Vice President and Director with Credit Suisse First Boston, an investment banking firm. Mr. McCarthy holds an M.B.A. from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. from Williams College.

 

Patty McCord has served as the Company’s Chief Talent Officer since 1998. Prior to joining Netflix, Ms. McCord served as Director of Human Resources at Pure Atria, which was acquired by Rational Software Corporation, where she managed all human resources functions and directed all management development programs from 1994 to 1997.

 

Ted Sarandos has served as the Company’s Chief Content Officer and Vice President of Content since 2000. Prior to joining Netflix, Mr. Sarandos was Vice President of Product and Merchandising for Video City.

 

There are no family relationships among any of our directors, nominees for director and Executive Officers.

 

Board Meetings and Committees

 

The Board held five meetings during 2008. Each Board member attended at least 75% of the aggregate of the Board meetings and meetings of the Board committees on which such director served held in 2008.

 

5


As of the date of the Proxy Statement, the Board has four standing committees: (1) the Compensation Committee; (2) the Audit Committee; (3) the Nominating and Governance Committee and; (4) the Stock Option Committee.

 

Compensation Committee

 

The Compensation Committee of the Board consists of three non-employee directors: Messrs. Battle, Haley (Chair), and Hoag. The Compensation Committee reviews and approves all forms of compensation to be provided to the executive officers and directors of the Company. The Compensation Committee may not delegate these duties. For a description of the role of the executive officers in recommending compensation and the role of any compensation consultants, please see the section entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” below. The Compensation Committee held three meetings in 2008. Each member attended at least 75% of the Compensation Committee meetings in 2008 that were held during the period that the individual served on the Compensation Committee.

 

The Report of the Compensation Committee is included in this Proxy Statement. In addition, the Board has adopted a written charter for the Compensation Committee, which is available on the Company’s Investor Relations Web site at http://ir.netflix.com/documents.cfm.

 

Audit Committee

 

The Audit Committee of the Board consists of three non-employee directors: Messrs. Haley, Schuh, and Stanger (Chair), each of whom is independent in compliance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the listing standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market as they pertain to audit committee members. The Board has determined that Mr. Stanger is an audit committee financial expert as defined by Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

The Audit Committee engages the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, reviews the Company’s financial controls, evaluates the scope of the annual audit, reviews audit results, consults with management and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm prior to the presentation of financial statements to stockholders and, as appropriate, initiates inquiries into aspects of the Company’s internal accounting controls and financial affairs. The Audit Committee met five times in 2008. Each member attended at least 75% of the Audit Committee meetings in 2008 that were held during the period that the individual served on the Audit Committee.

 

The Report of the Audit Committee is included in this Proxy Statement. In addition, the Board has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee, which is attached as Appendix A to this proxy statement and is available on the Company’s Investor Relations Web site at http://ir.netflix.com/documents.cfm.

 

Nominating and Governance Committee

 

The Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board consists of two non-employee directors, Messrs. Barton and Hoag (Chair). The Nominating and Governance Committee reviews and approves candidates for election and to fill vacancies on the Board, including re-nominations of members whose terms are due to expire, and reviews and provides guidance to the Board on corporate governance matters. The Nominating and Governance Committee met three times in 2008 and all the meetings were attended by both members.

 

The Board has adopted a written charter for the Nominating and Governance Committee, which is available on the Company’s Investor Relations Web site at http://ir.netflix.com/documents.cfm.

 

6


Stock Option Committee

 

The Stock Option Committee of the Board consists of one employee director: Mr. Hastings. The Stock Option Committee has authority to review and approve the stock options granted to employees pursuant to the Company’s option grant program. The Board has also authorized certain Company officers to review and approve option grants to employees, other than to themselves or directors or executive officers of the Company. The Board retained the power to adjust, eliminate or otherwise modify the Company’s option granting practices, any option allowance or portions thereof not previously granted, including without limitation the monthly option formula.

 

The Stock Option Committee did not hold meetings in 2008. The Stock Option Committee acts pursuant to powers delegated to it by the Board. The Board has not adopted a written charter for the Stock Option Committee.

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

None of the Company’s executive officers serves on the board of directors or compensation committee of a company that has an executive officer that serves on the Company’s Board or Compensation Committee. No member of the Company’s Board is an executive officer of a company in which one of the Company’s executive officers serves as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of that company.

 

The Compensation Committee consists of Messrs. Haley, Hoag and Battle, none of whom is currently or was formerly an officer or employee of the Company. Neither Mr. Haley nor Mr. Hoag nor Mr. Battle had a relationship with the Company that required disclosure under Item 404 of Regulation S-K. In addition to Messrs. Haley, Hoag and Battle, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Talent Officer participated in the executive compensation process as described below in the section entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”

 

Director Independence

 

The Board has determined that each of Messrs. Barton, Battle, Giancarlo, Haley, Hoag, Schuh, and Stanger is independent under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the listing standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market; therefore, every member of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee is an independent director in accordance with those standards. There were no related party transactions to be considered in the last fiscal year in the determination of the independence of the directors. See “Procedures for Approval of Related Party Transactions” in this Proxy Statement for more information.

 

Consideration of Director Nominees

 

Stockholder Nominees

 

The Nominating and Governance Committee considers properly submitted stockholder nominations for candidates for membership on the Board as described below under “Identifying and Evaluating Nominees for Directors.” Any stockholder nominations proposed for consideration by the Nominating and Governance Committee should include the nominee’s name and qualifications for Board membership. In addition, they should be submitted within the time frame as specified under “Stockholder Proposals” above and addressed to: Netflix, Inc., 100 Winchester Circle, Los Gatos, California 95032, Attention: Secretary.

 

Director Qualifications

 

In discharging its responsibilities to nominate candidates for election to the Board, the Nominating and Governance Committee has not specified any minimum qualifications for serving on the Board. However, the Nominating and Governance Committee endeavors to evaluate, propose and approve candidates with business

 

7


experience and personal skills in technology, finance, marketing, financial reporting and other areas that may be expected to contribute to an effective Board.

 

Identifying and Evaluating Nominees for Directors

 

The Nominating and Governance Committee utilizes a variety of methods for identifying and evaluating nominees for director. Candidates may come to the attention of the Nominating and Governance Committee through management, current Board members, stockholders or other persons. These candidates are evaluated at periodic meetings of the Nominating and Governance Committee as necessary and discussed by the members of the Nominating and Governance Committee from time to time. Candidates may be considered at any point during the year. As described above, the Nominating and Governance Committee considers properly submitted stockholder nominations for candidates for the Board. Following verification of the stockholder status of persons proposing candidates, recommendations are aggregated and considered by the Nominating and Governance Committee. If any materials are provided by a stockholder in connection with the nomination of a director candidate, such materials are forwarded to the Nominating and Governance Committee. The Nominating and Governance Committee also reviews materials provided by professional search firms or other parties in connection with a nominee who is not proposed by a stockholder.

 

Communications with the Board

 

The Company provides a process for stockholders to send communications to the Board. Information regarding stockholder communications with the Board can be found on the Company’s Investor Relations Web site at http://ir.netflix.com/governance.cfm.

 

Policy Regarding Director Attendance at the Annual Meeting

 

The Company’s policy regarding directors’ attendance at the annual meetings of stockholders and their attendance record at last year’s annual meeting of stockholders can be found on the Company’s Investor Relations Web site at http://ir.netflix.com/governance.cfm.

 

8


PROPOSAL TWO

 

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC

ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

The Board has selected KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2009. The Company is submitting its selection of KPMG LLP for ratification by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting. KPMG LLP has audited the Company’s financial statements since 1998. The Company expects that representatives of KPMG LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement if they wish and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

 

The Company’s Bylaws do not require that stockholders ratify the selection of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. However, the Company is submitting the selection of KPMG LLP to stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If stockholders do not ratify the selection, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether to retain KPMG LLP. Even if the selection is ratified, the Board and the Audit Committee at their discretion may change the appointment at any time during the year if they determine that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

 

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

During 2008 and 2007, fees for services provided by KPMG LLP were as follows:

 

     2008

   2007

Audit Fees

   $ 1,791,726    $ 1,506,074

Tax Fees

     216,471      111,910
    

  

Total

   $ 2,008,197    $ 1,617,984
    

  

 

Audit Fees include amounts related to the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements and quarterly review of the financial statements included in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

 

Tax Fees include fees billed for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning services.

 

There were no audit related or other fees billed by KPMG LLP for services rendered to the Company, other than the services described above, in 2008 and 2007.

 

The Audit Committee has determined that the rendering of non-audit services by KPMG LLP was compatible with maintaining their independence.

 

Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

The Audit Committee pre-approves all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax and other services. Pre-approval is generally provided for up to one year, and any pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or category of services and is generally subject to a specific budget. The independent registered public accounting firm and management are required to periodically report to the Audit Committee regarding the extent of services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm in accordance with this pre-approval, and the fees for the services performed to date. The Audit Committee may also pre-approve particular services on a case-by-case basis. During 2008 and 2007, all services provided by KPMG LLP were pre-approved by the Audit Committee in accordance with this policy.

 

9


Vote Required; Recommendation of the Board

 

The affirmative vote of the majority of the Votes Cast is required for ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2009.

 

THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF KPMG LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2009.

 

10


SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF

CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

 

The following table sets forth certain information known to the Company with respect to beneficial ownership of our common stock as of March 31, 2009 by (i) each stockholder that the Company knows is the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our common stock, (ii) each director and nominee for director, (iii) each of the Named Executive Officers named in the “Summary Executive Compensation” table, and (iv) all executive officers and directors as a group. The Company has relied upon information provided to the Company by its directors and Named Executive Officers and copies of documents sent to the Company that have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by others for purposes of determining the number of shares each person beneficially owns. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and generally includes those persons who have voting or investment power with respect to the securities. Except as otherwise indicated, and subject to applicable community property laws, the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of the Company’s common stock beneficially owned by them. Shares of the Company’s common stock subject to options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2009 are also deemed outstanding for purposes of calculating the percentage ownership of that person, and if applicable, the percentage ownership of the executive officers and directors as a group, but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of calculating the percentage ownership of any other person. Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each stockholder listed in the table below is c/o Netflix, Inc., 100 Winchester Circle, Los Gatos, CA 95032.

 

Name and Address


   Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned


   Percent of
Class


 

Jay C. Hoag (1)

   10,020,935    17.11 %

528 Ramona Street

           

Palo Alto, CA 94301

           

Entities Related to Technology (2)

   9,983,192    17.07 %

Crossover Ventures

           

528 Ramona Street

           

Palo Alto, CA 94301

           

FMR LLC (3)

   7,590,075    12.98 %

82 Devonshire Street

           

Boston, MA 02109

           

Reed Hastings (4)

   3,766,877    6.25 %

AXA Financial, Inc. (5)

   3,688,648    6.31 %

1290 Avenue of the Americas

           

New York, NY 10104

           

Aronson & Johnson & Ortiz, LP (6)

   3,057,800    5.23 %

230 S. Broad Street, 20th Floor

           

Philadelphia, PA 19102

           

Barry McCarthy (7)

   648,032    1.10 %

Neil Hunt (8)

   290,759    *  

Leslie Kilgore (9)

   271,069    *  

Michael N. Schuh (10)

   126,952    *  

70 Willow Road, Suite 200

           

Menlo Park, CA 94025

           

Richard N. Barton (11)

   118,236    *  

A. George (Skip) Battle (12)

   102,236    *  

 

11


Name and Address


   Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned


   Percent of
Class


 

Gregory S. Stanger (13)

   92,120    *  

Timothy M. Haley (14)

   72,236    *  

c/o Redpoint Ventures

           

3000 Sand Hill Road

           

Building 2, Suite 290

           

Menlo Park, CA 94025

           

Ted Sarandos (15)

   69,163    *  

Charles H. Giancarlo (16)

   45,982    *  

Patty McCord (17)

   31,198    *  

All directors and executive officers as a group (13 persons) (18)

   15,655,795    25.27 %

   *   Less than 1% of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock.

 

  (1)   Includes options to purchase 57,223 shares held by Jay C. Hoag. Mr. Hoag has the sole dispositive power over the options and the shares to be received upon exercise of such options and the sole voting power and sole investment control over the shares he receives upon exercise of the options. However, TCMI, Inc. holds 100% of the pecuniary interest in such options and the shares to be received upon exercise of such options. Mr. Hoag disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares and options except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. Also includes shares held by TCV IV, L.P., TCV IV Strategic Partners, L.P., TCV VI, L.P. and TCV Member Fund, L.P. (collectively, the “TCV Entities”). Please see footnote 2 for a discussion of the ownership of the TCV Entities. Mr. Hoag disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by the TCV Entities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

 

  (2)   All of the shares of the Company’s common stock shown in the preceding table as beneficially owned by entities related to Technology Crossover Ventures are held of record by the TCV Entities and by The Kimball Family Trust Uta Dtd 2/23/94 (the “Kimball Trust”) and The Griffith Family 2004 Trust (the “Griffith Trust”). TCV IV, L.P. is the record holder of 7,733,802 of the Company’s shares. TCV IV Strategic Partners, L.P. is the record holder of 288,385 of the Company’s shares. Technology Crossover Management IV, L.L.C. (“TCM IV”) is the sole general partner of TCV IV, L.P. and TCV IV Strategic Partners, L.P. (collectively, the “TCV IV Funds”) and has sole voting power and sole investment control over the TCV IV Funds. Mr. Hoag and Richard H. Kimball are Managing Members of TCM IV and have shared voting power and sole investment control over the shares held by the TCV IV Funds. Mr. Hoag, Mr. Kimball and TCM IV disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares held by the TCV IV Funds except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.

 

     TCV VI, L.P. is the record holder of 1,926,334 of the Company’s shares. TCV Member Fund, L.P. is the record holder of 15,191 of the Company’s shares. Technology Crossover Management VI, L.L.C. (“TCM VI”) is the general partner of TCV VI, L.P. and a general partner of TCV Member Fund, L.P. TCM VI has sole voting power and sole investment control over the shares held by the shares held by TCV VI, L.P. and TCV Member Fund, L.P. (collectively, the “TCV VI Funds”). Mr. Hoag, a director of the Company and a Class A Member of TCM VI, together with other Class A Members of TCM VI, Mr. Kimball, John L. Drew, Jon Q. Reynolds, Jr., William J.G. Griffith IV and Robert W. Trudeau (collectively, the “TCM Members”), share voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares beneficially owned by the TCV VI Funds. TCM VI and the TCM Members disclaim beneficial ownership of any shares held by the TCV VI Funds except to the extent of their respective pecuniary interests.

 

       The Kimball Trust is the record holder of 15,176 shares. Mr. Kimball is a trustee of the Kimball Trust. Mr. Kimball disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by the Kimball Trust except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

 

12


       The Griffith Trust is the record holder of 4,304 shares. Mr. Griffith is a trustee of the Griffith Trust. Mr. Griffith disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by the Griffith Trust except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

 

  (3)   As of December 31, 2008, based on information provided by FMR, LLC in the Schedule 13G/A filed February 17, 2009.

 

  (4)   Includes options to purchase 1,813,292 shares. Mr. Hastings is a trustee of the Hastings-Quillin Family Trust, which is the record holder of 1,953,585 of the Company’s shares.

 

  (5)   As of December 31, 2008, based on information provided by AXA Financial, Inc. in the Schedule 13G filed February 13, 2009.

 

  (6)   As of December 31, 2008, based on information provided by Aronson & Johnson & Ortiz, LP in the Schedule 13G filed February 9, 2009.

 

  (7)   Includes options to purchase 599,740 shares.

 

  (8)   Includes options to purchase 218,228 shares.

 

  (9)   Includes options to purchase 240,017 shares.

 

(10)   Includes options to purchase 72,236 shares. Mr. Schuh is a trustee of the Michael N. and Mary G. Schuh 1990 Family Trust, which is the record holder of 50,096 of the Company’s shares. Mr. Schuh disclaims beneficial ownership of 10,000 shares held by Mary G. Schuh IRA.

 

(11)   Includes options to purchase 112,236 shares.

 

(12)   Includes options to purchase 72,236 shares.

 

(13)   Includes options to purchase 72,236 shares.

 

(14)   Includes options to purchase 72,236 shares.

 

(15)   Includes options to purchase 68,212 shares.

 

(16)   Includes options to purchase 35,982 shares. Mr. Giancarlo is a trustee of the Giancarlo Family Trust, which is the record holder of 10,000 of the Company’s shares.

 

(17)   Includes options to purchase 21,426 shares.

 

(18)   Includes, without duplication, the shares and options listed in footnotes (1), (4) and (7) through (17) above.

 

13


COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

Philosophy

 

The Company’s compensation philosophy, which is the same for its Named Executive Officers and all other salaried employees, is premised on the Company’s desire to attract and retain outstanding performers. As such, the Company aims to provide highly competitive compensation packages for all its key positions, including its Named Executive Officers. The Company’s compensation practices are guided by market rates and tailored to account for the specific needs and responsibilities of the particular position as well as the performance and unique qualifications of the individual employee, rather than by seniority or overall Company performance. Individual compensation is nonetheless linked to Company performance by virtue of the stock options granted by the Company.

 

In addition, the Company believes that to attract and retain outstanding performers, it must provide a challenging work environment. To this end, the Company strives to maintain a high-performance culture; that is, an environment in which employees excel in articulated performance values. Below is a list of the Company’s articulated performance values (including the explanations of those values provided to employees). The Company evaluates employee performance, including that of the Named Executive Officers, in light of these performance values.

 

1. Judgment

 

  ·  

You make wise decisions (people, technical, business, and creative) despite ambiguity

  ·  

You identify root causes, and get beyond treating symptoms

  ·  

You think strategically, and can articulate what you are, and are not, trying to do

  ·  

You smartly separate what must be done well now, and what can be improved later

 

2. Innovation

 

  ·  

You re-conceptualize issues to discover practical solutions to hard problems

  ·  

You challenge prevailing assumptions when warranted, and suggest better approaches

  ·  

You create new ideas that prove useful

  ·  

You keep us nimble by minimizing complexity and finding time to simplify

 

3. Impact

 

  ·  

You accomplish amazing amounts of important work

  ·  

You demonstrate consistently strong performance so colleagues can rely upon you

  ·  

You focus on great results rather than on process

  ·  

You exhibit bias-to-action, and avoid analysis-paralysis

 

4. Curiosity

 

  ·  

You learn rapidly and eagerly

  ·  

You seek to understand our strategy, market, subscribers, and suppliers

  ·  

You are broadly knowledgeable about business, technology and entertainment

  ·  

You contribute effectively outside of your specialty

 

5. Communication

 

  ·  

You listen well, instead of reacting fast, so you can better understand

  ·  

You are concise and articulate in speech and writing

  ·  

You treat people with respect independent of their status or disagreement with you

  ·  

You maintain calm poise in stressful situations

 

14


6. Courage

 

  ·  

You say what you think even if it is controversial

  ·  

You make tough decisions without excessive agonizing

  ·  

You take smart risks

  ·  

You question actions inconsistent with our values

 

7. Honesty

 

  ·  

You are known for candor and directness

  ·  

You are non-political when you disagree with others

  ·  

You only say things about fellow employees you will say to their face

  ·  

You are quick to admit mistakes

 

8. Selflessness

 

  ·  

You seek what is best for Netflix, rather than best for yourself or your group

  ·  

You are ego-less when searching for the best ideas

  ·  

You make time to help colleagues

  ·  

You share information openly and proactively

 

9. Passion

 

  ·  

You inspire others with your thirst for excellence

  ·  

You care intensely about Netflix’ success

  ·  

You celebrate wins

  ·  

You are tenacious

 

Determining Total Compensation

 

In determining the appropriate level of total compensation for its Named Executive Officers, the Compensation Committee reviews and considers the performance of each Named Executive Officer in light of the Compensation philosophy outlined above. The Committee also evaluates comparative compensation data, which includes salary, equity and other compensation components from similarly situated companies. The Compensation Committee discusses, for each Named Executive Officer, the estimated amount of compensation:

 

(i)     the Company would be willing pay to retain that person;

(ii)    the Company would have to pay to replace the person; and,

(iii)   the individual could otherwise command in the employment marketplace.

 

By evaluating the comparative compensation data in light of the foregoing factors, the Company believes it is better able to tailor its compensation determinations with the specific needs and responsibilities of the particular position as well as the performance and unique qualifications of the individual Named Executive Officer.

 

The Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Talent Officer review the comparative data and discuss the factors listed above for each Named Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer then makes recommendations to the Compensation Committee regarding total compensation for each Named Executive Officer. The Compensation Committee reviews and discusses the information and determines the total compensation for each Named Executive Officer as it deems appropriate. Total compensation is expressed in a dollar-denominated amount, but as described below, may be allocated between the two primary elements of the Company’s compensation program, salary and stock options.

 

15


In 2008 and 2007, comparative compensation data for helping estimate the three factors listed above for determining total compensation was primarily derived from Compensia, a management consulting firm providing executive compensation advisory services. The Compensation Committee retained Compensia to review the competitiveness of the Company’s executive compensation program and to help the Committee in determining the total compensation for each Named Executive Officer. Examples of this first group include, Monster Worldwide, Netgear and WebMD. The second group consisted of technology companies located in the San Francisco-Bay Area with annual revenues of generally between $700 million to $1.5 billion. Examples of this second group include, JDS Uniphase, Polycom and Sybase.

 

The Company does not specifically benchmark compensation for its Named Executive Officers in terms of picking a particular percentile relative to other people with similar titles at peer group companies. The Company believes that many subjective factors unique to each Named Executive Officer’s responsibilities and performance are not adequately reflected or otherwise accounted for in a percentile-based compensation determination. Nonetheless, this comparative compensation data is valuable in that it provides the Company with insight into ranges and components of total compensation as well as confirms the reasonableness of the Company’s own compensation decisions.

 

In previous years, comparative compensation data was collected primarily from the Radford Executive Survey produced by Radford Survey and Consulting as well as from a review by the Company of salary and other compensation information of named executive officers at similarly-situated technology, e-commerce, retail and entertainment companies.

 

The Chief Executive Officer’s total compensation is determined by the Compensation Committee in executive session without the presence of the Chief Executive Officer. The Committee’s decision regarding total compensation for the Chief Executive Officer is based on the philosophy outlined above as well as the review and data provided by Compensia. The accomplishments of the Chief Executive Officer in developing the business strategy for the Company, the performance of the Company relative to this strategy and his ability to attract and retain senior management are also considered.

 

The Company’s compensation practices, including its performance values, are evaluated on an ongoing basis to determine whether they are appropriate to attract, retain and reward outstanding performers. Such evaluations may result in a refinement of the Company’s articulation of its performance values or a determination that it is appropriate to adjust total compensation or otherwise modify the methods of granting equity incentives. Individual employee performance, including that of our Named Executive Officers, is also evaluated on an ongoing basis. To the extent such performance exceeds or falls short of the Company’s performance values, the Company may take action that includes, in the case of star performers, promotions or increases in total compensation or, in the case of under performers, demotion, a reduction in total compensation or termination.

 

Elements of Total Compensation

 

After determining the total compensation amount for each Named Executive Officer by the method described above, the total compensation amount for each individual is divided into the two key elements of salary and stock options. This allocation is made pursuant to the compensation preferences of each Named Executive Officer who, within the parameters of the total compensation, can request a customized combination of salary and stock options. The Compensation Committee retains the authority to adjust these requests. With respect to compensation for 2009 and the previous two years, the Compensation Committee made no adjustments to the requested monthly stock option amounts. The amount of total compensation allocated to salary is considered cash compensation and paid through payroll during the year on a semi-monthly basis. The amount of total compensation allocated to stock options is referred to as the stock option allowance and while it is expressed in a dollar denomination, it is merely used by the Company to calculate the number of stock options to be granted in the manner described below. The stock option allowance amount is not available to the employees as cash compensation, except in instances where severance payments are made and as otherwise set forth in the Executive Severance and Retention Incentive Plan described below.

 

16


The Company does not currently provide a program of performance bonuses for its Named Executive Officers. The Company expects all individuals to perform at a level deserving of a bonus and therefore such bonus amounts are taken into consideration in determining total compensation for the Company’s employees.

 

In 2006, each employee, including the Named Executive Officers, who received stock options as part of his or her compensation package was required to allocate at least 5% of total compensation to stock options. Starting in 2007, all such employees could request any combination of salary and stock options, provided they were not able to receive more than 50% of their total compensation in stock options and the Company (or in the case of the Named Executive Officers, the Compensation Committee) retained the right to adjust the requests or otherwise modify or eliminate the monthly stock option awards. For 2009, the percentage of total compensation that could be requested in stock options increased to 60%. By this method, each Named Executive Officer has the ability prior to the beginning of each calendar year to request his or her preferred mix of compensation elements within the parameters of total compensation. Once the allocation is requested, the Named Executive Officer generally may not make any adjustments or modifications during the calendar year.

 

After determining the amount of total compensation to be allocated to stock options, the Named Executive Officers receive monthly option grants pursuant to the Company’s monthly option grant program. Under this program, the Named Executive Officers receive, on the first trading day of the month, fully vested options granted at fair market value as reflected by the closing price on the date of the option grant. The number of stock options to be granted monthly will fluctuate based on the fair market value on the date of the option grant. The actual number of options to be granted is determined by the following formula: the monthly dollar amount of the stock option allowance / ([fair market value on the date of option grant] * 0.25). This option granting practice is the same for Named Executive Officers and all other salaried employees. The Company established the foregoing formula in an effort to encourage stock ownership by employees. Under accounting valuation, the dollar value of stock options granted by the Company are appreciably higher than the dollar value of the Stock Option Allowance (please compare “Summary Executive Compensation” table provided in this Proxy Statement with the table listed below). While any valuation of options is inherently subjective, the Company believes that its formula for granting options when compared to the accounting valuation helps encourage stock ownership and therefore serves as an effective vehicle for helping align stockholder interests with the compensation of employees. Furthermore, because the stock options are granted at fair market value on the date of the option grant and are not generally transferable, they are only of value to the recipient through an increase in the market value of the Company’s common stock, thereby linking that element of compensation to Company performance.

 

As shown in the table below, the Company’s Named Executive Officers receive a significant portion of their total compensation in the form of stock options. The Company believes that equity ownership, including stock and stock options, helps align the interest of the Named Executive Officers with those of the Company’s stockholders and is a good mechanism to link executive compensation to long-term company performance.

 

17


In 2008, the salary and stock option components for the Named Executive Officers were allocated as follows (please see the “Summary Executive Compensation” table provided in this Proxy Statement for a complete description of the compensation of the Named Executive Officers in 2008):

 

Name and Position


   2008
Annual Salary


   2008
Annual Stock
Option Allowance


   2008
Monthly Stock
Option Allowance


Reed Hastings

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

   $ 1,000,000    $ 1,000,000    $ 83,333

Neil Hunt

Chief Product Officer

     800,000      400,000      33,333

Leslie Kilgore

Chief Marketing Officer

     750,000      750,000      62,500

Barry McCarthy

Chief Financial Officer

     800,000      600,000      50,000

Ted Sarandos

Chief Content Officer

     900,000      100,000      8,333

 

In 2009, the salary and stock option components for the Named Executive Officers are being allocated as follows:

 

Name and Position


   2009
Annual Salary


   2009
Annual Stock
Option Allowance


   2009
Monthly Stock
Option Allowance


Reed Hastings

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

   $ 1,000,000    $ 1,000,000    $ 83,333

Neil Hunt

Chief Product Officer

     800,000      400,000      33,333

Leslie Kilgore

Chief Marketing Officer

     750,000      750,000      62,500

Barry McCarthy

Chief Financial Officer

     600,000      800,000      66,667

Ted Sarandos

Chief Content Officer

     900,000      100,000      8,333

 

In light of the current economic conditions, the Compensation Committee, at the suggestion of the Company’s Executive Officers, determined that Total Compensation for the Executive Officers for 2009 was to be the same as 2008. In fact, for 2009, the Company has maintained salaries for most of its employees at 2008 levels.

 

Vested stock options granted before June 30, 2004 can be exercised up to three (3) months following termination of employment. Vested stock options granted after June 30, 2004 and before January 1, 2007 can be exercised up to one (1) year following termination of employment. Vested stock options granted on or after January 1, 2007 can be exercised up to ten (10) years following grant regardless of employment status. The Company believes that this increase in the life of the options enhances the value of such options for each employee and thereby encourages equity ownership in the Company which is helpful in aligning the interests of employees with that of the Company. The Company does not believe that staggered vesting of stock options or early expiration of options following termination has a material impact on retention. The Company believes that creating a high-performance culture and providing highly competitive compensation packages are the critical components for retaining employees, including its Named Executive Officers.

 

18


The Company utilizes salary and stock options as its key compensation components in order to be competitive within the marketplace. Similarly situated companies typically offer executive officers an equity component as part of their overall compensation and as such, the Company believes it is important to provide this opportunity to its employees, including the Named Executive Officers. By permitting employees to request a customized combination of salary and stock options, the Company believes it is better able to take into consideration personal compensation preferences and thereby offer a more compelling total compensation package. In addition, offering grants monthly provides employees with a “dollar-cost averaging” approach to the price of their option grants. Option grants made on an infrequent basis are more susceptible to the whims of market timing and fluctuations. By granting options each month, the Company believes it alleviates to a great extent the arbitrariness of option timing and the potential negative employee issues associated with “underwater” options.

 

In addition to salary and stock options, Named Executive Officers also have the opportunity to participate in the Company’s 401(k) matching program which enables them to receive a dollar-for-dollar Company match of up to 3% of his or her compensation to the 401(k) fund. Each of the Named Executive Officers except for the Chief Executive Officer participated in this program in 2008 and therefore the Company matched the 401(k) contributions as shown in the tables of this Proxy Statement.

 

The Company also offers employees, including Named Executive Officers, the opportunity to participate in the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Program (“ESPP”). Each of the Named Executive Officers, except for the Chief Executive Officer, participated in this program in 2008. Under the Company’s ESPP, employees may purchase common stock of the Company through accumulated payroll deductions. The purchase price of the common stock acquired by employees participating in the ESPP is 85% of the closing price on either the first day of the offering period or the last day of the purchase period, whichever is lower. Through May 1, 2006, offering periods were twenty-four months, and the purchase periods were six months. Therefore, each offering period included four six-month purchase periods, and the purchase price for each six-month period was determined by comparing the closing prices on the first day of the offering period and the last day of the applicable purchase period. In this manner, the look-back for determining the purchase price was up to twenty-four months. However, effective May 1, 2006, the ESPP was amended so that the offering and purchase periods take place concurrently in consecutive six month increments. Under the amended ESPP, therefore, the look-back for determining the purchase price is six months.

 

The Company also maintains a group term life insurance policy for all full-time employees, and a portion of the taxable amounts attributable to each Named Executive Officer is shown in the tables in this Proxy Statement.

 

Termination-Based Compensation and Change in Control Retention Incentives

 

The Named Executive Officers are beneficiaries of the Company’s Executive Severance and Retention Incentive Plan. Under this plan, each employee of the Company at the level of Vice President or higher is entitled to a severance benefit upon termination of employment (other than for cause, death or permanent disability) so long as he or she signs a waiver and release of claims and an agreement not to disparage the Company, its directors or its officers in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company. The severance benefit consists of a lump sum cash payment equal to nine (9) months of base pay and nine (9) months of the cash equivalent to the stock option allowance then being used in calculating the number of options granted monthly to such employee. The right to receive a severance benefit terminates upon a change in control transaction, so that the beneficiaries of the plan are not entitled to both a change in control benefit as well as a severance benefit.

 

In lieu of the severance benefit, employees covered by the plan who are employed by the Company on the date of a change in control transaction are entitled to receive a lump sum cash payment equal to twelve (12) months of base pay and twelve (12) months of the cash equivalent to the stock option allowance then being used in calculating the number of options granted monthly to such employee.

 

19


The Company also has a plan for its director level employees that provides those employees who are employed by the Company on the date of a change in control transaction with a lump sum cash payment equal to six (6) months of base pay and six (6) months of the cash equivalent to the stock option allowance then being used in calculating the number of options granted monthly to such employee. While director level employees are not guaranteed any severance, to the extent any severance is provided, payment associated with the change in control will be in lieu of or otherwise offset against any such severance payment.

 

The Company believes that it was appropriate to make such payment upon the single-trigger event of a change in control in order to reduce distractions associated with the uncertainty surrounding change in control transactions and to lessen potential conflicts that might otherwise arise when a Company executive must rely on the decisions of the acquiring company for either continued employment or severance.

 

The benefits owing under the plans are to be paid to the beneficiary by the Company as soon as administratively practicable following the completion of all conditions to the payment, but in no event more than two and one half months following the date of the triggering event. The Company believes that benefits under the Company’s Executive Severance and Retention Incentive Plan are consistent with similar benefits offered to executive officers of similarly situated companies and moreover, the Plan is an important element in advancing the Company’s overall compensation philosophy of attracting and retaining outstanding performers. Each of the terms “base pay,” “cause” and “change in control” are defined in the plan, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on July 5, 2005.

 

Tax Considerations

 

The Compensation Committee considered the potential impact of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code on executive officer compensation. Section 162(m) generally disallows a tax deduction for compensation that we pay to our Chief Executive Officer or any of the next three most highly compensated executive officers to the extent that the compensation for any such individual exceeds $1 million in any taxable year. However, this deduction limitation does not apply to compensation that is “performance-based” under 162(m). The Company believes that stock options granted to its executive officers will meet the requirement of being performance-based under Section 162(m). Accordingly, the Committee concluded that Section 162(m) should not materially reduce the tax deductions available to the Company. However, the Committee may from time to time approve compensation that is not deductible under Section 162(m) if it determines that it is in the Company’s best interest to do so.

 

20


COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND OTHER MATTERS

 

Summary Executive Compensation

 

The following summary compensation table sets forth information concerning the compensation paid by the Company to: (i) the Chief Executive Officer (the Company’s principal executive officer), (ii) the Chief Financial Officer (the Company’s principal financial officer), and (iii) the Company’s other named executive officers listed below. We refer to the individuals listed in the table below as the “Named Executive Officers” throughout this Proxy Statement. A description of the method for determining the amount of salary in proportion to total compensation is set forth above in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”

 

Name and Principal Position


   Year

   Salary
($)

   Option
Award

($) (1)

   All Other
Compensation
($)


   Total
Compensation
($)


 

Reed Hastings

   2008    $ 994,231    $ 1,766,353    $ 270    $ 2,760,854 (2)

Chief Executive Officer,

   2007      850,000      1,568,307      270      2,418,577 (2)

President, Chairman
of the Board

   2006      500,000      1,802,842      270      2,303,112 (2)

Neil Hunt

   2008      795,000      704,994      7,170      1,507,164 (3)

Chief Product Officer

   2007      670,000      608,872      7,020      1,285,892 (4)

Leslie Kilgore

   2008      748,077      1,334,546      7,080      2,089,703 (5)

Chief Marketing Officer

   2007      700,000      1,291,555      6,930      1,998,485 (6)
     2006      650,000      987,864      15,810      1,653,044 (7)

Barry McCarthy

   2008      796,138      1,077,060      7,674      1,880,872 (8)

Chief Financial Officer

   2007      699,600      1,144,650      7,164      1,851,414 (9)
     2006      500,000      1,255,936      7,914      1,763,850 (10)

Ted Sarandos

   2008      896,538      177,414      13,580      1,087,532 (11)

Chief Content Officer

   2007      810,000      166,053      13,430      989,483 (12)

  (1)   Dollar amounts in the Option Awards column reflect the compensation expense recognized by the Company for financial statement reporting purposes with respect to stock options during the 2008 fiscal year in accordance with SFAS 123R. The dollar amounts set forth in the Option Awards column are different than the stock option allowance amounts described in the section above entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” because the stock option allowance amounts are reflective of the total compensation amount attributable to stock option grants, not the accounting valuation under SFAS 123R. For a discussion of the assumptions made in the valuation reflected in the Option Awards column, refer to Note 7 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 and the discussion under Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Stock-Based Compensation” in the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 25, 2009.

 

  (2)   Includes taxable amounts attributable to the employee under our group term life insurance policy.

 

  (3)   Includes $6,900 representing our matching contribution made under our 401(k) plan and $270 for taxable amounts attributable to Mr. Hunt under our group term life insurance policy.

 

  (4)   Includes $6,750 representing our matching contribution made under our 401(k) plan and $270 for taxable amounts attributable to Mr. Hunt under our group term life insurance policy.

 

  (5)   Includes $6,900 representing our matching contribution made under our 401(k) plan and $180 for taxable amounts attributable to Ms. Kilgore under our group term life insurance policy.

 

  (6)   Includes $6,750 representing our matching contribution made under our 401(k) plan and $180 for taxable amounts attributable to Ms. Kilgore under our group term life insurance policy.

 

21


  (7)   Includes $15,000 representing our matching contribution made under our 401(k) plan and $180 for taxable amounts attributable to Ms. Kilgore under our group term life insurance policy.

 

  (8)   Includes $6,900 representing our matching contribution made under our 401(k) plan and $774 for taxable amounts attributable to Mr. McCarthy under our group term life insurance policy.

 

  (9)   Includes $6,750 representing our matching contribution made under our 401(k) plan and $414 for taxable amounts attributable to Mr. McCarthy under our group term life insurance policy.

 

(10)   Includes $7,500 representing our matching contribution made under our 401(k) plan and $414 for taxable amounts attributable to Mr. McCarthy under our group term life insurance policy.

 

(11)   Includes $6,900 representing our matching contribution made under our 401(k) plan, $180 for taxable amounts attributable to Mr. Sarandos under our group term life insurance policy, and $6,500 auto allowance.

 

(12)   Includes $6,750 representing our matching contribution made under our 401(k) plan, $180 for taxable amounts attributable to Mr. Sarandos under our group term life insurance policy, and $6,500 auto allowance.

 

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

 

The following table sets forth information concerning grants of awards made to the Named Executive Officers during 2008. As described above in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” the Company grants employees, including the Named Executive Officers, fully vested stock options on a monthly basis. These are the only awards made to the Named Executive Officers. The material terms of these grants, including the formula for determining the number of stock options to be granted, are set forth above in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”

 

Name


   Grant Date

   All Other Option
Awards: Number of
Securities Underlying
Options (#)


   Exercise or Base Price
of Option Awards

($/Sh)

   Grant Date Fair Value
of Stock and Option
Awards


Hastings, Reed

   1/2/2008    10,749    $ 26.35    $ 132,676

Hastings, Reed

   2/1/2008    13,123      25.39      156,077

Hastings, Reed

   3/3/2008    10,767      30.94      156,030

Hastings, Reed

   4/1/2008    9,127      36.51      146,397

Hastings, Reed

   5/1/2008    10,753      31.00      146,448

Hastings, Reed

   6/2/2008    10,794      30.89      146,484

Hastings, Reed

   7/1/2008    12,291      27.10      144,928

Hastings, Reed

   8/1/2008    11,400      29.22      144,937

Hastings, Reed

   9/2/2008    10,808      30.84      145,029

Hastings, Reed

   10/1/2008    11,096      30.04      149,114

Hastings, Reed

   11/3/2008    14,269      23.36      149,114

Hastings, Reed

   12/1/2008    15,124      22.04      149,118

Hunt, Neil

   1/2/2008    4,173      26.35      51,508

Hunt, Neil

   2/1/2008    5,249      25.39      62,428

Hunt, Neil

   3/3/2008    4,307      30.94      62,415

Hunt, Neil

   4/1/2008    3,651      36.51      58,562

Hunt, Neil

   5/1/2008    4,301      31.00      58,577

Hunt, Neil

   6/2/2008    4,318      30.89      58,599

Hunt, Neil

   7/1/2008    4,916      27.10      57,967

Hunt, Neil

   8/1/2008    4,560      29.22      57,975

Hunt, Neil

   9/2/2008    4,323      30.84      58,009

Hunt, Neil

   10/1/2008    4,439      30.04      59,654

Hunt, Neil

   11/3/2008    5,708      23.36      59,650

Hunt, Neil

   12/1/2008    6,050      22.04      59,651

 

22


Name


   Grant Date

   All Other Option
Awards: Number of
Securities Underlying
Options (#)


   Exercise or Base Price
of Option Awards

($/Sh)

   Grant Date Fair Value
of Stock and Option
Awards


Kilgore, Leslie

   1/2/2008    8,852    $ 26.35    $ 109,261

Kilgore, Leslie

   2/1/2008    9,843      25.39      117,067

Kilgore, Leslie

   3/3/2008    8,075      30.94      117,019

Kilgore, Leslie

   4/1/2008    6,846      36.51      109,810

Kilgore, Leslie

   5/1/2008    8,065      31.00      109,840

Kilgore, Leslie

   6/2/2008    8,096      30.89      109,870

Kilgore, Leslie

   7/1/2008    9,218      27.10      108,693

Kilgore, Leslie

   8/1/2008    8,550      29.22      108,703

Kilgore, Leslie

   9/2/2008    8,106      30.84      108,772

Kilgore, Leslie

   10/1/2008    8,322      30.04      111,835

Kilgore, Leslie

   11/3/2008    10,702      23.36      111,838

Kilgore, Leslie

   12/1/2008    11,343      22.04      111,839

McCarthy, Barry

   1/2/2008    7,845      26.35      96,832

McCarthy, Barry

   2/1/2008    7,874      25.39      93,649

McCarthy, Barry

   3/3/2008    6,460      30.94      93,615

McCarthy, Barry

   4/1/2008    5,476      36.51      87,835

McCarthy, Barry

   5/1/2008    6,452      31.00      87,872

McCarthy, Barry

   6/2/2008    6,477      30.89      87,899

McCarthy, Barry

   7/1/2008    7,375      27.10      86,962

McCarthy, Barry

   8/1/2008    6,840      29.22      86,962

McCarthy, Barry

   9/2/2008    6,485      30.84      87,020

McCarthy, Barry

   10/1/2008    6,658      30.04      89,474

McCarthy, Barry

   11/3/2008    8,562      23.36      89,475

McCarthy, Barry

   12/1/2008    9,074      22.04      89,467

Sarandos, Ted

   1/2/2008    1,138      26.35      14,046

Sarandos, Ted

   2/1/2008    1,312      25.39      15,604

Sarandos, Ted

   3/3/2008    1,077      30.94      15,607

Sarandos, Ted

   4/1/2008    913      36.51      14,645

Sarandos, Ted

   5/1/2008    1,075      31.00      14,641

Sarandos, Ted

   6/2/2008    1,079      30.89      14,643

Sarandos, Ted

   7/1/2008    1,229      27.10      14,492

Sarandos, Ted

   8/1/2008    1,140      29.22      14,494

Sarandos, Ted

   9/2/2008    1,081      30.84      14,506

Sarandos, Ted

   10/1/2008    1,110      30.04      14,917

Sarandos, Ted

   11/3/2008    1,427      23.36      14,912

Sarandos, Ted

   12/1/2008    1,512      22.04      14,908

 

23


Outstanding equity awards at December 31, 2008

 

The following table sets forth information concerning equity awards for each Named Executive Officer that remained outstanding as of December 31, 2008.

 

     Option Awards

Name


   Number of
Securities Underlying
Unexercised Options (#)
Exercisable


   Option Exercise
Price ($)


   Option Expiration
Date


Hastings, Reed

   489,500    $ 1.50    7/18/2011

Hastings, Reed

   200,000      1.50    2/27/2012

Hastings, Reed

   15,238      12.38    7/1/2013

Hastings, Reed

   15,238      12.48    8/1/2013

Hastings, Reed

   15,238      16.83    9/2/2013

Hastings, Reed

   15,238      17.26    10/1/2013

Hastings, Reed

   15,238      29.23    11/3/2013

Hastings, Reed

   15,238      25.35    12/1/2013

Hastings, Reed

   15,238      27.42    1/2/2014

Hastings, Reed

   15,238      36.37    2/2/2014

Hastings, Reed

   15,238      34.75    3/1/2014

Hastings, Reed

   15,238      35.36    4/1/2014

Hastings, Reed

   15,238      26.90    5/3/2014

Hastings, Reed

   15,238      32.60    6/1/2014

Hastings, Reed

   12,977      35.95    7/1/2014

Hastings, Reed

   23,148      20.16    8/2/2014

Hastings, Reed

   32,680      14.27    9/1/2014

Hastings, Reed

   28,595      16.33    10/1/2014

Hastings, Reed

   49,435      9.43    11/1/2014

Hastings, Reed

   41,518      11.25    12/1/2014

Hastings, Reed

   39,150      11.92    1/3/2015

Hastings, Reed

   40,650      11.48    2/1/2015

Hastings, Reed

   43,210      10.79    3/1/2015

Hastings, Reed

   43,050      10.83    4/1/2015

Hastings, Reed

   40,369      11.57    5/2/2015

Hastings, Reed

   32,140      14.50    6/1/2015

Hastings, Reed

   20,129      16.55    7/1/2015

Hastings, Reed

   17,218      19.34    8/1/2015

Hastings, Reed

   15,547      21.45    9/1/2015

Hastings, Reed

   12,513      26.64    10/3/2015

Hastings, Reed

   12,980      25.68    11/1/2015

Hastings, Reed

   12,291      27.11    12/1/2015

Hastings, Reed

   12,801      26.05    1/3/2016

Hastings, Reed

   12,291      27.11    2/1/2016

Hastings, Reed

   12,419      26.85    3/1/2016

Hastings, Reed

   11,854      28.13    4/3/2016

Hastings, Reed

   11,261      29.60    5/1/2016

Hastings, Reed

   11,688      28.51    6/1/2016

Hastings, Reed

   12,237      27.24    7/3/2016

Hastings, Reed

   16,244      20.50    8/1/2016

Hastings, Reed

   16,633      20.02    9/1/2016

Hastings, Reed

   14,620      22.81    10/2/2016

Hastings, Reed

   12,095      27.55    11/1/2016

 

24


     Option Awards

Name


   Number of
Securities Underlying
Unexercised Options (#)
Exercisable


   Option Exercise
Price ($)


   Option Expiration
Date


Hastings, Reed

   11,307    $ 29.46    12/1/2016

Hastings, Reed

   10,652      26.61    1/3/2017

Hastings, Reed

   12,471      22.73    2/1/2017

Hastings, Reed

   12,405      22.83    3/1/2017

Hastings, Reed

   12,067      23.48    4/2/2017

Hastings, Reed

   12,786      22.15    5/1/2017

Hastings, Reed

   13,142      21.57    6/1/2017

Hastings, Reed

   14,545      19.48    7/2/2017

Hastings, Reed

   16,511      17.16    8/1/2017

Hastings, Reed

   15,602      18.14    9/4/2017

Hastings, Reed

   13,340      21.22    10/1/2017

Hastings, Reed

   10,781      26.29    11/1/2017

Hastings, Reed

   11,905      23.78    12/3/2017

Hastings, Reed

   10,749      26.35    01/02/18

Hastings, Reed

   13,123      25.39    02/01/18

Hastings, Reed

   10,767      30.94    3/3/2018

Hastings, Reed

   9,127      36.51    4/1/2018

Hastings, Reed

   10,753      31.00    5/1/2018

Hastings, Reed

   10,794      30.89    6/2/2018

Hastings, Reed

   12,291      27.10    7/1/2018

Hastings, Reed

   11,400      29.22    8/1/2018

Hastings, Reed

   10,808      30.84    9/2/2018

Hastings, Reed

   11,096      30.04    10/1/2018

Hastings, Reed

   14,269      23.36    11/3/2018

Hastings, Reed

   15,124      22.04    12/1/2018

Hunt, Neil

   1,332      1.50    1/24/2011

Hunt, Neil

   19,912      1.50    2/27/2012

Hunt, Neil

   5,000      29.23    11/3/2013

Hunt, Neil

   5,000      25.35    12/1/2013

Hunt, Neil

   5,000      27.42    1/2/2014

Hunt, Neil

   5,000      36.37    2/2/2014

Hunt, Neil

   5,000      34.75    3/1/2014

Hunt, Neil

   5,000      35.36    4/1/2014

Hunt, Neil

   5,000      26.90    5/3/2014

Hunt, Neil

   5,000      32.60    6/1/2014

Hunt, Neil

   2,317      35.95    7/1/2014

Hunt, Neil

   3,441      26.64    10/3/2015

Hunt, Neil

   3,570      25.68    11/1/2015

Hunt, Neil

   3,380      27.11    12/1/2015

Hunt, Neil

   3,520      26.05    1/3/2016

Hunt, Neil

   3,380      27.11    2/1/2016

Hunt, Neil

   3,415      26.85    3/1/2016

Hunt, Neil

   3,260      28.13    4/3/2016

Hunt, Neil

   3,097      29.60    5/1/2016

Hunt, Neil

   3,214      28.51    6/1/2016

Hunt, Neil

   3,365      27.24    7/3/2016

Hunt, Neil

   3,326      27.55    11/1/2016

 

25


     Option Awards

Name


   Number of
Securities Underlying
Unexercised Options (#)
Exercisable


   Option Exercise
Price ($)


   Option Expiration
Date


Hunt, Neil

   3,109    $ 29.46    12/1/2016

Hunt, Neil

   4,135      26.61    1/3/2017

Hunt, Neil

   4,842      22.73    2/1/2017

Hunt, Neil

   4,816      22.83    3/1/2017

Hunt, Neil

   4,685      23.48    4/2/2017

Hunt, Neil

   4,964      22.15    5/1/2017

Hunt, Neil

   5,102      21.57    6/1/2017

Hunt, Neil

   5,647      19.48    7/2/2017

Hunt, Neil

   6,410      17.16    8/1/2017

Hunt, Neil

   6,057      18.14    9/4/2017

Hunt, Neil

   5,179      21.22    10/01/17

Hunt, Neil

   4,186      26.29    11/01/17

Hunt, Neil

   4,622      23.78    12/3/2017

Hunt, Neil

   4,173      26.35    1/2/2018

Hunt, Neil

   5,249      25.39    2/1/2018

Hunt, Neil

   4,307      30.94    3/3/2018

Hunt, Neil

   3,651      36.51    4/1/2018

Hunt, Neil

   4,301      31.00    5/1/2018

Hunt, Neil

   4,318      30.89    6/2/2018

Hunt, Neil

   4,916      27.10    7/1/2018

Hunt, Neil

   4,560      29.22    8/1/2018

Hunt, Neil

   4,323      30.84    9/2/2018

Hunt, Neil

   4,439      30.04    10/1/2018

Hunt, Neil

   5,708      23.36    11/3/2018

Hunt, Neil

   6,050      22.04    12/1/2018

Kilgore, Leslie

   33,528      1.50    2/27/2012

Kilgore, Leslie

   4,762      29.23    11/3/2013

Kilgore, Leslie

   4,762      36.37    2/2/2014

Kilgore, Leslie

   4,762      34.75    3/1/2014

Kilgore, Leslie

   4,762      35.36    4/1/2014

Kilgore, Leslie

   4,762      32.60    6/1/2014

Kilgore, Leslie

   4,635      35.95    7/1/2014

Kilgore, Leslie

   6,760      27.11    12/1/2015

Kilgore, Leslie

   6,760      27.11    2/1/2016

Kilgore, Leslie

   6,520      28.13    4/3/2016

Kilgore, Leslie

   6,194      29.60    5/1/2016

Kilgore, Leslie

   6,428      28.51    6/1/2016

Kilgore, Leslie

   6,730      27.24    7/3/2016

Kilgore, Leslie

   6,652      27.55    11/1/2016

Kilgore, Leslie

   6,219      29.46    12/1/2016

Kilgore, Leslie

   8,772      26.61    1/3/2017

Kilgore, Leslie

   10,270      22.73    2/1/2017

Kilgore, Leslie

   10,216      22.83    3/1/2017

Kilgore, Leslie

   9,938      23.48    4/2/2017

Kilgore, Leslie

   10,529      22.15    5/1/2017

Kilgore, Leslie

   10,823      21.57    6/1/2017

Kilgore, Leslie

   11,978      19.48    7/2/2017

 

26


     Option Awards

Name


   Number of
Securities Underlying
Unexercised Options (#)
Exercisable


   Option Exercise
Price ($)


   Option Expiration
Date


Kilgore, Leslie

   13,598    $ 17.16    8/1/2017

Kilgore, Leslie

   12,849      18.14    9/4/2017

Kilgore, Leslie

   10,986      21.22    10/1/2017

Kilgore, Leslie

   8,879      26.29    11/1/2017

Kilgore, Leslie

   9,804      23.78    12/3/2017

Kilgore, Leslie

   8,852      26.35    01/02/18

Kilgore, Leslie

   9,843      25.39    02/01/18

Kilgore, Leslie

   8,075      30.94    3/3/2018

Kilgore, Leslie

   6,846      36.51    4/1/2018

Kilgore, Leslie

   8,065      31.00    5/1/2018

Kilgore, Leslie

   8,096      30.89    6/2/2018

Kilgore, Leslie

   9,218      27.10    7/1/2018

Kilgore, Leslie

   8,550      29.22    8/1/2018

Kilgore, Leslie

   8,106      30.84    9/2/2018

Kilgore, Leslie

   8,322      30.04    10/1/2018

Kilgore, Leslie

   10,702      23.36    11/3/2018

Kilgore, Leslie

   11,343      22.04    12/1/2018

McCarthy, Barry

   2,968      1.50    2/27/2012

McCarthy, Barry

   8,334      12.38    7/1/2013

McCarthy, Barry

   8,334      12.48    8/1/2013

McCarthy, Barry

   8,334      16.83    9/2/2013

McCarthy, Barry

   8,334      17.26    10/1/2013

McCarthy, Barry

   8,334      29.23    11/3/2013

McCarthy, Barry

   8,334      25.35    12/1/2013

McCarthy, Barry

   8,334      27.42    1/2/2014

McCarthy, Barry

   8,334      36.37    2/2/2014

McCarthy, Barry

   8,334      34.75    3/1/2014

McCarthy, Barry

   8,334      35.36    4/1/2014

McCarthy, Barry

   8,334      26.90    5/3/2014

McCarthy, Barry

   8,334      32.60    6/1/2014

McCarthy, Barry

   5,098      35.95    7/1/2014

McCarthy, Barry

   9,094      20.16    8/2/2014

McCarthy, Barry

   12,838      14.27    9/1/2014

McCarthy, Barry

   11,234      16.33    10/1/2014

McCarthy, Barry

   19,421      9.43    11/1/2014

McCarthy, Barry

   16,311      11.25    12/1/2014

McCarthy, Barry

   15,380      11.92    1/3/2015

McCarthy, Barry

   15,970      11.48    2/1/2015

McCarthy, Barry

   15,955      10.79    3/1/2015

McCarthy, Barry

   16,913      10.83    4/1/2015

McCarthy, Barry

   15,859      11.57    5/2/2015

McCarthy, Barry

   12,626      14.50    6/1/2015

McCarthy, Barry

   15,097      16.55    7/1/2015

McCarthy, Barry

   12,913      19.34    8/1/2015

McCarthy, Barry

   11,660      21.45    9/1/2015

McCarthy, Barry

   9,384      26.64    10/3/2015

McCarthy, Barry

   9,735      25.68    11/1/2015

 

27


     Option Awards

Name


   Number of
Securities Underlying
Unexercised Options (#)
Exercisable


   Option Exercise
Price ($)


   Option Expiration
Date


McCarthy, Barry

   9,218    $ 27.11    12/1/2015

McCarthy, Barry

   8,961      26.05    1/3/2016

McCarthy, Barry

   8,604      27.11    2/1/2016

McCarthy, Barry

   8,693      26.85    3/1/2016

McCarthy, Barry

   8,298      28.13    4/3/2016

McCarthy, Barry

   7,883      29.60    5/1/2016

McCarthy, Barry

   8,181      28.51    6/1/2016

McCarthy, Barry

   8,566      27.24    7/3/2016

McCarthy, Barry

   11,371      20.50    8/1/2016

McCarthy, Barry

   11,643      20.02    9/1/2016

McCarthy, Barry

   10,234      22.81    10/2/2016

McCarthy, Barry

   8,466      27.55    11/1/2016

McCarthy, Barry

   7,915      29.46    12/1/2016

McCarthy, Barry

   7,774      26.61    01/03/17

McCarthy, Barry

   9,102      22.73    02/01/17

McCarthy, Barry

   9,054      22.83    03/01/17

McCarthy, Barry

   8,807      23.48    04/02/17

McCarthy, Barry

   9,332      22.15    05/01/17

McCarthy, Barry

   9,592      21.57    06/01/17

McCarthy, Barry

   10,616      19.48    07/02/17

McCarthy, Barry

   12,051      17.16    08/01/17

McCarthy, Barry

   11,388      18.14    09/04/17

McCarthy, Barry

   9,736      21.22    10/01/17

McCarthy, Barry

   7,869      26.29    11/01/17

McCarthy, Barry

   8,689      23.78    12/03/17

McCarthy, Barry

   7,845      26.35    01/02/18

McCarthy, Barry

   7,874      25.39    02/01/18

McCarthy, Barry

   6,460      30.94    03/03/18

McCarthy, Barry

   5,476      36.51    04/01/18

McCarthy, Barry

   6,452      31.00    05/01/18

McCarthy, Barry

   6,477      30.89    06/02/18

McCarthy, Barry

   7,375      27.10    07/01/18

McCarthy, Barry

   6,840      29.22    08/01/18

McCarthy, Barry

   6,485      30.84    09/02/18

McCarthy, Barry

   6,658      30.04    10/01/18

McCarthy, Barry

   8,562      23.36    11/03/18

McCarthy, Barry

   9,074      22.04    12/01/18

Sarandos, Ted

   12,790      1.50    2/27/2012

Sarandos, Ted

   2,262      29.23    11/3/2013

Sarandos, Ted

   2,262      25.35    12/1/2013

Sarandos, Ted

   2,262      27.42    1/2/2014

Sarandos, Ted

   2,262      36.37    2/2/2014

Sarandos, Ted

   2,262      34.75    3/1/2014

Sarandos, Ted

   2,262      35.36    4/1/2014

Sarandos, Ted

   2,262      26.90    5/3/2014

Sarandos, Ted

   2,262      32.60    6/1/2014

Sarandos, Ted

   695      35.95    7/1/2014

 

28


     Option Awards

Name


   Number of
Securities Underlying
Unexercised Options (#)
Exercisable


   Option Exercise
Price ($)


   Option Expiration
Date


Sarandos, Ted

   1,924    $ 21.45    9/1/2015

Sarandos, Ted

   1,548      26.64    10/3/2015

Sarandos, Ted

   1,606      25.68    11/1/2015

Sarandos, Ted

   1,521      27.11    12/1/2015

Sarandos, Ted

   528      26.05    1/3/2016

Sarandos, Ted

   507      27.11    2/1/2016

Sarandos, Ted

   512      26.85    3/1/2016

Sarandos, Ted

   489      28.13    4/3/2016

Sarandos, Ted

   465      29.60    5/1/2016

Sarandos, Ted

   482      28.51    6/1/2016

Sarandos, Ted

   505      27.24    7/3/2016

Sarandos, Ted

   670      20.50    8/1/2016

Sarandos, Ted

   686      20.02    9/1/2016

Sarandos, Ted

   603      22.81    10/2/2016

Sarandos, Ted

   499      27.55    11/1/2016

Sarandos, Ted

   466      29.46    12/1/2016

Sarandos, Ted

   1,128      26.61    1/3/2017

Sarandos, Ted

   1,320      22.73    2/1/2017

Sarandos, Ted

   1,313      22.83    03/01/17

Sarandos, Ted

   1,278      23.48    04/02/17

Sarandos, Ted

   1,354      22.15    05/01/17

Sarandos, Ted

   1,391      21.57    06/01/17

Sarandos, Ted

   1,540      19.48    07/02/17

Sarandos, Ted

   1,748      17.16    08/01/17

Sarandos, Ted

   1,652      18.14    09/04/17

Sarandos, Ted

   1,412      21.22    10/01/17

Sarandos, Ted

   1,142      26.29    11/01/17

Sarandos, Ted

   1,261      23.78    12/03/17

Sarandos, Ted

   1,138      26.35    01/02/18

Sarandos, Ted

   1,312      25.39    02/01/18

Sarandos, Ted

   1,077      30.94    03/03/18

Sarandos, Ted

   913      36.51    04/01/18

Sarandos, Ted

   1,075      31.00    05/01/18

Sarandos, Ted

   1,079      30.89    06/02/18

Sarandos, Ted

   1,229      27.10    07/01/18

Sarandos, Ted

   1,140      29.22    08/01/18

Sarandos, Ted

   1,081      30.84    09/02/18

Sarandos, Ted

   1,110      30.04    10/01/18

Sarandos, Ted

   1,427      23.36    11/03/18

Sarandos, Ted

   1,512      22.04    12/01/18

 

29


Option Exercises and Stock Vested

 

The following table sets forth information concerning each exercise of stock options during 2008 for each of the Named Executive Officers on an aggregated basis.

 

     Option Awards

Name


   Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Exercise (#)


   Value
Realized on
Exercise ($)
(1)


Reed Hastings

   168,000    $ 4,429,220

Barry McCarthy

   62,200      1,838,230

Leslie Kilgore

   128,372      1,594,258

Neil Hunt

   38,526      497,332

Ted Sarandos

   0      0

(1)   Dollar value realized on exercise equals the difference between the closing price on the date of exercise date less the exercise price of the option and does not necessarily reflect the sales price of the shares or if a sale was made.

 

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change-in-Control

 

The Named Executive Officers are beneficiaries of the Company’s Executive Severance and Retention Incentive Plan, as described in more detail above in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.” The information below reflects the estimated value of the compensation to be paid by the Company to each of the Named Executive Officers in the event of termination or a change in control under the terms of the Executive Severance and Retention Incentive Plan. The amounts shown below assume that termination or change in control was effective as of December 31, 2008. The actual amounts that would be paid can only be determined at the time of the actual triggering event. The right to receive a severance benefit terminates upon a change in control transaction, so that the beneficiaries of the plan are not entitled to both a change in control benefit as well as a severance benefit.

 

Name


   Severance
Benefit


   Change in
Control
Benefit


Reed Hastings

   $ 1,500,000    $ 2,000,000

Barry McCarthy

     1,050,000      1,400,000

Leslie Kilgore

     1,125,000      1,500,000

Neil Hunt

     900,000      1,200,000

Ted Sarandos

     750,000      1,000,000

 

Compensation of Directors

 

The Company’s directors do not currently receive cash for services they provide as directors or members of Board committees but may be reimbursed for their reasonable expenses for attending Board and Board committee meetings. Each non-employee Director receives stock options pursuant to the Director Equity Compensation Plan. The Director Equity Compensation Plan provides for a monthly grant of stock options to each non-employee Director of the Company in consideration for services provided to the Company and subject to the terms and conditions of the Company’s 2002 Stock Plan. The actual number of options to be granted is determined by the following formula: $10,000 / ([fair market value on the date of grant] x 0.25). Each monthly grant is made on the first trading day of the month, is fully vested upon grant and is exercisable at a strike price equal to the fair market value on the date of grant. Mr. Barton received options to purchase 100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock upon joining the Board in May 2002, but no other current director was granted options upon joining the Board other than the regular monthly grants.

 

30


The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation of the Company’s non-employee directors during 2008.

 

Names


  Option
Awards
($) (1)


   Total ($)

 

Richard N. Barton

  $ 214,762    $ 214,762 (2)

A. George (Skip) Battle

    214,762      214,762 (3)

Charles H. Giancarlo

    214,762      214,762 (4)

Timothy M. Haley

    214,762      214,762 (5)

Jay C. Hoag

    214,762      214,762 (6)

Michael N. Schuh

    214,762      214,762 (7)

Gregory S. Stanger

    214,762      214,762 (8)

(1)   Option awards reflect the monthly grant of stock options to each non-employee director on the dates and at the aggregate grant date fair values, computed in accordance with SFAS 123R, as shown below.

 

Grant Date


   Fair Value

  1/2/2008

   $ 18,724

  2/1/2008

     18,732

  3/3/2008

     18,723

  4/1/2008

     17,564

  5/1/2008

     17,569

  6/2/2008

     17,574

  7/1/2008

     17,392

  8/1/2008

     17,392

  9/2/2008

     17,404

10/1/2008

     17,900

11/3/2008

     17,891

12/1/2008

     17,895

 

(2)   Aggregate number of option awards outstanding held by Mr. Barton at 12/31/08 is 130,234.

 

(3)   Aggregate number of option awards outstanding held by Mr. Battle at 12/31/08 is 68,650.

 

(4)   Aggregate number of option awards outstanding held by Mr. Giancarlo at 12/31/08 is 32,396.

 

(5)   Aggregate number of option awards outstanding held by Mr. Haley at 12/31/08 is 68,650.

 

(6)   Aggregate number of option awards outstanding held by Mr. Hoag at 12/31/08 is 59,635.

 

(7)   Aggregate number of option awards outstanding held by Mr. Schuh at 12/31/08 is 68,650.

 

(8)   Aggregate number of option awards outstanding held by Mr. Stanger at 12/31/08 is 68,650.

 

31


Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2008:

 

    Number of Securities
to be Issued Upon
Exercise of
Outstanding
Options, Warrants
and Rights


  Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding
Options,
Warrants and
Rights


  Number of Securities
Remaining Available

for Future Issuance
Under Equity
Compensation Plans
(Excluding Securities
Reflected in Column (a))


 

Plan category


  (a)

  (b)

  (c)(1)

 

Equity compensation plans or arrangements approved by security holders

  4,675,516   $ 21.37   5,823,446 (2)(3)

Equity compensation plans or arrangements not approved by security holders

  689,500   $ 1.50   —   (4)
   
       

Total

  5,365,016   $ 18.81   5,823,446  
   
       


(1)   Excludes securities reflected in column entitled “Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights.”

 

(2)   Includes 2,630,931 shares of the Company’s common stock reserved under its 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended, for future issuance.

 

(3)   The Company’s 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan provides for annual increases in the number of shares available for issuance on the first day of each year equal to the lesser of: (i) 666,666 shares, (ii) 2% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock on such date, or (iii) such other amount as determined by the Board.

 

(4)   Reflects two grants of stock options made, respectively, on July 18, 2001 and February 27, 2002, to Reed Hastings, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board, exercisable for shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to Stand-Alone Stock Option Agreements. Options are currently fully vested and are exercisable, at a price of $1.50 (adjusted for stock splits), until the earlier of three months following termination of service or ten years from the grant date. The Stand-Alone Stock Option Agreements are filed as Exhibits 10.6 and 10.7, respectively, to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 24, 2002.

 

Code of Ethics

 

The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics for its directors, officers and other employees. A copy of the Code of Ethics is available on the Company’s Investor Relations Web site at http://ir.netflix.com/documentdisplay.cfm. Any waivers of the Code of Ethics will be posted at that Web site.

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Compliance

 

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company’s directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities, to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of the Company’s common stock and other equity securities of the Company. Officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders are required by the Securities and Exchange Commission regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all Forms 3, 4 and 5 they file.

 

To the Company’s knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of such reports furnished to the Company and written representations that no other reports were required, during fiscal year 2008 all of the Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to the Company’s officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders were followed in a timely manner, except a report on Form 4 relating to the acquisition of shares by Mr. Schuh on July 31, 2008 was filed late.

 

32


REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management. Based on the review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement and the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

 

Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors

 

Timothy M. Haley

Jay C. Hoag
A. George (Skip) Battle

 

33


REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

The Audit Committee engages and supervises the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and oversees the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board. Management has the primary responsibility for the preparation of financial statements and the reporting process, including the systems of internal controls. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 with management, including a discussion of the quality of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments made by management and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements.

 

The Audit Committee reviewed with KPMG LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, who is responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of the Company’s audited financial statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, its judgments as to the quality of the Company’s accounting principles and the other matters required to be discussed with the Audit Committee under the auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, including the matters required by the Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended, (AICPA Professional Standard, Vol. 1 AU Section 380), as adopted by the Public Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T. In addition, the Audit Committee has discussed with KPMG LLP its independence from management and the Company, including the written disclosures and the letter regarding its independence as required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, Independence Discussions with the Audit Committees.

 

The Audit Committee also reviewed the fees paid to KPMG LLP during the year ended December 31, 2008 for audit and non-audit services, which fees are described under the heading “Principal Accountant Fees and Services.” The Audit Committee has determined that the rendering of all non-audit services by KPMG LLP were compatible with maintaining its independence.

 

The Audit Committee discussed with KPMG LLP the overall scope and plans for its audit. The Audit Committee met with KPMG LLP, with and without management present, to discuss the results of its examinations, its evaluations of the Company’s internal controls, and the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting.

 

Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Audit Committee and the Board have also recommended, subject to stockholder ratification, the selection of KPMG LLP to audit the Company’s financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2009.

 

Audit Committee of the Board of Directors

 

Timothy M. Haley

Michael N. Schuh

Gregory S. Stanger

 

34


CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

 

Agreements with Directors and Executive Officers

 

The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers. These agreements require the Company to indemnify such individuals, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, for certain liabilities to which they may become subject as a result of their affiliation with the Company.

 

Procedures for Approval of Related Party Transactions

 

The Company has a written policy concerning the review and approval of related party transactions. Potential related party transactions are identified through an internal review process that includes a review of payments made in connection with transactions in which related persons may have had a direct or indirect material interest. Those transactions that are determined to be related party transactions under Item 404 of Regulation S-K issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission are submitted for review by the Audit Committee for approval and to conduct a conflicts-of-interest analysis. The individual identified as the “related party” may not participate in any review or analysis of the related party transaction. No related party transactions were identified in 2008.

 

35


STOCKHOLDERS SHARING AN ADDRESS

 

Stockholders sharing an address with another stockholder may receive only one set of proxy materials at that address unless they have provided contrary instructions. Any such stockholder who wishes to receive a separate set of proxy materials now or in the future may write or call the Company to request a separate copy of these materials from:

 

Investor Relations

Netflix, Inc.

100 Winchester Circle

Los Gatos, CA 95032

(408) 540-3700

 

The Company will promptly, upon written or oral request, deliver a separate copy of its annual report or this Proxy Statement to any stockholder at a shared address to which only a single copy was delivered.

 

Similarly, stockholders sharing an address with another stockholder who have received multiple copies of the Company’s proxy materials may write or call the above address and phone number to request delivery of a single copy of these materials in the future.

 

OTHER MATTERS

 

The Board knows of no other matters that will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting. If any other matters are properly brought before the Annual Meeting, the persons named in the accompanying proxy intend to vote on those matters in accordance with their best judgment.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors
LOGO
David Hyman
General Counsel and Secretary

 

April 6, 2009

Los Gatos, California

 

36


Appendix A

 

CHARTER FOR THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OF

NETFLIX, INC.

 

I. PURPOSE

 

The purpose of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Netflix, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) shall be:

 

  ·  

to provide oversight and monitoring of (i) the Company’s financial reporting process (ii) the Company’s systems of internal controls over financial reporting, (iii) the integrity of the Company’s financial statements, and (iv) the independent auditors’ qualifications, independence and performance;

 

  ·  

to provide the Board with the results of its monitoring and recommendations derived therefrom;

 

  ·  

to assist the Board in ensuring the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements in connection with the Company’s financial reporting process; and

 

  ·  

to provide to the Board such additional information and materials as it may deem necessary to make the Board aware of significant financial matters that require the attention of the Board.

 

II. MEMBERSHIP

 

The Audit Committee members will be appointed from time to time by, and will serve at the discretion of, the Board. The Audit Committee will be comprised of at least three directors determined by the Board to satisfy the requirements of the NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (“NASDAQ”) and applicable federal law. Appointment to the Audit Committee, including the designation of the Chair of the Committee and the designation of any member as an “audit committee financial expert” shall be made by the full Board.

 

III. SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITIES

 

The scope of the responsibilities of the Audit Committee shall include:

 

  ·  

Providing oversight and monitoring of the activities of Company management, including without limitation, the chief financial officer and principal accounting officer and controller, and the independent auditors with respect to the Company’s financial reporting and compliance process;

 

  ·  

Reviewing on a continuing basis the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s system of internal controls over financial reporting as well as the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures;

 

  ·  

Appointing, compensating, terminating and overseeing the Company’s independent auditors (including resolving disagreements between management and the independent auditors regarding financial reporting), for which the Audit Committee shall have sole and absolute authority;

 

  ·  

Pre-approving audit and non-audit services provided to the Company by the Company’s independent auditors either (i) before the auditors are engaged by the Company for such services or (ii) pursuant to pre-approval policies and procedures established by the Audit Committee, provided that the Audit Committee is informed of each specific service;

 

  ·  

Reviewing the independent auditors’ proposed audit scope, approach and independence;

 

A-1


  ·  

Reviewing the performance of the independent auditors, who shall be accountable to the Board and the Audit Committee as the representatives of the stockholders of the Company, and recommending to the Board and stockholders the appointment of the independent auditors;

 

  ·  

Requesting and receiving from the independent auditors on a periodic basis a statement delineating all relationships between the auditor and the Company which may adversely impact the auditors’ independence and based on such review, assessing the independence of the auditors;

 

  ·  

Obtaining and reviewing on a periodic basis a report from the independent auditors describing the auditors’ internal quality-control procedures, any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review or peer review or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years, respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the firm and any steps taken to deal with such issues;

 

  ·  

Establishing a policy regarding the Company’s hiring of current or former employees of the Company’s independent auditors;

 

  ·  

Directing the Company’s independent auditors to review before filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission the Company’s interim financial statements included in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, using professional standards and procedures for conducting such reviews;

 

  ·  

Reviewing before release the unaudited quarterly and audited annual operating results in the Company’s quarterly and annual earnings releases;

 

  ·  

Discussing with the Company’s independent auditors the financial statements and audit findings, including any significant adjustments, management judgments and accounting estimates, significant new accounting policies and disagreements with management and any other matters required to be discussed by Statement on Accounting Standard No. 61, as it may be modified or supplemented;

 

  ·  

Reviewing with management, before release, the audited financial statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, and recommending to the Board following such review, if appropriate, that the audited financial statements be included in such Annual Report on Form 10-K;

 

  ·  

Providing a report in the Company’s proxy statement in accordance with the requirements of Item 306 of Regulation S-K and Item 7(e)(3) of Schedule 14A, or any successor provisions;

 

  ·  

Reviewing, in conjunction with legal counsel, any legal matters that could have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements;

 

  ·  

Establishing procedures for receiving, retaining and treating complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, auditing matters or fraudulent financial reporting and procedures for the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting internal controls or auditing matters;

 

  ·  

Reviewing at least annually the Audit Committee’s own structure, processes and membership requirements;

 

  ·  

Providing oversight and review of the Company’s asset management policies, including without limitation an annual review of the Company’s investment policies and performance for cash and short-term investments;

 

  ·  

Reviewing and approving related party transactions for potential conflicts of interests;

 

  ·  

If necessary, instituting special investigation(s) and, as appropriate, hiring special counsel or experts to assist in such investigation(s);

 

  ·  

Reviewing and reassessing the adequacy of this Charter on not less than an annual basis; and

 

  ·  

Performing such other duties as may be requested by the Board.

 

A-2


IV. MEETINGS

 

The Audit Committee shall meet at least quarterly. The Audit Committee may establish its own schedule, which it shall provide to the Board in advance.

 

The Audit Committee shall meet separately with each of (i) the independent auditors, as well as (ii) the members of the Company’s management, including without limitation the chief financial officer and principal accounting officer and controller, as it deems appropriate, but at least once annually, in order to fulfill the responsibilities of the Audit Committee.

 

V. MINUTES

 

The Audit Committee shall maintain written minutes of its meetings, which minutes shall be filed with the minutes of the meetings of the Board.

 

VI. REPORTS

 

Apart from the report prepared for the Company’s proxy statement pursuant to Item 306 of Regulation S-K and Item 7(e)(3) of Schedule 14A, the Audit Committee shall summarize its examinations and recommendations to the Board from time to time as may be appropriate, consistent with this Charter.

 

VII. COMPENSATION

 

Members of the Audit Committee shall receive such fees, if any, for their service as Audit Committee members as may be determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion. Such fees may include retainers or per meeting fees. Fees may be paid in such form of consideration as is determined by the Board of Directors.

 

Members of the Audit Committee may not receive any compensation from the Company except the fees that they receive for service as a member of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof.

 

VIII. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY

 

The Audit committee may delegate to one or more designated members of the Audit Committee the authority to pre-approve audit and permissible non-audit services, provided such pre-approval decision is presented to the full Audit Committee at is scheduled meetings.

 

The Audit Committee may delegate its authority to subcommittees or the Chair of the Audit Committee when it deems appropriate and in the best interest of the Company.

 

A-3


 

FORM OF PROXY

NETFLIX, INC.

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

MAY 28, 2009

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The undersigned stockholder of Netflix, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement, each dated March 31, 2009, and hereby appoints Reed Hastings and Barry McCarthy, and each of them, with full power of substitution, as Proxy or Proxies to vote all shares of the Company’s common stock of the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Netflix, Inc. to be held on May 28, 2009, and at any adjournments thereof, upon the proposals set forth in this and described in the Proxy Statement, and in their discretion with respect to such other matters as may be properly brought before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.

If this proxy is properly executed and returned, this proxy will be voted for the specifications made below or if no direction is made, this proxy will be voted “for” each nominee for Class I director set forth below (item 1), and “for” ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009 (item 2).

Either of such Proxies or substitutes shall have and may exercise all of the powers of said Proxies hereunder.

 

  1. To elect two Class I directors to hold office until the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders:

Richard N. Barton

 

  ¨    FOR       ¨    WITHHELD   

Charles H. Giancarlo

 

  ¨    FOR       ¨    WITHHELD   

 

  2. To ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2009

 

  ¨    FOR    ¨    AGAINST    ¨    ABSTAIN   

Mark box at right if an address change or comment has been noted on this card  ¨

This Proxy should be marked, dated and signed by the stockholder or stockholders exactly as the stockholder’s or stockholders’ names appear hereon, and returned promptly in the enclosed envelope. Persons signing in a fiduciary or representative capacity should so indicate. If shares are held by joint tenants, as community property or otherwise by more than one person, all should sign.

 

Signature:  

 

  Date:  

 

  Signature:  

 

  Date: