SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
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☐ | Soliciting Material under Section 240.14a-12 |
Cirrus Logic, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)
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JASON P. RHODE
President and Chief Executive Officer
June 6, 2018
To our Stockholders:
I would like to invite you to participate in the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Cirrus Logic, Inc. to be held on Friday, August 3, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. Central Time. This years Annual Meeting will once again be a virtual-only stockholder meeting, which we hope, in addition to saving travel and other costs, will allow a broader group of stockholders to participate. You will be able to participate, vote, and submit your questions during the meeting on a live webcast at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CRUS2018. To access this website and enter the meeting, you should have available your control number, which is included with the proxy materials. We intend to hold the virtual-only meeting in a manner that affords you the same rights and opportunities to participate as you would have at an in-person meeting.
We also are continuing to provide our stockholders with the proxy materials electronically via the internet. If a stockholder chooses, he or she may obtain paper copies; however, by providing the information online, our stockholders will have immediate access to the proxy materials at their discretion.
Even if you plan to participate in the Annual Meeting by live webcast, I hope you will vote as soon as possible. Although you may vote the day of the Annual Meeting, you may also vote in advance via the internet, as well as by telephone, or by mailing a proxy card. Voting in advance over the internet, by telephone, or by written proxy will ensure your representation at the Annual Meeting if you do not participate in the virtual meeting. Please review the instructions on the Notice of Internet Availability or the proxy card regarding each of these voting options.
Cirrus Logic, Inc. values the participation of its stockholders. Your vote is an important part of our system of corporate governance, and I strongly encourage you to participate.
Sincerely,
Jason P. Rhode
President and Chief Executive Officer
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the 2018 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders to be held August 3, 2018
Copies of the Notice of the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, this proxy statement, and our Annual Report on Form 10-K are also available on our website at www.cirrus.com. You also may receive copies of these documents at no charge upon request directed to:
Cirrus Logic, Inc. Investor Relations
800 W. 6th Street, Austin, Texas 78701
telephone: (512) 851-4125; email: Investor.Relations@cirrus.com
Cirrus Logic, Inc.
800 W. 6th Street
Austin, Texas 78701
2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
August 3, 2018
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Cirrus Logic, Inc. (the Company, our, or we) will hold its 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders as follows:
Friday, August 3, 2018
11:00 A.M. (Central Daylight Time)
Via live webcast available at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CRUS2018
This years Annual Meeting will again be a virtual-only meeting, which we intend to hold in a manner that affords you the same rights and opportunities to participate as you would have at an in-person meeting. You will be able to attend, vote, and submit your questions during the meeting on a live webcast via the internet at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CRUS2018. To access this website and enter the meeting, you must have your control number available. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person.
At the meeting, stockholders will vote on the following matters:
(i) | the election of seven nominees named in this proxy statement to serve as Company directors for one-year terms; |
(ii) | the ratification of the appointment of Ernst &Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 30, 2019; |
(iii) | an advisory vote to approve executive compensation; |
(iv) | the approval of the Companys 2018 Long Term Incentive Plan; and |
(v) | such other business as may properly come before the meeting. |
You can vote four different ways. You can vote by participating in the virtual meeting online, or you can vote in advance of the virtual meeting by internet, by telephone, or by mail. For specific voting information, please see Questions and Answers about the Proxy Materials, the Annual Meeting, and Voting Procedures on page 3.
Stockholders of record at the close of business on June 4, 2018, are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. On June 4, 2018, approximately 60,984,907 shares of the Company common stock were outstanding. Each share entitles the holder to one vote. A complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting will be open to the examination of any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting for at least 10 days prior to the meeting and during the meeting.
The Board of Directors of the Company asks you to vote in favor of the seven nominated directors and for proposals 24. The Company knows of no other matters that will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting. If any other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is the intention
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of the persons named in the proxy to vote the shares they represent as the Board may recommend. Discretionary authority with respect to such other matters is granted by the execution of the proxy. This proxy statement provides you with detailed information about each proposal. We are also using this proxy statement to discuss our corporate governance and compensation practices and philosophies.
We encourage you to read this proxy statement carefully. In addition, you may obtain information about the Company from the Annual Report to Stockholders and from other documents that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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PROXY STATEMENT
2018 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held Friday, August 3, 2018
Cirrus Logic, Inc.
800 W. 6th Street
Austin, Texas 78701
www.cirrus.com |
These proxy materials are furnished to you in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors (the Board) of Cirrus Logic, Inc. (the Company, our, or we) for use at our 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and any adjournments or postponements of the meeting (the Annual Meeting). The Annual Meeting will be held on August 3, 2018, at 11:00 a.m., Central Daylight Time, and may be accessed on a live webcast via the internet at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CRUS2018.
Beginning on June 22, 2018, Cirrus Logic will make these proxy materials available to our stockholders on the internet or through the mail in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board for proposals to be voted on at the Annual Meeting.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE PROXY MATERIALS,
THE ANNUAL MEETING, AND VOTING PROCEDURES
Q: | Why am I receiving these materials? |
A: | The Board, on behalf of the Company, is soliciting your proxy for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to take place on August 3, 2018. As a stockholder of record as of the close of business on June 4, 2018 (the Record Date), you are invited to participate in the meeting and are entitled to and requested to vote on the proposals described in this proxy statement. |
Q: | Who is entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting? |
A: | Stockholders of record as of the Record Date are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. |
Q: | What information is contained in these materials? |
A: | The information included in this proxy statement relates to the proposals to be voted on at the meeting, the voting process, the compensation of directors and our most highly paid executive officers, and certain other required information. Our 2018 Annual Report to Stockholders on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, is also being made electronically available or mailed to each stockholder as of the Record Date. |
If you requested and received a copy of these materials by mail or email, then the proxy materials also include a proxy card or a voting instruction card for the Annual Meeting.
Q: | Why did I receive a notice in the mail regarding the internet availability of the proxy materials instead of a paper copy of the proxy materials? |
A: | We are complying with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) rule that allows companies to furnish their proxy materials over the internet. As a result, we are mailing to our stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of the proxy materials instead of a paper copy of the proxy materials. All stockholders receiving the Notice of Internet Availability will have the ability to access the proxy materials over the internet, or alternatively, request to receive a copy of the proxy materials by mail or email. |
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Q. | How can I access the proxy materials over the internet? |
A: | Your Notice of Internet Availability of the proxy materials contains instructions regarding how to: |
● | view the proxy materials for the Annual Meeting on the internet; |
● | request a paper copy of the proxy materials for the Annual Meeting; and |
● | instruct us to send future proxy materials to you by mail or by email. |
Q: | How may I obtain a paper copy of the proxy materials? |
A: | Your Notice of Internet Availability of the proxy materials contains instructions regarding how to obtain a paper copy of the proxy materials. |
Q: | What if I receive more than one Notice of Internet Availability of the proxy materials or more than one paper copy of the proxy materials? |
A: | If you receive more than one Notice of Internet Availability or set of proxy materials, it means your shares are registered differently or are in more than one account. To vote all your shares by proxy, you must vote using all Notices of Internet Availability you receive, or all proxy cards and voting instruction cards you received. |
Q: | What proposals will be voted on at the meeting? |
A: | There are four proposals scheduled to be voted on at the meeting: |
(1) | the election of seven nominees named in this proxy statement to serve as Company directors for one-year terms; |
(2) | the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP (Ernst & Young) as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 30, 2019; |
(3) | an advisory (non-binding) vote to approve executive compensation; and |
(4) | the approval of the Companys 2018 Long Term Incentive Plan. |
Q: | Will I be able to attend the Annual Meeting? |
A: | We will host the Annual Meeting live via the internet. You will not be able to attend the meeting in person. Any stockholder can listen to and participate in the Annual Meeting live via the internet at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CRUS2018. The webcast will begin at 11:00 a.m., Central Daylight Time, on August 3, 2018. Stockholders as of the Record Date may vote and submit questions while connected to the Annual Meeting via the internet. |
Q: | What do I need to do to be able to participate in the Annual Meeting online? |
A: | The Annual Meeting will be held live via the internet. You will not be able to attend the meeting in person. A summary of the information you need to attend the meeting online is provided below: |
● | Any stockholder can listen to the meeting and participate live via the internet at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CRUS2018. |
● | Webcast begins at 11:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time on August 3, 2018. |
● | Stockholders as of the Record Date may vote and submit questions while connected to the meeting via the internet. |
● | Please have your control number to enter the meeting. |
● | Instructions on how to connect and participate via the internet, including how to demonstrate proof of stock ownership, are posted at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CRUS2018. |
● | A webcast replay of the meeting will be available after the meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CRUS2018. |
Q: | What are the Boards voting recommendations? |
A: | The Board recommends that you vote your shares as follows: |
● | FOR each of the director nominees; |
● | FOR the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 30, 2019; |
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● | FOR the approval, on a non-binding, advisory basis, of executive compensation; and |
● | FOR the approval of the Companys 2018 Long Term Incentive Plan. |
Q: | What shares owned by me can be voted? |
A: | All shares owned by you as of the close of business on the Record Date may be voted by you. These shares include (1) shares held directly in your name as the stockholder of record, and (2) shares held for you as the beneficial owner through a stockbroker, bank, or other nominee; however you will need to demonstrate proof of ownership pursuant to the instructions provided at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CRUS2018. |
Q: | What is the difference between holding shares as a stockholder of record and as a beneficial owner? |
A: | Most stockholders of the Company hold their shares through a stockbroker, bank, 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 the Companys transfer agent, Computershare Investor Services, you are considered, with respect to those shares, the stockholder of record, and, if you held those shares as of the Record Date, you have the right to vote by proxy by following the instructions in the Notice of Internet Availability of the proxy materials or to vote online at the meeting.
Beneficial Owner
If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in street name, and your stockbroker, bank, or other nominee is considered, with respect to those shares, the stockholder of record. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your stockbroker, bank, or other nominee how to vote, and you are also invited to participate in the meeting.
Q: | How can I vote my shares at the meeting? |
A: | Shares may be voted at the Annual Meeting via the internet on a live webcast at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CRUS2018. To access the meeting and vote your shares, you must have your control number. |
Even if you currently plan to participate in the Annual Meeting via the live webcast, we recommend that you submit your proxy in advance of the meeting so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the meeting.
Q: | How can I vote my shares without participating in the meeting? |
A: | Whether you hold shares directly as the stockholder of record or beneficially in street name, you may direct your vote without participating in the meeting. You may vote by granting a proxy or by submitting voting instructions to your stockbroker, bank, or other nominee for shares held in street name. In most instances, you will be able to do this over the internet, by telephone, or by mail, but if you hold shares in street name, you should refer to the voting instruction card provided to you by your stockbroker, bank, or other nominee for voting instructions specific to your holdings. If you are the stockholder of record, please refer to the summary instructions below and those included on your Notice of Internet Availability of the proxy materials. Stockholders who have requested and received a paper copy of a proxy card or voting instruction card by mail may also vote over the internet by following the instructions included with those materials. |
BY INTERNET If you have internet access, you may vote by following the instructions on the Notice of Internet Availability of the proxy materials. If you have requested and received a paper
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copy of a proxy card or voting instruction card, you may also vote over the internet by following the instructions included with those materials.
BY TELEPHONE If you have requested and received a paper copy of a proxy card or voting instruction card, you may vote by telephone by following the instructions on the proxy card. You will need to have the control number that appears on your Notice of Internet Availability of the proxy materials available when voting by telephone.
BY MAIL If you have requested and received a paper copy of a proxy card or voting instruction card by mail, you may submit a proxy by signing your proxy card and mailing it in the enclosed, postage prepaid and addressed envelope. If you sign but do not provide instructions, your shares will be voted as described in the response to What are the Boards voting recommendations? above.
Q: | What if I hold shares in street name and do not transmit voting instructions before the stockholder meeting to my stockbroker, bank, or other nominee? |
A: | Your stockbroker is not permitted to vote on your behalf on non-routine matters if you are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name and you do not transmit your voting instructions before the stockholder meeting to your stockbroker or nominee. The election of directors (Proposal No. 1), the advisory vote to approve executive compensation (Proposal No. 3), and the vote to approve the Companys 2018 Long Term Incentive Plan (Proposal No. 4) are considered non-routine matters. Therefore, if you do not transmit your voting instructions to your stockbroker or other nominee, then they cannot vote on these non-routine matters and your vote will be counted as broker non-votes as further described in the response to How are abstentions and broker non-votes counted? below. The ratification of the appointment of independent registered public accounting firm (Proposal No. 2) is the only routine matter, and therefore, the only matter that brokers may vote on without instruction from the beneficial owner. |
Q: | Can I revoke my proxy? |
A: | You may revoke your proxy instructions at any time prior to the vote at the Annual Meeting. For shares held directly in your name, you may revoke your proxy instructions by granting a new proxy bearing a later date (that automatically revokes the earlier proxy) or by voting during the Annual Meeting. For shares held beneficially by you, you may revoke your proxy by submitting new instructions to your stockbroker, bank, or other nominee. |
Q: | What is the quorum requirement for the meeting? |
A: | The quorum requirement for holding the meeting and transacting business is the presence, either in person or represented by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to be voted at the Annual Meeting. For the Annual Meeting, both abstentions and broker non-votes are counted as present 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 of the nominees or you may WITHHOLD your vote with respect to one or more of the nominees. For all other proposals you may vote FOR, AGAINST, or ABSTAIN, and if you ABSTAIN on any of these matters, it has the same effect as a vote AGAINST. |
If you sign your proxy card with no further instructions, your shares will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of the Board.
Q: | What is the voting requirement to approve each of the proposals? |
A: | In the election of directors, directors are elected by a plurality of votes cast, which means that, for this year, the seven persons receiving the highest number of FOR votes will be elected. All other |
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proposals require the affirmative FOR vote of a majority of those shares present and entitled to vote. If you are a beneficial owner and do not provide your stockbroker, bank, or other nominee with voting instructions on a non-routine matter such as a director election, your shares may constitute broker non-votes, as described in How are abstentions and broker non-votes counted? below. |
Q: | How are abstentions and broker non-votes counted? |
A: | Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted as present for purposes of determining the shares present and entitled to vote for purposes of the quorum requirement. For proposals 24, an abstention is treated as a vote cast for purposes of counting votes, and therefore the effect of an abstention will be the same as a vote against a proposal as described in How are votes counted? above. Broker non-votes are not counted as votes cast, and therefore have no impact on non-routine matters. Generally, broker non-votes occur when shares held by a stockbroker for a beneficial owner are not voted with respect to a particular proposal because the proposal is not a routine matter, the stockbroker has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner, and the stockbroker lacks discretionary voting power to vote the shares. |
Q: | Where can I find the voting results of the meeting? |
A: | We will announce preliminary voting results at the meeting and will file with the SEC via EDGAR a Current Report on Form 8-K within four business days of the meeting with the final voting results. If final voting results are not available at the time of such filing, the Company intends to disclose preliminary voting results at the time of the filing and file an amended Current Report on Form 8-K within four business days after obtaining the final results. |
Q: | What happens if additional proposals are presented at the meeting? |
A: | Other than the proposals described in this proxy statement, we do not expect any matters to be presented for a vote at the Annual Meeting. If you grant a proxy, the persons named as proxy holders, Gregory Scott Thomas, our Corporate Secretary, and Thurman Case, our Chief Financial Officer, will have the discretion to vote your shares on any additional matters properly presented for a vote at the meeting. If for any unforeseen reason any of our nominees is not available as a candidate for director, the persons named as proxy holders will vote your shares for such other candidate or candidates as may be nominated by the Board. |
Q: | What classes of shares are entitled to be voted? |
A: | Each share of common stock of the Company (common stock) outstanding as of the Record Date is entitled to one vote on each item being voted upon at the Annual Meeting. On the Record Date, we had approximately 60,984,907 shares of common stock outstanding. |
Q: | Is cumulative voting permitted for the election of directors? |
A: | No. |
Q: | Who will count the votes? |
A: | A representative of Broadridge Investor Communications Solutions will tabulate the votes. A representative of the Company will act as the inspector of election. |
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 the Company 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, or (3) to facilitate a successful proxy solicitation by the Board. |
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Q: | Who will bear the cost of soliciting votes for the meeting? |
A: | The Company will pay the entire cost of soliciting proxies to be voted, along with the costs of preparing, assembling, printing, mailing, and distributing the proxy materials. If you choose to access the proxy materials and/or submit your proxy over the internet or by telephone, however, you are responsible for internet access or telephone charges you may incur. In addition to the mailing of the proxy materials, the solicitation of proxies or votes may be made by our directors, officers, and employees, either in person, by telephone, or by electronic communication. Our directors, officers, and employees will not receive any additional compensation for the solicitation activities. We will also reimburse brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for forwarding proxy and solicitation materials to our stockholders. |
Q: | May I propose actions for consideration at next years annual meeting of stockholders or nominate individuals to serve as directors? |
A: | You may make nominations and submit proposals for consideration at future stockholder meetings. Any proposal that a stockholder wishes to include in the Companys proxy materials for the 2019 annual meeting of stockholders, in accordance with the regulations of the SEC, must be received by no later than 120 calendar days prior to the anniversary date that the Company released this proxy statement for the Annual Meeting (February 22, 2019). The written proposal will need to comply with the regulations of the SEC under Rule 14a-8 regarding the inclusion of stockholder proposals in company-sponsored proxy materials. Any proposal or nomination for election of directors that a stockholder wishes to propose for consideration at the 2019 annual meeting of stockholders, other than pursuant to Rule 14a-8, must be submitted in accordance with our Bylaws. To be considered timely, our Bylaws provide that such notice must be received at our principal executive offices no earlier than 120 calendar days (April 5, 2019) and no later than 90 calendar days (May 5, 2019) prior to the first anniversary date of the previous years annual meeting of stockholders. Proposals and nominations should be addressed to: Corporate Secretary, Cirrus Logic, Inc., 800 W. 6th Street, Austin, Texas 78701. |
Copy of Bylaw Provisions: You may contact the Corporate Secretary at our headquarters, 800 W. 6th Street, Austin, Texas 78701, for a copy of the relevant Bylaw provisions regarding the requirements for making stockholder proposals and nominating director candidates.
Board Meetings and Committees
During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, the Board held 10 meetings. Each director is expected to attend each meeting of the Board and the committees of the Board (the Committees) on which he or she serves. No director attended less than 75% of the aggregate of (i) the total number of Board meetings and (ii) the total number of meetings held by all Committees on which he or she served. Pursuant to our Corporate Governance Guidelines, directors are also expected to attend the Companys Annual Meeting of Stockholders absent extraordinary circumstances. All our directors attended the Companys 2017 annual meeting of stockholders.
We have three Committees: Audit, Compensation, and Governance and Nominating. Each member of the Audit, Compensation, and Governance and Nominating Committees is independent in accordance with the applicable SEC rules and applicable Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (the Nasdaq) listing standards, including, with respect to members of the Audit and Compensation Committees, the heightened requirements applicable to members of those committees. Each Committee has a written charter that has been approved by the Board; the Committee charters are available under the Corporate Governance section of our Investors page on our website at investor.cirrus.com.
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The current members of the Board and of each Committee are identified in the following table, and the function of each Committee is described below. On occasion, the Board may appoint special committees or designate directors to undertake special assignments on behalf of the Board.
Name of Director | Independent | Audit | Compensation |
Governance and Nominating | ||||
John C. Carter |
Yes | X | X | |||||
Alexander M. Davern |
Yes | Chair | ||||||
Timothy R. Dehne |
Yes | Chair | ||||||
Christine King |
Yes | X | Chair | |||||
Jason P. Rhode |
No | |||||||
Alan R. Schuele |
Yes | X | ||||||
William D. Sherman |
Yes | X | ||||||
David J. Tupman |
Yes | X | ||||||
Number of Meetings Held in Fiscal Year ended March 31, 2018 | 8 | 6 | 3 |
Effective the date of the Annual Meeting, and reflecting the retirement of Mr. Sherman from the Board as noted further below, the Board approved the following members of each Committee:
● | Audit Committee: Mr. Davern (Chair), Mr. Carter, and Ms. King; |
● | Compensation Committee: Mr. Dehne (Chair), Mr. Carter, and Mr. Tupman; and |
● | Governance and Nominating Committee: Ms. King (Chair), Mr. Schuele, and Mr. Tupman. |
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee is currently composed of three independent directors. The responsibilities of the Audit Committee include:
● | selecting, retaining, compensating, overseeing, evaluating, and, where appropriate, terminating the Companys independent auditors; |
● | resolving any disagreements between management and the independent auditors regarding financial reporting; |
● | adopting and implementing pre-approval policies and procedures for audit and non-audit services to be rendered by the independent auditors; |
● | reviewing with management and the independent auditors the financial information and the Managements Discussion and Analysis proposed to be included in each of the Companys Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q prior to their filing; |
● | reviewing before release the unaudited interim financial results in the Companys quarterly earnings release; |
● | reviewing with management and the independent auditors, at the completion of the annual audit, the audited financial statements and the Managements Discussion and Analysis proposed to be included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K prior to its filing and provide or review judgments about the quality, not only the acceptability, of accounting principles, and such other matters required to be discussed with the independent auditors under generally accepted auditing standards; |
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● | reviewing and approving, if appropriate, material changes to the Companys auditing and accounting principles and practices as suggested by the independent auditors or management; |
● | establishing procedures for (i) the receipt, retention, and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters, and (ii) the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Company of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters; |
● | evaluating the professional competency of the financial staff and the internal auditors, as well as the quality of their performance in discharging their respective responsibilities; |
● | discussing policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management, including appropriate guidelines and policies to govern the process; and |
● | reviewing with management the Companys major financial and regulatory risk exposures, including cybersecurity-related risks, and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures. |
The Board has determined that each of the members of the Audit Committee is able to read and understand fundamental financial statements and is independent under applicable SEC rules and applicable Nasdaq listing standards. The Board has determined that Mr. Davern and Mr. Carter are each an audit committee financial expert as defined under applicable SEC rules. The Board has also determined that Ms. King, upon re-election and joining the Audit Committee, will also be an audit committee financial expert as defined under applicable SEC rules.
For additional information relating to the Audit Committee, see the section of this proxy statement entitled, Report of the Audit Committee of the Board and the Audit Committee Charter, which is available under the Corporate Governance section of our Investors page on our website at investor.cirrus.com.
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee is currently composed of three independent directors. The Compensation Committee reviews and approves salaries and other matters relating to executive compensation; reviews the Companys leadership development initiatives and succession planning process for our Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers; and administers the Companys stock incentive plans, including reviewing and granting stock incentive awards to executive officers and other employees and reviewing and approving policies and procedures for awarding grants under these plans. The Compensation Committee also reviews and recommends to the Board for approval various other Company compensation plans, policies, and matters related to the Companys non-employee directors. For additional information relating to the Compensation Committee, see the Compensation Committee Charter, which is available under the Corporate Governance section of our Investors page on our website at investor.cirrus.com.
Please see the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this proxy statement for additional information regarding the Compensation Committees processes and procedures for the consideration and determination of executive officer compensation, including the Compensation Committees engagement of Compensia, Inc. (Compensia) as its external compensation consultant.
Governance and Nominating Committee
The Governance and Nominating Committee is currently composed of three independent directors. The Governance and Nominating Committee provides counsel to the Board with respect to Board organization, membership, and function, as well as committee structure and membership. The Governance and Nominating Committee is also responsible for defining the qualifications for candidates for director positions, evaluating qualified candidates, recommending candidates to the
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Board for election as directors, and proposing a slate of directors for election by stockholders at each annual meeting. For more information relating to the Governance and Nominating Committee, see the Governance and Nominating Committee Charter, which is available under the Corporate Governance section of our Investors page on our website at investor.cirrus.com.
The Governance and Nominating Committee annually reviews the needs of the Board for various skills, experience, expected contributions, and other characteristics in determining the director candidates to be nominated at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Governance and Nominating Committee will evaluate candidates for directors proposed by directors, stockholders, or management in light of the Governance and Nominating Committees views of the current needs of the Board for certain skills; the candidates background, skills, experience, or other characteristics; and the expected contributions and the qualification standards established from time to time by the Governance and Nominating Committee. If the Governance and Nominating Committee believes that the Board requires additional candidates for nomination, the Governance and Nominating Committee may engage a third-party search firm to assist in identifying qualified candidates. All directors and nominees will submit a completed form of directors and officers questionnaire as part of the nominating process. The process may also include interviews and additional background and reference checks for non-incumbent nominees, at the discretion of the Governance and Nominating Committee. Although the Board does not have a formal policy specifying how diversity should be considered in making determinations regarding nominations of directors, the Governance and Nominating Committee believes it is important to consider diversity of gender, race, ethnicity, age, education, cultural background, and professional experiences and seeks to include candidates with such diversity in the pool from which nominees are identified. The Boards objective is to nominate a diverse group of directors who can best ensure the continuing success of our business and represent stockholder interests through the exercise of sound judgment and constructive working relationships.
The Governance and Nominating Committee believes that members of the Board should possess certain basic personal and professional qualities in order to properly discharge their fiduciary duties to stockholders, provide effective oversight of the management of the Company, and monitor the Companys adherence to principles of sound corporate governance. Therefore, the Governance and Nominating Committee has determined that nominees for election as director should have the following qualifications: (i) possess the highest personal and professional ethics, integrity, and values; (ii) be committed to representing the long-term interests of the Companys stockholders; (iii) have an inquisitive and objective perspective and mature judgment; (iv) possess strong business and financial acumen and judgment acquired through education, training, or experience; (v) possess experience at policy-making levels in business, government, education, or technology, and in areas that are relevant to the Companys global business activities; (vi) have experience in matters of corporate governance; (vii) have experience in positions with a high degree of responsibility in the companies or institutions with which they are affiliated; and (viii) be prepared to devote appropriate time and attention to the Board and Committee duties required of a public company board member. Additionally, for non-employee director candidates, the nominees should have personal and business circumstances that permit them to serve on one or more of the various Committees.
These are not meant to be the exclusive criteria, however, and the Governance and Nominating Committee will also consider the contributions that a candidate can be expected to make to the collective functioning of the Board based upon the totality of the candidates credentials, experience, and expertise; the composition of the Board at the time; and other relevant circumstances.
Stockholders are able to recommend individuals to the Governance and Nominating Committee for consideration as potential director nominees by submitting their names, together with appropriate biographical information and background materials, and a statement as to whether the stockholder or
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group of stockholders making the recommendation has beneficially owned more than 5% of common stock for at least one year as of the date such recommendation is made. An eligible stockholder wishing to recommend a candidate must submit the following no later than 120 calendar days prior to the anniversary date that the Company released this proxy statement for the Annual Meeting: (A) a recommendation that identifies the candidate and provides contact information; (B) the written consent of the candidate to serve as a director of the Company, if elected; and (C) documentation establishing that the stockholder making the recommendation is an eligible stockholder.
Recommendations should be submitted to:
Governance and Nominating Committee
c/o Corporate Secretary
Cirrus Logic, Inc.
800 W. 6th Street
Austin, Texas 78701
The Governance and Nominating Committee will consider stockholder-recommended candidates pursuant to the Director Nominations Process outlined in the Corporate Governance Guidelines, which are available under the Corporate Governance section of our Investors page on our website at investor.cirrus.com.
Stockholders also have the right under the Companys Bylaws to nominate candidates for election as directors by following the procedures, providing the information, and conforming to the submission deadlines specified in the Companys Bylaws. Please see the section of this proxy statement entitled, Questions and Answers about the Proxy Materials, the Annual Meeting and Voting Procedures: May I propose actions for consideration at next years annual meeting of stockholders or nominate individuals to serve as directors? for further information.
Determination of Independence
The Board, which currently consists of eight directors, has determined that six of the seven nominated directors are independent as defined by the applicable listing and regulatory standards. Specifically, the Governance and Nominating Committee has reviewed the independence of each director and determined that nominees Carter, Davern, Dehne, King, Schuele, and Tupman qualify as independent directors under these standards. In addition, although current director William D. Sherman is retiring at the Annual Meeting pursuant to the age requirement for directors within the Companys Corporate Governance Guidelines, Mr. Sherman was determined to qualify as an independent director under these standards as well. In determining the independence of Mr. Davern who is the President and Chief Executive Officer of National Instruments Corporation the Governance and Nominating Committee and the Board reviewed the Companys transactions with National Instruments and determined that the transactions do not interfere with Mr. Daverns exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. These transactions included the purchase of certain test equipment and software, along with associated support and maintenance services, for equipment used in the development and testing of our products.
Corporate Governance Guidelines
On an annual basis, the Company reviews its corporate governance practices in light of any changes to applicable law, the rules of the SEC, and the Nasdaq listing standards. Among other matters, the Corporate Governance Guidelines include the following requirements:
● | Two-thirds of the members of the Board must be independent directors as defined in the Corporate Governance Guidelines. |
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● | If the Chair of the Board is not an independent director, the Board will designate a lead independent director. |
● | Directors shall retire at the first stockholders meeting in which directors will be elected following the directors 75th birthday. |
● | Stock Ownership Guidelines require our Chief Executive Officer, non-employee directors, and officers of the Company to accumulate and maintain, after a phase-in period, an ownership position in the Companys stock to more closely link their interests with those of other Company stockholders. |
● | The Board will have an Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Governance and Nominating Committee, each of which shall consist solely of independent directors. |
● | The independent directors shall meet in executive session either before or after each regularly scheduled Board meeting. |
● | In considering stockholder proposals and candidates recommended by stockholders for the Board, the Governance and Nominating Committee will follow the procedures outlined in the Corporate Governance Guidelines. |
For additional details, see the Corporate Governance Guidelines, which are available under the Corporate Governance section of our Investors page on our website at investor.cirrus.com.
Board Leadership Structure
The Board is committed to maintaining an independent Board comprised primarily of independent directors. To enhance the independence of the Board from management, we separate the roles of our Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Jason P. Rhode, and Chair of the Board, Alan R. Schuele. We believe that this leadership structure demonstrates our commitment to good corporate governance and benefits our stockholders by enhancing the oversight of management by the Board, balancing power on the Board, and encouraging balanced decision making.
The Boards Role in Risk Oversight
Although management is responsible for identifying, assessing, and managing the material risks facing the Company, the Board plays an ongoing and active role in the oversight of the Companys risk management processes, along with the oversight of the most significant strategic and operational risks faced by the Company and managements efforts to mitigate those risks. The Board is involved in the setting of the Companys business strategy, which necessarily entails a determination of what constitutes an appropriate level of risk for the Company.
Each of the Committees also considers risk within the Committees area of responsibility. Our Audit Committee discusses risk assessment and risk management policies and regularly reviews with management the Companys major financial and regulatory risk exposures, including cybersecurity-related risks, and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures. Also, in designing our compensation programs and structuring awards, the Compensation Committee considers whether such compensation programs may lead to undue risk taking. Finally, our Governance and Nominating Committee oversees risks relating to corporate governance policies and related governance matters.
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Code of Conduct
The Company has adopted a Code of Conduct that applies to all of its directors, officers, and employees (including its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions). A copy of the Code of Conduct is available under the Corporate Governance section of our Investors page on our website at investor.cirrus.com. The Code of Conduct, as applied to the Companys senior financial officers, constitutes the Companys code of ethics within the meaning of Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the Sarbanes-Oxley Act) and constitutes the Companys code of conduct under the Nasdaq listing standards.
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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS
Non-employee directors receive a combination of cash and equity-based compensation. Directors who are employed by the Company do not receive any additional compensation for their Board service. Non-employee directors may not receive consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fees from the Company in addition to their Board compensation.
The following table sets forth the quarterly cash payments paid to non-employee directors for Board service during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018:
Director Compensation Retainers |
||||
Quarterly Director Retainer |
$ | 15,000 | ||
Board Chair Quarterly Retainer |
$ | 18,750 | ||
Audit Chair Quarterly Retainer |
$ | 6,250 | ||
Audit Committee Member Quarterly Retainer |
$ | 2,500 | ||
Compensation Committee Chair Quarterly Retainer |
$ | 6,250 | ||
Compensation Committee Member Quarterly Retainer |
$ | 1,875 | ||
Governance and Nominating Committee Chair Quarterly Retainer |
$ | 2,500 | ||
Governance and Nominating Committee Member Quarterly Retainer |
$ | 1,250 | ||
Lead Independent Director Quarterly Retainer |
$ | 2,500 |
Directors receive cash payments for each retainer category applying to him or her. The Company also reimburses non-employee directors for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred for attending Board and Committee meetings.
In addition to the cash compensation described above, each non-employee director receives equity-based compensation. Upon re-election to the Board, each non-employee director receives a full value stock award that vests immediately. In fiscal year 2018, the total number of shares subject to this award granted to each non-employee director had a fair market value up to $190,000 as estimated on the date of grant. Although not applicable for any director in fiscal year 2018, for any director who is re-elected after having been appointed to the Board since the previous years annual meeting, his or her grant upon re-election is prorated to reflect the actual duration of service as a director since his or her appointment.
Although also not applicable for any director in fiscal year 2018, for newly elected non-employee directors, the Company awards an option to purchase shares of common stock of the Company at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the stock on the date of grant upon becoming a director, with 25% vesting after one year and the remainder vesting ratably each month over the following 36 months. The total number of stock options granted to newly elected non-employee directors has a fair market value of $225,000 as estimated on the date of grant.
If approved at this Annual Meeting, our 2018 Long Term Incentive Plan will provide that, in a calendar year, the aggregate value of all compensation paid to or granted to any non-employee member of the Board, including equity awards (valued on the grant date pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 718) and cash compensation, shall not exceed $750,000.
The following table sets forth information regarding the cash and equity-based compensation paid to our non-employee directors for services as members of the Board or any Committee during fiscal year 2018.
Note that throughout this proxy statement, amounts may not compute across individual lines of a table, and such differences are due to rounding to the nearest dollar.
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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018
Name
(a) |
Fees (b) |
Stock Awards(2) ($)
(c) |
Total
($) (h) |
|||||||||
John Carter(3) |
$ | 74,101 | $ | 189,961 | $ | 264,062 | ||||||
Alex Davern(4) |
$ | 91,601 | $ | 189,961 | $ | 281,562 | ||||||
Tim Dehne(5) |
$ | 85,702 | $ | 189,961 | $ | 275,663 | ||||||
Christine King(6) |
$ | 79,101 | $ | 189,961 | $ | 269,062 | ||||||
Al Schuele(7) | $ | 126,404 | $ | 189,961 | $ | 316,365 | ||||||
William D. Sherman(8) | $ | 66,601 | $ | 189,961 | $ | 256,562 | ||||||
David Tupman(9) |
$ | 61,601 | $ | 189,961 | $ | 251,562 |
(1) | Represents fees earned or paid in cash for services as a director during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, including quarterly retainer fees and Committee chair and membership retainer fees. |
(2) | On July 28, 2017, upon their re-election as directors at the Companys 2017 annual meeting of stockholders, directors Carter, Davern, Dehne, King, Schuele, Sherman, and Tupman received a full value stock award that vested immediately upon re-election to the Board having a fair market value of up to $190,000 on the date of grant. Amounts reported in this column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of the stock awards granted in fiscal year 2018, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. |
(3) | At the end of fiscal year 2018, Mr. Carter had no options outstanding. |
(4) | At the end of fiscal year 2018, Mr. Davern had 15,231 options outstanding. |
(5) | At the end of fiscal year 2018, Mr. Dehne had no options outstanding. |
(6) | At the end of fiscal year 2018, Ms. King had no options outstanding. |
(7) | At the end of fiscal year 2018, Mr. Schuele had 19,447 options outstanding. |
(8) | At the end of fiscal year 2018, Mr. Sherman had no options outstanding. |
(9) | At the end of fiscal year 2018, Mr. Tupman had 25,346 options outstanding. |
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Election of Directors
The Board approved seven nominees for election to the Board this year. Effective the date of the Annual Meeting, the Board reduced the number of directors from eight to seven because current director William D. Sherman is retiring at the Annual Meeting pursuant to the age requirement for directors within the Companys Corporate Governance Guidelines. Information regarding the business experience of each nominee and the particular experience, qualifications, attributes, or skills that qualify that person to serve as a director of the Company is provided below. All directors are elected annually to serve until the next annual meeting and until their respective successors are elected, or until their earlier resignation or removal. There are no family relationships among the Companys executive officers and directors.
Vote Required
In the election of directors, the seven persons receiving the highest number of FOR votes will be elected.
Director Resignation Policy
Any nominee for director who receives a greater number of WITHHOLD votes than FOR votes in an uncontested election of directors shall tender to the Board his or her resignation as a director promptly following the certification of the election results. For purposes of this policy, (i) an uncontested election is one in which the Secretary determines that the number of nominees does not exceed the number of directors to be elected as of the date seven days prior to the scheduled mailing date of the proxy statement for such meeting, and (ii) abstentions and broker non-votes will not be considered as either WITHHOLD votes or FOR votes. The Governance and Nominating Committee will consider any resignation tendered under this policy and recommend to the Board whether to accept or reject it and the Board will act on such resignation, taking into account the Governance and Nominating Committees recommendation, within 90 days following the certification of the election results. The Governance and Nominating Committee in making its recommendation, and the Board in making its decision, may consider any information it deems appropriate including without limitation any reasons given by stockholders for their WITHHOLD votes, the qualifications of the Director, and his or her contributions to the Board and the Company. The Board will promptly disclose publicly its decision to accept or reject such a resignation and, if rejected, the reasons for doing so.
Information about Nominees
JOHN C. CARTER
Director since 2009
Mr. Carter, age 63, is currently a Principal at TCGen, which is a management consulting and advisory services firm that Mr. Carter founded in 2002 and is located in Menlo Park, California. Between November 2007 and January 2008, Mr. Carter was an Executive in Residence at Vantage Point Venture Partners, a venture capital firm in San Bruno, California, where he assisted in the management of several portfolio companies. Mr. Carter also served as Chief Technical Officer at Klipsch Group, a manufacturer of speakers in Indianapolis, Indiana, between February 2005 and October 2007. Mr. Carter began his career as an engineer at Bose Corporation in 1978, later becoming its Chief Engineer. Mr. Carter holds a B.S. in Engineering from Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California, and a Masters in Electrical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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The Governance and Nominating Committee believes that Mr. Carters extensive management experience with companies in the consumer audio market and his knowledge of that market, in addition to his background in venture and private equity investment transactions, make him well qualified to be on the Board. Mr. Carter also has relevant prior engineering and technical experiences in the markets we serve.
ALEXANDER M. DAVERN
Director since 2015
Mr. Davern, age 51, is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of National Instruments Corporation (NI), an Austin-based supplier of measurement and automation products used by engineers and scientists in a wide range of industries. He joined NI in February 1994 and, prior to his current role, served in numerous leadership positions, including as NIs Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President, IT and Manufacturing Operations and Treasurer from December 2002 to December 2016. Prior to joining NI, Mr. Davern worked both in Europe and in the United States for the international accounting firm of Price Waterhouse, LLP. Mr. Davern received his bachelors degree in Commerce and a diploma in professional accounting from University College in Dublin, Ireland.
The Governance and Nominating Committee believes that Mr. Davern is well qualified to be on the Board based on his extensive leadership experience in all aspects of managing a high technology company in Austin, Texas. In addition, Mr. Davern has extensive international finance experience within the technology industry. The Governance and Nominating Committee further believes that his experiences, along with his financial expertise, his familiarity with acquisitions and integrations, and his international tax experience make him well qualified to provide valuable insights to the Board and to serve a role in the oversight of our financial reporting and accounting practices as Chair of the Audit Committee.
TIMOTHY R. DEHNE
Director since 2009
Mr. Dehne, age 52, is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Xplore Technologies Corp., an Austin-based company that supplies a portfolio of rugged mobile computers. He joined Xplore Technologies in this role in May 2018. Prior to this position, he was the Vice President of Engineering for Briggo, Inc., a privately held corporation in Austin, Texas, from November 2013 until January 2018. Prior to this position, he served as the Vice President, Global Marketing, at Luminex Corporation between May 2012 and August 2013, an Austin-based company that develops, manufactures, and markets innovative biological testing technologies with applications throughout the life science and diagnostic industries. Prior to his appointment to Vice President, Global Marketing, Mr. Dehne held the position of Vice President of Systems Research and Development, a position he held between July 2009 and May 2012. He previously worked at National Instruments Corporation, an Austin-based supplier of measurement and automation products used by engineers and scientists in a wide range of industries. Mr. Dehne spent over 21 years at National Instruments Corporation where he held many leadership positions while helping to significantly grow the Company to more than 4,000 employees and over $800 million in annual revenue. At National Instruments Corporation, he held the position of Senior Vice President, Research & Development. Prior to his role as Senior Vice President, Research & Development at National Instruments Corporation, Mr. Dehne served in various executive positions in marketing and engineering. Mr. Dehne holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Rice University and serves on the Board of Directors for Asset Intertech, a privately held company, where he also is Chair of its Compensation Committee.
The Governance and Nominating Committee believes that Mr. Dehne is well qualified to be on the Board based on his extensive leadership experience in all aspects of managing a high technology
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company in Austin, Texas, and his unique insight into significantly growing revenues at a high technology company while maintaining an innovative corporate culture and a great work environment. His leadership skills, experience in creating and capturing business opportunities, and experience in scaling up a business to enable growth are valuable to the Company and the Board.
CHRISTINE KING
Director since 2013
Ms. King, age 69, was formerly a director and President and Chief Executive Officer of Standard Microsystems Corporation, an analog and mixed signal semiconductor provider for the consumer electronics, automotive, and industrial markets, from October 2008 until August 2012. From September 2001 until March 2008, Ms. King served as President and Chief Executive Officer of AMI Semiconductor, Inc. Prior to that, Ms. King spent over 23 years at International Business Machines Corporation in various management roles, including her last assignment as Vice President of Semiconductor Solutions. Ms. King currently serves on the Board of Directors of IDACORP, Inc., and its principal operating subsidiary Idaho Power Company, and Skyworks Solutions, Inc., a supplier of high performance analog semiconductors. She previously served on the boards of Qlogic Corporation from April 2013 until August 2016; AMI Semiconductor, Inc. from 2003 until its acquisition by ON Semiconductor Corporation in March 2008; ON Semiconductor Corporation from March 2008 until October 2008; Analog Devices, Inc. from June 2003 to March 2008; and Atheros Communications from April 2008 until its acquisition in May 2011.
The Governance and Nominating Committee believes that Ms. Kings senior management and operational experience in a number of high technology and semiconductor companies, prior Board service, and knowledge of the semiconductor industry provide the Board with significant financial, strategic, and operational expertise.
JASON P. RHODE
Director since 2007
Dr. Rhode, age 48, was appointed President and CEO, and a director of the Company in May 2007. Dr. Rhode joined the Company in 1995 and served in various engineering positions until he became Director of Marketing for analog and mixed-signal products in November 2002. He was appointed Vice President, General Manager, Mixed-Signal Audio Products, in December 2004, a role he served in until his appointment as President and CEO. Dr. Rhode holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from San Diego State University, as well as M.S. and doctorate degrees in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina State University.
The Governance and Nominating Committee believes that Dr. Rhodes prior experience as a semiconductor designer and his current role as CEO of the Company make him well qualified to be on the Board based on his detailed and unique knowledge of the Companys operations, opportunities, and challenges. In addition, the Governance and Nominating Committee believes that having Dr. Rhode serve on the Board helps to bridge the gap between the Board and management, to facilitate the regular flow of information between management and the Board, and to ensure that the Board and management act with a common purpose to execute our strategic initiatives and business plans.
ALAN R. SCHUELE
Director since 2011
Mr. Schuele, age 72, has been a general partner since 2000 with Sevin Rosen Funds, a high tech venture capital firm. While at Sevin Rosen Funds, Mr. Schuele led the investments in a number of semiconductor companies, including Cicada Semiconductor (acquired by Vitesse), Zilker Labs and D2Audio Corporation (both acquired by Intersil), and Javelin Semiconductor (acquired by Avago Technologies, Ltd.). Prior to working at Sevin Rosen, he was Chief Executive Officer of Benchmarq
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Microelectronics and served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Unitrode Corporation after its merger with Benchmarq. Over his nearly 30-year career in the semiconductor industry, he has held various executive and sales management positions in several semiconductor companies including the Company, Crystal Semiconductor, Cypress Semiconductor, and Mostek. Mr. Schuele was previously a director at Vidyo, Inc., which provides a scalable software-based solution for video conferencing. Mr. Schuele was also previously a director at InfoNow Corp., a leading provider of SaaS-based channel management solutions, where he served as a director between 2008 and November 2011.
In addition to Mr. Schueles extensive executive management and sales experience at semiconductor companies, he has played key roles in major mergers and acquisitions and has worked extensively in Asian markets.
The Governance and Nominating Committee believes that Mr. Schueles experiences, along with his experience in advising entrepreneurs on how to turn their emerging technologies into winning companies, make him well qualified to contribute strategic, operational, and industry expertise to the Board.
DAVID J. TUPMAN
Director since 2015
Dr. Tupman, age 55, is currently the CEO of Details Lab Inc., an advisory firm focusing on scaling organizations for high-growth, technology development and new product introduction. From 2001 to 2011, Dr. Tupman rose from manager to Vice President of hardware engineering at Apple, Inc., where he led the hardware engineering and technology teams for multiple mobile devices. Prior to Apple, Dr. Tupman worked at Psion Computers in London, England, from 1995 to 2001 as a hardware-engineering manager, developing a number of personal digital assistant products. From 1988 to 1995, Dr. Tupman was a Principal Design Engineer at Schlumberger in Farnborough, England, where he developed low power, high precision sensors for the gas, fuel and aerospace industries. Dr. Tupman holds a Bachelors degree in Electronics Engineering and an honorary doctorate (D.Sc.) from the University of Salford, England. Dr. Tupman is named as an inventor on more than 30 U.S. patents. Dr. Tupman has also served as a director of Pixelworks, Inc., a company that develops video display processing technology, since April 2014.
The Governance and Nominating Committee believes that Dr. Tupman is well qualified to be on the Board based on his extensive engineering and technology experience in the consumer electronics and industrial markets.
The Board recommends a vote FOR the election to the Board of each of the foregoing nominees.
Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public
Accounting Firm
The Audit Committee has appointed Ernst & Young LLP (Ernst & Young) as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm to audit the Companys consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ending March 30, 2019. During the fiscal year that ended March 31, 2018, Ernst & Young served as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm and also provided certain tax services.
The Audit Committee pre-approves and reviews all audit and non-audit services provided by Ernst & Young. In considering the services to be provided by Ernst & Young, the Audit Committee considers whether the provision of non-audit services is compatible with maintaining the independence of Ernst & Young.
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For additional information relating to the Audit Committee, see the section of this proxy statement entitled, Report of the Audit Committee of the Board, as well as the Audit Committee Charter, which is available under the Corporate Governance section of our Investors page on our website at investor.cirrus.com.
A representative of Ernst & Young is expected to attend the Annual Meeting and be available to respond to questions and, if he or she desires, to make a statement.
The Board recommends a vote FOR Proposal No. 2.
If the appointment is not ratified, the Audit Committee retains the discretion to select other auditors for the following fiscal year or to determine that Ernst & Young will continue to serve as the independent auditor. Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 30, 2019, requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting.
Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation
Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and related rules of the SEC enable our stockholders to vote to approve, on an advisory, non-binding basis, the compensation of our CEO, our Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and our three other most highly compensated executive officers (collectively, our Named Executive Officers) as disclosed in this proxy statement. This vote is advisory and, therefore, not binding on the Company, the Compensation Committee, or the Board. However, the Board and the Compensation Committee value the opinions of our stockholders and to the extent there is a significant vote against the compensation of the Named Executive Officers, we will consider our stockholders concerns, and the Compensation Committee will evaluate whether any actions are necessary to address those concerns.
As described in detail in the section of this proxy statement entitled, Compensation Discussion and Analysis, our executive compensation program is designed to attract, motivate, and retain executive officers, while aligning their interests with those of our stockholders. Under this program, our executive officers are rewarded for the achievement of strategic and operational objectives and the realization of increased stockholder value. Please read the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and the accompanying compensation tables of this proxy statement for additional information about our executive compensation program, including information about the compensation of the Named Executive Officers for fiscal year 2018.
By way of this proposal, commonly known as a Say-on-Pay proposal, we are asking our stockholders to indicate their support for the compensation of the Named Executive Officers as described in this proxy statement. Please note that this vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of the Named Executive Officers and the philosophy, policies, and practices described in this proxy statement.
The stockholders are being asked to approve the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:
RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the companys Named Executive Officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative discussion, is hereby APPROVED.
The Board recommends a vote FOR Proposal No. 3.
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Approval of the Companys 2018 Long Term Incentive Plan
At the Annual Meeting, stockholders will be asked to approve the Cirrus Logic, Inc. 2018 Long Term Incentive Plan (the LTIP). Upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, our board of directors (the Board) adopted the LTIP to be effective on August 3, 2018, subject to the approval of our stockholders. As of May 17, 2018, only 2,944,962 shares of our common stock remained available for issuance under the Cirrus Logic, Inc. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the 2006 Plan). The Board believes that the 2006 Plan has assisted in our recruitment and retention of key employees and has helped align their interests with the interests of our stockholders. The Board believes that the LTIP will also promote these interests.
We believe that approval of the LTIP will give us the flexibility to make stock-based awards and other awards permitted under the LTIP over the next two to three years in amounts determined appropriate by the Committee (as defined below); however, this timeline is simply an estimate used to determine the number of additional common shares requested pursuant to the LTIP and future circumstances may require a change to expected equity grant practices. These circumstances include but are not limited to the future price of our common stock, award levels and amounts provided by our competitors and our hiring activity over the next few years. The closing market price of our shares of common stock as of May 17, 2018 was $39.13 per share, as reported on the NASDAQ.
The LTIP is intended to replace the 2006 Plan. Upon stockholder approval of the LTIP, no further grants will be made under the 2006 Plan. However, any outstanding awards under the 2006 Plan will continue in accordance with the terms of the 2006 Plan and any award agreement executed in connection with such outstanding awards. If the LTIP is approved, following the settlement of all outstanding awards pursuant to the 2006 Plan, we will terminate the 2006 Plan.
Consequences of Failing to Approve the Proposal
Failure of our stockholders to approve this proposal will mean that we will continue to grant equity awards under the terms of the 2006 Plan, until the shares of common stock available for issuance thereunder are exhausted.
Description of the LTIP
The following is a summary of the terms of the LTIP. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the LTIP, which is attached to this Proxy Statement as Exhibit A.
The LTIP is designed to provide a means through which (i) we may attract, retain and motivate employees, directors, and consultants, thereby enhancing the profitable growth of the Company and its affiliates and (ii) those individuals upon whom the responsibilities for the successful administration and management of the Company and its affiliates rest, and whose present and potential contributions to the Company and its affiliates are of importance, can acquire and maintain stock ownership, thereby strengthening their concern for the success of the Company and its affiliates. Accordingly, the LTIP provides for the grant, from time to time, at the discretion of the Board or a committee thereof, of stock options, stock appreciation rights (SARs), restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock awards, other stock-based awards, cash awards, substitute awards and performance awards.
LTIP Share Limits. Subject to adjustment in the event of certain transactions or changes of capitalization in accordance with the LTIP, 2.3 million shares of our common stock will be newly reserved and available for issuance pursuant to awards under the LTIP. In addition to the 2.3 million shares of common stock newly reserved for the LTIP, the remaining available shares of common stock under the 2006 Plan that are not the subject of awards under the 2006 Plan will become available pursuant to the LTIP. The total number of shares available for issuance under the LTIP (whether newly
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reserved or previously reserved under the 2006 Plan) may be issued pursuant to incentive stock options (which generally are stock options that meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code). Common stock subject to an award (including an outstanding award under the 2006 Plan), that expires or is canceled, forfeited, exchanged, settled in cash or otherwise terminated without delivery of shares will again be available for delivery pursuant to other awards under the LTIP. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the number of shares tendered or withheld in payment of any exercise or purchase price of an award or taxes relating to an award, (ii) shares that were subject to a stock option or an SAR but were not issued or delivered as a result of the net settlement or net exercise of such stock option or SAR and (iii) shares repurchased on the open market with the proceeds of a stock options exercise price, will not, in each case, be available again for awards pursuant to the LTIP. Common stock underlying a full-value award (i.e., awards other than stock options and SARs) will be subtracted from the share pool at a rate of 1.5 shares per underlying share of common stock, while common stock underlying a stock option or an SAR will be subtracted at a rate of 1.0 share.
Administration. The LTIP will be administered by a committee of two or more directors (the Committee) designated by the Board except to the extent the Board elects to administer the LTIP (in which case references to the Committee are references to the Board). The Committee has broad discretion to administer the LTIP, including the power to determine the eligible individuals to whom awards will be granted, the number and type of awards to be granted and the terms and conditions of awards. The Committee may also accelerate the vesting or exercise of any award and make all other determinations and take all other actions necessary or advisable for the administration of the LTIP.
Notwithstanding anything within the LTIP to the contrary, to comply with applicable laws in countries other than the United States in which the Company or our affiliates operates or has employees, directors or other service providers, to ensure that we comply with any applicable requirements of foreign securities exchanges, to achieve specific tax treatment for an award in any country, or to facilitate the administration of the LTIP, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to determine who is eligible to participate in the LTIP, modify the terms and conditions of awards, establish sub-plans with applicable foreign jurisdiction provisions, or take other actions deemed advisable to comply with foreign laws or securities exchange rules. The description of the LTIP set forth within this summary addresses the terms and conditions of the LTIP largely with respect to United States-based award recipients, therefore an award granted to an employee that is subject to foreign laws or regulations may differ from the descriptions set forth below or contained within the LTIP document.
Eligibility. Any individual who is our officer or employee or an officer or employee of any of our affiliates, and any other person who provides services to us or our affiliates, including members of the Board, are eligible to receive awards under the LTIP at the discretion of the Committee. As of March 31, 2018, we have 1,596 employees and 7 members of the Board that will be eligible to participate in the LTIP. Consultants are eligible to receive awards pursuant to the LTIP, but as the Committee shall have sole discretion to determine whether such consultants could receive an award, the number of consultants that could receive LTIP awards is not determinable at this time.
Director Limitations on Awards. In any one calendar year, the aggregate value of all compensation paid to or granted to any non-employee member of the Board, including awards granted pursuant to the LTIP and all cash compensation, shall not exceed $750,000; provided, however, that such limitation shall be without regard to compensation provided to any non-employee member of the Board during any period in which such individual was providing services to the Company in an employee or consultant capacity. To calculate the $750,000 annual maximum, awards granted pursuant to the LTIP shall be valued on the grant date pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 718, and all other cash compensation may include, but is not limited to, quarterly retainer fees, committee fees, meeting fees, or lead independent director fees.
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Stock Options. The Committee may grant incentive stock options and options that do not qualify as incentive stock options, except that incentive stock options may only be granted to persons who are our employees or employees of one of our subsidiaries, in accordance with Section 422 of the Code. The exercise price of a stock option cannot be less than 100% of the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date on which the option is granted and the option must not be exercisable for longer than ten years following the date of grant. In the case of an incentive stock option granted to an individual who owns (or is deemed to own) at least 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of our capital stock, the exercise price of the stock option must be at least 110% of the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant and the option must not be exercisable more than five years from the date of grant.
Stock Appreciation Rights. A SAR is the right to receive an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of one share of our common stock on the date of exercise over the grant price of the SAR. The grant price of a SAR cannot be less than 100% of the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date on which the SAR is granted. The term of a SAR may not exceed ten years. SARs may be granted in connection with, or independent of, a stock option. SARs may be paid in cash, common stock or a combination of cash and common stock, as determined by the committee.
Restricted Stock. Restricted stock is a grant of shares of common stock subject to the restrictions on transferability and risk of forfeiture imposed by the Committee. If dividends are paid with respect to common stock underlying an award of unvested restricted stock, the dividend will either be reinvested in additional shares of restricted stock containing the same terms and conditions as the original award, or will be subject to the same vesting and forfeiture provisions as the underlying award and such dividend shall not become payable unless the underlying award is settled.
Restricted Stock Units. A restricted stock unit is a right to receive cash, common stock or a combination of cash and common stock at the end of a specified period equal to the fair market value of one share of our common stock on the date of vesting. Restricted stock units may be subject to the restrictions, including a risk of forfeiture, imposed by the Committee.
Stock Awards. A stock award is a transfer of unrestricted shares of our common stock on terms and conditions determined by the Committee.
Other Stock-Based Awards. Subject to limitations under applicable law and the terms of the LTIP, the Committee may grant other awards related to our common stock. Such awards may include, without limitation, awards that are convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into our common stock, purchase rights for common stock, awards with value and payment contingent upon our performance or any other factors designated by the Committee, and awards valued by reference to the book value of our common stock or the value of securities of, or the performance of, our affiliates.
Cash Awards. The LTIP will permit the grant of awards denominated in and settled in cash as an element of or supplement to, or independent of, any award under the LTIP.
Substitute Awards. Awards may be granted in substitution or exchange for any other award granted under the LTIP or any other right of an eligible person to receive payment from us. Awards may also be granted under the LTIP in substitution for similar awards held by individuals who become eligible persons as a result of a merger, consolidation or acquisition of another entity or the assets of another entity by or with us or one of our affiliates.
Performance Awards. Performance awards represent awards with respect to which a participants right to receive cash, shares of our common stock, or a combination of both, is contingent upon the attainment of one or more specified performance measures during a specified period. The Committee
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will determine the applicable performance period, the performance goals and such other conditions that apply to each performance award. The Committee may use any business criteria and other measures of performance it deems appropriate in establishing the performance goals applicable to a performance award.
Minimum Vesting Conditions. With the exception of awards relating to 5% of the shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to the LTIP, each award will be granted with a vesting schedule of at least one year following the date of grant.
Dividend or Dividend Equivalent Rights. In the event that a dividend or dividend equivalent right is granted in connection with any award under the LTIP, (i) in no event shall the dividend or dividend equivalent right be distributed to the participant before the underlying common stock covered by the award to which the dividend or dividend equivalent right relates becomes vested or issued, (ii) any such dividend or dividend equivalent right shall be subject to the same restrictions and risk of forfeiture as the underlying common stock subject to the award, and (iii) the dividend or dividend equivalent right shall be paid, if at all, at the time such restrictions or risk of forfeiture lapse.
Recapitalization. In the event of any change in our capital structure or business or other corporate transaction or event that would be considered an equity restructuring, the Committee shall or may (as required by applicable accounting rules) equitably adjust the (i) aggregate number or kind of shares that may be delivered under the LTIP, (ii) the maximum number of shares that may be granted to a covered employee each year, (iii) the number or kind of shares or amount of cash subject to an award, (iv) the terms and conditions of awards, including the purchase price or exercise price of awards and performance goals, and (v) the applicable share-based limitations with respect to awards provided in the LTIP, in each case to equitably reflect such event.
Change in Control. Except to the extent otherwise provided in any applicable award agreement, in the event of a change in control or other changes to us or our common stock, the Committee may, in its discretion, (i) accelerate the time of exercisability of an award, (ii) require awards to be surrendered in exchange for a cash payment (including canceling a stock option or SAR for no consideration if it has an exercise price or the grant price less than the value paid in the transaction), (iii) cancel awards that remain subject to a restricted period as of the date of the change in control or other event without payment, or (iv) make any other adjustments to awards (including no adjustments) that the Committee deems appropriate to reflect the applicable transaction or event.
No Repricing. Except in connection with the issuance of substitute awards under certain conditions or in connection with adjustments to awards granted under the LTIP as a result of a transaction or recapitalization involving us, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, the terms of an outstanding award may not be amended to (i) reduce the exercise price or grant price of an outstanding option or SAR, (ii) grant a new option, SAR or other award in substitution for, or upon the cancellation of, any previously granted option or SAR that has the effect of reducing the exercise price thereof, (iii) exchange any option or SAR for stock, cash or other consideration when the exercise price per share of common stock under such option or SAR exceeds the fair market value of a share of common stock or (iv) take any other action that would be considered a repricing of an Option or SAR under the NASDAQ listing standards.
Amendment and Termination. The LTIP will automatically expire on the tenth anniversary of its effective date. The Committee may amend or terminate the LTIP at any time, subject to stockholder approval if required by applicable law, rule or regulation, including the rules of the stock exchange on which our shares of common stock are listed. The Committee may amend the terms of any outstanding award granted under the LTIP at any time so long as the amendment would not materially and adversely affect the rights of a participant under a previously granted award without the participants consent.
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Clawback. The LTIP and all awards granted thereunder will be subject to any clawback or recoupment policy adopted by the Company.
Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following discussion is for general information only and is intended to summarize briefly the United States federal income tax consequences to participants arising from participation in the LTIP. This description is based on current law, which is subject to change (possibly retroactively). The tax treatment of a participant in the LTIP may vary depending on his particular situation and may, therefore, be subject to special rules not discussed below. No attempt has been made to discuss any potential foreign, state, or local tax consequences. In addition, nonqualified stock options and SARs with an exercise price less than the fair market value of shares of common stock on the date of grant, SARs, restricted stock units, and certain other awards that may be granted pursuant to the LTIP, could be subject to additional taxes unless they are designed to comply with certain restrictions set forth in Section 409A of the Code and guidance promulgated thereunder. Potential tax consequences to the Company or participants associated with the LTIP and its awards granted to eligible individuals subject to the laws of jurisdictions outside of the United States are not addressed herein.
Tax Consequences to Participants
Options and SARs. Participants will not realize taxable income upon the grant of an option or a SAR. Upon the exercise of a nonqualified stock option or a SAR, a participant will recognize ordinary compensation income (subject to withholding if an employee) in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the amount of cash and the fair market value of the shares of common stock received, over (ii) the exercise price of the award. A participant will generally have a tax basis in any shares of common stock received pursuant to the exercise of a nonqualified stock option or SAR that equals the fair market value of such shares of common stock on the date of exercise. Subject to the discussion under Tax Consequences to the Company below, the Company will be entitled to a deduction for federal income tax purposes that corresponds as to timing and amount with the compensation income recognized by a participant under the foregoing rules. When a participant sells the shares of common stock acquired as a result of the exercise of a nonqualified stock option or SAR, any appreciation (or depreciation) in the value of the shares of common stock after the exercise date is treated as long- or short-term capital gain (or loss) for federal income tax purposes, depending on the holding period. The shares of common stock must be held for more than 12 months to qualify for long-term capital gain treatment.
Participants eligible to receive an option intended to qualify as an incentive option (i.e., under Section 422 of the Code) will not recognize taxable income on the grant of an incentive option. Upon the exercise of an incentive option, a participant will not recognize taxable income, although the excess of the fair market value of the shares of common stock received upon exercise of the incentive option (ISO Shares) over the exercise price will increase the alternative minimum taxable income of the participant, which may cause such participant to incur alternative minimum tax. The payment of any alternative minimum tax attributable to the exercise of an incentive option would be allowed as a credit against the participants regular tax liability in a later year to the extent the participants regular tax liability is in excess of the alternative minimum tax for that year.
Upon the disposition of ISO Shares that have been held for the required holding period (generally, at least two years from the date of grant and one year from the date of exercise of the incentive option), a participant will generally recognize capital gain (or loss) equal to the excess (or shortfall) of the amount received in the disposition over the exercise price paid by the participant for the ISO Shares. However, if a participant disposes of ISO Shares that have not been held for the requisite holding period (a Disqualifying Disposition), the participant will recognize ordinary compensation income in
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the year of the Disqualifying Disposition in an amount equal to the amount by which the fair market value of the ISO Shares at the time of exercise of the incentive option (or, if less, the amount realized in the case of an arms length disposition to an unrelated party) exceeds the exercise price paid by the participant for such ISO Shares. A participant would also recognize capital gain to the extent the amount realized in the Disqualifying Disposition exceeds the fair market value of the ISO Shares on the exercise date. If the exercise price paid for the ISO Shares exceeds the amount realized (in the case of an arms-length disposition to an unrelated party), such excess would ordinarily constitute a capital loss.
The Company will generally not be entitled to any federal income tax deduction upon the grant or exercise of an incentive option, unless a participant makes a Disqualifying Disposition of the ISO Shares. If a participant makes a Disqualifying Disposition, the Company will then, subject to the discussion below under Tax Consequences to the Company, be entitled to a tax deduction that corresponds as to timing and amount with the compensation income recognized by a participant under the rules described in the preceding paragraph.
Under current rulings, if a participant transfers previously held shares of common stock (other than ISO Shares that have not been held for the requisite holding period) in satisfaction of part or all of the exercise price of an option, whether a nonqualified stock option or an incentive option, no additional gain will be recognized on the transfer of such previously held shares of common stock in satisfaction of the nonqualified stock option or incentive option exercise price (although a participant would still recognize ordinary compensation income upon exercise of a nonqualified stock option in the manner described above). Moreover, that number of shares of common stock received upon exercise which equals the number of previously held shares of common stock surrendered in satisfaction of the nonqualified stock option or incentive option exercise price will have a tax basis that equals, and a capital gains holding period that includes, the tax basis and capital gains holding period of the previously held shares of common stock surrendered in satisfaction of the nonqualified stock option or incentive option exercise price. Any additional shares of common stock received upon exercise will have a tax basis that equals the amount of cash (if any) paid by the participant, plus the amount of compensation income recognized by the participant under the rules described above.
The LTIP generally prohibits the transfer of awards other than by will or according to the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, but the LTIP allows the Committee to permit the transfer of awards (other than incentive options), in its discretion. For income and gift tax purposes, certain transfers of nonqualified stock options should generally be treated as completed gifts, subject to gift taxation.
The Internal Revenue Service has not provided formal guidance on the income tax consequences of a transfer of nonqualified stock options (other than in the context of divorce) or SARs. However, the Internal Revenue Service has informally indicated that after a transfer of options (other than in the context of divorce pursuant to a domestic relations order), the transferor will recognize income, which will be subject to withholding, and FICA/FUTA taxes will be collectible at the time the transferee exercises the options. If a nonqualified stock option is transferred pursuant to a domestic relations order, the transferee will recognize ordinary income upon exercise by the transferee, which will be subject to withholding, and FICA/FUTA taxes (attributable to and reported with respect to the transferor) will be collectible from the transferee at such time.
In addition, if a participant transfers a vested nonqualified stock option to another person and retains no interest in or power over it, the transfer is treated as a completed gift. The amount of the transferors gift (or generation-skipping transfer, if the gift is to a grandchild or later generation) equals the value of the nonqualified stock option at the time of the gift. The value of the nonqualified stock option may be affected by several factors, including the difference between the exercise price and the fair market
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value of the shares of common stock, the potential for future appreciation or depreciation of the shares of Common Stock, the time period of the nonqualified stock option and the illiquidity of the nonqualified stock option. The transferor will be subject to a federal gift tax, which will be limited by (i) the annual exclusion of $15,000 per donee (for 2018, subject to adjustment in future years), (ii) the transferors lifetime unified credit, or (iii) the marital or charitable deductions. The gifted nonqualified stock option will not be included in the participants gross estate for purposes of the federal estate tax or the generation-skipping transfer tax.
This favorable tax treatment for vested nonqualified stock options has not been extended to unvested nonqualified stock options. Whether such consequences apply to unvested nonqualified stock options or to SARs is uncertain and the gift tax implications of such a transfer is a risk the transferor will bear upon such a disposition.
Other Awards: Restricted Stock, Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units, Other Stock-Based Awards and Performance Awards. A participant will recognize ordinary compensation income upon receipt of cash pursuant to an incentive award or performance award or, if earlier, at the time the cash is otherwise made available for the participant to draw upon. Individuals will not have taxable income at the time of grant of a restricted stock unit award, but rather, will generally recognize ordinary compensation income at the time he or she receives cash or shares of common stock in settlement of the restricted stock unit award, as applicable, in an amount equal to the cash or the fair market value of the shares of common stock received.
A recipient of a stock award or other equity-based award or the receipt of shares pursuant to an incentive award or performance award generally will be subject to tax at ordinary income tax rates on the fair market value of the shares of common stock when received, reduced by any amount paid by the recipient; however, if the shares of common stock are not transferable and are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture when received, a participant will recognize ordinary compensation income in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares of common stock (i) when the shares of common stock first become transferable and are no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, in cases where a participant does not make a valid election under Section 83(b) of the Code, or (ii) when the award is received, in cases where a participant makes a valid election under Section 83(b) of the Code. If a Section 83(b) election is made and the shares of common stock are subsequently forfeited, the recipient will not be allowed to take a deduction for the value of the forfeited shares of common stock. If a Section 83(b) election has not been made, any dividends received with respect to restricted stock that are subject at that time to a risk of forfeiture or restrictions on transfer generally will be treated as compensation that is taxable as ordinary income to the recipient; otherwise the dividends will be treated as dividends.
A participant who is an employee will be subject to withholding for federal, and generally for state and local, income taxes at the time he recognizes income under the rules described above. The tax basis in the shares of common stock received by a participant will equal the amount recognized by the participant as compensation income under the rules described in the preceding paragraph, and the participants capital gains holding period in those shares of common stock will commence on the later of the date the shares of common stock are received or the restrictions lapse. Subject to the discussion below under Tax Consequences to the Company, the Company will be entitled to a deduction for federal income tax purposes that corresponds as to timing and amount with the compensation income recognized by a participant under the foregoing rules.
Tax Consequences to the Company
Reasonable Compensation. In order for the amounts described above to be deductible by the Company (or a subsidiary), such amounts must constitute reasonable compensation for services rendered or to be rendered and must be ordinary and necessary business expenses.
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Golden Parachute Payments. The ability of the Company (or the ability of one of its subsidiaries) to obtain a deduction for future payments under the LTIP could also be limited by the golden parachute rules of Section 280G of the Code, which prevent the deductibility of certain excess parachute payments made in connection with a change in control of an employer-corporation.
Performance-Based Compensation. The ability of the Company (or the ability of one of its subsidiaries) to obtain a deduction for amounts paid under the LTIP could be limited by Section 162(m) of the Code. Section 162(m) of the Code limits the Companys ability to deduct compensation, for federal income tax purposes, paid during any year to a covered employee (within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code) in excess of $1,000,000. Despite this limitation, the Company may determine that it is in the Companys best interests to grant awards pursuant to the LTIP that are not tax deductible to the Company in certain situations.
Grants to Certain Persons
Because awards granted under the LTIP shall be at the discretion of the Committee, it is not possible to determine the benefits or amounts that will be received by or allocated to eligible individuals. Therefore, we have not included a New Plan Benefits Table nor information regarding stock option awards that could be granted pursuant to the LTIP in the future.
The Board recommends a vote FOR Proposal No. 4. The management proxy holders will vote all duly submitted proxies FOR approval of the LTIP unless duly instructed otherwise. All members of the Board and our executive officers and other senior employees are eligible for awards under the LTIP and thus have a personal interest in the approval of the LTIP.
The Company knows of no other matters that will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting. If any other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the proxy to vote the shares they represent as the Board may recommend. Discretionary authority with respect to such other matters is granted by the execution of the proxy.
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
AND MANAGEMENT
The following table contains information regarding the beneficial ownership of common stock as of May 15, 2018, by:
● | The stockholders we know to beneficially own more than 5% of outstanding common stock; |
● | Each director named in this proxy statement; |
● | Each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table included in this proxy statement; and |
● | All of our directors and executive officers as a group. |
Common stock is the only class of voting securities issued by the Company. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes, the beneficial owner has sole voting and investment power with respect to the securities beneficially owned, subject only to community property laws, if applicable. In addition, unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes, the beneficial owners address is 800 W. 6th Street, Austin, Texas 78701.
Beneficial Owner |
Shares |
|||||||
Number | Percent(1) | |||||||
5% or Greater Stockholders: |
||||||||
Blackrock, Inc.(2) |
7,070,636 | 11.49 | % | |||||
The Vanguard Group, Inc.(3) |
6,801,133 | 11.05 | % | |||||
FMR, LLC(4) |
3,445,957 | 5.60 | % | |||||
LSV Asset Management(5) |
3,198,586 | 5.20 | % | |||||
Directors and Named Executive Officers: |
||||||||
Jason P. Rhode, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director(6) |
880,710 | 1.42 | % | |||||
Gregory Scott Thomas, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary(7) |
101,680 | * | ||||||
Jo-Dee M. Benson, Vice President and Chief Culture Officer(8) |
94,226 | * | ||||||
Scott Anderson, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Mixed-Signal Audio Division(9) |
78,117 | * | ||||||
Thurman K. Case, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer(10) |
70,266 | * | ||||||
Alan R. Schuele, Director(11) |
31,612 | * | ||||||
David J. Tupman, Director(12) |
26,128 | * | ||||||
John C. Carter, Director(13) |
26,100 | * | ||||||
Alexander M. Davern, Director(14) |
21,970 | * | ||||||
Timothy R. Dehne, Director(15) |
19,024 | * | ||||||
Christine King, Director(16) |
12,687 | * | ||||||
William D. Sherman, Director(17) |
3,911 | * | ||||||
All current directors and executive officers as a group (17 persons)(18) |
1,450,784 | 2.32 | % |
* Less than 1% of the outstanding common stock
(1) | Percentage ownership is based on 61,528,127 shares of common stock issued and outstanding on May 15, 2018. Shares of common stock issuable under stock options that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days after May 15, 2018, and shares of common stock subject to restricted stock units (RSUs) and performance-based RSUs (PBRSUs) that will vest and be issued within 60 days after May 15, 2018, are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding such options or RSUs or PBRSUs for the purpose of computing the number of shares beneficially owned and the percentage ownership of such person, |
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but are not deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of any other person. This table does not include options, PBRSUs, or RSUs that vest more than 60 days after May 15, 2018. |
(2) | Based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on January 19, 2018, Blackrock Inc., 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055, is the beneficial owner of 7,070,636 shares, with sole voting power as to 6,927,076 shares, and sole dispositive power as to 7,070,636 shares. |
(3) | Based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 9, 2018, The Vanguard Group Inc., 100 Vanguard Blvd., Malvern, PA 19355, is the beneficial owner of 6,801,133 shares, with sole voting power as to 125,297 shares, sole dispositive power as to 6,673,306 shares, shared dispositive power as to 127,827 shares, and shared voting power as to 7,855 shares. |
(4) | Based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 13, 2018, FMR LLC, 245 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210, is the beneficial owner of 3,445,957 shares, with sole voting power as to 812,559 shares, and sole dispositive power as to 3,445,957 shares. |
(5) | Based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 13, 2018, LSV Asset Management, 155 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 4600, Chicago, IL 60606, is the beneficial owner of 3,198,586 shares, with sole voting power as to 1,597,228 shares, and sole dispositive power as to 3,198,586 shares. |
(6) | Includes 663,299 shares issuable upon exercise of options held by Dr. Rhode and 217,411 shares held directly. |
(7) | Includes 81,661 shares issuable upon exercise of options held by Mr. Thomas and 20,019 shares held directly. |
(8) | Includes 65,029 shares issuable upon exercise of options held by Ms. Benson and 29,197 shares held directly. |
(9) | Includes 64,185 shares issuable upon exercise of options held by Mr. Anderson and 13,932 shares held directly. |
(10) | Includes 57,744 shares issuable upon exercise of options held by Mr. Case and 12,522 shares held directly. |
(11) | Includes 19,447 shares issuable upon exercise of options held by Mr. Schuele and 12,165 shares held directly. |
(12) | Includes 17,425 shares issuable upon exercise of options held by Mr. Tupman and 8,703 shares held directly. |
(13) | Includes 0 shares issuable upon exercise of options held by Mr. Carter and 26,100 shares held directly. |
(14) | Includes 10,250 shares issuable upon exercise of options held by Mr. Davern and 11,720 shares held directly. |
(15) | Includes 0 shares issuable upon exercise of options held by Mr. Dehne and 19,024 shares held directly. |
(16) | Includes 0 shares issuable upon exercise of options held by Ms. King and 12,687 shares held directly. |
(17) | Includes 0 shares issuable upon exercise of options held by Mr. Sherman and 3,911 shares held directly. |
(18) | Includes options held by all executive officers and directors to purchase an aggregate of 1,055,180 shares of common stock that are exercisable within 60 days of May 15, 2018. |
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Scott A. Anderson Senior Vice President and General Manager, Mixed-Signal Audio Division
Mr. Anderson, age 64, was appointed Senior Vice President and General Manager, Mixed-Signal Audio Division, in October 2007. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Anderson served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Freescale Semiconductor between March 2004 and February 2005, and as President and Chief Executive Officer of Motorola Semiconductor Products Sector between February 2003 and December 2003.
Jo-Dee M. Benson Vice President, Chief Culture Officer
Ms. Benson, age 58, was appointed Vice President, Chief Culture Officer, as of July 2011. She joined the Company in July 1995 and served in various marketing communications management roles. Prior to being appointed to her current position, Ms. Benson served as Vice President, Corporate Communications and Human Resources between July 2005 and July 2011, and as Vice President, Corporate Marketing Communications between January 2001 and July 2005.
Andrew Brannan Vice President Worldwide Sales
Mr. Brannan, age 51, joined Cirrus Logic as part of the Wolfson Microelectronics plc (Wolfson) acquisition in August 2014. Mr. Brannan had worked at Wolfson since 2009, where he was Chief Commercial Officer. Immediately before joining Wolfson, Mr. Brannan served as a board member and Executive Vice President of Sales and Customer Operations at Symbian Software Limited.
Randy Carlson Vice President of Supply Chain
Mr. Carlson, age 52, was appointed Vice President of Supply Chain in February 2010. Mr. Carlson previously worked as Director of Supply Chain between May 2008 and February 2010.
Thurman K. Case Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer
Mr. Case, age 61, was appointed CFO in February 2007. He joined the Company in October 2000 and was appointed Vice President, Treasurer, Financial Planning & Analysis, in September 2004. Prior to being appointed to his current position, Mr. Case served as Vice President, Finance between June 2002 and September 2004, and as Director of Finance between October 2000 and June 2002. Mr. Case currently serves as a Director, Audit Committee Chairman, and Corporate Governance Committee member of Helen of Troy (Nasdaq: HELE), a consumer products company based in El Paso, Texas.
Brad Fluke Vice President and General Manager, MEMS Division
Mr. Fluke, age 56, was appointed Vice President and General Manager, MEMS Division in May, 2015. He joined the company in 2013, originally serving as Vice President of Strategy. Previously, from 2008 to 2013, Mr. Fluke served as the President, Chief Executive Officer, and the Chair of the Board at Javelin Semiconductor, Inc.
Allan Hughes Vice President Cirrus Logic International
Mr. Hughes, age 57, joined Cirrus Logic as part of the Wolfson acquisition in August 2014. Mr. Hughes joined Wolfson in March 2009 as Vice President Marketing and Applications. In 2013, he assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer.
Jason P. Rhode President and Chief Executive Officer, and Director Nominee
Dr. Rhode, age 48, was appointed President and CEO of the Company in May 2007. Dr. Rhode joined the Company in 1995 and served in various engineering positions until he became Director of Marketing for analog and mixed-signal products in November 2002. He was appointed Vice President, General Manager, Mixed-Signal Audio Products, in December 2004, a role he served in until his appointment as President and CEO.
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Rashpal Sahota Vice President and Audio General Manager, Cirrus Logic International
Mr. Sahota, age 58, joined Cirrus Logic as part of the Wolfson acquisition in August 2014. Mr. Sahota had worked at Wolfson since 2008, where he acted as Vice President, General Manager, Audio.
Gregory Scott Thomas Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Mr. Thomas, age 52, was appointed Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary in December 2003. He joined the Company in December 2000 as Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Intellectual Property.
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
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Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation and Last Years Result |
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The Role of Our Executive Officers in Establishing Compensation |
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The Elements Making Up Compensation and Our Target Compensation Levels |
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Clawback Policy and Prohibition Against Short Selling, Hedging, and Pledging |
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I. | Purpose and Named Executive Officers |
The purpose of this Compensation Discussion and Analysis is to explain the Compensation Committees philosophy for determining the compensation program for our Chief Executive Officer (CEO), our Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and the three other most highly compensated executive officers (collectively, the Named Executive Officers) for fiscal year 2018 and to discuss why and how the fiscal year 2018 compensation decisions for these executives were reached. As used in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis, all references to the 2018 fiscal year are applicable to the time period that began on March 26, 2017, and ended on March 31, 2018. Following this discussion are tables that include compensation information for the Named Executive Officers. This analysis contains
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descriptions of various employee compensation and benefit plans. These descriptions are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text or detailed descriptions of the plans that are filed as exhibits to the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2018.
The Named Executive Officers for fiscal year 2018 were as follows:
● | Jason P. Rhode, President and CEO; |
● | Thurman K. Case, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer; |
● | Scott A. Anderson, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Mixed-Signal Audio Division; |
● | Jo-Dee M. Benson, Vice President and Chief Culture Officer; and |
● | Gregory S. Thomas, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. |
The Compensation Committee reviews and approves base salaries and other matters relating to executive compensation and administers the Companys stock incentive plans, including reviewing and granting stock incentive awards to our executive officers and other employees and reviewing and approving policies and procedures for granting awards under these plans.
II. | Executive Summary |
Listed below are business highlights for fiscal year 2018 and significant actions taken by our Compensation Committee in fiscal year 2018. Additional details are described in the analysis and discussion that follows.
Business Highlights
● | Revenue. For fiscal year 2018, we reported revenue of $1.5 billion, down less than 1% from the prior year. Revenue for the year was below our expectations due to lower than anticipated smartphone unit volumes in the second half of the fiscal year; |
● | Long Term Growth. Over the past five years, we have experienced a compound annual revenue growth rate of approximately 14%, and over the past ten years, the rate has been approximately 24%; |
● | Cash Generation. We experienced strong cash generation, with cash from operations being approximately $319 million for the fiscal year; |
● | Product Portfolio. In fiscal year 2018, we expanded our product portfolio to span a more diverse range of technical and cost specifications and continued to increase our penetration of the Android market with new and existing customers; |
● | New Technology. We developed innovative new technologies, including our 28-nanometer voice biometrics component and 55-nanometer audio and haptic boosted amplifiers; |
● | Flagship Features. We continued to make progress driving key flagship features into mid-tier devices; and |
● | End-to-End Solutions. Our ability to provide best in class components that span the complete audio signal chain continued to place us at a competitive advantage. |
Compensation Highlights
● | Equity Grants and Base Salary Adjustments. Based on a compensation analysis performed in the first half of the fiscal year, the Compensation Committee approved restricted stock units (RSUs), Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units (PBRSUs), and stock option grants to our Named Executive Officers and adjusted their base salaries; |
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● | Cash Bonuses. Our sales during fiscal year 2018 were impacted by lower than anticipated smartphone unit volumes in the second half of the fiscal year, contributing to significantly lower cash bonuses for our Named Executive Officers; and |
● | Total Compensation. Total actual compensation for our Named Executive Officers decreased by approximately 18% compared to fiscal year 2017, reflecting our slightly lower revenue and decreased operating results from the prior fiscal year. |
We are committed to paying our executive officers based on Company and individual performance. A significant portion of each executive officers compensation is based on the achievement of short- and long-term corporate goals and objectives.
The Compensation Committee believes that the compensation paid to our executive officers as reflected in this proxy statement reflects, and is fully supported by, the Companys performance over the relevant time periods. Over the past five and ten year periods, the Company has experienced strong compound annual growth rates (approximately 14% and 24%, respectively), and for the one-year period and the three-year period preceding our data-gathering efforts in support of the Companys annual review of executive compensation, our revenue growth placed us at the 90th and 88th percentile, respectively, of the Proxy Group (as defined below in the section of the proxy statement entitled, The Information We Use for Comparisons). Revenue for the year, however, was below our expectations due to lower than anticipated smartphone unit volumes in the second half of the fiscal year.
III. | Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation and Last Years Result |
We conducted our annual stockholder advisory vote on named executive officer compensation at our 2017 annual meeting of stockholders. While this vote was not binding on the Company, it gives our stockholders an opportunity to vote on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers on an annual basis as a means to express their views regarding our executive compensation philosophy, our compensation policies and programs, and our decisions regarding executive compensation, all as disclosed in our proxy statement. The Board and the Compensation Committee value the opinions of our stockholders and, to the extent that there is any significant vote against the compensation of our Named Executive Officers as disclosed in this proxy statement, we will consider our stockholders concerns, and the Compensation Committee will evaluate whether any actions are necessary to address those concerns.
At our 2017 annual meeting of stockholders, more than 97% of the votes cast on our executive compensation proposal were voted in favor of our Named Executive Officers compensation as disclosed in the proxy statement, and as a result, our Named Executive Officers compensation was approved. The Compensation Committee reviewed the final vote results and determined that, given the significant level of support, no specific changes to our executive compensation philosophy or general policies and practices were necessary to address any stockholder concerns.
We provide our stockholders with the opportunity to cast an advisory vote on named executive officer compensation each year. For more information, see Proposal No. 3 Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation within this proxy statement.
IV. | Our General Philosophy and Overall Compensation Framework |
We provide our executive officers with compensation opportunities that are based on their personal performance, the financial performance of the Company, their contribution to that performance, and
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the Companys total shareholder return relative to certain other semiconductor companies through a mix of base salary, annual cash incentive awards, and equity compensation including RSUs, PBRSUs, and stock options. These opportunities are designed to attract and retain highly skilled individuals and to align their incentives with the long-term interests of our stockholders.
We believe that the amounts payable under the compensation program for our executive officers should reflect the Companys performance and the value created for our stockholders. In addition, the compensation program should balance the short- and long-term strategic goals and objectives of the Company and reward individual contribution to the Companys success. We are engaged in a very competitive industry, and the Companys success depends on its ability to attract and retain qualified executives through the competitive compensation packages we offer.
A. | How We Set Target Total Direct Compensation |
The Compensation Committee annually reviews and establishes each executive officers target total direct compensation package. The Compensation Committee considers a broad range of facts and circumstances in setting executive compensation, including Company performance, individual performance, relative shareholder return, external pay practices of peer companies, the strategic importance of the executive officers position, and history of pay adjustments, as well as internal pay equity and the executive officers time in the position. The weight given to each of these factors by the Compensation Committee is not preestablished and may differ from year to year, and among the individual executive officers.
The Companys executive compensation program is heavily weighted toward performance-based compensation that rewards achievement of short- and long-term corporate goals and objectives. In setting target total direct compensation for our executive officers, the Compensation Committee seeks to strike a balance between providing compensation that is competitive with the compensation paid to executives of peer companies, while ensuring that a significant percentage of compensation is dependent on the Companys performance, individual performance, and stock price appreciation. Please see the section of this proxy statement entitled, The Elements Making Up Compensation and Our Target Compensation Levels for additional information regarding the target total direct compensation for our Named Executive Officers.
B. | Our Use of a Compensation Consultant |
To support the Compensation Committee in fulfilling its duties, the Compensation Committee directly retained an external compensation consultant to assist with its design and evaluation of compensation for our CEO, executive officers, and directors for fiscal year 2018. Pursuant to its charter, the Compensation Committee is authorized to retain and terminate any consultant, as well as approve the consultants fees and other terms of retention.
During fiscal year 2018, the Compensation Committee retained Compensia, Inc. (Compensia) to provide executive and director compensation consulting services. At the direction of the Compensation Committee, Compensia performed a comprehensive review of our CEOs and other executive officers compensation. In addition to a complete review of executive compensation, Compensia reviewed, developed, and proposed a compensation peer group to use for purposes of analyzing the competitive market for executive and director compensation. The Compensation Committee considered this information in setting executive compensation.
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As required by the Nasdaq listing standards, the Compensation Committee performed an independence assessment of Compensia. The Compensation Committee determined that Compensia should be considered independent based on the following factors:
● | Compensia provided no services to the Company other than its work for the Compensation Committee; |
● | The fees paid to Compensia by the Company were less than 1% of Compensias revenues for the year; |
● | Compensia has developed and provided to the Company a Conflict of Interest Policy; |
● | The advisers from Compensia have no business or personal relationship with any members of the Companys Compensation Committee or the Companys executive officers; and |
● | Compensia has confirmed that none of the advisers from Compensia own any shares of our common stock. |
Accordingly, the Compensation Committee determined that the services provided by Compensia to the Compensation Committee for fiscal year 2018 did not give rise to any conflicts of interest.
C. | The Information We Use for Comparisons |
To aid the Compensation Committees annual executive compensation review, Compensia prepared and presented a compensation assessment of the Companys executive compensation program. Compensias assessment was based on (a) publicly available data gathered from a group of specific companies that are considered comparable to the Company (the Proxy Group) and (b) market data obtained from the Radford Global Technology Survey specific to companies in such Proxy Group (the Survey Data).
The Proxy Group generally consists of public companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges in the semiconductor industry that are comparable in size (approximately $480 million $4.3 billion in revenue and approximately $725 million $14.5 billion in market capitalization) and share common characteristics with the Company, including location and similarity of business model and product lines. In determining the Proxy Group, the Compensation Committee also considered whether a proposed peer was historically in the Companys peer group to maintain some consistency in the executive compensation analysis on a year-over-year basis. Finally, the Compensation Committee considered the likelihood that the Company might compete for executive talent with companies selected for the Proxy Group. For example, due in part to the specialized field within which the Company operates, the targeted talent pool from which to attract skilled leadership is narrow, and as such, the Compensation Committee will continue to revisit and revise its peer group in future years to ensure the Company remains competitive in its continuing recruitment and retention efforts.
In March 2017, based on these criteria, and with the direction of the Compensation Committee on companies to consider for inclusion in the Proxy Group, Compensia reviewed the then-existing Proxy Group and made recommendations regarding potential additions and removals.
Specifically, it was recommended that the following three companies be added: Cree, Inc.; ON Semiconductor Corp.; and Xilinx, Inc.
It was recommended that the following three companies be removed: InvenSense Inc.; Fairchild Semiconductor; and Intersil Corp. InvenSense was removed because its revenue became out of range, which was followed by its subsequent acquisition, and Fairchild and Intersil were removed due to acquisitions.
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After review, the Compensation Committee approved such recommendations, and the following group of 13 companies was approved for the Proxy Group: (1) Cavium, Inc.; (2) Cree, Inc.; (3) Cypress Semiconductor; (4) Integrated Device Technology, Inc.; (5) Knowles Corporation; (6) Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.; (7) Microsemi Corp.; (8) ON Semiconductor Corp.; (9) Qorvo, Inc.; (10) Semtech Corp.; (11) Silicon Laboratories, Inc.; (12) Synaptics Incorporated; and (13) Xilinx, Inc.
Compensia developed comparison compensation data for each Cirrus Logic executive officer (Compensation Market Data). For our CEO and CFO, the Compensation Market Data consisted solely of data derived from our Proxy Group. For Ms. Benson, where there was insufficient Proxy Group data, the Compensation Market Data consisted solely of Survey Data. For our remaining Named Executive Officers, a blend of Survey Data and Proxy Group data was used for their Compensation Market Data.
D. | The Role of Our Executive Officers in Establishing Compensation |
Our Human Resources and Legal departments support the Compensation Committees work related to our compensation programs. This support consists of assistance with providing Survey Data, proposals of potential ranges of various components of compensation for our executive officers, and information regarding the Companys Stock Plan. Regular meetings of the Compensation Committee are generally attended by our CEO, CFO, Chief Culture Officer, and our General Counsel. Because the Companys executive officers report directly to the CEO, the Compensation Committee requests input and recommendations from the CEO regarding executive compensation (other than his own). The Compensation Committee considers and sets the compensation of our CEO when no members of management are present. In addition, members of management are not present while their specific compensation is being discussed and determined.
E. | The Elements Making Up Compensation and Our Target Compensation Levels |
Each executive officers compensation package comprises the following elements: (i) base salary that reflects individual performance and relevant market data, (ii) annual cash incentive awards tied to the Companys achievement of specific performance objectives, (iii) long-term incentives in the form of equity awards (RSUs and options) designed to strengthen the mutuality of interests between the executive officers and the Companys stockholders, (iv) additional long-term equity incentives explicitly tied to certain Company performance-based criteria (PBRSUs), (v) other benefits that are generally available to the Companys employees, including a 401(k) (or other retirement plan) and medical, vision, and dental plans, and (vi) post-employment compensation (see sections of this proxy statement entitled, Our Post-Employment Compensation and Potential Payments upon Termination or Change of Control).
In general, the Compensation Committee has attempted to establish a strong relationship between total cash compensation, the Companys performance, and individual executive performance by typically setting base salaries with reference to the 50th percentile range of the Compensation Market Data and by providing additional incentive opportunities that typically place the target total cash compensation opportunity (base salary plus target annual cash incentive compensation) also within the 50th percentile range, with the potential to earn above the 50th percentile level for higher levels of performance. We also aim to maintain internal pay equity and set the semiannual target bonus percentage (discussed in more detail below) for each executive officer other than our CEO at the same level.
The Compensation Committee also provides equity awards so that an executive officers target total direct compensation opportunity is set with reference to the 50th percentile level.
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Market-related percentiles are intended only as guidelines for evaluating and establishing each executive officers compensation and are not applied on a rigid or formulaic basis. Sometimes, depending on the totality of the circumstances for particular executive officers, and as determined by the Compensation Committee based on its discretion, compensation levels may fall within different percentile ranges. Other factors such as an executive officers additional responsibilities, prior work experience, and the number of years of experience with the Company may lead to certain executive officers, particularly our Named Executive Officers, with target total direct compensation above the 50th percentile.
V. | Executive Compensation Review for Fiscal Year 2018 |
The Compensation Committee reviewed our executive officers compensation at a regularly scheduled Compensation Committee meeting in September. At that time, the Compensation Committee also reviewed the Companys performance as compared to the Proxy Group. As part of the review, the Compensation Committee considered any changes to an executive officers base salary or target amounts for his or her annual cash incentive awards. The Compensation Committee further considered any annual equity awards for our executive officers. Ultimately, any decision to adjust compensation was made in the discretion of the Compensation Committee in view of the numerous factors and circumstances discussed in this proxy statement.
The timing of the annual executive compensation review and any proposed equity awards is aligned with the Companys annual grant of equity awards to our key employees, which occurs in November. See the section of this proxy statement entitled, Administrative and Timing Aspects of Our Equity Awards.
A. | Base Salaries |
The base salary for each executive officer is designed to be commensurate with the salary levels for comparable positions within the Compensation Market Data, to reflect each individuals personal performance during the year, to take into consideration the individuals responsibilities within the Company, and to be consistent with our internal salary alignment. The relative weight given to each factor is not preestablished and may vary as determined by the Compensation Committee. In setting base salaries, the Compensation Committee reviews the Compensation Market Data, the recommendations of our CEO for base salaries other than his own, and each executive officers individual performance for the year, as well as the factors discussed above in the section entitled, How We Set Target Total Direct Compensation. The Companys profitability and operational performance and the history of past salary adjustments may also be factors in determining the base salaries of our executive officers. The Compensation Committee looks collectively at all of these factors when making its decisions.
In September 2017, the Compensation Committee made the following adjustments to the base salaries of our Named Executive Officers:
● | Raised our CEOs annual base salary 6.7% from $750,000 to $800,000; |
● | Raised our CFOs annual base salary 7.5% from $364,000 to $391,300; |
● | Raised Mr. Andersons annual base salary 5.0% from $340,000 to $357,000; |
● | Raised Ms. Bensons annual base salary 5.0% from $340,000 to $357,000; and |
● | Raised Mr. Thomass annual base salary 5.0% from $350,000 to $367,500. |
The Compensation Committee increased our CEOs base salary in recognition of the Companys strong performance over the 12 months prior to when the compensation analysis was performed (for
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example, being in the 90th percentile for one-year revenue growth as compared to our Proxy Group) as well as his individual performance. After the increase, his base salary was slightly below the 75th percentile in the applicable Compensation Market Data.
Prior to these adjustments, the base salaries of the other Named Executive Officers were well below the 50th percentile level of the applicable Compensation Market Data. In view of the Companys 12-month performance prior to the compensation analysis, as well as individual performance considerations, the Compensation Committee brought their base salaries closer toward, but still below, the 50th percentile level.
For each adjustment to our executive officers base salary, the Compensation Committee also factored into its analysis the history of past salary adjustments and the objective of setting target total cash compensation (including base salary and target incentive plan payments discussed below) with reference to the 50th percentile of applicable Compensation Market Data.
B. | Cash Bonuses |
In fiscal year 2018, our Named Executive Officers participated in our 2007 Management and Key Individual Contributor Incentive Plan (Incentive Plan), which bases payments on our fiscal year financial performance and provides for semiannual cash bonuses.
The Incentive Plan is designed to provide employees who are in management or leadership positions in the Company, or who are key individual contributors whose efforts potentially have a material impact on the Companys performance, with incentives to enhance the Companys performance through the achievement of financial goals.
Each semiannual cash bonus is calculated as the product of three components: (1) an individuals annual base salary (as measured at the end of the given semiannual performance period), (2) an individuals semiannual target bonus percentage, and (3) a Company-wide Incentive Plan Pay-Out Percentage, which is a multiplier reflecting whether, and the extent to which, the Company has met or exceeded performance measures concerning Operating Profit Margin and revenue growth for the given semiannual performance period:
Semiannual Cash Bonus = Annual Base Salary × Semiannual Target Bonus Percentage × Incentive Plan Pay-Out Percentage
Prior to the commencement of each semiannual performance period, the Compensation Committee sets the formula and performance measures under which the Incentive Plan Pay-Out Percentage is determined.
1. | Incentive Plan Pay-Out Percentage |
The Operating Profit Margin used in the Incentive Plan Pay-Out Percentage is defined in the Incentive Plan as the Companys consolidated GAAP operating income excluding (a) Incentive Plan and other bonus accruals and (b) any non-recurring items such as gains on sales of assets not otherwise included in revenue, losses on sales of assets, restructuring charges, merger-related costs including amortization or impairments of acquisition-related intangible assets, stock compensation expense, asset write-offs, write-downs, and impairment charges, and such other items as the Compensation Committee may determine in its sole discretion (part (b) collectively termed as Excluded Items).
For a given semiannual performance period, the Incentive Plan Pay-Out Percentage may range anywhere between 0250% depending on the Companys specific Operating Profit Margin and revenue growth.
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The Incentive Plan Pay-Out Percentage for each semiannual performance period is calculated as the product of an operating profit payout and a revenue growth multiplier.
Incentive Plan Pay-Out Percentage = Operating Profit Payout × Revenue Growth Multiplier
For both semiannual periods of fiscal year 2018, the Compensation Committee determined that the operating profit payout would be determined according to the following graph:
As shown, the operating profit payout is 0% for Operating Profit Margins less than 10%. The operating profit payout is 25% when the Operating Profit Margin is 10%. The operating profit payout increases linearly from 25100% as the Operating Profit Margin increases from 1027%. Finally, the operating profit payout increases linearly from 100250% as the Operating Profit Margin increases from 2735%.
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For both semiannual periods of fiscal year 2018, the Compensation Committee determined that the revenue growth multiplier would be determined according to the following graph:
As shown, the revenue growth multiplier is 100% for revenue growth of 10% or lower. The revenue growth multiplier then increases linearly from 100250% as revenue growth increases from 1025%.
With reference to the two graphs above, the Compensation Committee set a threshold level corresponding to an Operating Profit Margin of 10% because if that performance level is not met the operating profit payout would be 0% and hence, regardless of the revenue growth multiplier, the corresponding Incentive Plan Pay-Out Percentage would also be 0%, meaning no semiannual cash bonuses would be paid. The Compensation Committee set a target level corresponding to an Operating Profit Margin of 27%. At that level, if revenue growth was 10% or less, the operating profit payout and revenue growth multipliers would both be 100%, and the corresponding Incentive Plan Pay-Out Percentage would also be 100%, meaning target semiannual bonuses would be paid.
Some combinations of Operating Profit Margin and revenue growth would result in Incentive Plan Pay-Out Percentages higher than 100%, which yield cash bonus payments above target levels. The Incentive Plan, however, provides that its semiannual cash bonuses may not exceed 250% of a participants target bonus for any applicable semiannual performance period (i.e., the Incentive Plan Pay-Out Percentage cannot exceed 250%). Further, the semiannual cash bonuses are also subject to a cap of 12% of the Companys non-GAAP operating profit on total payments under the Companys variable compensation plans. The Compensation Committee instituted a payment cap because it determined that the proposed targets and thresholds under the Incentive Plan created a risk that a large percentage of the Companys operating profit for a period could be paid out as bonuses. The Compensation Committee set the cap at 12% based on its desire to provide a reasonable payout for achieving the Companys performance target levels while maintaining a reasonable cap on payments under all of the Companys variable compensation plans.
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The performance measures reflected in the Incentive Plan are designed to balance short- and long-term financial and strategic objectives for building stockholder value and are further based on a review of the operating results of peer companies and competitors, including the performance of the Proxy Group. The Compensation Committee sets the target levels for these performance measures so that participants will earn their target bonuses if the Companys Operating Profit Margin and revenue growth goals are achieved during the measurement period. As designed, the Operating Profit Margin and revenue growth goals were intended by the Compensation Committee to be based on the Companys long-term strategic plan, not the Companys annual operating plan, and to further reflect the Committees belief that the achievement of both of these levels of performance would reflect performance generally exceeding that of peer companies. As opposed to how it has set the target levels for the Incentive Plan, the Compensation Committee typically has set the threshold levels for payments based in part on a review of the Companys annual operating plan along with current economic and market conditions.
2. | Semiannual Target Bonus Percentages |
At its September 2017 meeting, the Compensation Committee approved an amendment to Schedule A of the Incentive Plan to increase semiannual target bonus percentages, effective at the start of the second-half performance cycle of fiscal year 2018. With respect to our Named Executive Officers, the semiannual target bonus percentages for each performance period of fiscal year 2018 are shown in the following table, which reflects such amendment:
Executive | 2018 First-Half Target Bonus |
2018 Second-Half Target Bonus Percentage |
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CEO |
65 | % | 75 | % | ||||
Other Named Executive Officers |
32.5 | % | 37.5 | % |
The Compensation Committee increased the second-half target bonus percentages with the objective of bringing our executive officers target total cash compensation toward the 50th percentile compared to applicable Compensation Market Data and in recognition of the Companys performance over the prior 12 months, individual performance, and the previous years decision to maintain the semiannual target bonus percentages.
3. | Target Total Cash Compensation |
Target cash bonuses for each semiannual performance period are calculated using the formula discussed above and by assuming an Incentive Plan Pay-Out Percentage of 100%:
Target Semiannual Cash Bonus = Annual Base Salary × Semiannual Target Bonus Percentage × 100%
Target total cash compensation is annual base salary plus both target semiannual cash bonuses:
Target Total Cash Compensation = Annual Base Salary + Target First Half Cash Bonus + Target Second Half Cash Bonus
For fiscal year 2018, the target total cash compensation for our Named Executive Officers was:
Named Executive Officer |
Base Salary | Target First Half FY18 Cash Bonus |
Target Second Half FY18 Cash Bonus |
FY18 Target Total Cash Compensation |
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Jason P. Rhode |
$ | 800,000 | $ | 520,000 | $ | 600,000 | $ | 1,920,000 | ||||||||
Thurman K. Case |
$ | 391,300 | $ | 127,173 | $ | 146,738 | $ | 665,210 | ||||||||
Scott A. Anderson |
$ | 357,000 | $ | 116,025 | $ | 133,875 | $ | 606,900 | ||||||||
Jo-Dee M. Benson |
$ | 357,000 | $ | 116,025 | $ | 133,875 | $ | 606,900 | ||||||||
Gregory S. Thomas |
$ | 367,500 | $ | 119,438 | $ | 137,813 | $ | 624,750 |
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Our CEOs target total cash compensation was slightly below the 75th percentile in the applicable Compensation Market Data, and the other Named Executive Officers fell within a range below the 25th percentile up to values between the 50th and 75th percentiles.
4. | Actual Cash Bonuses |
The actual cash bonuses paid for each semiannual performance period for fiscal year 2018 were based on the Incentive Plan Pay-Out Percentages for each semiannual performance period:
Actual Semiannual Cash Bonus = Annual Base Salary × Semiannual Target Bonus Percentage × Incentive Plan Pay-Out Percentage
As a result of the Companys performance in the first half of fiscal year 2018, the Incentive Plan Pay-Out Percentage was 95%. For that semiannual performance period, our Operating Profit Margin was 26% (which corresponded to a GAAP operating profit margin of 19%), and revenue growth was 8%.
As a result of the Companys performance in the second half of fiscal year 2018, the Incentive Plan Pay-Out Percentage was 85%. For that semiannual performance period, our Operating Profit Margin was 24% (which corresponded to a GAAP operating profit margin of 16%), and revenue growth was -8%.
For more details concerning each of these semiannual performance periods, see the section of this proxy statement entitled, Annex, which includes a reconciliation of the Companys GAAP operating profit margin to the Operating Profit Margin used in the Incentive Plan calculations.
For fiscal year 2018, the actual cash bonuses for our Named Executive Officers were:
Named Executive Officer |
Actual First Half FY18 Cash Bonus |
Actual Second Half FY18 Cash Bonus |
Total Actual Cash Bonus |
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Jason P. Rhode |
$ | 493,454 | $ | 510,402 | $ | 1,003,856 | ||||||
Thurman K. Case |
$ | 120,681 | $ | 124,825 | $ | 245,506 | ||||||
Scott A. Anderson |
$ | 110,102 | $ | 113,883 | $ | 223,985 | ||||||
Jo-Dee M. Benson |
$ | 110,102 | $ | 113,883 | $ | 223,985 | ||||||
Gregory S. Thomas |
$ | 113,340 | $ | 117,233 | $ | 230,573 |
These below-target cash bonuses reflect our slightly lower revenue and decreased operating results from the prior fiscal year, driven by lower than anticipated smartphone unit volumes in the second half of the fiscal year. Actual cash bonuses were down approximately 50% year-over-year for our Named Executive Officers.
C. | Equity Grants |
We provide long-term incentive opportunities in the form of equity awards to motivate and reward our executive officers for their contributions to achieving our business objectives by tying incentives to the performance of our common stock over the long term. Our equity awards include RSUs, PBRSUs, and stock options, and the Compensation Committee reviews and determines possible relative value weights that can be assigned to each component to achieve a suitable, overall compensation package for our Named Executive Officers.
The use of equity further reinforces the link between the interests of our executive officers and our stockholders. Generally, equity awards are made annually by the Compensation Committee to each of our executive officers under our Stock Plan.
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1. | Stock Options and RSUs |
Options are designed to align the interests of our executive officers and employees with those of our stockholders and provide each individual with a significant incentive to manage the Company from the perspective of an owner with an equity stake in the business. Each option award enables the recipient to purchase a specified number of shares of our common stock at a fixed price per share (the market price of our common stock on the grant date) over a specified period of time (up to 10 years). Each option typically becomes exercisable in a series of installments over a specified period over four years, with one-year cliff vesting for 25% of the options on the first anniversary of the grant date and 1/36 of the remaining options vesting on a monthly basis over the following three years contingent upon the recipients continued employment with the Company. Accordingly, the options provide a potential return to the executive officer only if he or she remains employed by the Company during the vesting period, and then only if the market price of common stock appreciates over the option term.
The use of time-vested RSUs balances the benefits of stock options with the executive retention and stockholder dilution benefits that RSUs provide. In particular, the Compensation Committee believes that the use of time-vested RSUs with a three-year cliff vesting requirement helps further our retention objectives by encouraging our executive officers to remain with the Company and fully execute our long-term strategies, which generally take a number of years to be fully implemented and reflected in our financial performance. Because RSUs are typically granted at a lower number of shares than an equivalent option grant, the dilutive impact of our long-term incentive awards as a whole is reduced by using RSUs.
2. | Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units |
The Compensation Committee believes that the use of PBRSUs further promotes the achievement of our long-term strategic and operational objectives by strengthening the link of our Named Executive Officers compensation to stockholder value creation.
PBRSU awards for fiscal year 2018 consisted of RSUs subject to a three-year performance period. The number of shares earned, relative to a target number of shares, will be based on the Companys total shareholder return (TSR) measured relative to the TSR of the component companies of the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (Index). Thus, the measurement entails determining our ranking among the companies that make up the components of the Index. The TSR determines a payout percentage ranging between 0200%, which is then multiplied by the target number of PBRSUs.
To determine the payout percentage, the Companys TSR for the performance period is compared against that of the companies in the Index to yield a Percentile Measurement (for example, if our Company would rank in the 75th percentile of the performance of companies in the Index during the performance period, our Percentile Measurement would be 75%). The payout percentage is a function of the Percentile Measurement as follows:
● | If our Percentile Measurement is less than 25%, the payout percentage is zero; |
● | Threshold performance: if our Percentile Measurement is 25%, the payout percentage is 25%; |
● | Target performance: if our Percentile Measurement is 50%, the payout percentage is 100%; |
● | Maximum performance: if our Percentile Measurement is 75% or higher, the payout percentage is 200%; |
● | A straight line connects the threshold, target, and maximum performance points; and |
● | If the Companys TSR is negative during the performance period, the maximum payout percentage is 100%. |
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In graphical form, the PBRSU payout percentage can be summarized as follows:
Fiscal year 2015 was the first year the Company granted PBRSUs, and that year they were provided only to our CEO who was granted, on October 1, 2014, a target number of 35,000 shares. In view of the Companys strong performance over the following three-year performance period, and through application of the guidelines noted above, those PBRSUs vested during fiscal year 2018 at the maximum payout percentage of 200%. Accordingly, our CEO earned 70,000 shares under this award. For information concerning the value realized as a result of exercised options and vested stock awards, see the Fiscal Year 2018 Options Exercised and Stock Vested Table below.
3. | Equity Awards and Comparisons to Compensation Market Data |
As discussed above, the Compensation Committees long-term incentive compensation philosophy is typically to grant awards to our executive officers that position their target total direct compensation approximately at the 50th percentile of the competitive market, subject to other factors considered by the Compensation Committee. For example, the Compensation Committee also takes into account past increases or decreases in overall compensation and the number, and current unrealized value, of outstanding options and unvested RSUs and PBRSUs held by each executive officer to maintain an appropriate level of equity-based incentive for that individual. The Compensation Committee further considers the Companys overall performance, current equity burn rate, and dilution in setting the amount of equity available for grant to our executive officers. The size of the equity award to each executive officer is set by the Compensation Committee at a level that is intended to create a meaningful opportunity for stock price appreciation based upon the individuals position with the Company, current performance, anticipated future contribution based on that performance, and ability to affect corporate and/or business unit results. The Compensation Committee looks collectively at all of these factors when making its decisions.
For fiscal year 2018, based on Compensias analysis of competitive market practices and the other relevant factors summarized above, the Compensation Committee approved the grant of a mix of approximately one-third stock options, one-third RSUs, and one-third PBRSUs (all relative to valuation) to our executive officers, including our Named Executive Officers, in conjunction with the
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Companys annual review of equity awards for all employees. These equity awards were granted in November 2017 on the Companys Monthly Grant Date (see the section of this proxy statement immediately below entitled, Administrative and Timing Aspects of Our Equity Awards).
For fiscal year 2018 the target total direct compensation (the base salary plus target annual cash bonus plus the grant date fair value of equity awards) for our our Named Executive Officers was:
Named Executive Officer |
Base Salary | Target Annual FY18 Cash Bonus |
FY18 RSUs | FY18 PBRSUs | FY18 Options | FY18 Target Total Direct Comp. |
||||||||||||||||||
Jason P. Rhode |
$ | 800,000 | $ | 1,120,000 | $ | 1,393,000 | $ | 1,267,200 | $ | 1,490,394 | $ | 6,070,594 | ||||||||||||
Thurman K. Case |
$ | 391,300 | $ | 273,910 | $ | 239,596 | $ | 202,752 | $ | 258,337 | $ | 1,365,895 | ||||||||||||
Scott A. Anderson |
$ | 357,000 | $ | 249,900 | $ | 261,884 | $ | 221,760 | $ | 278,208 | $ | 1,368,752 | ||||||||||||
Jo-Dee M. Benson |
$ | 357,000 | $ | 249,900 | $ | 239,596 | $ | 202,752 | $ | 258,337 | $ | 1,307,585 | ||||||||||||
Gregory S. Thomas |
$ | 367,500 | $ | 257,250 | $ | 250,740 | $ | 215,424 | $ | 268,272 | $ | 1,359,186 |
Our CEOs target total direct compensation was below the 25th percentile value in the applicable Compensation Market Data. Ms. Benson was at the 75th percentile value, which the Compensation Committee felt was appropriate in view of internal pay equity and her unique roles and responsibilities that involve both human resources and corporate communications. Our other Named Executive Officers were approximately at or below the 25th percentile.
The Compensation Committee determined that the size of its equity awards for fiscal year 2018 was warranted and appropriate in view of the totality of circumstances, including the Companys strong performance over the 12 months prior to its compensation analysis. Additionally, at the time of approval of the equity awards, the value of equity being awarded to the Named Executive Officers was comparable to the value from the previous year, with the number of approved units being unchanged from the previous year.
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The following charts are based on figures presented in the Summary Compensation Table below and show the primary components of our Named Executive Officers fiscal year 2018 compensation (excluding values listed in the All Other Compensation column), along with the performance-based percentage of that compensation.
CEO Compensation, FY2018 CEO Percentage of Performance-Based Compensation, FY2018
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In the pie charts immediately above, the following were considered performance-based compensation: cash incentive awards, stock option awards (which provide a potential return only if the market price of our common stock appreciates over the option term), and PBRSUs.
Named Executive Officer Compensation Other Than CEO, FY2018 Named Executive Officer Other Than CEO Percentage of Performance-Based Compensation, FY2018
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4. | Administrative and Timing Aspects of Our Equity Awards |
New employee equity awards and special stock awards are granted and priced on the first Wednesday of each calendar month (the Monthly Grant Date). The purpose of this process is to minimize the administrative burdens that would be created with multiple monthly grant dates and to ensure that all required approvals are obtained on or before the Monthly Grant Date. If the Monthly Grant Date occurs on a Company holiday, or on other days that the Company or Nasdaq is closed for business, the Monthly Grant Date will be the next regularly scheduled business day. The Compensation Committee does not have any program, plan, or practice to time option grants or other stock awards to our executive officers in coordination with the release of material non-public information.
Annual equity awards to employees and executive officers are granted in November so that the vesting of RSU and PBRSU grants will likely take place during a period after the Company has reported its financial earnings.
5. | Stock Ownership Guidelines |
Stock ownership guidelines apply to our CEO, non-employee directors, and executive officers to more closely link their interests with those of our other stockholders. Within the later of five years from the 2016 Annual Meeting or five years from his or her appointment as an executive officer or initial election to the Board, each individual subject to the guidelines is expected to accumulate and maintain an ownership position in Company shares that is the lesser of the following:
CEO: | Either three times annual salary or 60,000 shares | |
Other Executive Officers: | Either one time annual salary or 10,000 shares | |
Non-employee Directors: | Either three times annual cash retainer or 4,500 shares |
Additional details concerning our stock ownership guidelines are provided in the Corporate Governance Guidelines, which are available under the Corporate Governance section of our Investors page on our website at investor.cirrus.com.
D. | Perquisites and Other Benefits |
Our CEO and other executive officers are eligible to participate in our retirement, welfare, and health benefit programs to the same extent as all other salaried employees based in the United States or United Kingdom, as applicable. For example, as applicable to the United States or United Kingdom, we provide medical, dental and vision insurance, a retirement/401(k) plan, life and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, and other plans and programs. Although perquisites are not a material part of our compensation programs for executive officers and are generally not provided, we do reimburse up to $500 for an annual physical examination for each of our executive officers to the extent the physical examination is not covered under our standard health care plans.
From time to time, employees may request chartered aircraft services to facilitate travel that is directly and integrally related to the performance of their job duties and where the use of a chartered plane will increase efficiency. Occasionally, a spouse or immediate family members may accompany the employee on these flights. When this occurs, we require the employee to pay the greater of the incremental cost, if any, to accommodate such guests on the flight, or the imputed income amount determined using the IRS Standard Industry Fare Level (SIFL) rate. Accordingly, there is no aggregate incremental cost to the Company for accompaniment on chartered business flights, and no amounts are included in our Summary Compensation Table for such travel for any Named Executive Officer.
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VI. | Post-Employment Compensation |
We do not maintain separate individual severance or change of control agreements with our Named Executive Officers; however, on July 26, 2007, after a review of other companies practices with respect to management severance plans, the Compensation Committee approved and adopted an Executive Severance and Change of Control Plan, which was amended and restated as of April 1, 2018 (the 2007 Severance Plan). The 2007 Severance Plan provides certain payments and other benefits to eligible executive officers (Eligible Executives), including each of our Named Executive Officers, whose employment is involuntarily terminated by the Company (other than for cause) or whose employment terminates following a change of control of the Company. The 2007 Severance Plan originally became effective on October 1, 2007. Details and specific terms of the Severance Plan are set forth in the section of this proxy statement entitled, Potential Payments upon Termination or Change of Control.
We maintain the 2007 Severance Plan because we believe it is consistent with the practices of peer companies and helps ensure that we are able to attract and retain top talent. Further, we believe that our plan provides a level of stability to Eligible Executives during volatile business conditions that have historically existed in our industry so that they remain focused on their responsibilities and the long-term interests of the Company during such times.
The 2007 Severance Plan provides for double-trigger rather than single-trigger payment and benefits in the event of a change of control of the Company. In other words, payments to Eligible Executives are contingent upon an involuntarily termination of employment following a change of control. This plan design is intended to provide a level of security to Eligible Executives negotiating a transaction to avoid any misalignment with the interests of our stockholders without resulting in a windfall to Eligible Executives who remain employed following such a transaction.
VII. | Clawback Policy and Prohibition Against Short Selling, Hedging, and Pledging |
Effective May 25, 2018, our CEO and named executive officers became subject to a clawback policy entitled, Policy Regarding Recoupment of Certain Incentive Compensation that provides for forfeiture of excess incentive compensation in the event of misconduct resulting in a restatement of financial statements. The clawback policy will govern all incentive compensation (cash or equity-based compensation) that is granted, earned, or vested based upon the achievement of financial or stock performance metrics, and which was granted following the adoption of the clawback policy and paid in the preceding three-year period from the time the Company determines that it must restate its financial statements.
The Company prohibits directors, officers, and employees from investing in derivative securities based on or related to the Companys common stock, engaging in any short sale or hedging transactions involving the Companys common stock, and pledging any shares of the Companys common stock as collateral for any margin account or any other similar account or debt instrument where a sale of the Companys stock could occur. Our policy does not restrict the ownership of Company-granted equity awards, such as stock options, restricted stock, RSUs, PBRSUs, or other equity awards issued by the Company.
VIII. | Tax Considerations Related to Compensation |
For fiscal year 2018, Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) generally disallowed a tax deduction for compensation paid to our CEO and the three most highly compensated named executive officers (other than our CEO and our principal financial officer) to the extent that compensation exceeded $1 million per covered employee. Nonetheless, certain compensation, including qualified
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performance-based compensation, was not subject to the deduction limit if applicable requirements were met. The Compensation Committee generally sought, so long as it was reasonable and consistent with the Companys overall business, compensation, and retention objectives, to design our executive compensation program to keep executive compensation deductible by the Company for federal income tax purposes. However, the Compensation Committee maintained its ability to approve compensation to covered officers that was not deductible by the Company for purposes of Section 162(m). In fiscal year 2018, the Company had a tax deduction disallowance under Section 162(m) of approximately $1.6 million related to the compensation received by our CEO. This disallowance was the result of his salary in combination with the vesting of RSUs that were not performance based for purposes of Section 162(m).
Pursuant to tax legislation signed into law on December 22, 2017 (the Tax Act), for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2017, the performance-based compensation exception to the deduction limit under Section 162(m) will no longer be available, subject to specific transition rules, and the CFO will be treated as a covered employee. Further, any covered employee for any fiscal year beginning after December 31, 2016 will continue to be treated as a covered employee for all future years. As a result, for those fiscal years and with the exception of certain performance-based compensation grandfathered pursuant to the transition rules, all compensation in excess of $1 million paid to any covered employee will not be deductible.
Section 280G of the IRC disallows the deduction of any excess parachute payment paid in connection with certain events. A portion of amounts payable under the 2007 Severance Plan may constitute excess parachute payments to our executive officers. Accordingly, the 2007 Severance Plan provides for a modified Section 280G cut back pursuant to which payments and benefits under the 2007 Severance Plan will be reduced in the event such reduction produces a greater after-tax benefit to an executive officer. See the section of this proxy statement entitled, Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control.
IX. Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
The Compensation Committee currently consists of Timothy R. Dehne (Chair), John C. Carter, and Christine King. During fiscal year 2018, none of our executive officers served on the board of directors or compensation committee of another company whose executive officer served on our Board or Compensation Committee. The members of the Compensation Committee are considered independent under the Board and the Compensation Committee independence standards as set forth in the Corporate Governance Guidelines, which are available under the Corporate Governance section of our Investors page on our website at investor.cirrus.com.
We, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, have reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis (CD&A) required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with management of the Company. Based on such review and discussion, we have recommended to the Board of Directors that the CD&A be included as part of this proxy statement.
Submitted by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors:
Timothy R. Dehne, Chair
John C. Carter
Christine King
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CONSIDERATION OF RISK RELATED TO COMPENSATION PROGRAMS
The Compensation Committee structures our executive compensation program to provide incentives to appropriately reward our executive officers without undue risk taking. Our approach is similar for the compensation practices and polices applicable to all employees throughout the Company. Overall, we believe that our compensation programs do not create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. In general, we attempt to align our compensation programs with the long-term interests of the Company and its stockholders and mitigate the likelihood of inducing excessive risk-taking behavior. More specifically, we believe the following program features and policies help to mitigate the likelihood of inducing excessive risk-taking behavior:
● | The Company pays a mix of fixed and variable compensation, with variable compensation tied both to short-term objectives and the long-term value of our stock price. |
● | Our annual cash incentive program is based on a mix of bottom-line objectives (e.g., operating profit goals) and top-line objectives (e.g., revenue growth) in order to avoid the risk of excessive focus on one goal or performance measure. |
● | We review the short-term performance incentive targets used in our incentive program every six months to ensure alignment with our business plans. |
● | To prevent the risk that our annual cash incentive program pays bonuses despite weak short-term performance, no payout may occur without a threshold level of operating profit performance being met. |
● | The aggregate payout under our annual cash incentive program for our executive and leadership team is capped at a percentage of overall operating profit to prevent the risk of excessive payout of the Companys operating profit. |
● | The individual payout under our annual cash incentive program for our executive and leadership team is further capped so that no participant may receive a payout of greater than 250% of his or her target payout. |
● | Long-term incentives are awarded to our executive officers in the form of equity awards that vest over a significant period of time, typically three or four years. The vesting period is intended to align the interests of our executive officers with the long-term interests of stockholders and to provide an incentive for our executive officers to remain with the Company. |
● | Long-term incentives are typically granted annually so our executive officers will have unvested awards that may decrease in value if our business is not managed with long-term goals in mind. |
● | We use a mix of stock options, RSUs, and PBRSUs to create an overall long-term incentive package that aligns with stockholder interests, appropriately balances risk and performance, and provides competitive incentives for the purpose of executive retention. |
● | We use performance-based equity based on the Companys TSR as a means to align a portion of an executives compensation with the interests of our stockholders. In addition, we cap the payout of these awards at a 100% payout if the Companys TSR is negative over the performance period (typically, three years). |
● | Our CEO, non-employee directors, and officers of the Company are obligated to meet certain stock ownership guidelines that require accumulation and maintenance of a prescribed value or number of shares. |
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● | The Compensation Committee retains an independent compensation consultant and uses market data, when available, to inform our focus on pay for performance. |
● | Our CEO and named executive officers are subject to a clawback policy (Policy Regarding Recoupment of Certain Incentive Compensation) that provides for forfeiture of excess incentive compensation that was awarded on or after May 25, 2018 in the event of misconduct resulting in a restatement of financial statements. |
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Fiscal Year 2018 Summary Compensation Table
The following table provides certain summary information concerning the compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid to our Named Executive Officers. The table sets forth compensation for services rendered by our Named Executive Officers for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018; March 25, 2017; and March 26, 2016; as applicable.
Name and Principal Position
(a) |
Year
(b) |
Salary
($) (c) |
Stock
($) (e) |
Option
($) (f) |
Non-Equity ($) (g)
|
All Other
($) (i) |
Total
($) (j) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Jason P. Rhode, President and Chief Executive Officer |
2018 | $ | 775,962 | $ | 2,660,200 | $ | 1,490,394 | $ | 1,003,856 | $ | 10,792 | (3) | $ | 5,941,204 | ||||||||||||||
2017 | 721,154 | 2,877,850 | 1,712,814 | 2,009,271 | 10,838 | 7,331,927 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 658,500 | 2,550,828 | 1,594,767 | 1,346,843 | 9,397 | 6,160,335 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Thurman K. Case, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer |
2018 | $ | 378,175 | $ | 442,348 | $ | 258,337 | $ | 245,506 | $ | 14,180 | (4) | $ | 1,338,546 | ||||||||||||||
2017 | 351,500 | 476,851 | 296,890 | 487,583 | 12,448 | 1,625,272 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 323,171 | 440,028 | 275,095 | 329,879 | 12,548 | 1,380,721 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Scott A. Anderson, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Mixed-Signal Audio Division |
2018 | $ | 348,827 | $ | 483,644 | $ | 278,208 | $ | 223,985 | $ | 5,857 | (5) | $ | 1,340,521 | ||||||||||||||
2017 | 335,193 | 521,385 | 319,727 | 455,435 | 4,928 | 1,636,668 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 322,319 | 478,294 | 299,018 | 322,071 | 4,906 | 1,426,608 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Gregory S. Thomas, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
2018 | $ | 359,087 | $ | 466,164 | $ | 268,272 | $ | 230,573 | $ | 11,251 | (6) | $ | 1,335,347 | ||||||||||||||
2017 | 345,193 | 502,897 | 308,309 | 468,830 | 11,182 | 1,636,411 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 325,341 | 459,146 | 287,057 | 331,831 | 10,870 | 1,414,245 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Jo-Dee Benson, Vice President and Chief Culture Officer |
2018 | $ | 348,827 | $ | 442,348 | $ | 258,337 | $ | 223,985 | $ | 12,567 | (7) | $ | 1,286,064 | ||||||||||||||
2017 | $ | 335,193 | $ | 476,851 | $ | 296,890 | $ | 455,435 | $ | 12,502 | $ | 1,576,871 | ||||||||||||||||
(1) | The amounts reported in the column entitled Stock Awards represent the RSUs and PBRSUs granted to our Named Executive Officers. The amounts reported in the column entitled Option Awards represent the stock options granted to our Named Executive Officers. In each case, the value reported is the aggregate grant date fair value calculated pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding any assumptions regarding potential forfeitures, and with respect to PBRSUs this valuation entails a Monte Carlo calculation. The assumptions underlying calculations under FASB ASC Topic 718 are discussed under Note 9, Equity Compensation, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018. |
(2) | This column, entitled Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation, represents the amounts earned for each fiscal year under the Incentive Plan, which is described in further detail in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this proxy statement. Payments earned in the second semiannual period of a fiscal year are included in this table for that fiscal year even though they were paid in the following fiscal year. |
(3) | This amount includes $9,231 in matched contributions under our 401(k) plan, $990 associated with the value of insurance premiums paid with respect to life insurance for the benefit of Dr. Rhode, and $571 in tax gross-ups paid to all employees of the Company with respect to the Companys long-term disability plan. |
(4) | This amount includes $9,252 in matched contributions under our 401(k) plan, $4,357 associated with the value of insurance premiums paid with respect to life insurance for the benefit of Mr. Case, and $571 in tax gross-ups paid to all employees of the Company with respect to the Companys long-term disability plan. |
(5) | This amount includes $5,286 associated with the value of insurance premiums paid with respect to life insurance for the benefit of Mr. Anderson, and $571 in tax gross-ups paid to all employees of the Company with respect to the Companys long-term disability plan. |
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(6) | This amount includes $9,162 in matched contributions under our 401(k) plan, $1,518 associated with the value of insurance premiums paid with respect to life insurance for the benefit of Mr. Thomas, and $571 in tax gross-ups paid to all employees of the Company with respect to the Companys long-term disability plan. |
(7) | This amount includes $9,157 in matched contributions under our 401(k) plan, $2,838 associated with the value of insurance premiums paid with respect to life insurance for the benefit of Ms. Benson, and $571 in tax gross-ups paid to all employees of the Company with respect to the Companys long-term disability plan. |
Fiscal Year 2018 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to grants of plan-based awards for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, to our Named Executive Officers. All of the stock options, RSUs, and PBRSUs that are reflected in the table were granted under our 2006 Stock Incentive Plan.
The amounts reported in the Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards column below set forth potential payouts under the Companys Incentive Plan, which is described further in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this proxy statement.
The amounts reported in the Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards column below set forth potential payouts that are associated with PBRSUs. The PBRSUs will vest as to the number of shares earned on the third anniversary of the grant date. The number of PBRSUs that vest, if any, is based on Company performance during this three-year period and is determined relative to the target number of shares as described further in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this proxy statement. Holders of PBRSUs are not eligible to receive any dividends or dividend equivalents with respect to outstanding PBRSUs. Special accelerated vesting provisions applicable to the equity awards upon a Named Executive Officers termination of employment or upon a change of control of the Company are described in the section of this proxy statement entitled, Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control.
Each stock option has a maximum term of 10 years, subject to earlier termination if the optionees services are terminated. Unless noted, the exercisability of options vests with respect to 25% of the shares underlying the option one year after the date of grant and with respect to the remaining shares underlying the option thereafter in 36 equal monthly installments. The exercise price of each stock option is equal to the closing price of our common stock as reported on Nasdaq on the date of grant.
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The RSUs will vest with respect to 100% of the shares underlying the award on the third anniversary of the grant date. Holders of RSUs are not eligible to receive any dividends or dividend equivalents with respect to outstanding RSUs. Special accelerated vesting provisions applicable to the equity awards upon a Named Executive Officers termination of employment or upon a change of control of the Company are described in the section of this proxy statement entitled, Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control.
Name | Grant Date(1) |
Approval Date(1) |
Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards(2) |
Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards(3) |
All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units |
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(4) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(a) | (b) | Threshold ($) (c) |
Target ($) (d) |
Maximum ($) (e) |
Threshold (#) (f) |
Target (#) (g) |
Maximum (#) (h) |
(#) (i) |
(#) (j) |
(k) | (l) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jason P. Rhode, President and Chief Executive Officer |
11/1/2017 | 10/30/2017 | 25,000 | $ | 1,393,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/1/2017 | 10/30/2017 | 5,000 | 20,000 | 40,000 | $ | 1,267,200 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/1/2017 | 10/30/2017 | 75,000 | $ | 55.72 | $ | 1,490,394 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 280,000 | $ | 1,120,000 | $ | 2,800,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thurman K. Case, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer |
11/1/2017 | 10/30/2017 | 4,300 | $ | 239,596 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/1/2017 | 10/30/2017 | 800 | 3,200 | 6,400 | $ | 202,752 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/1/2017 | 10/30/2017 | 13,000 | $ | 55.72 | $ | 258,337 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 68,478 | $ | 273,910 | $ | 684,775 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Scott A. Anderson, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Mixed-Signal Audio Division |
11/1/2017 | 10/30/2017 | 4,700 | $ | 261,884 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/1/2017 | 10/30/2017 | 875 | 3,500 | 7,000 | $ | 221,760 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/1/2017 | 10/30/2017 | 14,000 | $ | 55.72 | $ | 278,209 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 62,475 | $ | 249,900 | $ | 624,750 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gregory S. Thomas, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
11/1/2017 | 10/30/2017 | 4,500 | $ | 250,740 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/1/2017 | 10/30/2017 | 850 | 3,400 | 6,800 | $ | 215,424 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/1/2017 | 10/30/2017 | 13,500 | $ | 55.72 | $ | 268,273 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 64,313 | $ | 257,250 | $ | 643,125 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jo-Dee Benson, Vice President and Chief Culture Officer |
11/1/2017 | 10/30/2017 | 4,300 | $ | 239,596 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/1/2017 | 10/30/2017 | 800 | 3,200 | 6,400 | $ | 202,752 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/1/2017 | 10/30/2017 | 13,000 | $ | 55.72 | $ | 258,337 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 62,475 | $ | 249,900 | $ | 624,750 |
(1) | The Companys policy is to grant equity awards on the first Wednesday of the month (the Monthly Grant Date) after the Compensation Committee approves the award. If the Monthly Grant Date occurs on a Company holiday, or on other days that the Company or Nasdaq is closed for business, the Monthly Grant Date is the next regularly scheduled business day when the Company and Nasdaq are open for business. |
(2) | The amounts reported in this column reflect potential payment amounts under the Incentive Plan. Actual amounts earned under this plan are reported in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table above. Payments may be made under the Incentive Plan only if certain financial prerequisites, such as operating profit margin thresholds, are achieved, as described further in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this proxy statement. The threshold amounts reported in this column reflect the minimum amount payable assuming achievement of the applicable financial-result thresholds (25% of the target amount). The target amounts reported above reflect the target amount awarded to each Named Executive Officer. The maximum amounts represent 250% of the target amount. |
(3) | The amounts reported in this column reflect potential payment amounts for PBRSUs under the Companys Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Program. The number of PBRSUs that will actually vest, if any, is based on Company performance during a three-year performance period and is determined as further described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this proxy statement. |
(4) | Amounts in this column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of the equity awards computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures, and with respect to PBRSUs this valuation entails a Monte Carlo calculation. The assumptions underlying calculations under FASB ASC Topic 718 are discussed under Note 9, Equity Compensation, in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018. |
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Fiscal Year 2018 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table
The following table provides information concerning the outstanding equity award holdings of our Named Executive Officers as of March 31, 2018.
Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Number of (#) |
Number of (#) |
Equity (#) |
Option ($) |
Option Expiration Date(2) |
Stock Award Grant Date |
Number of (#) |
Market ($) |
Equity (#)
|
Equity ($)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(a) | (b) | (c) | (d) | (e) | (f) | (g) | (h) | (i) | (j) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jason P. Rhode, President and Chief Executive Officer |
128,847 | | $ | 16.25 | 10/06/20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
135,000 | | $ | 15.41 | 10/05/21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
110,000 | | $ | 38.99 | 10/03/22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
101,789 | | $ | 23.34 | 10/02/23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
76,874 | 13,126 | $ | 20.37 | 10/01/24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
73,652 | 52,611 | $ | 31.25 | 11/04/25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
25,000 | 50,000 | $ | 54.65 | 11/02/26 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 75,000 | $ | 55.72 | 11/01/27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/04/15 | 41,667 | $ | 1,692,930 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/04/15 | 31,328 | $ | 1,272,857 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/02/16 | 25,000 | $ | 1,015,750 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/02/16 | 20,000 | $ | 812,600 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/01/17 | 25,000 | $ | 1,015,750 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/01/17 | 20,000 | $ | 812,600 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thurman K. Case, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer |
5,000 | | $ | 15.41 | 10/05/21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
15,000 | | $ | 38.99 | 10/03/22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6,905 | | $ | 23.34 | 10/02/23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11,310 | 3,647 | $ | 20.37 | 10/01/24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12,704 | 9,076 | $ | 31.25 | 11/04/25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4,333 | 8,667 | $ | 54.65 | 11/02/26 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13,000 | $ | 55.72 | 11/01/27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/04/15 | 7,188 | $ | 292,048 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/04/15 | 5,404 | $ | 219,565 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/02/16 | 4,300 | $ | 174,709 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/02/16 | 3,200 | $ | 130,016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/01/17 | 4,300 | $ | 174,709 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/01/17 | 3,200 | $ | 130,016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Scott A. Anderson, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Mixed-Signal Audio Division |
24,000 | | $ | 38.99 | 10/03/22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
14,140 | | $ | 23.34 | 10/02/23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4,999 | 3,501 | $ | 20.37 | 10/01/24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
13,808 | 9,866 | $ | 31.25 | 11/04/25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4,666 | 9,334 | $ | 54.65 | 11/02/26 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14,000 | $ | 55.72 | 11/01/27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/04/15 | 7,813 | $ | 317,442 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/04/15 | 5,874 | $ | 238,661 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/02/16 | 4,700 | $ | 190,961 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/02/16 | 3,500 | $ | 142,205 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/01/17 | 4,700 | $ | 190,961 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/01/17 | 3,500 | $ | 142,205 |
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Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Number of (#) |
Number of (#) |
Equity (#) |
Option ($) |
Option Expiration Date(2) |
Stock Award Grant Date |
Number of (#) |
Market ($) |
Equity (#)
|
Equity ($)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(a) | (b) | (c) | (d) | (e) | (f) | (g) | (h) | (i) | (j) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gregory S. Thomas, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
20,000 | | $ | 38.99 | 10/03/22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
20,000 | | $ | 23.34 | 10/02/23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
21,353 | 3,647 | $ | 20.37 | 10/01/24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
13,256 | 9,471 | $ | 31.25 | 11/04/25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4,500 | 9,000 | $ | 54.65 | 11/02/26 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13,500 | $ | 55.72 | 11/01/27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/04/15 | 7,500 | $ | 304,725 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/04/15 | 5,639 | $ | 229,113 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/02/16 | 4,500 | $ | 182,835 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/02/16 | 3,400 | $ | 138,142 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/01/17 | 4,500 | $ | 182,835 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/01/17 | 3,400 | $ | 138,142 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jo-Dee Benson, Vice President and Chief Culture Officer |
18,000 | | $ | 38.99 | 10/03/22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
18,000 | | $ | 23.34 | 10/02/23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9,583 | 3,355 | $ | 20.37 | 10/01/24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12,705 | 9,075 | $ | 31.25 | 11/04/25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4,333 | 8,667 | $ | 54.65 | 11/02/26 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13,000 | $ | 55.72 | 11/01/27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/04/15 | 7,188 | $ | 292,048 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/04/15 | 5,404 | $ | 219,565 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/02/16 | 4,300 | $ | 174,709 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/02/16 | 3,200 | $ | 130,016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/01/17 | 4,300 | $ | 174,709 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/01/17 | 3,200 | $ | 130,016 |
(1) | All outstanding stock options vest over four years, with one-year cliff vesting for 25% of the options on the first anniversary of the grant date, and 1/36 of the remaining options vesting on a monthly basis over the following three years. |
(2) | Options have a maximum 10-year term. Therefore, the grant date is 10 years prior to the Option Expiration Date listed in this column. |
(3) | This column corresponds to RSUs. Outstanding RSUs will vest with respect to 100% of the shares underlying the award on the third anniversary of the grant date. |
(4) | The market value of unvested RSUs reported in column (h) is calculated by multiplying the number of shares of common stock subject to each award reported in column (g) by the closing market price of common stock on March 29, 2018, (the last trading day of fiscal year 2018), which was $40.63. |
(5) | This column corresponds to target numbers of PBRSUs. The number of shares that vest, if any, will be based on Company performance and relative to the target number of shares as further described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this proxy statement. Such vesting will occur on the third anniversary of the grant date. |
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(6) | The market value of unvested PBRSUs reported in this column is calculated by multiplying the target number of shares subject to each award reported in column (i) by the closing market price of common stock on March 29, 2018, (the last trading day of fiscal year 2018), which was $40.63. |
Fiscal Year 2018 Options Exercised and Stock Vested Table
The following table provides information on the value realized by each Named Executive Officer as a result of options that were exercised and stock awards that vested during fiscal year 2018.
Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||
Name (a) |
Number of Shares (#) (b) |
Value Realized on ($) (c) |
Number of Shares (#) (d) |
Value Realized ($) (e) | ||||||||||||||||
Jason P. Rhode, President and Chief Executive Officer | | $ | | 105,000 | $ | 5,598,600 | ||||||||||||||
Thurman K. Case, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer | | $ | | 12,500 | $ | 666,500 | ||||||||||||||
Scott A. Anderson, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Mixed-Signal Audio Division | 15,500 | $ | 713,249 | 12,000 | $ | 639,840 | ||||||||||||||
Gregory S. Thomas, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | | $ | | 12,500 | $ | 666,500 | ||||||||||||||
Jo-Dee Benson, Vice President and Chief Culture Officer | | $ | | 11,500 | $ | 613,180 |
(1) | The value realized on the exercise of stock options was computed by determining the difference between the market price of our common stock underlying each option on the date of exercise and the exercise price of the options for each share exercised. |
(2) | The value realized on the vesting of stock awards was computed by multiplying the number of shares acquired on vesting (column d) by the market price of our common stock on the date of vesting. |
Pension Benefits and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
We do not sponsor or maintain either a defined benefit pension plan or a nonqualified deferred compensation plan for the benefit of our executive officers.
Potential Payments upon Termination or Change of Control
We do not maintain individual employment, severance, or change of control agreements with our Named Executive Officers; however, we do maintain the 2007 Severance Plan, which provides for certain payments and benefits to individuals employed by the Company and its subsidiaries at the level of Chief Executive Officer and Vice President or above and reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer (Eligible Executives) in the event that the employment of such an executive officer is involuntarily terminated other than for cause or in certain circumstances following a change of control of the Company. The Named Executive Officers may also receive certain benefits under the Incentive
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Plan in the event of certain terminations of employment or change of control transactions that occur prior to the payment of the award for the applicable fiscal year.
2007 Severance Plan
Each of our Named Executive Officers is considered an Eligible Executive under the 2007 Severance Plan. We maintain the 2007 Severance Plan because we believe it helps to ensure that we are able to attract and retain top talent. Further, we believe that the 2007 Severance Plan provides a level of stability for our executive officers during volatile business conditions that have historically existed so that they remain focused on their responsibilities and the long-term interests of the Company during such times.
The 2007 Severance Plan provides that, in the event of an Eligible Executives involuntary termination of employment by the Company other than for cause (defined below for purposes of the 2007 Severance Plan) he or she will be eligible to receive: (i) a continuation of base salary for a period of up to six months (up to 12 months in the case of our CEO) following termination of employment, and (ii) payment in full of a reasonable estimate of COBRA premiums for three months (collectively, the Termination Payment).
The 2007 Severance Plan further provides that, if an Eligible Executives employment is terminated either by the Company without cause or by the Eligible Executive for good reason within 12 months following a change of control (as defined below for purposes of the 2007 Severance Plan) of the Company, he or she will be eligible to receive a Change of Control Termination Payment, which is comprised of: (i) a lump sum payment equal to 12 months base salary (24 months in the case of our CEO), (ii) acceleration in full of any unvested stock options or any other securities or similar incentive awards that have been granted or issued to him or her as of the employment termination date, and (iii) payment in full of a reasonable estimate of COBRA premiums for 12 months. In addition, the Eligible Executive will have until six months from the employment termination date to exercise any vested options, except that no option will be exercisable after the options original expiration date.
In the event of an Eligible Executives death or termination due to disability (as such term is defined below for purposes of the 2007 Severance Plan), the Eligible Executive or his or her estate, as applicable, will receive the Termination Payment described above. If the death or termination due to disability has occurred within 12 months following a change of control of the Company, he or she or his or her estate, as applicable, will receive the Change of Control Termination Payment described above.
For purposes of the 2007 Severance Plan:
● | cause means (i) gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of an executive officers duties; (ii) a material and willful violation of any federal or state law that if made public would injure the business or reputation of the Company; (iii) a refusal or willful failure to comply with any specific lawful direction or order of the Company or the material policies and procedures of the Company including but not limited to the Companys Code of Conduct and the Companys Insider Trading Policy as well as any obligations concerning proprietary rights and confidential information of the Company; (iv) a conviction (including a plea of nolo contendere ) of a felony, or of a misdemeanor that would have a material adverse effect on the Companys goodwill if the executive officer were to continue to be retained as an employee of the Company; or (v) a substantial and continuing willful refusal to perform duties ordinarily performed by an employee in the same position and having similar duties as the executive officer. |
● | good reason means: (i) without the executive officers express written consent, a material reduction of the executive officers duties, authority, or responsibilities relative to the |
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executives duties, authority, or responsibilities as in effect immediately prior to such reduction; (ii) a material reduction by the Company in the base salary of an executive officer as in effect immediately prior to such reduction; or (iii) the relocation of an executive officers principal work location to a facility or a location more than 50 miles from executive officers then present principal work location. Good reason shall not exist unless the executive officer provides written notice of the circumstances alleged to give rise to good reason within 30 days of their occurrence and the Company (or our successor) fails to cure such circumstances within 30 days. |
● | disability means a mental or physical disability, illness or injury, evidenced by medical reports from a duly qualified medical practitioner, which renders an Eligible Executive unable to perform any one or more of the essential duties of his or her position after the provision of reasonable accommodation, if applicable, for a period of greater than ninety (90) days within a one year period. |
● | change of control means the occurrence of one or more of the following with respect to the Company: (i) the acquisition by any person (or related group of persons), whether by tender or exchange offer made directly to the Companys stockholders, open market purchases or any other transaction or series of transactions, of stock of the Company that, together with stock of the Company held by such person or group, constitutes more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the then outstanding stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of the members of the Companys Board of Directors; (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving entity, except for a transaction in which both (A) securities representing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the surviving entity are beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), directly or indirectly, immediately after such merger or consolidation by persons who beneficially owned common stock of the Company immediately prior to such merger or consolidation, and (B) the members of the Board of Directors immediately prior to the transaction (the Existing Board) constitute a majority of the Board of Directors immediately after such merger or consolidation; (iii) any reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving entity but in which either (A) persons who beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, common stock of the Company immediately prior to such reverse merger do not retain immediately after such reverse merger direct or indirect beneficial ownership of securities representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Companys outstanding securities or (B) the members of the existing Board do not constitute a majority of the Board of Directors immediately after such reverse merger; or (iv) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (other than a sale, transfer or other disposition to one or more subsidiaries of the Company). |
The 2007 Severance Plan may not be amended or terminated without the consent of any Eligible Executive during the one year prior to or following the occurrence of a change of control, if such amendment would be adverse to the interest of such Eligible Executive. If any payment or benefit under the 2007 Severance Plan would be a parachute payment (within the meaning of Section 280G of the IRC) and would therefore result in the imposition of an excise tax, an Eligible Executives payments and benefits will not exceed the amount that produces the greatest after-tax benefit to the Eligible Executive.
To receive payments and benefits under the 2007 Severance Plan, an Eligible Executive must execute a release of all claims against the Company. If the Eligible Executive is considered a specified employee under Section 409A of the IRC at the time of his or her termination of employment, any
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amounts payable under the 2007 Severance Plan will be delayed for a period of six months if it is determined that such a delay is necessary in order to prevent the payment from imposing excise taxes on the executive officer.
Incentive Plan
In addition, a participant in the Incentive Plan, as described further in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis of this proxy statement, may also receive payments upon termination of employment or a change of control of the Company. Pursuant to the Incentive Plan, a participant, including each of our Named Executive Officers, must be continuously employed through the last day of the applicable semiannual performance period and through the date that cash bonuses under the Incentive Plan for such semiannual performance period are actually paid. However, participants whose employment terminates due to death or disability during a semiannual performance period will be eligible to receive a pro rata cash bonus payment based on the number of days the participant was employed during that semiannual performance period and the Companys actual performance during the semiannual performance period. The pro rata bonus amount will be paid to the terminated participant on or before the 15th day of the third month after the later of (i) the last day of the calendar year in which such participant died or incurred a disability or (ii) the last day of the Companys taxable year in which such participant died or incurred a disability. Payment under the Incentive Plan would no longer be received if a participants employment was terminated for some other reason during a semiannual performance period.
In addition, if a change of control of the Company occurs and our successor does not assume or comparably replace the Incentive Plan, each participant will receive a pro rata cash payment of his or her target bonus, based on the number of calendar days completed in the current semiannual performance period prior to the occurrence of the change of control.
For purposes of the Incentive Plan:
● | disability means total and permanent disability as defined in accordance with the Companys Long-Term Disability Plan. |
● | change of control means (i) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Companys assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any person, entity or group of persons acting in concert, (ii) any person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) becoming the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under said Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the total voting power represented by the Companys then outstanding voting securities, or (iii) consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation that would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or its parent) at least 50% of the voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity (or parent) outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation. |
The discussion and tables below present an estimate of the amount of compensation and/or other benefits payable to our Named Executive Officers in the event of their termination of employment and/or in the event of a change of control of the Company. The amounts disclosed assume that such termination and/or the occurrence of such change of control was effective as of March 31, 2018, the last day of fiscal year 2018. We also assume that each Named Executive Officer was continuously employed by the Company and under the 2007 Severance Plan and the Incentive Plan throughout at
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least the second half of fiscal year 2018. The amounts below have been calculated using assumptions, such as these, that we believe to be reasonable, along with further assumptions that are described in more detail below. The actual amounts that would be paid under each scenario depend on various factors, which may or may not exist at the time a Named Executive Officers employment is actually terminated and/or a change of control actually occurs. Therefore, such amounts and disclosures should be considered forward-looking statements.
Conditions Involving Involuntary Termination of Employment or Death/Disability
The estimated amount payable to each of our Named Executive Officers pursuant to the 2007 Severance Plan and the Incentive Plan in the event of an involuntary termination of employment by the Company other than for cause, or due to the Named Executive Officers death or disability, in each case, assuming such termination occurred on March 31, 2018 (and was not following a change in control), and in view of the other assumptions above, is set forth in the table below:
Name | Salary Continuation(1) |
Health Benefits (up to 3 months)(2) |
Cash Bonus Under Incentive Plan(3) |
Total | ||||||||||||
Jason P. Rhode, President and Chief Executive Officer | $ | 800,000 | $ | 3,983 | $ | 600,000 | $ | 1,403,983 | ||||||||
Thurman K. Case, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer | $ | 195,650 | $ | 1,806 | $ | 146,738 | $ | 344,194 | ||||||||
Scott A. Anderson, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Mixed-Signal Audio Division | $ | 178,500 | $ | 3,765 | $ | 133,875 | $ | 316,140 | ||||||||
Gregory S. Thomas, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | $ | 183,750 | $ | 5,347 | $ | 137,813 | $ | 326,910 | ||||||||
Jo-Dee Benson, Vice President and Chief Culture Officer | $ | 178,500 | $ | 3,983 | $ | 133,875 | $ | 316,358 |
(1) | The salary continuation payment for our CEO represents the value of 12 months of his base salary, based on his base salary level in effect on March 31, 2018. For each of the other Named Executive Officers, the amount is based on six months of base salary, at the level in effect on March 31, 2018. |
(2) | The valuation of the healthcare benefits has been computed based on an estimate of the COBRA payments required for the three-month period payable by the Company at the rates in effect as of March 31, 2018. |
(3) | The Named Executive Officers would only receive the payments enumerated in this column in the event of a termination of employment due to death or disability. In the event employment is terminated for any other reason, the noted executive would forfeit these amounts because he or she would not be employed with the Company on the date of payment. On a termination due to death or disability, the executive would be entitled to a pro rata payment of their bonus under the Incentive Plan. Because March 31, 2018, is the last day of the semiannual performance period, the executive would be entitled to a full payment of the semiannual bonus. As such, we have calculated the cash bonus under the Incentive Plan as the target Incentive Plan Payout Percentage (100%) applied to each individuals current target bonus under the Incentive Plan for the semiannual performance period ending on March 31, 2018. |
Conditions Additionally Involving a Change of Control
The estimated amount payable to each of our Named Executive Officers pursuant to (i) the Incentive Plan in the event of a change of control in which the Incentive Plan is not assumed or comparably
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replaced, and (ii) the 2007 Severance Plan in the event of termination of employment following a change of control of the Company either other than for cause by the Company, by the executive officer for good reason, or due to the executive officers death or disability, is set forth in the table below. The possible application of any cutback required under the 2007 Severance Plan due to the operation of Sections 280G and 4999 of the IRC has not been included in these calculations:
Name | Lump Sum Salary Payment(1) |
Accelerated Vesting of Unvested Equity(2) |
Health Benefits |
Cash Bonus Under Incentive Plan(4) |
Total | |||||||||||||||
Jason P. Rhode, President and Chief Executive Officer | $ | 1,600,000 | $ | 7,381,911 | $ | 15,933 | $ | 600,000 | $ | 9,597,844 | ||||||||||
Thurman K. Case, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer | $ | 391,300 | $ | 1,280,084 | $ | 7,226 | $ | 146,738 | $ | 1,825,347 | ||||||||||
Scott A. Anderson, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Mixed-Signal Audio Division | $ | 357,000 | $ | 1,385,908 | $ | 15,061 | $ | 133,875 | $ | 1,891,844 | ||||||||||
Gregory S. Thomas, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | $ | 367,500 | $ | 1,338,518 | $ | 21,388 | $ | 137,813 | $ | 1,865,219 | ||||||||||
Jo-Dee Benson, Vice President and Chief Culture Officer | $ | 357,000 | $ | 1,274,159 | $ | 15,933 | $ | 133,875 | $ | 1,780,967 |
(1) | The lump sum salary payment for our CEO represents the value of 24 months of his base salary, based on his base salary level in effect on March 31, 2018. For each of the other Named Executive Officers, the amount is based on 12 months of base salary, at the level in effect on March 31, 2018. |
(2) | The valuation of accelerated vesting of unvested equity awards has been computed based on: (1) the estimated value that would have been realized based on the difference between the exercise price of the options that were subject to accelerated vesting and the closing market price of our common stock on March 29, 2018 (the last trading day prior to March 31, 2018), which was $40.63 per share, and (2) the value of the RSUs and PBRSUs subject to accelerated vesting based on that same closing market price. |
(3) | The valuation of healthcare benefits has been computed based on an estimate of the COBRA payments required for the 12-month period payable by the Company at the rates in effect as of March 31, 2018. |
(4) | The amounts in this column represent a pro rata cash payment of target bonuses under the Incentive Plan, based on the number of calendar days completed in the semiannual performance period prior to the occurrence of the change of control. Because the change of control is deemed to occur on the last day of the fiscal year, the amounts above represent the target Incentive Plan Payout Percentage (100%) applied to each individuals current target bonus under the Incentive Plan for the semiannual performance period ending on March 31, 2018. |
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EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The following table provides information as of March 31, 2018 about shares of our common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of options, warrants, and rights under the Companys 2006 Stock Incentive Plan, which was first approved by stockholders on July 28, 2006:
(A) Number of Securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options |
(B) Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options |
(C) Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (A)) |
||||||||||
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders(1) |
4,708,533(2) | $ | 31.91(3) | 3,065,628 | ||||||||
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Security Holders |
0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
TOTAL |
4,708,533 | $ | 31.91 | 3,065,628 |
(1) | As of March 31, 2018, we were granting equity awards only under the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan. Approximately 4,168,375 shares have been deducted from the shares available for future issuance under the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan due to a 1.5 full value award multiplier applied to all full value awards granted pursuant to the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan. |
(2) | Includes 2,968,964 shares granted under the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan that are issuable upon the vesting of the outstanding RSUs and PBRSUs. |
(3) | The weighted average exercise price does not take into account the shares issuable upon the vesting of the outstanding RSUs and PBRSUs, which have no exercise price. |
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In accordance with Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K, we are providing the following information about the relationship of the annual total compensation of our employees and the annual total compensation of Dr. Jason Rhode, our CEO. For fiscal year 2018:
● | the median of the annual total compensation of all employees of our Company (other than our CEO) was $126,263; and |
● | the annual total compensation of our CEO was $5,941,204. |
● | based on this information, the annual total compensation of our CEO was estimated to be 47.1 times that of the median of the annual total compensation of all employees (excluding the CEO). |
Different companies may use different methodologies in arriving at a pay ratio, and as a result, these ratios are not necessarily designed to facilitate comparisons among different companies. Rather, they allow stockholders to better understand and assess each particular companys internal compensation practices.
Identifying the Median Employee
We identified our median employee by considering an employee population as of the last day of our fiscal year, March 31, 2018. We considered all employees at our consolidated subsidiaries and all worldwide employees other than our CEO, whether employed on a full-time, part-time, temporary, or seasonal basis. For purposes of selecting our median employee, we used a consistently applied compensation measure that included (1) base pay during fiscal year 2018 using salary or base pay rate as of March 31, 2018, (2) all cash bonuses earned during fiscal year 2018, and (3) the aggregate full grant date fair value of equity awards granted during fiscal year 2018, calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Compensation paid in foreign currencies was converted to U.S. dollars based on the average monthly exchange rate for March, 2018. For employees who were employed for less than the full fiscal year, we annualized their base pay. The value of the Companys 401(k) plan and medical benefits provided was excluded, as all employees in a given jurisdiction are offered the same benefits, and we did not make any cost-of-living adjustments. Our employee population was an even number, and we noted that each of our midpoint employees had anomalous pay characteristics; they both started in the second-half of our fiscal year and accordingly had lower-than-representative cash bonuses. In selecting a median, we substituted another employee with substantially similar compensation, based on the compensation measures described above. This individual was employed with the Company for all of fiscal year 2018 and was directly adjacent to our initially identified midpoint employees.
Using this methodology, we determined that the median employee was a full-time design-engineer located in Edinburgh, UK.
Calculating the Ratio
After identifying the median employee, we calculated the elements of such employees annual total compensation for fiscal year 2018 pursuant to Item 402(c)(2)(x) of Regulation S-K: $126,263. For the annual total compensation of our CEO, we used the amount reported in the Total column (column (j)) of our Fiscal Year 2018 Summary Compensation Table included in this proxy statement: $5,941,204.
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OF THE BOARD
The Audit Committee is comprised solely of independent directors, as defined by the applicable Nasdaq listing standards and rules of the SEC, and it operates under a written charter adopted by the Board, which is available under the Corporate Governance section of our Investors page on our website at investor.cirrus.com. The composition of the Audit Committee, the attributes of its members, and the responsibilities of the Audit Committee, as reflected in its charter, are intended to comply with applicable requirements for corporate audit committees. The Audit Committee continues to review and assess the adequacy of its charter on an annual basis, and will revise it to comply with new rules and regulations as they are adopted.
As described more fully in its charter, the primary focus of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in its general oversight of the Companys financial reporting, internal control, and audit functions. Management is responsible for the preparation, presentation, and integrity of the Companys financial statements; accounting and financial reporting principles; internal controls; and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards, applicable laws, and regulations. The Companys independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young, is responsible for performing an independent audit of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB).
In accordance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Nasdaq listing standards, the Audit Committee has ultimate authority and responsibility to select, compensate, evaluate and, when appropriate, replace the Companys independent registered public accounting firm.
The Audit Committee serves an oversight role for the Board in which it provides advice, counsel, and direction to management and the auditors on the basis of the information it receives, discussions with management and the auditors, and the experience of the Audit Committees members in business, financial, and accounting matters. The Audit Committee members are not professional auditors, and their functions are not intended to duplicate or to certify the activities of management and the independent auditors, nor can the Audit Committee certify that the independent auditors are independent under applicable rules.
In this context, the Audit Committee has met and held discussions with management and Ernst & Young. Management represented to the Audit Committee that the audited financial statements of the Company contained in the Companys Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the consolidated financial statements with management and the independent auditors. The Audit Committee discussed with Ernst & Young matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standards 1301, Communications with Audit Committees, as required by the PCAOB.
The Audit Committee has received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from Ernst & Young required by applicable PCAOB rules regarding the independent accountants communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and the Audit Committee discussed with Ernst & Young the firms independence. In addition, the Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services is compatible with maintaining Ernst & Youngs independence.
Based upon the Audit Committees discussions with management and the independent auditors, the Audit Committees review of the representations of management, and the report of the independent auditors to the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee recommended that the Board include the audited consolidated financial statements in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, as filed with the SEC.
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Submitted by the Audit Committee of the Board:
Alexander M. Davern, Chair
John C. Carter
William D. Sherman
AUDIT AND NON-AUDIT FEES AND SERVICES
Audit and Related Fees
The following table shows the fees accrued by the Company for the audit and other services provided by Ernst & Young for fiscal years 2018 and 2017. All fees were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.
2018 |
2017 |
|||||||
Audit Fees |
$ | 1,442,221 | $ | 1,331,953 | ||||
Audit-Related Fees |
$ | 67,196 | $ | 17,964 | ||||
Tax Fees |
$ | 179,631 | $ | 256,730 | ||||
All Other Fees |
$ | 3,004 | $ | 2,160 | ||||
Total |
$ | 1,692,052 | $ | 1,608,806 |
Audit Fees. Audit services consisted of the audit of the Companys consolidated financial statements and of managements assessment of the operating effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K, the review of the Companys financial statements included in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and statutory audits required internationally.
Audit-Related Fees. Audit-related services generally include fees for accounting consultations and registration statements filed with the SEC.
Tax Fees. The fiscal year 2018 tax fees include $144,673 in tax compliance and tax return preparation services. The remainder of the fiscal year 2018 tax fees relate to technical tax advice and tax planning. The fiscal year 2017 tax fees include $136,325 in tax compliance and tax return preparation services. The remainder of the fiscal year 2017 tax fees relate to technical fees including technical tax advice and tax planning.
All Other Fees. The other fees correspond to an Ernst & Young research tool.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The Audit Committee has adopted a written policy for the pre-approval of audit, audit-related, and non-audit services provided by the Companys independent registered public accounting firm.
For audit and audit-related services, the independent auditor will provide the Audit Committee with an engagement letter and estimated budget for formal acceptance and approval. A list of non-audit services and estimated budget for such services for the upcoming fiscal year are submitted to the Audit Committee by Company management for pre-approval. To ensure prompt handling of unexpected non-budgeted non-audit related services, the Audit Committee has delegated to its Chair the authority to amend or modify the list of approved permissible non-audit services and fees if the cost of the service is less than $100,000. Any such unexpected services for which the cost is more than $100,000 are approved by the Audit Committee. If the Chair takes any action, the Chair will report such action to the Audit Committee at the next Audit Committee meeting.
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Indemnification and Insurance. Our Bylaws require us to indemnify our directors and executive officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. We have entered into indemnification agreements with all of our directors and executive officers and have purchased directors and officers liability insurance.
Procedures for Review, Approval, and Ratification of Related Person Transactions. The Board recognizes that Related Person Transactions (as defined below) can present conflicts of interest and questions as to whether transactions are in the best interests of the Company. Accordingly, the Board has documented and implemented certain procedures for the review, approval, or ratification of all potential Related Person Transactions. Pursuant to these procedures, the Audit Committee must review, approve, or ratify any transactions with Related Persons (as defined below). When it is impractical to wait for a scheduled Audit Committee meeting, a proposed Related Person Transaction may be submitted to the Audit Committee Chair for approval and then subsequently reported to the Audit Committee at the next Audit Committee meeting.
This procedure seeks to promote Company decisions that are based on the merits of the transaction and the interests of the Company and its stockholders. While it is the Companys preference to avoid Related Person Transactions, this procedure sets forth a methodology for considering a proposed Related Person Transaction in which the standard to be applied is whether such transaction is at arms length and on terms comparable to those terms provided to other unrelated entities in the marketplace.
For these purposes, a Related Person is any person who is: (1) a director or executive officer of the Company, (2) a nominee for director (if the information called for is being presented in a proxy or information statement relating to the election of that nominee for director), (3) an immediate family member of a director or executive officer of the Company, (4) an immediate family member of a nominee for director (if the information called for is being presented in a proxy or information statement relating to the election of that nominee for director), (5) a security holder of 5% or more of any class of common stock (or other equity security) (if a transaction in which the person had a direct or indirect material interest occurred or existed), or (6) an immediate family member of a security holder of 5% or more of any class of common stock (or other equity security) (if a transaction in which the person had a direct or indirect material interest occurred or existed).
For these purposes, a Related Person Transaction is any transaction, arrangement, or relationship (or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships) in which the Company (including any of its subsidiaries) was, is, or will be a participant and in which a Related Person had, has, or will have a direct or indirect interest. The Company has not established a materiality limit for purposes of defining a Related Person Transaction under its related person transaction procedures.
Transactions with Related Persons. Dr. Rhode beneficially owns 100% of an aircraft through a limited liability company (the LLC), and the LLC makes the aircraft available for lease through an independent aircraft management company. On occasion we lease, through the aircraft management company, the non-exclusive use of the aircraft for business travel for employees, with no required minimum usage, at a rate of $3,135 per flight hour plus any additional overnight/landing fees and excise taxes. Our agreement with the aircraft management company contains other terms and conditions normal in such transactions and can be cancelled with 30 days notice. Our Board of Directors approved this hourly reimbursement rate based upon a competitive analysis of comparable chartered aircraft rates, which showed that the reimbursement rate is at or below market rates for the charter of similar aircraft. During fiscal year 2018, we incurred approximately $233,854 in rental fees for the aircraft owned through the LLC. These fees are included in general, administrative, and other expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
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SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Companys executive officers and directors and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of the Companys equity securities to file an initial report of ownership on Form 3 and changes in ownership on Form 4 or 5 with the SEC. Executive officers, directors, and greater than 10% stockholders are also required by the federal securities rules to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
Based solely on a review of copies of the Forms 3, 4 and 5 received by the Company or representations from certain reporting persons, the Company believes that, during the fiscal year 2018, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its officers, directors, and greater than 10% stockholders were met in a timely manner. However, due to an administrative error, an incorrect number of shares sold was reported on a Form 4 filed May 10, 2017 (the form reported that Ms. King sold 7,000 shares sold when in fact she had sold 5,495 shares). This error was corrected on April 13, 2018 by amending the Form 4 report.
The SEC has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries (such as stockbrokers) to implement a delivery procedure called householding. Under this procedure, multiple stockholders who reside at the same address may receive a single copy of our annual report and proxy materials, including the Notice of Internet Availability of proxy materials, unless the affected stockholder has provided contrary instructions. This procedure reduces printing costs and postage fees.
This year, we expect that a number of stockbrokers with account holders who beneficially own common stock will be householding our annual report and proxy materials, including the Notice of Internet Availability of the proxy materials. A single Notice of Internet Availability of the proxy materials and, if applicable, a single set of annual report and other proxy materials will be delivered to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions have been received from the affected stockholders. Once you have received notice from your stockbroker that it will be householding communications to your address, householding will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent. Stockholders may revoke their consent at any time by contacting Broadridge ICS, either by calling toll-free (866)-540-7095, or by writing to Broadridge ICS, Householding Department, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, New York 11717.
If you contact Broadridge ICS using the contact information above, we will promptly deliver to you a separate copy of our Annual Report, Notice of Internet Availability of the proxy materials, and the proxy materials for the 2018 Annual Meeting, and for future meetings, if you so request. Please also contact Broadridge ICS if you wish to request delivery of a single copy of those materials if you currently receive multiple copies.
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Communicating with the Board
If you would like to contact the Board, including a Committee, you may write to the following address:
Board of Directors
c/o Corporate Secretary
Cirrus Logic, Inc.
800 W. 6th Street
Austin, Texas 78701
The Corporate Secretary or Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee, as appropriate, reviews all correspondence addressed to the Board and regularly forwards to the Board all such correspondence that, in the opinion of the Corporate Secretary or Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee, deals with the functions of the Board or the Committees. Directors may at any time review a log of all correspondence received by the Company that is addressed to the Board or individual Board members. Concerns relating to accounting, internal controls, or auditing issues will be immediately brought to the attention of the Chair of the Audit Committee.
Other Communications
If you would like to receive information about the Company, you may use one of these convenient methods:
1. | To have information such as our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q mailed to you, please call our Investor Relations Department at (512) 851-4125. |
2. | To view our home page on the internet, use our website address: www.cirrus.com. Our home page provides you access to product, marketing and financial data, job listings, and an online version of this proxy statement, our Annual Report on Form 10-K, and other filings with the SEC. |
If you would like to write to us, please send your correspondence to the following address:
Cirrus Logic, Inc.
Attention: Investor Relations
800 W. 6th Street
Austin, TX 78701
If you would like to inquire about stock transfer requirements, lost certificates, and change of stockholder address, please contact our transfer agent, Computershare Investor Services, at (877) 373-6374 (toll free) or (781) 575-2879 or by visiting their website at www.investorcentre.com.
If you would like to report any inappropriate, illegal, or criminal conduct by any employee, agent, or representative of the Company; any violation of the Companys Code of Conduct; or any complaint or concern regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, you may file an anonymous and confidential report by contacting EthicsPoint, an independent reporting system provider, by telephone at 1-866-384-4277 (1-866-ETHICSP), or through its website at cirruslogic.ethicspoint.com.
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On May 30, 2018, we filed with the SEC an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018. The Annual Report on Form 10-K has been provided concurrently with this proxy statement to all stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting.
Stockholders may also obtain a copy of the Annual Report on Form 10-K and any of our other SEC reports, free of charge, (1) from the SECs website at www.sec.gov , (2) from our website at investor.cirrus.com, or (3) by writing to Investor Relations, Cirrus Logic, Inc., 800 W. 6th Street, Austin, TX 78701. The Annual Report on Form 10-K is not incorporated into this proxy statement and is not considered proxy solicitation material.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
|
Jason P. Rhode President and Chief Executive Officer Austin, Texas June 6, 2018 |
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INCENTIVE PLAN RECONCILIATION
6 Months Ended | ||||||||
2H18 | 1H18 | |||||||
Net Revenue |
$ | 785,914 | $ | 746,272 | ||||
Cost of Sales |
$ | 398,196 | $ | 373,274 | ||||
Gross Profit |
$ | 387,718 | $ | 372,998 | ||||
Total Operating Expenses |
$ | 263,445 | $ | 234,810 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total Operating Income |
$ | 124,273 | $ | 138,188 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Operating Income Percentage |
16 | % | 19 | % | ||||
Operating Income Reconciliation |
||||||||
GAAP Operating Income |
$ | 124,273 | $ | 138,188 | ||||
Amortization of acquisition intangibles |
$ | 24,866 | $ | 23,199 | ||||
Stock compensation expense |
$ | 25,046 | $ | 23,696 | ||||
Other adjustments ** |
$ | (279) | $ | (4,048) | ||||
Bonus VCP, Executive, Leadership Plan Exclusion |
$ | 10,855 | $ | 11,823 | ||||
Non GAAP Operating Income Used for Bonus Plans |
$ | 184,760 | $ | 192,858 | ||||
Non GAAP Operating Income Percentage Used for Bonus Plans |
24 | % | 26 | % |
** | Other adjustments may include certain litigation expenses, facility charges, patent agreements, international sales reorganizations, or other. |
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CIRRUS LOGIC, INC.
2018 Long Term Incentive Plan
1. Purpose. The purpose of the Cirrus Logic, Inc. 2018 Long Term Incentive Plan (the Plan) is to provide a means through which (a) Cirrus Logic, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), and its Affiliates may attract, retain and motivate qualified persons as employees, directors and consultants, thereby enhancing the profitable growth of the Company and its Affiliates and (b) persons upon whom the responsibilities of the successful administration and management of the Company and its Affiliates rest, and whose present and potential contributions to the Company and its Affiliates are of importance, can acquire and maintain stock ownership or awards the value of which is tied to the performance of the Company, thereby strengthening their concern for the Company and its Affiliates. Accordingly, the Plan provides for the grant of Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Awards, Other Stock-Based Awards, Cash Awards, Substitute Awards, Performance Awards, or any combination of the foregoing, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
2. Definitions. For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:
(a) Affiliate means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, association, trust or other organization that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company. For purposes of the preceding sentence, control (including, with correlative meanings, the terms controlled by and under common control with), as used with respect to any entity or organization, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power (i) to vote more than 50% of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of the controlled entity or organization or (ii) to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the controlled entity or organization, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.
(b) ASC Topic 718 means the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation Stock Compensation, as amended or any successor accounting standard.
(c) Award means any Option, SAR, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Stock Award, Other Stock-Based Award, Cash Award, Substitute Award or Performance Award, together with any other right or interest, granted under the Plan.
(d) Award Agreement means any written instrument (including any employment, severance or change in control agreement) that sets forth the terms, conditions, restrictions and/or limitations applicable to an Award, in addition to those set forth under the Plan.
(e) Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(f) Cash Award means an Award denominated in cash granted under Section 6(h).
(g) Change in Control means, except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, the occurrence of any of the following events after the Effective Date: (i) the Company will not be the surviving entity in any merger, share exchange, or consolidation (or survives only as a subsidiary of an entity), (ii) the Company sells, leases, or exchanges all or substantially all of its assets to any other person or entity, (iii) the Company is dissolved and liquidated, (iv) any person or entity, including a group as contemplated by Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, acquires or gains ownership or control (including, without limitation, power to vote) of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Companys voting stock (based upon voting power), or (v) at such time as the Company becomes a reporting company under the Exchange Act, as a result of or in connection with a contested election of
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directors, the persons who were directors of the Company before such election will cease to constitute a majority of the Board; provided, however, that a Change in Control will not include (A) any reorganization, merger, consolidation, sale, lease, exchange, or similar transaction, which involves solely the Company and one or more entities wholly-owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company immediately prior to such event or (B) the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the voting stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to hold 50% or more of the voting stock (based upon voting power) of (1) any entity that owns, directly or indirectly, the stock of the Company, (2) any entity with which the Company has merged, or (3) any entity that owns an entity with which the Company has merged. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary within this definition, with respect to any Award that is subject to Section 409A of the Code, a Change in Control shall not occur unless that Change in Control also constitutes a change in the ownership of a corporation, a change in the effective control of a corporation, or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of a corporations assets, in each case, within the meaning of 1.409A-3(i)(5) of the regulations promulgated under Section 409A of the Code.
(h) Change in Control Price means the amount determined in the following clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v), whichever the Committee determines is applicable, as follows: (i) the price per share offered to holders of Stock in any merger or consolidation, (ii) the per share Fair Market Value of the Stock immediately before the Change in Control or other event without regard to assets sold in the Change in Control or other event and assuming the Company has received the consideration paid for the assets in the case of a sale of the assets, (iii) the amount distributed per share of Stock in a dissolution transaction, (iv) the price per share offered to holders of Stock in any tender offer or exchange offer whereby a Change in Control or other event takes place, or (v) if such Change in Control or other event occurs other than pursuant to a transaction described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of this Section 2(h), the value per share of the Stock that may otherwise be obtained with respect to such Awards or to which such Awards track, as determined by the Committee as of the date determined by the Committee to be the date of cancellation and surrender of such Awards. In the event that the consideration offered to stockholders of the Company in any transaction described in this Section 2(h) or in Section 8(f) consists of anything other than cash, the Committee shall determine the fair cash equivalent of the portion of the consideration offered which is other than cash and such determination shall be binding on all affected Participants to the extent applicable to Awards held by such Participants.
(i) Code means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, including the guidance and regulations promulgated thereunder and successor provisions, guidance and regulations thereto.
(j) Committee means a committee of two or more directors designated by the Board to administer the Plan; provided, however, that, unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Committee shall consist solely of two or more Qualified Members.
(k) Effective Date means August 3, 2018.
(l) Eligible Person means any individual who, as of the date of grant of an Award, is an officer or employee of the Company or of any of its Affiliates, and any other person who provides services to the Company or any of its Affiliates, including directors and consultants of the Company; provided, however, that, any such individual must be an employee of the Company or any of its parents or subsidiaries within the meaning of General Instruction A.1(a) to Form S-8 if such individual is granted an Award that may be settled in Stock. An employee on leave of absence may be an Eligible Person.
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(m) Exchange Act means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, including the guidance, rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and successor provisions, guidance, rules and regulations thereto.
(n) Fair Market Value of a share of Stock means, as of any specified date, (i) if the Stock is listed on a national securities exchange, the closing sales price of the Stock, as reported on the stock exchange composite tape on that date (or if no sales occur on such date, on the last preceding date on which such sales of the Stock are so reported); (ii) if the Stock is not traded on a national securities exchange but is traded over the counter on such date, the average between the reported high and low bid and asked prices of Stock on the most recent date on which Stock was publicly traded on or preceding the specified date; or (iii) in the event Stock is not publicly traded at the time a determination of its value is required to be made under the Plan, the amount determined by the Committee in its discretion in such manner as it deems appropriate, taking into account all factors the Committee deems appropriate, including the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules. Notwithstanding this definition of Fair Market Value, with respect to one or more Award types, or for any other purpose for which the Committee must determine the Fair Market Value under the Plan, the Committee may elect to choose a different measurement date or methodology for determining Fair Market Value so long as the determination is consistent with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules and all other applicable laws and regulations.
(o) Full-Value Award means an Award other than an Option, a SAR or other Award whose intrinsic value is solely dependent on appreciation in the price of the Stock after the date of grant.
(p) ISO means an Option intended to be and designated as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
(q) Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules means the limitations or requirements of Section 409A of the Code, as amended from time to time, including the guidance and regulations promulgated thereunder and successor provisions, guidance and regulations thereto.
(r) Nonstatutory Option means an Option that is not an ISO.
(s) Option means a right, granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(b), to purchase Stock at a specified price during specified time periods, which may either be an ISO or a Nonstatutory Option.
(t) Other Stock-Based Award means an Award granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(g).
(u) Participant means a person who has been granted an Award under the Plan that remains outstanding, including a person who is no longer an Eligible Person.
(v) Performance Award means an award granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(j), the grant, vesting, exercisability and/or settlement of which (and/or the timing or amount thereof) is subject to the achievement of one or more performance goals specified by the Committee.
(w) Prior Plan means the Cirrus Logic, Inc. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (Amended and Restated as of May 26, 2015).
(x) Qualified Member means a member of the Board who is (i) a non-employee director within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3), and (ii) independent under the listing standards or rules of the securities exchange upon which the Stock is traded, but only to the extent such independence is required in order to take the action at issue pursuant to such standards or rules.
(y) Restricted Stock means Stock granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(d) that is subject to certain restrictions and to a risk of forfeiture.
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(z) Restricted Stock Unit means a right, granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(e), to receive Stock, cash or a combination thereof at the end of a specified period (which may or may not be coterminous with the vesting schedule of the Award).
(aa) Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3, promulgated by the SEC under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
(bb) SAR means a stock appreciation right granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(c).
(cc) SEC means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
(dd) Securities Act means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, including the guidance, rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and successor provisions, guidance, rules and regulations thereto.
(ee) Stock means the Companys Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, and such other securities as may be substituted (or re-substituted) for Stock pursuant to Section 8.
(ff) Stock Award means unrestricted shares of Stock granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(f).
(gg) Substitute Award means an Award granted under Section 6(i).
3. Administration.
(a) Authority of the Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee except to the extent the Board elects to administer the Plan, in which case references herein to the Committee shall be deemed to include references to the Board. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, Rule 16b-3 and other applicable laws, the Committee shall have the authority, in its sole and absolute discretion, to:
(i) designate Eligible Persons as Participants;
(ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to an Eligible Person;
(iii) determine the number of shares of Stock or amount of cash to be covered by Awards;
(iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award, including whether, to what extent and under what circumstances Awards may be vested, settled, exercised, cancelled or forfeited (including conditions based on continued employment or service requirements or the achievement of one or more performance goals);
(v) modify, waive or adjust any term or condition of an Award that has been granted, which may include the acceleration of vesting, waiver of forfeiture restrictions, modification of the form of settlement of the Award (for example, from cash to Stock or vice versa), early termination of a performance period, or modification of any other condition or limitation regarding an Award;
(vi) determine the treatment of an Award upon a termination of employment or other service relationship;
(vii) impose a holding period with respect to an Award or the shares of Stock received in connection with an Award;
(viii) interpret and administer the Plan and any Award Agreement;
(ix) correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan, in any Award, or in any Award Agreement; and
(x) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.
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The express grant of any specific power to the Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee. Any action of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company, its Affiliates, stockholders, Participants, beneficiaries, and permitted transferees under Section 7(a) or other persons claiming rights from or through a Participant.
(b) Exercise of Committee Authority. At any time that a member of the Committee is not a Qualified Member, any action of the Committee relating to an Award granted or to be granted to an Eligible Person who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company where such action is not taken by the full Board may be taken either (A) by a subcommittee, designated by the Committee, composed solely of two or more Qualified Members, or (B) by the Committee but with each such member who is not a Qualified Member abstaining or recusing himself or herself from such action; provided, however, that upon such abstention or recusal, the Committee remains composed solely of two or more Qualified Members. Such action, authorized by such a subcommittee or by the Committee upon the abstention or recusal of such non-Qualified Member(s), shall be the action of the Committee for purposes of the Plan. For the avoidance of doubt, the full Board may take any action relating to an Award granted or to be granted to an Eligible Person who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company.
(c) Delegation of Authority. The Committee may delegate any or all of its powers and duties under the Plan to a subcommittee of directors or to any officer of the Company, including the power to perform administrative functions and grant Awards; provided, however, that such delegation does not (i) violate state or corporate law, or (ii) result in the loss of an exemption under Rule 16b-3(d)(1) for Awards granted to Participants subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company. Upon any such delegation, all references in the Plan to the Committee, other than in Section 8, shall be deemed to include any subcommittee or officer of the Company to whom such powers have been delegated by the Committee. Any such delegation shall not limit the right of such subcommittee members or such an officer to receive Awards; provided, however, that such subcommittee members and any such officer may not grant Awards to himself or herself, a member of the Board, or any executive officer of the Company or an Affiliate, or take any action with respect to any Award previously granted to himself or herself, a member of the Board, or any executive officer of the Company or an Affiliate. The Committee may also appoint agents who are not executive officers of the Company or members of the Board to assist in administering the Plan, provided, however, that such individuals may not be delegated the authority to grant or modify any Awards that will, or may, be settled in Stock.
(d) Limitation of Liability. The Committee and each member thereof shall be entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to him or her by any officer or employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates, the Companys legal counsel, independent auditors, consultants or any other agents assisting in the administration of the Plan. Members of the Committee and any officer or employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates acting at the direction or on behalf of the Committee shall not be personally liable for any action or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be indemnified and held harmless by the Company with respect to any such action or determination.
(e) Participants in Non-U.S. Jurisdictions. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, to comply with applicable laws in countries other than the United States in which the Company or any of its Affiliates operates or has employees, directors or other service providers from time to time, to ensure that the Company complies with any applicable requirements of foreign securities exchanges, to take advantage of specific tax treatment in any country, or to facilitate the administration of the Plan, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to:
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(i) determine which of the Companys Affiliates shall be covered by the Plan; (ii) determine which Eligible Persons outside the United States are eligible to participate in the Plan; (iii) modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to Eligible Persons outside the United States; (iv) establish sub-plans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent such actions may be necessary or advisable, provided, however, that no such sub-plans and/or modifications shall increase the share limitations contained in Section 4(a); and (v) take any action, before or after an Award is granted, that it deems necessary or advisable. For purposes of the Plan, all references to foreign laws, rules, regulations or taxes shall be references to the laws, rules, regulations and taxes of any applicable jurisdiction other than the United States or a political subdivision thereof.
4. Stock Subject to Plan.
(a) Number of Shares Available for Delivery. Subject to adjustment in a manner consistent with Section 8, 2.3 million shares of Stock are being newly reserved for this Plan and available for delivery with respect to Awards. In addition to the 2.3 million shares of Stock newly reserved for this Plan, the remaining available shares of Stock under the Prior Plan that are not the subject of awards that are outstanding under the Prior Plan immediately prior to the Effective Date of this Plan (the Prior Plan Awards) will automatically and immediately cease to be available for grant pursuant to the Prior Plan at the Effective Date of this Plan, and all such shares of Stock shall be carried over and become available for issuance pursuant to this Plan (and shall also be subject to adjustment consistent with Section 8). Prior Plan Awards shall remain outstanding following the Effective Date in accordance with their terms; however, no new awards may be granted pursuant to the Prior Plan on or after the Effective Date. With respect to Prior Plan Awards, in accordance with Section 5 of the Prior Plan, if such a Prior Plan Award, on or after the Effective Date, is surrendered, exchanged, forfeited, settled in cash or otherwise lapses, expires, terminates or is canceled without the actual delivery of Stock, then the Stock covered by such Prior Plan Award, to the extent of such surrender, exchange, forfeiture, expiration, lapse, termination, cancellation or payment in cash, shall become Stock that may be issued with respect to Awards granted under this Plan. All Stock described in this Section 4(a) that becomes issuable pursuant to this Plan shall be available for the issuance of shares upon the exercise of ISOs.
(b) Application of Limitation to Grants of Awards. Subject to Section 4(c), no Award may be granted if the number of shares of Stock that may be delivered in connection with such Award exceeds the number of shares of Stock remaining available under the Plan minus the number of shares of Stock issuable in settlement of or relating to then-outstanding Awards. The Committee may adopt reasonable counting procedures to ensure appropriate counting, avoid double counting (as, for example, in the case of tandem or Substitute Awards) and make adjustments if the number of shares of Stock actually delivered differs from the number of shares previously counted in connection with an Award; provided, however, that to the extent that a share of Stock is subject to an outstanding Full-Value Award, such share shall reduce the aggregate share limit set forth in Section 4(a) by 1.5 shares of Stock, and to the extent that a share of Stock is subject to an outstanding Award other than a Full-Value Award, such share shall reduce the aggregate share limit set forth in Section 4(a) by one share of Stock.
(c) Availability of Shares Not Delivered under Awards. Shares of Stock subject to an Award under this Plan that expires or is cancelled, forfeited, exchanged, settled in cash or otherwise terminated without the actual delivery of shares (Awards of Restricted Stock shall not be considered delivered shares for this purpose), will again be available for Awards. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the number of shares tendered or withheld in payment of any exercise or purchase price of an Award or taxes relating to an Award, (ii) shares that were subject to an Option or an SAR but were not issued or delivered as a result of the net settlement or net exercise of such Option or SAR and (iii) shares repurchased on the open market with the proceeds of an Options exercise price, will not, in
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each case, be available for Awards. If an Award may be settled only in cash, such Award need not be counted against any share limit under this Section 4.
(d) Shares Available Following Certain Transactions. Substitute Awards granted in accordance with applicable stock exchange requirements and in substitution or exchange for awards previously granted by a company acquired by the Company or any subsidiary or with which the Company or any subsidiary combines shall not reduce the shares authorized for issuance under the Plan, nor shall shares subject to such Substitute Awards be added to the shares available for issuance under the Plan as provided above (whether or not such Substitute Awards are later cancelled, forfeited or otherwise terminated). Additionally, in the event that a company acquired by the Company or any subsidiary or with which the Company or any subsidiary combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may, if and to the extent determined by the Board and subject to compliance with applicable stock exchange requirements, be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the shares authorized for issuance under the Plan (and shares subject to such Awards shall not be added to the shares available for issuance under the Plan as provided above); provided that Awards using such available shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not, prior to such acquisition or combination, employed by (and who were not non-employee directors or consultants of) the Company or any of its subsidiaries immediately prior to such acquisition or combination.
(e) Stock Offered. The shares of Stock to be delivered under the Plan shall be made available from (i) authorized but unissued shares of Stock, (ii) Stock held in the treasury of the Company, or (iii) previously issued shares of Stock reacquired by the Company, including shares purchased on the open market.
5. Eligibility and Certain Director Compensation Limitations.
(a) Eligibility. Awards may be granted under the Plan only to Eligible Persons.
(b) Director Limitations on Awards. In any one calendar year, the aggregate value of all compensation paid to or granted to any non-employee member of the Board, including Awards granted pursuant to this Plan and all cash compensation, shall not exceed $750,000; provided, however, that the limit set forth in this Section 5(b) shall be without regard to compensation (whether in the form of Awards or cash compensation) provided to any non-employee member of the Board during any period in which such individual was an employee of the Company or of any of its Affiliates or was otherwise providing services to the Company or to any of its Affiliates other than in the capacity as a director of the Company. To calculate the $750,000 annual maximum, Awards granted pursuant to this Plan shall be valued on the grant date pursuant to ASC Topic 718, and all other cash compensation may include, but is not limited to, quarterly retainer fees, committee fees, meeting fees, or lead independent director fees.
6. Specific Terms of Awards.
(a) General. Awards may be granted on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 6. Awards granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with any other Award. In addition, the Committee may impose on any Award or the exercise thereof, at the date of grant or thereafter (subject to Section 10), such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine.
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(b) Options. The Committee is authorized to grant Options, which may be designated as either ISOs or Nonstatutory Options, to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:
(i) Exercise Price. Each Award Agreement evidencing an Option shall state the exercise price per share of Stock (the Exercise Price) established by the Committee; provided, however, that except as provided in Section 6(i) or in Section 8, the Exercise Price of an Option shall not be less than the greater of (A) the par value per share of the Stock or (B) 100% of the Fair Market Value per share of the Stock as of the date of grant of the Option (or in the case of an ISO granted to an individual who owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or its parent or any of its subsidiaries, 110% of the Fair Market Value per share of the Stock on the date of grant).
(ii) Time and Method of Exercise; Other Terms. The Committee shall determine the methods by which the Exercise Price may be paid or deemed to be paid, the form of such payment, including cash or cash equivalents, Stock (including previously owned shares or through a cashless exercise, i.e., net settlement, a broker-assisted exercise, or other reduction of the amount of shares otherwise issuable pursuant to the Option), other Awards or awards granted under other plans of the Company or any Affiliate, other property, or any other legal consideration the Committee deems appropriate, the methods by or forms in which Stock will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants, including the delivery of Restricted Stock subject to Section 6(d), and any other terms and conditions of any Option. In the case of an exercise whereby the Exercise Price is paid with Stock, such Stock shall be valued based on the Stocks Fair Market Value as of the date of exercise. No Option may be exercisable for a period of more than ten years following the date of grant of the Option (or in the case of an ISO granted to an individual who owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or its parent or any of its subsidiaries, for a period of more than five years following the date of grant of the ISO).
(iii) ISOs. The terms of any ISO granted under the Plan shall comply in all respects with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code. ISOs may only be granted to Eligible Persons who are employees of the Company or employees of a parent or any subsidiary corporation of the Company. Except as otherwise provided in Section 8, no term of the Plan relating to ISOs (including any SAR in tandem therewith) shall be interpreted, amended or altered, nor shall any discretion or authority granted under the Plan be exercised, so as to disqualify either the Plan or any ISO under Section 422 of the Code, unless the Participant has first requested the change that will result in such disqualification. ISOs shall not be granted more than ten years after the earlier of the adoption of the Plan or the approval of the Plan by the Companys stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of shares of Stock subject to an ISO and the aggregate Fair Market Value of shares of stock of any parent or subsidiary corporation (within the meaning of Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code) subject to any other incentive stock options of the Company or a parent or subsidiary corporation (within the meaning of Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code) that are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year exceeds $100,000, or such other amount as may be prescribed under Section 422 of the Code, such excess shall be treated as Nonstatutory Options in accordance with the Code. As used in the previous sentence, Fair Market Value shall be determined as of the date the ISO is granted. If a Participant shall make any disposition of shares of Stock issued pursuant to an ISO under the circumstances described in Section 421(b) of the Code (relating to disqualifying dispositions), the Participant shall notify the Company of such disposition within the time provided to do so in the applicable award agreement.
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(c) SARs. The Committee is authorized to grant SARs to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:
(i) Right to Payment. An SAR is a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock on the date of exercise over (B) the grant price of the SAR as determined by the Committee.
(ii) Grant Price. Each Award Agreement evidencing an SAR shall state the grant price per share of Stock established by the Committee; provided, however, that except as provided in Section 6(i) or in Section 8, the grant price per share of Stock subject to an SAR shall not be less than the greater of (A) the par value per share of the Stock or (B) 100% of the Fair Market Value per share of the Stock as of the date of grant of the SAR.
(iii) Method of Exercise and Settlement; Other Terms. The Committee shall determine the form of consideration payable upon settlement, the method by or forms in which Stock (if any) will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants, and any other terms and conditions of any SAR. SARs may be either free-standing or granted in tandem with other Awards. No SAR may be exercisable for a period of more than ten years following the date of grant of the SAR.
(iv) Rights Related to Options. An SAR granted in connection with an Option shall entitle a Participant, upon exercise, to surrender that Option or any portion thereof, to the extent unexercised, and to receive payment of an amount determined by multiplying (A) the difference obtained by subtracting the Exercise Price with respect to a share of Stock specified in the related Option from the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR, by (B) the number of shares as to which that SAR has been exercised. The Option shall then cease to be exercisable to the extent surrendered. SARs granted in connection with an Option shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Award Agreement governing the Option, which shall provide that the SAR is exercisable only at such time or times and only to the extent that the related Option is exercisable and shall not be transferable except to the extent that the related Option is transferrable.
(d) Restricted Stock. The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:
(i) Restrictions. Restricted Stock shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability, risk of forfeiture and other restrictions, if any, as the Committee may impose. Except as provided in Section 7(a)(iii) and Section 7(a)(iv), during the restricted period applicable to the Restricted Stock, the Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, hedged, hypothecated, margined or otherwise encumbered by the Participant.
(ii) Dividends and Splits. As a condition to the grant of an Award of Restricted Stock, the Committee shall provide that any cash dividends paid on a share of Restricted Stock be automatically reinvested in additional shares of Restricted Stock (such new Award of Restricted Stock of which would be required to be subject to vesting and forfeiture restrictions that are at least as restrictive as the remaining restrictions on the original Award of Restricted Stock to which the cash dividend related) or deferred without interest to the date of vesting of the associated Award of Restricted Stock. Stock distributed in connection with a Stock split or Stock dividend, and other property (other than cash) distributed as a dividend, shall be subject to restrictions and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Stock with respect to which such Stock or other property has been distributed.
(e) Restricted Stock Units. The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock Units to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:
(i) Award and Restrictions. Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to such restrictions (which may include a risk of forfeiture) as the Committee may impose.
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(ii) Settlement. Settlement of vested Restricted Stock Units shall occur upon vesting or upon expiration of the deferral period specified for such Restricted Stock Units by the Committee (or, if permitted by the Committee, as elected by the Participant). Restricted Stock Units shall be settled by delivery of (A) a number of shares of Stock equal to the number of Restricted Stock Units for which settlement is due, or (B) cash in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the specified number of shares of Stock equal to the number of Restricted Stock Units for which settlement is due, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee at the date of grant or thereafter.
(f) Stock Awards. The Committee is authorized to grant Stock Awards to Eligible Persons as a bonus, as additional compensation, or in lieu of cash compensation any such Eligible Person is otherwise entitled to receive, in such amounts and subject to such other terms as the Committee in its discretion determines to be appropriate.
(g) Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Eligible Persons such other Awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Stock, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan, including convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into Stock, purchase rights for Stock, Awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the Company or any other factors designated by the Committee, and Awards valued by reference to the book value of Stock or the value of securities of, or the performance of, specified Affiliates of the Company. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Other Stock-Based Awards. Stock delivered pursuant to an Other-Stock Based Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 6(g) shall be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such times, by such methods, and in such forms, including cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property, as the Committee shall determine.
(h) Cash Awards. The Committee is authorized to grant Cash Awards, on a free-standing basis or as an element of, a supplement to, or in lieu of any other Award under the Plan to Eligible Persons in such amounts and subject to such other terms as the Committee in its discretion determines to be appropriate.
(i) Substitute Awards; No Repricing. Awards may be granted in substitution or exchange for any other Award granted under the Plan or under another plan of the Company or an Affiliate or any other right of an Eligible Person to receive payment from the Company or an Affiliate. Awards may also be granted under the Plan in substitution for awards held by individuals who become Eligible Persons as a result of a merger, consolidation or acquisition of another entity or the assets of another entity by or with the Company or an Affiliate. Such Substitute Awards referred to in the immediately preceding sentence that are Options or SARs may have an exercise price that is less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of the substitution if such substitution complies with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules and other applicable laws and exchange rules. Except as provided in this Section 6(i) or in Section 8, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, the terms of outstanding Awards may not be amended to (i) reduce the Exercise Price or grant price of an outstanding Option or SAR, (ii) grant a new Option, SAR or other Award in substitution for, or upon the cancellation of, any previously granted Option or SAR that has the effect of reducing the Exercise Price or grant price thereof, (iii) exchange any Option or SAR for Stock, cash or other consideration when the Exercise Price or grant price per share of Stock under such Option or SAR exceeds the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock or (iv) take any other action that would be considered a repricing of an Option or SAR under the applicable listing standards of the national securities exchange on which the Stock is listed (if any).
(j) Performance Awards. The Committee is authorized to designate any of the Awards granted under the foregoing provisions of this Section 6 as Performance Awards. The Committee may use such
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business criteria and other measures of performance as it may deem appropriate in establishing any performance goals applicable to a Performance Award, and may exercise its discretion to reduce or increase the amounts payable under any Performance Award. Performance goals may differ among Performance Awards granted to any one Participant or to different Participants. The performance period applicable to any Performance Award shall be set by the Committee in its discretion but shall not exceed ten years.
7. Certain Provisions Applicable to Awards.
(a) Limit on Transfer of Awards.
(i) Except as provided in Sections 7(a)(iii) and (iv), each Option and SAR shall be exercisable only by the Participant during the Participants lifetime, or by the person to whom the Participants rights shall pass by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 7(a), an ISO shall not be transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.
(ii) Except as provided in Sections 7(a)(i), (iii) and (iv), no Award, other than a Stock Award, and no right under any such Award, may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate.
(iii) To the extent specifically provided by the Committee, an Award may be transferred by a Participant without consideration to immediate family members or related family trusts, limited partnerships or similar entities or on such terms and conditions as the Committee may from time to time establish.
(iv) An Award may be transferred pursuant to a domestic relations order entered or approved by a court of competent jurisdiction upon delivery to the Company of a written request for such transfer and a certified copy of such order.
(b) Form and Timing of Payment under Awards; Deferrals. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, payments to be made by the Company or any of its Affiliates upon the exercise or settlement of an Award may be made in such forms as the Committee shall determine in its discretion, including cash, Stock, other Awards or other property, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis (which may be required by the Committee or permitted at the election of the Participant on terms and conditions established by the Committee); provided, however, that any such deferred or installment payments will be set forth in the Award Agreement. Payments may include, without limitation, provisions for the payment or crediting of reasonable interest on installment or deferred payments or the grant or crediting of other amounts in respect of installment or deferred payments denominated in Stock.
(c) Evidencing Stock. The Stock or other securities of the Company delivered pursuant to an Award may be evidenced in any manner deemed appropriate by the Committee in its sole discretion, including in the form of a certificate issued in the name of the Participant or by book entry, electronic or otherwise, and shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the SEC, any stock exchange upon which such Stock or other securities are then listed, and any applicable federal, state or other laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be inscribed on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. Further, if certificates representing Restricted Stock are registered in the name of the Participant, the Company may retain physical possession of the certificates and may require that the Participant deliver a stock power to the Company, endorsed in blank, related to the Restricted Stock.
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(d) Minimum Vesting Requirements. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, on and after the Effective Date, all Awards granted by the Committee shall be subject to a vesting period of not less than 12 months from the date of grant, subject, in each case, to the Committees authority under the Plan to vest Awards earlier, as the Committee deems appropriate, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, in the event of a Participants termination of employment or service or otherwise as permitted by the Plan. The foregoing minimum vesting requirements will not, however, apply in connection with up to 5% of the aggregate number of shares of Stock that are reserved for issuance pursuant to this Plan as of the Effective Date (which shall include all shares of Stock that are carried over from any previous equity plan pursuant to Section 4(a) of the Plan).
(e) Consideration for Grants. Awards may be granted for such consideration, including services, as the Committee shall determine, but shall not be granted for less than the minimum lawful consideration.
(f) Dividends or Dividend Equivalents. In the event that a dividend or a dividend equivalent right is granted in connection with the grant of any Award pursuant to this Plan, (i) in no event shall the dividend or dividend equivalent right be distributed to the Participant before the underlying Stock covered by the Award to which the dividend or dividend equivalent right relates becomes vested or issued, (ii) any such dividend or dividend equivalent right shall be subject to the same restrictions and risk of forfeiture as the underlying Stock subject to the Award, and (iii) the dividend or dividend equivalent right shall be paid, if at all, at the time such restrictions or risk of forfeiture lapse.
(g) Additional Agreements. Each Eligible Person to whom an Award is granted under the Plan may be required to agree in writing, as a condition to the grant of such Award or otherwise, to subject an Award that is exercised or settled following such Eligible Persons termination of employment or service to a general release of claims and/or a noncompetition or other restricted covenant agreement in favor of the Company and its Affiliates, with the terms and conditions of such agreement(s) to be determined in good faith by the Committee.
8. Subdivision or Consolidation; Recapitalization; Change in Control; Reorganization.
(a) Existence of Plans and Awards. The existence of the Plan and the Awards granted hereunder shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company, the Board or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Companys capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of debt or equity securities ahead of or affecting Stock or the rights thereof, the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or any part of its assets or business or any other corporate act or proceeding.
(b) Additional Issuances. Except as expressly provided herein, the issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, including upon conversion of shares or obligations of the Company convertible into such shares or other securities, and in any case whether or not for fair value, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of shares of Stock subject to Awards theretofore granted or the purchase price per share of Stock, if applicable.
(c) Stock Repurchases. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, in the event that the Company executes a repurchase of shares of Stock, the Committee shall have discretion to make adjustments to Awards and the applicable limitations with respect to Awards provided in Section 4 and Section 5 (other than cash limits), in each case in such a manner as the Committee may determine that is permitted pursuant to the applicable tax and other laws, rules and regulations.
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(d) Subdivision or Consolidation of Shares. The terms of an Award and the share limitations under the Plan shall be subject to adjustment by the Committee from time to time, in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) If at any time, or from time to time, the Company shall subdivide as a whole (by reclassification, by a Stock split, by the issuance of a distribution on Stock payable in Stock, or otherwise) the number of shares of Stock then outstanding into a greater number of shares of Stock, then, as appropriate (A) the maximum number of shares of Stock available for delivery with respect to Awards and applicable limitations with respect to Awards provided in Section 4 and Section 5 (other than cash limits) shall be increased proportionately, and the kind of shares or other securities available for the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted, (B) the number of shares of Stock (or other kind of shares or securities) that may be acquired under any then outstanding Award shall be increased proportionately, and (C) the price (including the Exercise Price or grant price) for each share of Stock (or other kind of shares or securities) subject to then outstanding Awards shall be reduced proportionately, without changing the aggregate purchase price or value as to which outstanding Awards remain exercisable or subject to restrictions.
(ii) If at any time, or from time to time, the Company shall consolidate as a whole (by reclassification, by reverse Stock split, or otherwise) the number of shares of Stock then outstanding into a lesser number of shares of Stock, then, as appropriate (A) the maximum number of shares of Stock available for delivery with respect to Awards and applicable limitations with respect to Awards provided in Section 4 and Section 5 (other than cash limits) shall be decreased proportionately, and the kind of shares or other securities available for the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted, (B) the number of shares of Stock (or other kind of shares or securities) that may be acquired under any then outstanding Award shall be decreased proportionately, and (C) the price (including the Exercise Price or grant price) for each share of Stock (or other kind of shares or securities) subject to then outstanding Awards shall be increased proportionately, without changing the aggregate purchase price or value as to which outstanding Awards remain exercisable or subject to restrictions.
(e) Recapitalization. In the event of any change in the capital structure or business of the Company or other corporate transaction or event that would be considered an equity restructuring within the meaning of ASC Topic 718 and, in each case, that would result in an additional compensation expense to the Company pursuant to the provisions of ASC Topic 718, if adjustments to Awards with respect to such event were discretionary or otherwise not required (each such an event, an Adjustment Event), then the Committee shall equitably adjust (i) the aggregate number or kind of shares that thereafter may be delivered under the Plan, (ii) the number or kind of shares or other property (including cash) subject to an Award, (iii) the terms and conditions of Awards, including the purchase price or Exercise Price of Awards and performance goals, as applicable, and (iv) the applicable limitations with respect to Awards provided in Section 4 and Section 5 (other than cash limits) to equitably reflect such Adjustment Event (Equitable Adjustments). In the event of any change in the capital structure or business of the Company or other corporate transaction or event that would not be considered an Adjustment Event, and is not otherwise addressed in this Section 8, the Committee shall have complete discretion to make Equitable Adjustments (if any) in such manner as it deems appropriate with respect to such other event.
(f) Change in Control and Other Events. Except to the extent otherwise provided in any applicable Award Agreement, in the event of a Change in Control or other changes in the Company or the outstanding Stock by reason of a recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, exchange or other relevant change occurring after the date of the grant of any Award, the Committee, acting in its sole discretion without the consent or approval of any holder, may exercise any power enumerated in Section 3 (including the power to accelerate vesting, waive any forfeiture conditions or
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otherwise modify or adjust any other condition or limitation regarding an Award) and may also effect one or more of the following alternatives, which may vary among individual holders and which may vary among Awards held by any individual holder:
(i) accelerate the time of exercisability of an Award so that such Award may be exercised in full or in part for a limited period of time on or before a date specified by the Committee, after which specified date all unexercised Awards and all rights of holders thereunder shall terminate;
(ii) redeem in whole or in part outstanding Awards by requiring the mandatory surrender to the Company by selected holders of some or all of the outstanding Awards held by such holders (irrespective of whether such Awards are then vested or exercisable) as of a date, specified by the Committee, in which event the Committee shall thereupon cancel such Awards and pay to each holder an amount of cash or other consideration per Award (other than a Cash Award, which the Committee may separately require to be surrendered in exchange for cash or other consideration determined by the Committee in its discretion) equal to the Change in Control Price, less the Exercise Price with respect to an Option and less the grant price with respect to a SAR, as applicable to such Awards; provided, however, that to the extent the Exercise Price of an Option or the grant price of an SAR exceeds the Change in Control Price, such Award may be cancelled for no consideration;
(iii) cancel Awards that remain subject to a restricted period as of the date of a Change in Control or other such event without payment of any consideration to the Participant for such Awards; or
(iv) make such adjustments to Awards then outstanding as the Committee deems appropriate to reflect such Change in Control or other such event (including the substitution, assumption, or continuation of Awards by the successor company or a parent or subsidiary thereof);
provided, however, that so long as the event is not an Adjustment Event, the Committee may determine in its sole discretion that no adjustment is necessary to Awards then outstanding. If an Adjustment Event occurs, this Section 8(f) shall only apply to the extent it is not in conflict with Section 8(e).
9. General Provisions.
(a) Tax Matters. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan, each Participant is solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties of any kind and with respect to any tax jurisdiction that may be imposed on or for the account of such Participant in connection with the Plan.
(b) Withholding of Tax-Related Items. The Company and any of its Affiliates are authorized to withhold from any Award granted, or any payment relating to an Award, including from a distribution of Stock, income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, payment on account or other tax-related withholding items due or potentially payable in connection with any transaction involving an Award, and to take such other action as the Committee may deem advisable to enable the Company, its Affiliates and Participants to satisfy the payment of withholding taxes and other tax-related obligations relating to any Award in such amounts as may be determined by the Committee. The Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion, the form of payment acceptable for such tax-related withholding obligations, including the delivery of cash or cash equivalents, Stock (including previously owned shares, net settlement, a broker-assisted sale, or other cashless withholding or reduction of the amount of shares otherwise issuable or delivered pursuant to the Award), other property, or any other legal consideration the Committee deems appropriate. Any determination made by the Committee to allow a Participant who is subject to Rule 16b-3 to pay taxes with shares of Stock through net settlement or previously owned shares shall be approved by either a committee made up solely of two or more Qualified Members or the full Board. If such tax-related withholding amounts are satisfied through net settlement or previously owned shares, the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be so
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withheld or surrendered shall be the number of shares of Stock that have an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of withholding or surrender equal to the aggregate amount of such tax liabilities determined based on an amount that is up to the greatest withholding rates for federal, state, foreign and/or local tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that may be utilized without creating adverse accounting treatment for the Company with respect to such Award, as determined by the Committee.
(c) Limitation on Rights Conferred under Plan. Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as (i) giving any Eligible Person or Participant the right to continue as an Eligible Person or Participant or in the employ or service of the Company or any of its Affiliates, (ii) interfering in any way with the right of the Company or any of its Affiliates to terminate any Eligible Persons or Participants employment or service relationship at any time, (iii) giving an Eligible Person or Participant any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan or to be treated uniformly with other Participants and/or employees and/or other service providers, or (iv) conferring on a Participant any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company unless and until the Participant is duly issued or transferred shares of Stock in accordance with the terms of an Award.
(d) Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction. All questions arising with respect to the provisions of the Plan and Awards shall be determined by application of the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any conflict of law provisions thereof, except to the extent Delaware law is preempted by federal law. The obligation of the Company to sell and deliver Stock hereunder is subject to applicable federal and state laws and to the approval of any governmental authority required in connection with the authorization, issuance, sale, or delivery of such Stock. With respect to any claim or dispute related to or arising under the Plan, the Company and each Participant who accepts an Award hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction, forum and venue of the state and federal courts located in Delaware.
(e) Severability and Reformation. If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable law or, if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, person or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect. If any of the terms or provisions of the Plan or any Award Agreement conflict with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 (as those terms or provisions are applied to Eligible Persons who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act) or Section 422 of the Code (with respect to ISOs), then those conflicting terms or provisions shall be deemed inoperative to the extent they so conflict with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 (unless the Board or the Committee, as appropriate, has expressly determined that the Plan or such Award should not comply with Rule 16b-3) or Section 422 of the Code, in each case, only to the extent Rule 16b-3 and such sections of the Code are applicable. With respect to ISOs, if the Plan does not contain any provision required to be included herein under Section 422 of the Code, that provision shall be deemed to be incorporated herein with the same force and effect as if that provision had been set out at length herein; provided, further, that, to the extent any Option that is intended to qualify as an ISO cannot so qualify, that Option (to that extent) shall be deemed a Nonstatutory Option for all purposes of the Plan.
(f) Unfunded Status of Awards; No Trust or Fund Created. The Plan is intended to constitute an unfunded plan for certain incentive awards. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate and a Participant or any other person. To the extent that any person acquires
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a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any general unsecured creditor of the Company or such Affiliate.
(g) Nonexclusivity of the Plan. Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board nor its submission to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or a committee thereof to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable. Nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed to prevent the Company or any of its Affiliates from taking any corporate action which is deemed by the Company or such Affiliate to be appropriate or in its best interest, whether or not such action would have an adverse effect on the Plan or any Award made under the Plan. No employee, beneficiary or other person shall have any claim against the Company or any of its Affiliates as a result of any such action.
(h) Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion whether cash, other securities, or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional shares of Stock or whether such fractional shares of Stock or any rights thereto shall be cancelled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated with or without consideration.
(i) Interpretation. Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof. Words in the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender, and, where appropriate, the plural shall include the singular and the singular shall include the