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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 (Amendment No.    )

Filed by the Registrant  x

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ¨

Check the appropriate box:

 

¨ Preliminary Proxy Statement

 

¨ Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

 

x Definitive Proxy Statement

 

¨ Definitive Additional Materials

 

¨ Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

GOOGLE 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:

 

 


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GOOGLE INC.

1600 AMPHITHEATRE PARKWAY

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA 94043

(650) 253-0000

March 25, 2008

Dear Stockholders:

We are pleased to invite you to attend our 2008 Annual Meeting of stockholders to be held on Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 2:00 p.m., local time, at our corporate headquarters at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, California 94043. For your convenience, we are also pleased to offer a live webcast of our Annual Meeting on the Investor Relations section of our web site at investor.google.com.

Details regarding admission to the meeting and the business to be conducted are described in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) you received in the mail and in this proxy statement. We have also made available a copy of our 2007 Annual Report with this proxy statement. We encourage you to read our Annual Report. It includes our audited financial statements and provides information about our business and products.

You may have noticed changes in the way we are providing proxy materials to our stockholders in connection with our 2008 Annual Meeting. This is because we have elected to provide access to our proxy materials over the Internet under the Securities and Exchange Commission’s new “notice and access” rules. We are constantly focused on improving the ways people connect with information and believe that providing our proxy materials over the Internet increases the ability of our stockholders to connect with the information they need, while reducing the environmental impact of our Annual Meeting. If you want more information, please see the Questions and Answers section of this proxy statement or visit the Annual Stockholders Meeting section of our Investor Relations web site.

Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we hope you will vote as soon as possible. You may vote over the Internet, as well as by telephone or, if you requested to receive printed proxy materials, by mailing a proxy or voting instruction card. Please review the instructions on each of your voting options described in this proxy statement as well as in the Notice you received in the mail.

Also, please let us know if you plan to attend our Annual Meeting when you vote by telephone or over the Internet, by indicating your plans when prompted or, if you requested to receive printed proxy materials, by marking the appropriate box on the enclosed proxy card.

Thank you for your ongoing support of Google. We look forward to seeing you at our Annual Meeting.

Sincerely,

 

   


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2008 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING AND PROXY STATEMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

   1

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE PROXY MATERIALS AND THE ANNUAL MEETING

   3

Why am I receiving these materials?

   3

What information is contained in this proxy statement?

   3

Why did I receive a notice in the mail regarding the Internet availability of proxy materials instead of a full set of proxy materials?

   3

How do I get electronic access to the proxy materials?

   3

What items of business will be voted on at the Annual Meeting?

   3

How does the board of directors recommend that I vote?

   4

What shares can I vote?

   4

To how many votes am I entitled per share?

   4

What is the difference between holding shares as a stockholder of record and as a beneficial owner?

   4

How can I attend the Annual Meeting?

   5

Is the Annual Meeting going to be webcast?

   5

How can I vote my shares in person at the Annual Meeting?

   5

How can I vote my shares without attending the Annual Meeting?

   5

Can I change my vote?

   5

Is my vote confidential?

   6

How many shares must be present or represented to conduct business at the Annual Meeting?

   6

How are votes counted?

   6

What is the voting requirement to approve each of the proposals?

   6

Is cumulative voting permitted for the election of directors?

   6

What happens if additional matters are presented at the Annual Meeting?

   7

Who will serve as inspector of elections?

   7

Who will bear the cost of soliciting votes for the Annual Meeting?

   7

Where can I find the voting results of the Annual Meeting?

   7

What is the deadline to propose actions for consideration at next year’s annual meeting of stockholders or to nominate individuals to serve as directors?

   7

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS MATTERS

   9

Board of Directors Independence

   9

Board of Directors Structure and Committee Composition

   9

Audit Committee

   10

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

   11

Leadership Development and Compensation Committee

   12

Executive Committee

   13

Real Estate Committee

   13

Acquisition Committee

   13

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

   14

Chairman of the Board of Directors

   14

Lead Independent Director

   14

Consideration of Director Nominees

   14

Stockholder Recommendations and Nominees

   14

Director Qualifications

   15

Identification and Evaluation of Nominees for Directors

   15

Executive Sessions

   15

Outside Advisors

   15

Board Effectiveness

   15

Communications with the Board of Directors

   16


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Common Stock and Dividends

   16

Headquarters Information

   16

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

   17

Compensation for 2007

   17

Standard Arrangement

   17

PROPOSAL NUMBER 1—Election of Directors

   18

Nominees

   18

Required Vote

   20

Recommendation

   20

PROPOSAL NUMBER 2—Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   21

Required Vote

   21

Recommendation

   21

PROPOSAL NUMBER 3—Approval of an Amendment to Google’s 2004 Stock Plan

   22

Summary of the Plan

   22

Plan Benefits

   26

U.S. Federal Income Tax Information

   26

Required Vote

   27

Recommendation

   27

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

   28

PROPOSAL NUMBER 4—Stockholder Proposal

   29

Required Vote

   30

Recommendation

   30

PROPOSAL NUMBER 5—Stockholder Proposal

   31

Required Vote

   31

Recommendation

   31

COMMON STOCK OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

   32

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

   36

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

   37

Related Party Transactions Policy and Procedure

   37

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

   40

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

   40

Leadership Development and Compensation Committee Report

   48

Summary Compensation Table

   49

Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2007

   50

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2007 Fiscal Year-End

   51

Option Exercises and Stock Vested in Fiscal 2007

   52

Equity Compensation Plan Information

   52

INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

   54

Audit and Non-Audit Fees

   54

Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services

   54

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

   55

APPENDIX A: AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER

   A-1

APPENDIX B: GOOGLE 2004 STOCK PLAN

   B-1

 

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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

Time and Date

2:00 p.m., local time, on Thursday, May 8, 2008.

 

Place

Corporate headquarters, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, California 94043. For your convenience, we are pleased to offer a live webcast of our Annual Meeting on the Investor Relations section of our web site at investor.google.com.

 

Items of Business

(1) To elect ten members of the board of directors to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders or until their respective successors have been elected and qualified.

(2) To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as Google’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008.

(3) To approve an amendment to Google’s 2004 Stock Plan to increase the number of authorized shares of Class A common stock issuable under this plan by 6,500,000.

(4) To consider and act upon a stockholder proposal regarding Internet censorship, if properly presented at the meeting.

(5) To consider and act upon a stockholder proposal regarding the creation of a Board Committee on Human Rights, if properly presented at the meeting.

(6) To consider such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

 

Adjournments and Postponements

Any action on the items of business described above may be considered at the Annual Meeting at the time and on the date specified above or at any time and date to which the Annual Meeting may be properly adjourned or postponed.

 

Record Date

You are entitled to vote only if you were a Google stockholder as of the close of business on March 11, 2008 (the “Record Date”).

 

Meeting Admission

You are entitled to attend the Annual Meeting only if you were a Google stockholder as of the close of business on the Record Date or hold a valid proxy for the Annual Meeting. Since seating is limited, admission to the meeting will be on a first-come, first-served basis. You should be prepared to present photo identification for admittance. If you are not a stockholder of record but hold shares through a broker, bank, trustee or nominee (i.e., in street name), you should provide proof of beneficial ownership as of the Record Date, such as your most recent account statement prior to the Record Date, a copy of the voting instruction card provided by your broker, bank, trustee or nominee, or similar evidence of ownership.

If you do not provide photo identification or comply with the other procedures outlined above, you will not be admitted to the Annual Meeting. For security reasons, you and your bags will be subject to search prior to your admittance to the meeting.

 

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Please let us know if you plan to attend the meeting by marking the appropriate box on the enclosed proxy card, if you requested to receive printed proxy materials, or, if you vote by telephone or over the Internet, by indicating your plans when prompted.

The Annual Meeting will begin promptly at 2:00 p.m., local time. Check-in will begin at 12:30 p.m., local time, and you should allow ample time for the check-in procedures.

 

Voting

Your vote is very important. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we encourage you to read this proxy statement and submit your proxy or voting instructions as soon as possible. For specific instructions on how to vote your shares, please refer to the instructions on the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) you received in the mail, the section entitled Questions and Answers beginning on page 3 of this proxy statement or, if you requested to receive printed proxy materials, your enclosed proxy card.

 

By order of the Board of Directors,

Eric Schmidt

Chairman of the Board of Directors,

Chief Executive Officer and Director

This notice of Annual Meeting and proxy statement and form of proxy are being distributed and made available on or about March 26, 2008.

 

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE PROXY MATERIALS AND THE ANNUAL MEETING

Q: Why am I receiving these materials?

A: Our board of directors has made these materials available to you on the Internet, or, upon your request, has delivered printed proxy materials to you, in connection with the solicitation of proxies for use at Google’s 2008 Annual Meeting of stockholders, which will take place on Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. local time, at our corporate headquarters located at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, California 94043. As a stockholder, you are invited to attend the Annual Meeting and are requested to vote on the items of business described in this proxy statement.

Q: What information is contained in this proxy statement?

A: The information in this proxy statement relates to the proposals to be voted on at the Annual Meeting, the voting process, the compensation of our directors and most highly paid executive officers, and certain other required information.

Q: Why did I receive a notice in the mail regarding the Internet availability of proxy materials instead of a full set of proxy materials?

A: In accordance with rules recently adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), we may now furnish proxy materials, including this proxy statement and our 2007 Annual Report to Stockholders, to our stockholders by providing access to such documents on the Internet instead of mailing printed copies. Most stockholders will not receive printed copies of the proxy materials unless they request them. Instead, the Notice, which was mailed to most of our stockholders, will instruct you as to how you may access and review all of the proxy materials on the Internet. The Notice also instructs you as to how you may submit your proxy on the Internet. If you would like to receive a paper or email copy of our proxy materials, you should follow the instructions for requesting such materials in the Notice.

Q: How do I get electronic access to the proxy materials?

A: The Notice will provide you with instructions regarding how to:

 

   

View our proxy materials for the Annual Meeting on the Internet; and

 

   

Instruct us to send our future proxy materials to you electronically by email.

Choosing to receive your future proxy materials by email will save us the cost of printing and mailing documents to you and will reduce the impact of printing and mailing these materials on the environment. If you choose to receive future proxy materials by email, you will receive an email next year with instructions containing a link to those materials and a link to the proxy voting site. Your election to receive proxy materials by email will remain in effect until you terminate it.

Q: What items of business will be voted on at the Annual Meeting?

A: The items of business scheduled to be voted on at the Annual Meeting are:

 

   

The election of ten directors;

 

   

The ratification of Ernst & Young LLP as Google’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008;

 

   

The approval of an amendment to Google’s 2004 Stock Plan to increase the number of authorized shares of Class A common stock issuable thereunder by 6,500,000;

 

   

A stockholder proposal regarding Internet censorship, if properly presented at the meeting; and

 

   

A stockholder proposal regarding the creation of a Board Committee on Human Rights, if properly presented at the meeting.

We will also consider any other business that properly comes before the Annual Meeting.

 

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Q: How does the board of directors recommend that I vote?

A: Our board of directors recommends that you vote your shares (1) “FOR” each of the nominees to the board of directors, (2) “FOR” the ratification of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2008 fiscal year, (3) “FOR” the amendment to our 2004 Stock Plan to increase the number of authorized shares of Class A common stock issuable thereunder by 6,500,000, (4) “AGAINST” the stockholder proposal regarding Internet censorship, and (5) “AGAINST” the stockholder proposal regarding the creation of a Board Committee on Human Rights.

Q: What shares can I vote?

A: Each share of Google Class A common stock and Class B common stock issued and outstanding as of the close of business on the Record Date for the 2008 Annual Meeting of stockholders, is entitled to be voted on all items being voted on at the Annual Meeting. You may vote all shares owned by you as of the Record Date, including (1) shares held directly in your name as the stockholder of record, and (2) shares held for you as the beneficial owner in street name through a broker, bank, trustee or other nominee. On the Record Date we had 313,742,555 shares of common stock issued and outstanding, consisting of 238,171,144 shares of Class A common stock and 75,571,411 shares of Class B common stock.

Q: To how many votes am I entitled per share?

A: Each holder of shares of Class A common stock is entitled to one vote for each share of Class A common stock held as of the Record Date, and each holder of shares of Class B common stock is entitled to ten votes for each share of Class B common stock held as of the Record Date. The Class A common stock and Class B common stock are voting as a single class on all matters described in this proxy statement for which your vote is being solicited.

Q: What is the difference between holding shares as a stockholder of record and as a beneficial owner?

A: Most Google stockholders hold their shares as a beneficial owner through a broker or other nominee rather than directly in their own name. As summarized below, there are some distinctions between shares held of record and those owned beneficially.

Stockholder of Record

If your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., you are considered, with respect to those shares, the stockholder of record, and the Notice was sent directly to you by Google. As the stockholder of record, you have the right to grant your voting proxy directly to Google or to vote in person at the Annual Meeting. If you requested to receive printed proxy materials, Google has enclosed or sent a proxy card for you to use. You may also vote on the Internet or by telephone, as described in the Notice and below under the heading “How can I vote my shares without attending the Annual Meeting?”

Beneficial Owner

If your shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer, trust or other similar organization, like the vast majority of our stockholders, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in street name, and the Notice was forwarded to you by that organization. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank, trustee or nominee how to vote your shares, and you are also invited to attend the Annual Meeting.

Since a beneficial owner is not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares in person at the Annual Meeting unless you obtain a “legal proxy” from the broker, bank, trustee or nominee that holds your shares giving you the right to vote the shares at the meeting. If you do not wish to vote in person or you will not be attending the Annual Meeting, you may vote by proxy. You may vote by proxy over the Internet or by telephone, as described in the Notice and below under the heading “How can I vote my shares without attending the Annual Meeting?”

 

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Q: How can I attend the Annual Meeting?

A: You are entitled to attend the Annual Meeting only if you were a Google stockholder as of the Record Date or you hold a valid proxy for the Annual Meeting. Since seating is limited, admission to the meeting will be on a first-come, first-served basis. You should be prepared to present photo identification for admittance. If you are not a stockholder of record but hold shares as a beneficial owner through a broker, bank, trustee or nominee (i.e., in street name), you should provide proof of beneficial ownership as of the Record Date, such as your most recent account statement prior to March 11, 2008, a copy of the voting instruction card provided by your broker, bank, trustee or nominee, or other similar evidence of ownership.

If you do not provide photo identification or comply with the other procedures outlined above, you will not be admitted to the Annual Meeting. For security reasons, you and your bags will be subject to search prior to your admittance to the meeting.

Please let us know if you plan to attend the meeting by marking the appropriate box on the enclosed proxy card, if you requested to receive printed proxy materials, or, if you vote by telephone or Internet, by indicating your plans when prompted.

The meeting will begin promptly at 2:00 p.m., local time. Check-in will begin at 12:30 p.m., local time, and you should allow ample time for the check-in procedures.

Q: Is the Annual Meeting going to be webcast?

A: For your convenience, we are pleased to offer a live webcast of our Annual Meeting on the Investor Relations section of our website at investor.google.com.

Q: How can I vote my shares in person at the Annual Meeting?

A: Shares held in your name as the stockholder of record may be voted by you in person at the Annual Meeting. Shares held beneficially in street name may be voted by you in person at the Annual Meeting only if you obtain a legal proxy from the broker, bank, trustee or nominee that holds your shares giving you the right to vote the shares. Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we recommend that you also submit your proxy or voting instructions as described below so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the meeting.

Q: How can I vote my shares without attending the Annual Meeting?

A: Whether you hold shares directly as the stockholder of record or beneficially in street name, you may direct how your shares are voted without attending the Annual Meeting. If you are a stockholder of record, you may vote by proxy. You can vote by proxy over the Internet by following the instructions provided in the Notice, or, if you requested to receive printed proxy materials, you can also vote by mail or telephone pursuant to instructions provided on the proxy card. If you hold shares beneficially in street name, you may also vote by proxy over the Internet by following the instructions provided in the Notice, or, if you requested to receive printed proxy materials, you can also vote by telephone or mail by following the voting instruction card provided to you by your broker, bank, trustee or nominee.

Q: Can I change my vote?

A: You may change your vote at any time prior to the taking of the vote at the Annual Meeting. If you are the stockholder of record, you may change your vote by (1) granting a new proxy bearing a later date (which automatically revokes the earlier proxy) using any of the methods described above (and until the applicable deadline for each method), (2) providing a written notice of revocation to Google’s Corporate Secretary at Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043 prior to your shares being voted, or (3) attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. Attendance at the meeting will not cause your previously granted proxy to be revoked unless you specifically so request.

 

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For shares you hold beneficially in street name, you may change your vote by submitting new voting instructions to your broker, bank, trustee or nominee following the instructions they provided, or, if you have obtained a legal proxy from your broker, bank, trustee or nominee giving you the right to vote your shares, by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person.

Q: Is my vote confidential?

A: Proxy instructions, ballots and voting tabulations that identify individual stockholders are handled in a manner that protects your voting privacy. Your vote will not be disclosed either within Google or to third parties, except: (1) as necessary to meet applicable legal requirements, (2) to allow for the tabulation of votes and certification of the vote and (3) to facilitate a successful proxy solicitation. Occasionally, stockholders provide on their proxy card written comments, which are then forwarded to Google management.

Q: How many shares must be present or represented to conduct business at the Annual Meeting?

A: The quorum requirement for holding the Annual Meeting and transacting business is that holders of a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Class A and Class B common stock of Google (voting together as a single class) must be present in person or represented by proxy. Both abstentions and broker non-votes (described below) are counted for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum.

Q: How are votes counted?

A: In the election of directors, you may vote “FOR” all or some of the nominees or your vote may be “WITHHELD” with respect to one or more of the nominees.

For the other items of business, you may vote “FOR,” “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN.” If you elect to “ABSTAIN,” the abstention has the same effect as a vote “AGAINST.” If you provide specific instructions with regard to certain items, your shares will be voted as you instruct on such items. If no instructions are indicated, the shares will be voted as recommended by the board of directors.

Q: What is the voting requirement to approve each of the proposals?

A: In the election of directors, the ten persons receiving the highest number of affirmative “FOR” votes at the Annual Meeting will be elected.

The affirmative “FOR” vote of a majority of the votes cast on the proposal is required to approve (1) the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008, (2) the amendment to our 2004 Stock Plan to increase the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable thereunder by 6,500,000 shares, (3) the stockholder proposal regarding Internet censorship, and (4) the stockholder proposal regarding the creation of a Board Committee on Human Rights.

If you hold shares beneficially in street name and do not provide your broker with voting instructions, your shares may constitute “broker non-votes.” Generally, broker non-votes occur on a matter when a broker is not permitted to vote on that matter without instructions from the beneficial owner and instructions are not given. In tabulating the voting result for any particular proposal, shares that constitute broker non-votes are not considered votes cast on that proposal. Thus, broker non-votes will not affect the outcome of any matter being voted on at the meeting, assuming that a quorum is obtained. Abstentions are considered votes cast and thus have the same effect as votes against the matter.

Q: Is cumulative voting permitted for the election of directors?

A: No. You may not cumulate your votes for the election of directors.

 

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Q: What happens if additional matters are presented at the Annual Meeting?

A: Other than the five items of business described in this proxy statement, we are not aware of any other business to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting. If you grant a proxy, the persons named as proxy holders, Eric Schmidt, George Reyes and David Drummond, or any of them, will have the discretion to vote your shares on any additional matters properly presented for a vote at the meeting. If for any reason any of the nominees is not available as a candidate for director, the persons named as proxy holders will vote your proxy for such other candidate or candidates as may be nominated by the board of directors.

Q: Who will serve as inspector of elections?

A: The inspector of elections will be a representative from Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

Q: Who will bear the cost of soliciting votes for the Annual Meeting?

A: Google will pay the entire cost of preparing, assembling, printing, mailing and distributing these proxy materials and soliciting votes. If you choose to access the proxy materials and/or vote over the Internet, you are responsible for Internet access charges you may incur. If you choose to vote by telephone, you are responsible for telephone charges you may incur. In addition to the mailing of these proxy materials, the solicitation of proxies or votes may be made in person, by telephone or by electronic communication by our directors, officers and employees, who will not receive any additional compensation for such solicitation activities. We also have hired Georgeson Inc. to assist us in the distribution of proxy materials and the solicitation of votes described above. We will pay Georgeson Inc. a fee of $750.00 plus customary costs and expenses for these services. Google has agreed to indemnify Georgeson Inc. against certain liabilities arising out of or in connection with its agreement to assist us with distributing proxy materials and soliciting votes.

Q: Where can I find the voting results of the Annual Meeting?

A: We intend to announce preliminary voting results at the Annual Meeting and publish final results in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the second quarter ending June 30, 2008.

Q: What is the deadline to propose actions for consideration at next year’s annual meeting of stockholders or to nominate individuals to serve as directors?

A: Stockholder Proposals: Stockholders may present proper proposals for inclusion in our proxy statement and for consideration at the next annual meeting of stockholders by submitting their proposals in writing to Google’s Corporate Secretary in a timely manner. For a stockholder proposal to be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement for our 2009 annual meeting of stockholders, the Corporate Secretary of Google must receive the written proposal at our principal executive offices no later than November 26, 2008; provided, however, that in the event that we hold our 2009 annual meeting of stockholders more than 30 days before or after the one-year anniversary date of the 2008 Annual Meeting, we will disclose the new deadline by which stockholders proposals must be received under Item 5 of our earliest possible quarterly report on Form 10-Q or, if impracticable, by any means reasonably calculated to inform stockholders. In addition, stockholder proposals must otherwise comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Such proposals also must comply with SEC regulations under Rule 14a-8 regarding the inclusion of stockholder proposals in company-sponsored proxy materials. Proposals should be addressed to:

Google Inc.

Attn: Corporate Secretary

1600 Amphitheatre Parkway

Mountain View, California 94043

Fax: (650) 618-1806

Our bylaws also establish an advance notice procedure for stockholders who wish to present a proposal before an annual meeting of stockholders but do not intend for the proposal to be included in our proxy statement. Our bylaws

 

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provide that the only business that may be conducted at an annual meeting is business that is (1) specified in the notice of a meeting given by or at the direction of our board of directors, (2) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of our board of directors, or (3) properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder entitled to vote at the annual meeting who has delivered timely written notice to our Corporate Secretary, which notice must contain the information specified in our bylaws. To be timely for our 2009 annual meeting of stockholders, our Corporate Secretary must receive the written notice at our principal executive offices:

 

   

not earlier than the close of business on January 8, 2009, and

 

   

not later than the close of business on February 7, 2009.

In the event we that hold our 2009 annual meeting of stockholders more than 30 days before or after the one-year anniversary date of the 2008 Annual Meeting, then notice of a stockholder proposal that is not intended to be included in our proxy statement must be received not later than the close of business on the earlier of the following two dates:

 

 

 

the 10th day following the day on which notice of the meeting date is mailed, or

 

 

 

the 10th day following the day on which public disclosure of the meeting date is made.

If a stockholder who has notified us of his or her intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting does not appear to present his or her proposal at such meeting, we are not required to present the proposal for a vote at such meeting.

Nomination of Director Candidates: You may propose director candidates for consideration by our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Any such recommendations should include the nominee’s name and qualifications for membership on our board of directors and should be directed to the Corporate Secretary of Google at the address set forth above. For additional information regarding stockholder recommendations for director candidates, see “Corporate Governance and Board of Directors Matters—Consideration of Director Nominees—Stockholder Recommendations and Nominees” on page 14.

In addition, our bylaws permit stockholders to nominate directors for election at an annual stockholder meeting. To nominate a director, the stockholder must provide the information required by our bylaws. In addition, the stockholder must give timely notice to our Corporate Secretary in accordance with our bylaws, which, in general, require that the notice be received by our Corporate Secretary within the time period described above under “Stockholder Proposals” for stockholder proposals that are not intended to be included in our proxy statement.

Copy of Bylaw Provisions: A copy of our bylaws is available at http://investor.google.com/bylaws.html. You may also contact our Corporate Secretary at our principal executive offices for a copy of the relevant bylaw provisions regarding the requirements for making stockholder proposals and nominating director candidates.

* * * * *

 

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS MATTERS

We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of business conduct and corporate governance, which we believe are essential to running our business efficiently, serving our stockholders well and maintaining our integrity in the marketplace. We have adopted a code of business conduct and ethics for directors, officers (including our principal executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer) and employees, known as the Google Code of Conduct. We have also adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines, which, in conjunction with our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and board committee charters, form the framework for the corporate governance of Google. The Google Code of Conduct and our Corporate Governance Guidelines are available at http://investor.google.com. Google will post amendments to the Google Code of Conduct or waivers of the Google Code of Conduct for directors and executive officers on the same website on which the codes are posted.

Stockholders may request free printed copies of the Google Code of Conduct, the Corporate Governance Guidelines and committee charters by filling out our contact form at http://investor.google.com or sending inquiries to:

Investor Relations

Google Inc.

1600 Amphitheatre Parkway

Mountain View, CA 94043

Board of Directors Independence

The board of directors has determined that each of the director nominees standing for election, except Eric Schmidt, Sergey Brin and Larry Page, has no relationship which, in the opinion of the board of directors, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director and is an “independent director” as defined in the Marketplace Rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”). In determining the independence of our directors, the board of directors has adopted independence standards that mirror exactly the criteria specified by applicable laws and regulations of the SEC and the Marketplace Rules of NASDAQ. In making the determination of the independence of our directors, the board of directors considered all transactions in which Google and any director had any interest, including those discussed under “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” below, transactions involving payments made by Google to companies in the ordinary course of business where L. John Doerr, John L. Hennessy, Arthur D. Levinson, Ann Mather, Paul S. Otellini or K. Ram Shriram serve on the board of directors or as a member of the executive management of the other company, a transaction in which Google acquired another company where John L. Hennessy beneficially owned shares of the capital stock of the other company, a transaction in which Google invested in another company where Michael Moritz beneficially owned shares of the capital stock of the other company, a transaction in which Google acquired another company where L. John Doerr beneficially owned shares of the capital stock of the other company and transactions involving payments made by Google to educational institutions with which John L. Hennessy and Shirley M. Tilghman are affiliated.

Board of Directors Structure and Committee Composition

In 2007, our board of directors initially consisted of 11 directors. On May 10, 2007, immediately after our 2007 annual meeting of stockholders, Michael Moritz resigned from our board of directors. For the remainder of 2007, our board of directors consisted of 10 directors. Our board of directors has the following six standing committees: (1) an Audit Committee, (2) a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, (3) a Leadership Development and Compensation Committee, (4) an Executive Committee, (5) a Real Estate Committee, and (6) an Acquisition Committee. Each of the committees operates under a written charter adopted by the board of directors. All of the committee charters are available on our web site at http://investor.google.com/committees.html.

 

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During 2007, the board of directors held seven meetings and acted by written consent two times. Each director attended at least 75% of all board of directors and applicable committee meetings. We encourage our directors to attend our annual meeting of stockholders. Last year, six directors attended Google’s annual meeting of stockholders. The committee membership and meetings during 2007 and the function of each of the committees are described below.

 

Board of Directors

   Audit Committee   Nominating
and Corporate
Governance
Committee
   Leadership
Development
and Compensation
Committee
  Executive
Committee
   Real
Estate
Committee
   Acquisition
Committee

Eric Schmidt

          Chair    Chair    Chair

Sergey Brin

          Member    Member    Member

Larry Page

          Member    Member    Member

L. John Doerr

   Member*      Member*        

John L. Hennessy

     Member           

Arthur D. Levinson

        Member        

Ann Mather

   Chair           Member   

Paul S. Otellini

        Member        

K. Ram Shriram

   Member              Member

Shirley M. Tilghman

     Member           

Michael Moritz

   Member**             

 

* L. John Doerr resigned from the LDC Committee and joined the Audit Committee on May 10, 2007
** Michael Moritz resigned from the Audit Committee on May 10, 2007

Audit Committee

The main function of our Audit Committee, which was established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act, is to oversee our accounting and financial reporting processes, internal systems of control, independent auditor relationships and the audits of our financial statements. This committee’s responsibilities include:

 

   

Selecting and hiring our independent auditors.

 

   

Evaluating the qualifications, independence and performance of our independent auditors.

 

   

Approving the audit and non-audit services to be performed by our independent auditors.

 

   

Reviewing the design, implementation, adequacy and effectiveness of our internal controls and our critical accounting policies.

 

   

Overseeing and monitoring the integrity of our financial statements and our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements as they relate to financial statements or accounting matters.

 

   

Reviewing with management any earnings announcements and other public announcements regarding our results of operations.

 

   

Reviewing regulatory filings with management and our auditors.

 

   

Preparing any report the SEC requires for inclusion in our annual proxy statement.

During 2007, the Audit Committee held five meetings and acted by written consent two times. On May 10, 2007, immediately after our 2007 annual meeting of stockholders, Michael Moritz resigned from the Audit Committee and was replaced by L. John Doerr. Our Audit Committee is currently comprised of Ann Mather, L. John Doerr and K. Ram Shriram, each of whom is a non-employee member of our board of directors. Our board of directors has determined that each of the directors serving on our Audit Committee is independent within the meaning of the rules of the SEC and the Marketplace Rules of NASDAQ.

 

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The board of directors has determined that Ann Mather is an audit committee financial expert as defined under the rules of the SEC. Ann’s relevant experience includes her service as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Pixar. Prior to her services at Pixar, she was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Village Roadshow Pictures. She also held various executive positions at The Walt Disney Company, including Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration for its Buena Vista International Theatrical Division. Ann serves as a director and a member of the audit committee of Central European Media Enterprises Group and as a director and chair of the audit committee of Glu Mobile Inc. She served as a director of Shopping.com until it was acquired by Ebay and was chair of the audit committee and a member of the corporate governance and nominating committee. Ann is also on the board of directors for Zappos.com and Ariat International, Inc. Ann holds a Master’s degree from Cambridge University.

The Audit Committee charter was amended on October 10, 2007 and a copy of this amended charter is attached hereto as Appendix A and is also is available at http://investor.google.com/committee_audit.html. A free printed copy is available to any stockholder who requests it by following the instructions on page 9.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s purpose is to assist our board of directors in identifying individuals qualified to become members of our board of directors consistent with criteria set by our board of directors and to develop our corporate governance principles. This committee’s responsibilities include:

 

   

Evaluating the composition, size, organization and governance of our board of directors and its committees, determining future requirements, and making recommendations regarding future planning, the appointment of directors to our committees and selection of chairs of these committees.