ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Directors
The following table sets forth
the information of our directors, including their age, as of March 28, 2022.
Name |
|
Age |
|
Position with Company |
|
Residence |
|
Director Since |
Richard Burke |
|
57 |
|
Independent Director |
|
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL |
|
2020 |
E. Renae Conley |
|
64 |
|
Independent Director |
|
Chicago, IL |
|
2020 |
Katina Dorton |
|
64 |
|
Independent Director |
|
Raleigh, NC |
|
2014 |
Glenn A. Eisenberg |
|
60 |
|
Independent Director |
|
Charlotte, NC |
|
2018 |
Jeffrey R. Feeler |
|
52 |
|
Chairman, President, CEO, and Director |
|
Boise, ID |
|
2013 |
Daniel Fox |
|
71 |
|
Independent Director |
|
Goodyear, AZ |
|
2010 |
Mack L. Hogans |
|
73 |
|
Independent Director |
|
Kirkland, WA |
|
2021 |
Ronald C. Keating |
|
53 |
|
Independent Director |
|
Pittsburgh, PA |
|
2017 |
John T. Sahlberg |
|
68 |
|
Independent Director |
|
Boise, ID |
|
2015 |
Melanie Steiner |
|
55 |
|
Independent Director |
|
Toronto, ON |
|
2019 |
Richard
Burke joined the Board of Directors in 2020 and previously served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
of Advanced Disposal Services, Inc. (2012 – 2020), an integrated environmental services company. He previously
served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Veolia Environmental Services North America Corp., a waste management company (2009 – 2012)
and from 2007 – 2009 as President and Chief Executive Officer of Veolia ES Solid Waste, Inc., a solid waste management
company. Mr. Burke began his employment with Veolia, Inc. in 1999 as Area Manager for the Southeast Wisconsin area and served
as Regional Vice President for the Eastern and Southern markets until he was appointed Chief Executive Officer. Prior to joining Veolia, Inc.,
he spent 12 years with Waste Management, Inc., a waste management company, in a variety of leadership positions. Mr. Burke holds
a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Randolph Macon College.
E.
Renae Conley joined the Board of Directors in 2020 and currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of ER Solutions,
LLC (since 2013), an energy consulting firm. Ms. Conley previously served from 2010 – 2013 as Executive Vice
President, Human Resources & Administration and Chief Diversity Officer of Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) (“Entergy”),
an integrated energy company. She also previously served as Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer of Entergy Louisiana and Entergy
Gulf States Louisiana, an operating subsidiary of Entergy, that serves over one million electric customers. Ms. Conley also serves
as a director of PNM Resources Corp. (NYSE: PNM) (since 2014), an electric utility that serves New Mexico and Texas, and is chair of its
Compensation and Human Resources Committee and member of its Audit and Ethics Committee. She also serves as director of Southwest Gas
Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SWX) (since 2022), providing natural gas operations and utility infrastructure services, and is a member of
its Audit and Compensation Committees. She previously served as a director of Advanced Disposal Services, Inc. (2017 – 2020),
an integrated environmental services company, and was a member of its Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
Additionally, Ms. Conley is on the board of The Indiana Toll Road Concession LLC, a subsidiary of IFM Investors that operates and
maintains the Indiana East-West Toll Road. Ms. Conley has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Master of Business Administration,
both from Ball State University.
Katina
Dorton joined the Board of Directors in 2014 and currently serves as Chief Financial Officer of Nodthera, a private biotechnology
company. She also currently serves on the board and as chair of the Audit Committee of Fulcrum Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: FULC)
(since 2020) and on the board and as chair of the Audit Committee of TScan Therapeutics (NASDAQ: TCRX) (since 2021). She recently served
on the board and as chair of the Audit Committee of Pandian Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: PAND) (2020-2021). She most recently served
as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Repare Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on new therapies
for cancer (2019 – 2020). She was previously Chief Financial Officer of AVROBIO (NASDAQ: AVRO), a biotechnology company
(2017 – 2018). Ms. Dorton served as Chief Financial Officer of Immatics GmbH, also a biotechnology company, from
2015 – 2017. Previously, Ms. Dorton spent more than 15 years as an investment banker where she advised companies
and their boards on capital markets, fund raising, mergers and acquisitions, and other strategic transactions. She was a Managing Director
at Morgan Stanley and an attorney in private practice at Sullivan & Cromwell. Ms. Dorton is on the Board of the National
Association of Corporate Directors (“NACD”) Research Triangle Chapter where she has served since 2014. She is an NACD Corporate
Governance Fellow. Ms. Dorton holds a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Virginia School of Law, a Master of Business
Administration degree from George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Duke University.
Glenn
A. Eisenberg joined the Board of Directors in 2018. He is currently the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
at Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (NYSE: LH) (since 2014), a leading global life sciences company. Mr. Eisenberg brings
more than 30 years of financial and leadership experience with sizeable and diversified publicly traded companies. He previously served
as Executive Vice President (Finance and Administration) at The Timken Company (2002 – 2014) and held senior executive
and leadership positions at United Dominion Industries (1990 – 2001) and The Citizens and Southern Corporation (1985 – 1990).
In addition to these executive leadership positions, Mr. Eisenberg served on the public boards of Perspecta (2019 - 2021), Family
Dollar Stores, Inc. (2002 – 2015) and Alpha Natural Resources, Inc. (2005 – 2015). Mr. Eisenberg
holds a Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Finance from Georgia State University and a Bachelor of Arts
degree in Economics and Environmental Studies from Tulane University.
Jeffrey
R. Feeler joined the Board of Directors in 2013, was appointed Chairman of the Board in 2015, and is the Company’s
President and Chief Executive Officer. He joined the Company in 2006 as Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer, Treasurer and Controller.
He was promoted in 2007 to Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; positions he held until his promotion to senior executive in October 2012.
Prior to 2006, Mr. Feeler held financial and accounting management positions with MWI Veterinary Supply, Inc. (a distribution
company), from 2003 to 2005 with Albertson’s, Inc. (a grocery retailer and predecessor to Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:
ACI)) and from 2002 to 2003 with Hewlett-Packard Company. From 1993 to 2002, he held various accounting and auditing positions, including
the position of Sr. Manager, for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Mr. Feeler is a Certified Public Accountant and holds Bachelor of Business
Administration of Accounting and a Bachelor of Business Administration of Finance degrees, both from Boise State University.
Daniel
Fox joined the Board of Directors in 2010. He is a Certified Public Accountant. He was an active Faculty Associate in the
W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University where he developed and taught undergraduate accounting courses from August 2016
to May 2018. While not currently actively teaching, he remains in the pool of Arizona State University qualified Faculty Associates.
Mr. Fox was a full-time lecturer in the College of Business and Economics at Boise State University from 2007 through May 2016
where he developed and taught graduate and upper division undergraduate accounting and finance courses. Mr. Fox held various management
and leadership positions over a 28 year career at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, retiring as a senior partner and Global Capital Markets
Leader for the firm’s regional hub in Switzerland. During his public accounting career, Mr. Fox provided a wide range of services
to a diverse mix of clients ranging in size from small privately held start-up companies to mature global public companies. In 2018, he
received a Cyber-Risk Oversite Certificate for completing the NACD Cyber-Risk Oversight Certificate program, developed alongside the CERT
Division of the Software Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon University.
Mack
L. Hogans provides consulting services to executive officers and businesses in leadership, strategy, M&A, governance,
public policy, diversity, equity and inclusion, and environmental policy. He held various positions over a 25 year period at Weyerhaeuser
Company (NYSE: WY), a timberlands and wood products company, retiring in 2004 as Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs. Before joining
Weyerhaeuser Company, Mr. Hogans worked for the U.S. Forest Service, Maryland National Capital Parks and Planning Commission and
the National Park Service. He also serves as director of Boise Cascade Company (NYSE: BCC) (since 2014), a producer of plywood and engineered
wood products in North America, where he serves as Lead Independent Director. Mr. Hogans has a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry
and Natural Resources from the University of Michigan and a Master of Science degree in Forest Resources from the University of Washington.
Mr. Hogans was recommended for appointment to our Board by an existing director.
Ronald
C. Keating joined the Board of Directors in 2017. He brings more than 25 years of operations and leadership experience
with companies providing solutions to municipal, industrial and infrastructure customers. Mr. Keating is currently the President,
Chief Executive Officer and a director at Evoqua Water Technologies Corp. (NYSE: AQUA), a global provider of water and wastewater treatment
solutions and services (since 2014). He previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer at Contech Engineered Solutions (2008 – 2014),
a provider of site solutions for contractors, owners, engineers, and architects and held senior leadership positions at Kennametal Inc.
and Ingersoll-Rand Inc. Mr. Keating holds a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern
University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Distribution from Texas A&M.
John
T. Sahlberg joined the Board of Directors in 2015. Mr. Sahlberg previously served as Senior Vice President of Human
Resources and General Counsel for Boise Cascade Company (NYSE: BBC), a producer of plywood and engineered wood products, from which he
retired in 2019. During his 35 years with Boise Cascade Company and its predecessors, he held numerous legal and human resource positions,
responsible for human resources, labor relations, environmental compliance, legal, government relations, communications and board administration.
From 2000 through 2018, Mr. Sahlberg served as a director and chair (2014) of Vigilant, a non-profit employer association. He also
served as Management Trustee of Bledsoe Health Care Trust (2000 – 2019) and as Management Trustee of TOC/Carpenters
Pension Trust from 2000 – 2009. Mr. Sahlberg is a member of the Idaho State Bar and holds a Bachelor of Arts
degree in Economics from Harvard University and a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University.
Melanie
Steiner joined the Board of Directors in 2019. She is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Inspirion Group, a consultancy
that helps organizations manage disruptive risk and accelerate strategic transformation. She is a former global retail and fashion executive
with over 30 years of experience in risk, strategy, all aspects of Environmental, Social and Governance, as well as international law
and policy. Ms. Steiner brings a broad cross-functional background, with expertise in the key disruptive forces facing industry including
digital, cybersecurity and Environmental Social Governance (ESG). Ms. Steiner also serves on the boards of Nouryon (2021), a global
specialty chemicals leader, and Trillium Health Partners (2021). From 2012 to 2020, she served as the Chief Risk Officer of PVH Corp.
(NYSE: PVH), a Fortune 500 global apparel company with ownership of lifestyle brands Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger among others. In
this role, she oversaw a diverse set of global functions including internal audit, cybersecurity and digital risk management, Corporate
Social Responsibility (CSR), enterprise risk management, crisis management, insurance and procurement, while also acting as a key advisor
to the Senior Management Team on important areas of risk and strategy. Previously, Ms. Steiner held a leadership position with EY,
and began her career in commercial and environmental law and policy. She was a litigator as well as an international policy advisor, managing
delegations and lobbying strategies relating to various United Nations-level, Heads of State and Ministerial events and treaty processes.
Ms. Steiner holds an LLM Master of Laws from the University of London (UK) and an LLB (J.D.) Bachelor of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law
School, York University, Toronto.
Executive Officers
The following table sets forth
the information of our Executive Officers, including their age, as of March 28, 2022.
Name |
|
Age |
|
Title |
Jeffrey R. Feeler |
|
52 |
|
President and Chief Executive Officer |
Simon G. Bell |
|
52 |
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer |
Eric L. Gerratt |
|
51 |
|
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
Steven D. Welling |
|
63 |
|
Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing |
Andrew P. Marshall |
|
55 |
|
Executive Vice President of Regulatory Compliance & Safety |
Jeffrey
R. Feeler was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer in May 2013. Mr. Feeler was previously the Company’s
senior executive as President and Chief Operating Officer from October 2012 to May 2013 and as the Company’s Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer from May 2007 to October 2012. He joined US Ecology in 2006 as Vice President, Controller, Chief
Accounting Officer, Treasurer and Secretary. He previously held financial and accounting management positions with MWI Veterinary Supply, Inc.,
Albertson’s, Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Company. From 1993 to 2002, he held various accounting and auditing positions for PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP. Mr. Feeler is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a BBA of Accounting and a BBA of Finance from Boise State University.
Simon
G. Bell was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in November 2016. Mr. Bell previously
served as the Company’s Executive Vice President of Operations, Environmental Services from June 2014 to November 2016.
From May 2013 to June 2014, he was Executive Vice President of Operations and Technology Development. From August 2007
to May 2013, he was Vice President of Operations. From 2005 to August 2007, he was Vice President of Hazardous Waste Operations.
From 2002 to 2005, he was our Idaho facility General Manager and Environmental Manager. His 20 years of industry experience includes service
as general manager of a competitor disposal facility and mining industry experience in Idaho, Nevada and South Dakota. He holds a BS in
Geology from Colorado State University.
Eric
L. Gerratt was appointed Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer in May 2013. Mr. Gerratt
previously served as the Company’s Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Chief Accounting Officer from October 2012
to May 2013. He joined US Ecology in August 2007 as Vice President and Controller. He previously held various financial and
accounting management positions at SUPERVALU, Inc. and Albertson’s, Inc. From 1997 to 2003, he held various accounting
and auditing positions for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Mr. Gerratt is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a BS in Accounting
from the University of Idaho.
Steven
D. Welling was appointed Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing in May 2013. Mr. Welling previously
served as the Company’s Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing from January 2010 to May 2013. He joined US Ecology
in 2001 through the Envirosafe Services of Idaho acquisition. He previously served as National Accounts Manager for Envirosource Technologies
and Western Sales Manager for Envirosafe Services of Idaho and before that managed new market development and sales for a national bulk
chemical transportation company. Mr. Welling holds a BS from California State University-Stanislaus.
Andrew
P. Marshall was appointed Executive Vice President of Regulatory Compliance and Safety in May 2017. Mr. Marshall
previously served as the Company’s Senior Vice President, Regulatory Compliance and Safety from December 2014 to May 2017.
He joined US Ecology in 2010 as Director of Environmental Compliance. He is a Professional Engineer with over 30 years of experience assisting
companies comply with environmental regulations, including past positions with Kleinfelder, a national environmental consulting firm,
and Boise Cascade Corporation. Mr. Marshall holds a BS in Civil Engineering from Seattle University, an MS in Environmental Engineering
from Oregon State University, and an MBA from Northwest Nazarene University.
Code
of Ethics
We have adopted a code of
ethics that applies to our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. This code of ethics is available on our Web site at www.usecology.com.
If we make any amendments to this code other than technical, administrative or other non-substantive amendments, or grant any waivers,
including implicit waivers, from a provision of this code to our Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, we will disclose
the nature of the amendment or waiver, its effective date and to whom it applies in a report filed with the SEC.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
In accordance with the Delaware
General Corporation Law, the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and Amended and Restated Bylaws, the Company’s
business, property and affairs are managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. Although the Company’s non-employee directors
are not involved in day-to-day operations, they are kept informed of the Company’s business through written financial and operations
reports and other documents provided to them from time to time by management, as well as by operating, financial and other reports presented
by management in preparation for, and at meetings of, the Board of Directors and the four standing committees of the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors is
ultimately responsible for the Company’s corporate governance and it is the responsibility of the Board of Directors to ensure that
the Company complies with federal securities laws and regulations, including those promulgated under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. We
believe that a range of tenure among Board members from a variety of backgrounds ensures a balanced mix of longer tenured directors with
deep perspectives on our business with fresh perspectives in the boardroom.
Independence
The Company is required by Nasdaq listing standards
to have a majority of independent directors. The Board of Directors has determined that nine of the Company’s current 10 directors
are independent as defined by the applicable Nasdaq listing standards. The nine independent directors are:
The Board of Directors has
determined that each of these directors is free of any relationship that would interfere with his or her exercise of independent judgment
in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Mr. Feeler is the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and therefore
not considered independent under the applicable Nasdaq listing standards.
Meetings of the Board of Directors
During the year ended December 31,
2021, the Board of Directors held four regularly scheduled meetings. Seven special meetings of the Board were also held. Each of the directors
attended at least 75% of the total meetings of the Board of Directors and meetings held by the committees on which he or she served. Director
attendance at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders is encouraged but not required. The Board holds an executive session at each regularly
scheduled Board meeting where non-employee directors meet without management participation. The Board of Directors met in executive session
without management present at all regularly scheduled Board of Directors meetings in fiscal year 2021. As a matter of good corporate governance,
an executive session is typically held at all other meetings of the Board of Directors.
Risk Oversight
The Board of Directors oversee
an enterprise-wide approach to risk management, designed to support the achievement of organizational objectives, including strategic
objectives, to improve long-term organizational performance and enhance stockholder value while managing risk. A fundamental part of risk
management is not only understanding the risks the Company faces and what steps management is taking to understand and manage those risks,
but also evaluating what level of risk is appropriate for the Company. The involvement of the Board of Directors in setting the Company’s
business strategy is a key part of its assessment of management’s risk tolerance and determination of what constitutes an appropriate
level of risk for the Company.
While the Board of Directors
has the ultimate oversight responsibility for the risk management process, committees of the Board also have responsibility for certain
aspects of risk management. At each regularly scheduled meeting of the Corporate Responsibility and Risk Committee, the Company’s
enterprise risk management and risk environment is discussed. Please refer to the “Committees of the Board of Directors” section
of this Amendment No. 1 for additional details on the duties of the Corporate Responsibility and Risk Committee. The Board of Directors
participates in and discusses the results of an annual enterprise risk management assessment, which is monitored and coordinated by the
Corporate Responsibility and Risk Committee. In this process, risk is assessed throughout the business, focusing on key areas of risk
such as financial, legal, operational, strategic and information technology. The Corporate Responsibility and Risk Committee also helps
address and mitigate risk by providing guidance on business conduct, ethics and other business code of conduct matters. The Audit Committee
focuses on financial risk, including internal controls. In setting compensation, the Compensation Committee strives to create incentives
and equity ownership programs that will align the interests of management with the interests of stockholders and encourage an appropriate
level of risk-taking behavior consistent with the Company’s business strategy. The Corporate Governance Committee evaluates the
effectiveness of the Board and its members, reviews potential or actual conflicts of interest between Board members and the Company. .
For additional details on equity ownership requirements and prohibitions against pledging and hedging of Company stock, please refer to
the “Equity and Security Ownership Guidelines” and “Prohibition Against Pledging and Hedging” sections of this
Amendment No. 1.
Board of Directors Assessment and Board Evaluation
The Company believes that
good governance requires a focus on continual improvement of each director and the Board as a whole. Annually, at the Board’s direction,
evaluations of both the Board as a whole and the skills of each director are conducted. In 2021, the Board solicited feedback from each
director on a variety of matters such as Board size and composition, Board leadership, Board committees, Board policies, accountability
and effectiveness of addressing action items identified in the prior year’s evaluation. Directors were also given the opportunity
to include comments to each question and comment generally on the performance of the Board. The Board also solicited each director’s
evaluation of his or her own skills. The Board reviewed the results of the Board evaluation and identified areas of strengths and weaknesses
and action items to improve the performance and effectiveness of the Board. The Board reviewed the skills of the directors to identify
areas where additional training or education may be appropriate and to assist with evaluating director candidates.
Committees of the Board of Directors
The four standing committees of the Board of Directors
are:
| · | Corporate Responsibility and Risk |
Audit
Committee
The current members of the
Audit Committee are Messrs. Eisenberg and Burke, and Mmes. Dorton and Steiner. Mr. Eisenberg is the committee chair. The Audit
Committee, which met six times in 2021, has duties that include the following:
| · | Reviewing the proposed plan and scope of the Company’s annual audit, as well as the audit results, and reviewing and approving
the selection of and services provided by the Company’s independent registered public accountant and its fees; |
| · | Meeting with management to assure the adequacy of accounting principles, financial controls and policies; |
| · | Meeting at least quarterly to review financial results, discuss financial statements and SEC reporting, and make recommendations to
the Board; |
| · | Reviewing and discussing with management the Company’s compliance programs; |
| · | Reviewing the Board-approved dividend policy based on financial information provided by management; and |
| · | Reviewing the independent registered public accountant’s recommendations for internal controls, adequacy of staff and management
performance concerning audit and financial controls. |
The
Board of Directors has determined that each of Mmes. Dorton and Steiner and each of Messrs. Burke and Eisenberg meets the independence
requirements for Audit Committee service set forth in the applicable rules under the Exchange Act, and that Mr. Eisenberg and
Ms. Dorton qualify as “audit committee financial experts” as defined in Item 407 of Regulation S-K. The written charter
for the Audit Committee is available on the Company’s website at www.usecology.com.
Corporate Governance Committee
The current members of the
Corporate Governance Committee are Messrs. Hogans, Keating and Sahlberg, and Ms. Dorton. Mr. Hogans is the committee chair.
The Corporate Governance Committee, which met two times in 2021, fulfills the requirement of a nominating committee composed solely of
independent directors as required by the applicable Nasdaq listing standards. The Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for identifying
and recommending qualified and experienced individuals to fill vacancies and potential new director seats if the Board is expanded.
The Corporate Governance Committee
considers candidates for director who are recommended by its members, by other Board members, by stockholders and by management and evaluates
candidates based upon numerous factors, including, but not limited to:
| · | Education and business experience; |
| · | Broad-based business acumen; |
| · | Understanding of the Company’s business, industry and related regulatory environment; and |
| · | Expertise in a particular skill(s) determined to be important through the Board of Directors skills assessment and Board evaluation
process. |
The Company believes that
consideration of these and other factors leads to a Board consisting of individuals with viewpoints, professional experience, education,
skills and other qualities that contribute to Board heterogeneity. The Corporate Governance Committee is committed to enhancing the diversity
of the Board and actively seeks out highly qualified diverse candidates to include in the pool from which Board nominees are chosen. Representation
of gender, ethnic or other diverse perspectives expands the Board’s understanding of the viewpoints of our customers, employees
and other stakeholders. The Corporate Governance Committee and Board evaluated the qualifications of the Board as a whole, considering
a number of key skills. The Corporate Governance Committee concluded that the individuals nominated to stand for election at the Annual
Meeting collectively offer a mix of skills, expertise and experience that is well suited to the Company’s needs. The written charter
for the Corporate Governance Committee is available on the Company’s website at www.usecology.com.
Compensation Committee
The
current members of the Compensation Committee are Ms. Conley and Messrs. Burke, Keating and Sahlberg. Ms. Conley is the
committee chair. The Board of Directors has determined that each of Messrs. Burke, Keating and Sahlberg, and Ms. Conley meets
the independence requirements for Compensation Committee service set forth by the applicable rules under the Exchange Act and Nasdaq
listing standards. The Compensation Committee, which met three times in 2021, oversees the Company’s overall compensation policies,
reviews and approves performance targets for the Company’s incentive compensation programs, designs and administers the Company’s
equity compensation plans, reviews and recommends to the Board the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer, and approves the compensation
of each of the other executive officers, including the amount of base salary, incentive compensation and equity compensation payable.
The Compensation Committee also makes recommendations to the Board regarding compensation of the non-employee directors and performs other
Board-delegated functions related to compensation. The written charter for the Compensation Committee is available on the Company’s
website at www.usecology.com.
Corporate Responsibility and Risk Committee
The current members of the
Corporate Responsibility and Risk Committee are Mmes. Conley and Steiner, and Messrs. Eisenberg and Hogans. Ms. Steiner is the
committee chair. Duties of the Corporate Responsibility and Risk Committee, which met five times in 2021, include, among others, the following:
| · | Monitoring and coordinating enterprise-wide approach to risk management, including the Company’s annual enterprise risk management
process; |
| · | Reviewing, evaluating and providing guidance to management with respect to significant issues related to social, employment, environmental
and other matters of interest to the Company and its stakeholders; |
| · | Reviewing the Company’s performance and progress towards sustainability strategic goals and objectives; and |
| · | Overseeing the Company’s management of risks related to its information technology systems and processes, including privacy,
network security and data security. |
Beginning in 2021, the Corporate Responsibility
and Risk Committee met at least quarterly to address the topics above, as well as other matters of concern and relevance to the Company.
Board Leadership Structure
Each year the Board selects
a Chairman of the Board and a Chief Executive Officer. The Chairman of the Board is responsible for helping establish the Company’s
strategic priorities, presiding over Board meetings and communicating the Board’s guidance to management. The Chief Executive Officer,
on the other hand, is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Company’s operations and business and reports directly to
the Board.
During the 2021 – 2022
Board year, the roles of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer were both held by Mr. Feeler. Mr. Feeler has been
with the Company since 2006, which has given him a unique understanding of the environmental services industry, market trends, and the
Company’s strategic position, strengths and weaknesses, as well as day-to-day operational details. The Board believes that these
attributes make Mr. Feeler uniquely qualified to serve in both positions and helps the Board and management operate in an efficient
and effective manner.
When the Chairman of the Board
also serves as an employee of the Company, an independent director will serve as “Lead Independent Director” and, among other
things, serve as a liaison between the non-independent chairman and the independent directors; review and approve the schedule, agenda
and materials for all meetings of the Board; chair executive sessions of the independent Board members at scheduled Board meetings without
the non-independent chairman present; provide consultation and direct communication to major stockholders, if requested; and call special
meetings of the independent directors if needed. From the date of Mr. Feeler’s appointment as Chairman of the Board on May 27,
2015, an independent director has served as Lead Independent Director. Mr. Fox currently serves in such role.
Although the Board believes
the current leadership structure is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, the Board will, each year, reevaluate whether
to separate the responsibilities of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board and consider a rotation of the Lead Independent
Director position.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
This Compensation Discussion
Analysis covers the compensation paid to the Company’s Named Executive Officers for fiscal year 2021. The Company’s Named
Executive Officers for fiscal year 2021 were:
| · | Jeffrey R. Feeler (President and Chief Executive Officer) |
| · | Simon G. Bell (Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer) |
| · | Steven D. Welling (Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing) |
| · | Eric L. Gerratt (Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer) |
| · | Andrew P. Marshall (Executive Vice President of Regulatory Compliance and Safety) |
US Ecology’s executive
compensation program is performance-based and otherwise designed to ensure that the interests of our executive officers, including the
Named Executive Officers, are closely aligned with those of our stockholders. The Compensation Committee believes this program is effective
in allowing the Company to attract and motivate highly qualified executive talent capable of delivering outstanding business performance.
The following discussion presents the Company’s executive compensation program and policies. The Compensation Committee has provided
oversight on the design and administration of the Company’s executive compensation program and policies, participated in the preparation
of the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and recommended to the Board that it be included in this Amendment No.1.
This Compensation Discussion
and Analysis contains statements regarding certain performance targets and goals the Company has used or may use to determine appropriate
compensation. These targets and goals are disclosed in the limited context of the Company’s compensation program and should not
be understood to be statements of management’s expectations or estimates of financial results or other guidance. The Company specifically
cautions investors not to apply these statements to other contexts.
Compensation Philosophy and Objectives
The Company’s long-term
goal is to increase stockholder value. The objective of the executive compensation program is to attract, motivate, reward and retain
highly qualified executive officers with the ability to help the Company achieve this long-term goal. The executive compensation program
is designed to provide a foundation of fixed compensation and a significant portion of performance-based compensation to align the interests
of the Company’s executive officers, including the Named Executive Officers, with those of the Company’s stockholders.
Oversight
of the Executive Compensation Program — The Compensation Committee, which is composed entirely of independent
directors, administers the Company’s executive compensation program. The Compensation Committee has direct responsibility to review
and recommend corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, and make recommendations
to the Board regarding his compensation. The Compensation Committee also reviews the evaluation process and compensation structure for
the Company’s other Named Executive Officers, approves their compensation and administers the Company’s programs for incentive
cash and equity payments.
Principles
and Compensation Best Practices — The Company believes that in order to meet its goal of increasing stockholder
value, compensation must be both reasonable and competitive with what the Named Executive Officers would otherwise obtain if employed
elsewhere in a similar position with similar responsibilities. The Compensation Committee believes that performance-based executive compensation
should reflect value created for stockholders consistent with the Company’s strategic goals. The following principles are among
those applied by the Compensation Committee:
| · | Executive compensation programs should support short and long-term strategic goals and objectives; |
| · | Executive compensation programs should reflect the Company’s overall value and business growth and
reward individuals for outstanding contributions; and |
| · | Short and long-term executive compensation programs are critical factors in attracting and retaining well-qualified
executive officers. |
The Compensation Committee
seeks to apply best governance practices in developing and administering executive compensation and benefit programs, and has taken steps
to enhance its ability to effectively carry out its responsibilities and to ensure that the Company maintains strong links between pay
and performance.
What We Do |
|
What We Don’t Do |
ü Capped
payouts under the Company’s annual Management Incentive Plan and performance stock unit plan
ü Stock
ownership requirements for directors and Named Executive Officers
ü Following
a change-in-control, acceleration of equity awards (if they are not assumed or substituted in connection with such change-in-control)
and payment of cash severance occur only upon a qualifying termination (i.e., “double-trigger”)
ü Prohibition
against pledging and hedging of equity based awards
ü Independent
compensation consultant who provides an annual report to the Compensation Committee on Named Executive Officer pay alignment
ü Recoupment
of incentive compensation following a restatement of our financial statements resulting from an executive’s intentional misconduct |
|
x No
excise tax gross ups
x No
dividends paid on performance stock units prior to vesting
x No
repricing, replacing or cash buyouts of underwater options or stock appreciation rights without stockholder approval
x No
supplemental retirement benefits during 2021 and no more than limited perquisites to the Named Executive Officers |
Role
of Executive Officers and Consultants — While the Compensation Committee determines the Company’s
overall compensation philosophy and independently recommends the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer to the Board, it consults
with the Chief Executive Officer with respect to both overall compensation policy and specific compensation decisions for the other Named
Executive Officers. The Compensation Committee has the authority to retain independent compensation consultants to provide advice relating
to market and compensation trends and to assist with data gathering and analysis. The Compensation Committee engaged Meridian Compensation
Partners (“Meridian”) in 2020 to assist the Compensation Committee in its review of 2021 executive and non-employee
director compensation matters. The Compensation Committee did not direct Meridian to perform its services in any particular manner.
Meridian has no other business
relationships with the Company and provides no other services to the Company. The Compensation Committee adopted a written policy to review
the independence of any compensation consultants it uses for executive compensation matters. The Compensation Committee considered Meridian
in light of the six independence factors mandated by SEC rules and related Nasdaq listing standards and concluded that Meridian is
independent.
Competitive
Considerations — The Company reviews relevant compensation market data, from time to time, in order to
help determine appropriate overall compensation for the Named Executive Officers. Peer group-based compensation market data and Named
Executive Officer pay history data are provided to the Compensation Committee by Meridian.
In 2020, the Compensation
Committee, with advice from Meridian, approved a 17 company peer group for comparing 2021 executive compensation (“2021 Industry
Peer Group”). The companies in the 2021 Industry Peer Group were as follows:
Aegion Corporation |
McGrath RentCorp |
Badger Daylighting, Ltd. |
NV5 Global, Inc. |
Casella Waste Systems, Inc. |
SEACOR Holdings, Inc. |
CECO Environmental Corp. |
Secure Energy Services, Inc. |
Clean Harbors, Inc. |
Stericycle, Inc. |
Covanta Holding Corp. |
Team, Inc. |
Harsco Corporation |
Tetra Tech, Inc. |
Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. |
TETRA Technologies, Inc. |
Matrix Service Company |
|
The
median of revenue, total assets, and market capitalization of these companies at the time of their selection in 2020 were $1.0 billion,
$1.1 billion and $0.7 billion, respectively. At that time, the Company was positioned at the 52nd percentile of the group in revenue
terms, the 72nd percentile in asset terms and the 61st percentile in market capitalization terms.
The Compensation Committee
reviewed the base salary, annual short-term incentive opportunity, annual equity-based/long-term incentive award and total compensation
data from the 2021 Industry Peer Group, which was provided by Meridian. The Company does not target a particular percentile of the peer
data when making compensation decisions. Instead, total compensation for the Named Executive Officers is reviewed to determine whether
the Company is generally competitive (i.e., within a competitive range of market median) in the market in which it operates, taking
into consideration, among other things:
| · | Executive compensation at peer group companies (compared primarily based on total target compensation),
taking into account the relative size of US Ecology compared to those companies; |
| · | Performance of the Company and the contributing roles of individual Named Executive Officers; |
| · | Performance of each Named Executive Officer; |
| · | Each Named Executive Officer’s experience and responsibilities; and |
| · | Internal pay equity and hierarchy. |
The Compensation Committee
does not assign a particular weight to any of these factors. The Compensation Committee considered the data provided by Meridian, among
other things, when making 2021 compensation decisions (including in setting base salaries, target bonus opportunities and equity compensation
grants). Although the Compensation Committee does not target a particular percentile of the peer data when making compensation decisions,
executive pay has generally trailed the peer group median over time.
Relevance
to Performance — The executive compensation program emphasizes performance measured by goals or equity
vehicles that align the interests of executives with those of the Company and its stockholders. For the Named Executive Officers to earn
cash-based incentive payments, the Company must meet or exceed specified performance targets based on the achievement of operating income,
health and safety, and environmental compliance targets, each determined by the Compensation Committee to align the Named Executive Officer’s
pay with the creation of stockholder value. The Compensation Committee may also approve equity-based compensation such as restricted stock
and/or options to purchase the Company’s common stock based on the Company’s performance and the performance of executives
and other employees considered for such grants. The performance-based incentive programs for fiscal year 2021 are addressed in detail
under the “Elements of Compensation” section of this Amendment No.1.
Recoupment
Policy — In the event of a restatement of the Company’s financial statements for any period (“Restatement”),
the Compensation Committee shall review the facts and circumstances leading to such Restatement and determine whether the need for such
Restatement was the result of an Executive’s intentional misconduct. Upon a determination that there was intentional misconduct,
the Compensation Committee may take such actions as it considers appropriate with respect to the recovery of cash under short-term management
incentive plans and equity-based compensation that is granted, awarded or paid under any compensation plan or arrangement of the Company
that became payable, earned or vested, in whole or in part, based wholly or in part on attainment of any financial reporting measure,
excluding measures based on or linked to the market value of the Company’s stock price. This policy applies to current and former
employees of the Company who are, or were, as determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole judgment, Section 16 officers
(as defined in the Exchange Act) of the Company and other direct reports to the Chief Executive Officer during the period in which the
policy is in effect.
Elements of Compensation
Executive compensation is
based primarily on three components: base salary, annual short-term incentive opportunities and long-term equity-based awards. The Compensation
Committee regularly reviews each element of the compensation program to ensure consistency with the Company’s objectives. The Compensation
Committee believes that each compensation element complements the other compensation elements and that together they serve to achieve
the Company’s compensation objectives. The Compensation Committee does not require that a particular component comprise a set portion
of the total compensation mix. The Compensation Committee believes that a significant portion of the compensation should be performance-based
and at-risk, and that the performance-based (incentive) compensation should align an executive’s interests with those of its stockholders.
The Compensation Committee reviews total direct compensation (the sum of base salary, incentive opportunities and equity awards) for the
Named Executive Officers and targets median total compensation levels of the peer data. The charts below show a comparison of the mix
of pay elements included in our Chief Executive Officer’s total compensation opportunity for 2021 and the average mix of pay elements
included in our other Named Executive Officers’ total compensation opportunities for 2021.
2021
Total Target Compensation Compared to 2021 Industry Peer Group — The table below compares the total 2021 target compensation
for each of the Named Executive Officers to the 2021 Industry Peer Group median. Data for the 2021 Industry Peer Group was sourced, at
the time, from the most recent peer proxy filings (generally 2020 filings, reflecting 2019 compensation), updated for forward looking
disclosures where available.
Name and Principal Position | |
2021 Total Target
Compensation ($) | | |
2021 Industry Peer
Group Median Total
Compensation ($) | |
Jeffrey R. Feeler | |
| | | |
| | |
President & Chief Executive Officer | |
| 3,081,250 | | |
| 3,706,059 | |
Simon G. Bell | |
| | | |
| | |
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer | |
| 1,488,050 | | |
| 1,559,000 | |
Steven D. Welling | |
| | | |
| | |
Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing | |
| 1,411,250 | | |
| 1,448,823 | |
Eric L. Gerratt | |
| | | |
| | |
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer | |
| 1,411,250 | | |
| 1,440,018 | |
Andrew P. Marshall | |
| | | |
| | |
Executive Vice President of Regulatory Compliance & Safety | |
| 967,000 | | |
| 1,074,766 | |
The following chart compares
the components of target compensation for Mr. Feeler to that of the 2021 Industry Peer Group.
As demonstrated by the chart
below, approximately 80% of Mr. Feeler’s 2021 target compensation was at-risk and/or performance based, compared to 78% of
the compensation of the 2021 Industry Peer Group chief executive officers.
Base
Salary — The Company provides competitive base salaries to attract and retain executive talent. The Compensation Committee
believes that a competitive base salary provides a degree of financial stability for the Named Executive Officers. Therefore, pay levels
are based on market assessment, individual performance, scope of the roles and responsibilities of each incumbent and internal pay equity.
Salaries may also form the basis for other elements of compensation. For example, annual short-term incentive opportunities are calculated
as a percentage of base salary. Base salaries for the Named Executive Officers as of January 1, 2021, are set forth in the table
below:
Named Executive Officer | |
Base Salary for 2020 ($) | | |
Base Salary for 2021 ($) | | |
Change (%) | |
Jeffrey R. Feeler | |
| 625,000 | | |
| 625,000 | | |
| - | |
Simon G. Bell | |
| 453,000 | | |
| 453,000 | | |
| - | |
Steven D. Welling | |
| 425,000 | | |
| 425,000 | | |
| - | |
Eric L. Gerratt | |
| 425,000 | | |
| 425,000 | | |
| - | |
Andrew P. Marshall | |
| 320,000 | | |
| 320,000 | | |
| - | |
Annual
Short-Term Incentives — The Named Executive Officers and other employees are eligible to earn annual incentive
cash payments based on Company and individual performance (“Cash Incentive”). The payout available for each Named Executive
Officer is established as a percentage of annual base salary (“Target Cash Incentive”). These percentages are developed
by the Compensation Committee according to such employee’s duties, level, range of responsibility and other compensation. Upon the
availability of audited financial statements, Cash Incentives are determined and paid for the prior fiscal year.
The Target Cash Incentive
and maximum Cash Incentive for each of the Named Executive Officers for 2021 is set forth in the following table:
Named Executive Officer | |
Target Cash Incentive
(expressed as a
percentage of base
salary) | | |
Maximum Cash
Incentive (expressed as a
percentage of base
salary) | |
Jeffrey R. Feeler | |
| 105 | % | |
| 210 | % |
Simon G. Bell | |
| 85 | % | |
| 170 | % |
Steven D. Welling | |
| 85 | % | |
| 170 | % |
Eric L. Gerratt | |
| 85 | % | |
| 170 | % |
Andrew P. Marshall | |
| 85 | % | |
| 170 | % |
Cash Incentives for Named
Executive Officers and certain other employees are determined based on performance under the Company’s Management Incentive Plan
(“MIP”). On December 17, 2020, the Board approved the 2021 MIP. Under the 2021 MIP, each Named Executive Officer
was eligible to earn a Cash Incentive payment for fiscal year 2021 based on the achievement of four independent objectives established
by the Compensation Committee (each, a “Plan Objective”):
(1) financial;
(2) individual
performance;
(3) health
and safety; and
(4) compliance.
The amount available for achievement
of each Plan Objective was allocated as a fraction of a Named Executive Officer’s Target Cash Incentive and could be earned even
if an amount was not earned for another Plan Objective — i.e., performance under each Plan Objective is measured
independently. A summary of the 2021 MIP targets is provided below:
Objective/Weight |
|
Target |
Financial (60%) |
|
|
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) (40%) |
|
$191,868,000 |
Free Cash Flow (FCF) (20%)(1) |
|
$130,340,000 |
Individual Performance (20%) |
|
Achievement of Established Priorities |
Health and Safety (TRIR) (10%) |
|
=<1.77 |
Compliance (10%) |
|
Non-Formulaic but Based on Actual Results |
| (1) | EBITDA less landfill cell amortization and maintenance
and growth capital expenditures. |
The portion of a Named Executive
Officer’s Target Cash Incentive based on financial performance (“Finance Target Incentive”) was scalable beginning
with every one percentage point above 89% of each of the Company’s target (i) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation
and amortization (“EBITDA Target”) and (ii) free cash flow (“FCF Target”) (each, a “Base
MIP Target”) and was weighted at 40% and 20%, respectively, of a Named Executive Officer’s Target Cash Incentive and 67%
and 33% respectively of the Finance Target Incentive. For performance of 90% of a Base MIP Target, 50% of the Finance Target Incentive,
multiplied by the corresponding weight; 67% in the case of the EBITDA Target and 33% in case of the FCF Target (each, a “Target
Weight”), would be earned. For every percentage point achievement over 90% of a Base MIP Target, up to and including 100%, a
Named Executive Officer would earn 5% of the Finance Target Incentive, multiplied by the Target Weight. Upon 100% achievement of a Base
MIP Target, 100% of the Finance Target Incentive, multiplied by the Target Weight, would be available to a Named Executive Officer. In
the event the Company exceeds 100% of a Base MIP Target, a Named Executive Officer would be eligible for an additional incentive payment
in an amount calculated by multiplying his Target Incentive by 10% for every 1% increase over 100% of a Base MIP Target and multiplied
further by the Target Weight. The additional incentive payments were capped at one times a Named Executive Officer’s Target Cash
Incentive (achieved at 110% of each Base MIP Target) for a maximum potential incentive payment of two times the Named Executive Officer’s
Target Cash Incentive. The Financial Target Incentive is the only objective that has an upside (above-target) payout opportunity.
Up to an additional 20% of
a Named Executive Officer’s Target Cash Incentive could be earned based on the Compensation Committee’s assessment of individual
performance, including through achievement of established annual priorities, effective use of Company resources and other evaluative factors
as determined by the Compensation Committee. Individual performance objectives were established at the beginning of fiscal year 2021 and
included matters specific to each Named Executive Officer’s area of responsibility.
Named Executive Officer |
|
2021 Individual
Priorities |
Jeffrey R. Feeler |
|
Overall success of strategic priorities, execution on integration, sales, operations, financial, information systems, human resources, regulatory and compliance initiatives supporting long-term market positioning. |
|
|
|
Simon G. Bell |
|
Support and promote organic growth initiatives with disciplined review of sustainability and Return on Investment expectations, including continued review and validation of results. Increase free cash flow generation through measuring and streamlining operations. Maintain safe and compliant operations at all locations. |
|
|
|
Steven D. Welling |
|
Drive revenue generation, new market development and customer experience initiatives to build brand awareness, increase customer loyalty and position the Company for long-term growth. |
|
|
|
Eric L. Gerratt |
|
Manage the Company’s debt and capital structure, accounting, reporting and treasury initiatives. Oversee the development and implementation of information systems supporting the long-term infrastructure requirements of the organization. Monitor and oversee compliance with reporting and accounting requirements and regulations. |
|
|
|
Andrew P. Marshall |
|
Drive continuous improvement and validate effectiveness of the Company’s regulatory compliance and safety programs. |
The metric for the Health
and Safety objective was Total Recordable Incident Rates or “TRIR” and weighted at up to 10% of the Named Executive Officer’s
Target Cash Incentive.
Up to 10% of a Named Executive
Officer’s Target Cash Incentive was based on compliance. The performance evaluation for the compliance objective was based on the
Compensation Committee’s judgment of the Company’s overall compliance program effectiveness and considered the avoidance of
“notices of violation or enforcement” with monetary penalties and achievement of permitting initiatives. The corresponding
incentive was earned based on a determination by the Compensation Committee taking into consideration, among other things, the dollar
amount of a monetary penalty paid (or accrued under GAAP) in fiscal year 2021, the nature of the notices of violation or enforcement,
the regulatory basis for any such penalty and the respective fact patterns.
The Company achieved the 2021
MIP target for TRIR. Therefore, the Cash Incentive earned for achievement of the health and safety objective was 10% of each Named Executive
Officer’s Target Cash Incentive.
The Cash Incentive earned
by each Named Executive Officer for the Compliance objective was 10% of his Target Cash Incentive, reflecting the Compensation Committee’s
view of the success of the overall compliance program at various operating divisions. In 2021, the Company received 138 regulatory inspections
and 83% (90% in 2020) were conducted with no concerns or follow up from our regulatory agencies.
A summary of the 2021 MIP
actual results compared to the applicable targets is provided in the table below. The amount paid to each Named Executive Officer under
the 2021 MIP is set forth in the “Summary Compensation Table” of this Amendment No.1.
Objective/Weight |
|
Target |
|
Actual |
|
Comment |
Financial (60%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
EBITDA (40%) |
|
$191,868,000 |
|
$159,204,156 |
|
Did Not Achieve Threshold of |
FCF (20%) |
|
$130,340,000 |
|
$106,087,175 |
|
90% of the Base MIP Target |
Individual Performance (20%) |
|
Achievement of Individual and Team Objectives |
|
|
|
Individual and Team Priorities Substantially Achieved |
Jeffrey R. Feeler |
|
20% |
|
|
|
19.2% |
Simon G. Bell |
|
20% |
|
|
|
19% |
Steven D. Welling |
|
20% |
|
|
|
19.5% |
Eric L. Gerratt |
|
20% |
|
|
|
18.5% |
Andrew P. Marshall |
|
20% |
|
|
|
19% |
Health and Safety (TRIR) (10%) |
|
=<1.77 |
|
1.26 |
|
10% |
Compliance (10%) |
|
Compliance Program Effectiveness |
|
|
|
10% |
Long-Term
Incentives — The Company’s long-term incentive program in 2021 was based on the following two vehicles:
| • | Restricted stock (approximately 50% of total value); and |
| • | Stock options (approximately 50% of total value). |
Restricted
Stock. Restricted stock granted to the Named Executive Officers in 2021 vest in equal annual installments over three years. The value
of restricted stock is tied to the market price of the Company’s common stock and further aligns the Named Executive Officers’
interests with the interests of the Company’s stockholders, while also providing the Company with a significant retention tool.
Named Executive Officers receive dividends with respect to the restricted stock as and when paid on the Company’s common stock.
Stock Option Awards. Stock
options granted to Named Executive Officers in 2021 vest in equal annual installments over three years. The Company believes that, because
the option holder will not realize value from a stock option unless the value of the stock increases after the grant date, stock options
are performance-based awards that directly align the interests of the option holder with those of our stockholders. In addition, the long-term
vesting of the awards provides a key retention tool while providing a long-term focus on driving increased stockholder value.
Equity Awards Granted in 2021.
The equity awards granted to the Named Executive Officers in 2021 are set forth in the table below:
Named Executive Officer | |
Performance Stock Units
Granted (Target) (#) | | |
Restricted Stock Granted
(#) | | |
Stock Options Granted
(#) | |
Jeffrey R. Feeler | |
| — | | |
| 25,500 | | |
| 90,900 | |
Simon G. Bell | |
| — | | |
| 9,200 | | |
| 32,800 | |
Steven D. Welling | |
| — | | |
| 8,900 | | |
| 31,600 | |
Eric L. Gerratt | |
| — | | |
| 8,900 | | |
| 31,600 | |
Andrew P. Marshall | |
| — | | |
| 5,300 | | |
| 18,900 | |
Other In-Cycle PSU Awards
in 2021. PSU awards granted in 2019 were scheduled to vest on December 31, 2021. The thresholds for Adjusted Earnings Per Share and
Return on Invested Capital were not achieved. As a result, 0% of the target award was received.
Named Executive Officer | |
Performance Stock Units
Granted (Target)
(#) | | |
Performance Stock Units
Received
(#) | |
Jeffrey R. Feeler | |
| 6,592 | | |
| — | |
Simon G. Bell | |
| 2,847 | | |
| — | |
Steven D. Welling | |
| 2,847 | | |
| — | |
Eric L. Gerratt | |
| 2,847 | | |
| — | |
Andrew P. Marshall | |
| 1,978 | | |
| — | |
Discretionary
Bonuses — The Company may, from time-to-time, grant discretionary bonuses to Named Executive Officers in order to achieve
defined objectives. Discretionary bonuses were not paid to the Named Executive Officers in 2021 or in respect of 2021 performance.
Other
Compensation — The Company provides employee benefits that are intended to meet current and future health
and financial security needs for its employees, including the Named Executive Officers, and their families. Such employee benefits include
medical, dental and life insurance benefits, short-term disability pay, long-term disability insurance, flexible or health savings accounts
for medical expense reimbursements and a 401(k) retirement savings plan that includes a partial Company match, which are provided
to the Named Executive Officers on the same terms and conditions that apply to all other full-time regular employees. In addition, in
November 2019, the Board approved the US Ecology, Inc. Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (“Deferred Compensation
Plan”), which is offered to certain of our highly compensated employees, including the Named Executive Officers, and certain
other service providers starting with the 2020 calendar year. Pursuant to this plan, eligible participants can elect to defer a portion
of their base salary, performance-based compensation earned under the MIP, commissions or Form 1099 compensation, as applicable,
to a later year. These contributions, and all income, gains and losses attributable thereto, are always vested. The plan does not provide
for any discretionary or matching contributions by the Company. For additional details regarding the Deferred Compensation Plan, please
refer to the “Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation” section of this Amendment No.1.
Certain 2022 Compensation Decisions
2022
Peer Group — The 2021 Industry Peer Group was reviewed again in 2021 and it was determined that, for evaluating
2022 executive compensation, the group should be modified to remove Aegion Corporation and SEACOR Holdings Inc., each having gone private
in May 2021 and April 2021, respectively; reducing the total number to 15.
Base
Salary — On November 11, 2021, the Company approved the 2022 base salary for the Named Executive Officers,
which, except in the case of Mr. Feeler, reflects an increase from the base salary paid in 2021.
Name and Principal Position | |
Base Salary for 2021
($) | | |
Base Salary for 2022
($) | | |
Change (%) | | |
| |
Jeffrey R. Feeler | |
| 625,000 | | |
| 625,000 | | |
| — | | |
| | |
Simon G. Bell | |
| 453,000 | | |
| 473,000 | | |
| 4.4 | | |
| | |
Steven D. Welling | |
| 425,000 | | |
| 442,000 | | |
| 4.0 | | |
| | |
Eric L. Gerratt | |
| 425,000 | | |
| 442,000 | | |
| 4.0 | | |
| | |
Andrew P. Marshall | |
| 320,000 | | |
| 333,000 | | |
| 4.1 | | |
| | |
2022
Short-Term Incentive Award — For 2022, the health and safety (TRIR) and compliance objectives were grouped
under the category of Environmental and Social, for a total of three plan objectives (Finance, Environmental and Social, and Invividual
Performance), though the targets for each may differ from 2021.
2022
PSU Awards — The targets for PSU awards granted in 2022 will be based on the Company's revenue growth
and net debt leverage, each weighted at 50% of the target PSUs. After the payout under the PSUs is determined, the number of shares to
be provided will be subject to modification based on the total stockholder return of the Company's common stock from January 1, 2022
to December 31, 2024 relative to that of a group of peers during the same period.
Equity and Security Ownership Guidelines
In 2015, the Board approved
a Share Ownership Policy in which target share ownership levels were established for the Named Executive Officers and non-employee directors
(each, a “Participant”) based on a multiple of annual salary in the case of Named Executive Officers and a multiple
of the annual cash retainer in the case of non-employee directors (“Target Ownership Level”). Target ownership levels
in 2021 were as follows:
Participant |
|
Target Ownership Level |
Chief Executive Officer |
|
4 times base salary |
Other Named Executive Officers |
|
2 times base salary |
Non-Employee Directors |
|
5 times annual cash retainer |
The
following forms of equity interests are included in determining the ownership value held:
| • | Common shares of the Company owned directly by the Participant or owned through the Company retirement
or savings plans; |
| • | Restricted stock or restricted stock units held pursuant to the Company’s equity plans; and |
| • | Vested performance stock or PSUs held pursuant to the Company’s equity plans. |
For purposes of
evaluating degree of attainment of the applicable Target Ownership Level, the following definitions of “value” are used:
| • | For common shares owned outright, the value is equal to the greater of the cost of acquisition and the
market value as of the date of measurement; |
| • | For unvested restricted stock or restricted stock units, the value is equal to the greater of the grant
date value and the market value as of the date of measurement; and |
| • | For vested performance stock or PSUs, the value is equal to the market value at the date of measurement. |
Under the Share Ownership
Policy, a Participant must retain 100% of the net after-tax proceeds from exercised stock options or vested shares received until the
Target Ownership Level is met. A Participant who wishes to sell shares and who has not attained the Target Ownership Level must obtain
the written permission of the Compensation Committee. All of the Participants were in compliance with the Share Ownership Policy
as of December 31, 2021.
Prohibition Against Pledging and Hedging
The Company’s stockholder-approved
Amended and Restated US Ecology, Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan (“Omnibus Plan”) provides that no award or other
right or interest granted under the plan may be pledged, encumbered or hypothecated to, or in favor of, or subject to any lien, obligation
or liability of the grantee to, any party, other than the Company or any subsidiary, or assigned or transferred by the grantee other than
by will or the laws of descent and distribution. The Company’s Stock Trading Policy further provides that directors, officers and
employees of the Company and its subsidiaries shall not enter into hedging or monetization transactions or similar arrangements with respect
to the Company’s securities.
Severance Arrangements
Effective December 22,
2020, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with each of the Named Executive Officers. These agreements
are collectively referred to herein as the “Employment Agreements.” The changes made to the Employment Agreements included,
among other things, extending the term of employment to December 31, 2023 for Mr. Feeler and December 31, 2021 for Messrs. Bell,
Welling, Marshall and Gerratt, in each case, subject to automatic one-year renewals, and modifying the Named Executive Officer’s
severance rights as described in the “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control” section of this Amendment
No.1.
Each Employment Agreement
establishes a minimum initial annual base salary and a minimum target annual bonus as a percentage of base salary, each as set forth below:
Executive | |
Base Salary ($) | | |
Target Annual Incentive
(Percentage of Base
Salary) | |
Jeffrey R. Feeler | |
| 625,000 | | |
| 100 | % |
Simon G. Bell | |
| 453,000 | | |
| 75 | % |
Steven D. Welling | |
| 425,000 | | |
| 75 | % |
Eric L. Gerratt | |
| 425,000 | | |
| 75 | % |
Andrew P. Marshall | |
| 320,000 | | |
| 75 | % |
The Employment Agreements
establish the executives’ rights to receive severance benefits in the event of certain qualifying terminations of employment or
under certain circumstances related to a change of control. Change-of-control payments are contingent on the occurrence of a termination
of the executive’s employment by the Company “without cause” or by the executive for “good reason,” as those
terms are defined in the Employment Agreements, in either case, within 24 months after the applicable change of control. The Compensation
Committee believes these severance protections are an effective tool for attracting and retaining key employees and are reasonably similar
to those of other comparable companies. For more information on potential severance payments and change-of-control benefits in 2021, refer
to the “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control” section of this Amendment No.1.
Under the Employment Agreements,
the non-compete and non-solicit restricted periods for each Named Executive Officer after a termination of employment are (i) 18
months upon a termination of employment by the Company without “cause” (including non-renewal
of the employment term) or by the Executive for good reason or (ii) 12 months upon a termination of employment by the Executive without
“good reason.” Each Named Executive Officer also has indefinite confidentiality and non-disparagement obligation.
Risk Considerations
The Compensation Committee
considers, in establishing and reviewing the executive compensation program, whether the program encourages unnecessary or excessive risk-taking
and has concluded that it does not. Base salaries are fixed in amount and thus do not encourage risk-taking. While the performance-based
Cash Incentive awards focus on achievement of annual goals, the Company’s Cash Incentive program is only one element of the Named
Executive Officers’ total compensation. The Compensation Committee believes that the Cash Incentive program appropriately balances
risk and the desire to focus the Named Executive Officers on specific short-term goals important to the Company’s success, and that
it does not encourage unnecessary or excessive risk-taking. Further, the Company grants equity awards that focus the attention of Named
Executive Officers on long-term strategic goals through multi-year vesting formulas. Moreover, the Named Executive Officers are required
to own and hold significant amounts of stock in the Company. Such long-term equity awards and stock ownership interests further reduce
the incentive for the Company’s Named Executive Officers to engage in actions designed to achieve only short-term results. The Company
has reviewed its compensation policies and practices for all employees, including for the Named Executive Officers, and concluded that
any risks arising from its compensation policies and programs are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
Tax and Accounting Considerations
Code Section 162(m) limits
the amounts that may be deducted (for federal income tax purposes) by a public company for compensation paid to certain individuals to
$1,000,000, except that, in 2017 and prior years, compensation in excess of the $1,000,000 threshold could be deducted if it met the requirements
to be considered “qualifying performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Code Section 162(m). The Tax Cuts
and Jobs Act, passed by Congress in December 2017, eliminated the “performance-based” compensation exemption under Code
Section 162(m). Therefore, for 2018 and subsequent years, compensation paid to our chief executive officer, our chief financial officer
and to each of our other Named Executive Officers generally will not be deductible for federal income tax purposes to the extent such
compensation exceeds $1,000,000, regardless of whether such compensation would have been considered “performance-based” under
prior law. This limitation on deductibility applies to each individual who is a “Covered Employee” (as
defined in Code Section 162(m)) in 2017 or who becomes a Covered Employee in any future year, and continues to apply to each such
individual for all future years, regardless of whether such individual remains a Named Executive Officer. There is, however, a transition
rule that allows “performance-based” compensation in excess of $1,000,000 to continue to be deductible if the remuneration
is provided pursuant to a binding contract which was in effect on November 2, 2017 and which was not subsequently materially modified.
Although deductibility of compensation is preferred, tax deductibility is not a primary objective of the Company’s executive compensation
program. Rather, the Company seeks to maintain flexibility in its executive compensation program and may structure compensation that is
not deductible if it determines that doing so is appropriate and consistent with the objectives of the executive compensation program
described above. Accordingly, the Company may be limited in its ability to deduct amounts of compensation from time to time.
Accounting rules require
the Company to expense the cost of equity grants. Because of equity expensing and the impact of dilution on the Company’s stockholders,
the Compensation Committee carefully considers the type of equity awards that are granted and the number and value of the shares underlying
such awards.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table sets forth
information regarding the compensation of the Named Executive Officers for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019.
Name and Principal Position | |
Year | | |
Salary ($) | | |
Stock Awards ($)(1) | | |
Option Awards ($)(2) | | |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)(3) | | |
All Other Compensation ($)(4) | | |
Total ($)(5) | |
Jeffrey R. Feeler | |
| 2021 | | |
| 629,810 | | |
| 900,150 | | |
| 899,910 | | |
| 257,250 | | |
| 24,067 | | |
| 2,711,187 | |
President & Chief Executive | |
| 2020 | | |
| 629,809 | | |
| 1,831,600 | | |
| 400,362 | | |
| 206,250 | | |
| 16,056 | | |
| 3,084,077 | |
Officer | |
| 2019 | | |
| 529,712 | | |
| 881,684 | | |
| 219,678 | | |
| 633,150 | | |
| 51,104 | | |
| 2,315,328 | |
Simon G. Bell | |
| 2021 | | |
| 457,331 | | |
| 324,760 | | |
| 324,720 | | |
| 150,170 | | |
| 10,958 | | |
| 1,267,939 | |
Executive Vice President & Chief | |
| 2020 | | |
| 456,485 | | |
| 598,109 | | |
| 129,677 | | |
| 113,816 | | |
| 26,372 | | |
| 1,324,459 | |
Operating Officer | |
| 2019 | | |
| 383,427 | | |
| 376,400 | | |
| 95,038 | | |
| 338,010 | | |
| 33,156 | | |
| 1,226,031 | |
Steven D. Welling | |
| 2021 | | |
| 428,989 | | |
| 314,170 | | |
| 312,840 | | |
| 142,694 | | |
| 11,634 | | |
| 1,210,327 | |
Executive Vice President of Sales | |
| 2020 | | |
| 428,270 | | |
| 573,790 | | |
| 124,641 | | |
| 106,781 | | |
| 13,025 | | |
| 1,246,507 | |
& Marketing | |
| 2019 | | |
| 372,904 | | |
| 376,400 | | |
| 95,038 | | |
| 334,665 | | |
| 18,004 | | |
| 1,197,011 | |
Eric L. Gerratt | |
| 2021 | | |
| 428,989 | | |
| 314,170 | | |
| 312,840 | | |
| 139,081 | | |
| 10,937 | | |
| 1,206,017 | |
Executive Vice President, Chief | |
| 2020 | | |
| 428,270 | | |
| 573,790 | | |
| 124,641 | | |
| 102,000 | | |
| 13,190 | | |
| 1,241,891 | |
Financial Officer & Treasurer | |
| 2019 | | |
| 353,365 | | |
| 376,400 | | |
| 95,038 | | |
| 308,700 | | |
| 18,071 | | |
| 1,151,574 | |
Andrew P. Marshall | |
| 2021 | | |
| 323,013 | | |
| 187,090 | | |
| 187,110 | | |
| 106,080 | | |
| 11,131 | | |
| 814,424 | |
Executive Vice President of | |
| 2020 | | |
| 322,462 | | |
| 342,010 | | |
| 75,540 | | |
| 80,400 | | |
| 12,248 | | |
| 832,660 | |
Regulatory Compliance & Safety | |
| 2019 | | |
| 291,923 | | |
| 261,975 | | |
| 65,436 | | |
| 264,480 | | |
| 15,013 | | |
| 898,827 | |
| (1) | The amounts listed represent the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock and PSUs granted
during the applicable year, determined in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic
718, Compensation-Stock Compensation (“FASB ASC Topic 718”) (without regard to the effect of estimated forfeitures). The values
of restricted stock are determined by multiplying the closing stock price on the date of grant by the number of stock awards. The PSU
grant date fair values were determined based on a Monte Carlo simulation (which probability weights multiple potential outcomes). The
amounts may not be indicative of the realized value of the awards if and when they vest. See the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards”
table of this Amendment No.1 for additional details on the stock awards granted to the Named Executive Officers during 2021. Assuming
that the highest level of performance conditions will be achieved with respect to the PSUs (and thus the maximum number of shares will
be issued under the PSUs), using the closing stock price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date for such PSUs;(i) the
grant date value of the 2020 PSUs would be: $1,600,033 for Mr. Feeler, $519,991 for Mr. Bell, $499,994 for each of Messrs. Welling
and Gerratt, and $300,023 for Mr. Marshall; and (ii) the grant date value of the 2019 PSUs would be: $1,154,918 for Mr. Feeler,
$498,794 for each of Messrs. Bell, Welling and Gerratt, and $346,546 for Mr. Marshall. There were no PSUs granted to the Named
Executive Officers in 2021. Additional information regarding the awards, including the assumptions made in determining their value under
FASB ASC Topic 718, are disclosed in Note 19 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2021. |
| (2) | The amounts listed represent the aggregate grant date fair value of stock options granted during the applicable
year, as determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The assumptions made in determining the grant date fair values of the options
are disclosed in Note 19 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2021. |
| (3) | Represents the amount awarded for performance during the applicable year under the 2019 MIP, 2020 MIP and 2021 MIP as applicable. |
| (4) | Includes matching contributions the Company made on behalf of each Named Executive Officer under the Company-sponsored
401(k) plan ($9,321 in the case of Mr. Feeler, $8,730 in the case of Mr. Bell, $9,458 in the case of Mr. Welling,
$8,760 in the case of Mr. Gerratt and $9,152 in the case of Marshall for 2021), the dollar value of insurance premiums paid by the
Company with respect to life and disability insurance policies ($1,867 in the case of Mr. Feeler, $1,779 in the case of Mr. Bell,
$1,726 in the case of each of Messrs. Welling and Mr. Gerratt, and $1,530 in the case of Mr. Marshall for 2021), and in
the case of each Named Executive Offer, a cell phone stipend of $450. Also included is the total value of all perquisites provided to
Mr. Feeler (these include, for 2021, fees paid for a professional license renewal, memberships in professional leadership organizations
and a personal data security subscription. Total perquisites provided to each of Messrs. Bell and Gerratt did not exceed $10,000
and are not included. There were no perquisites provided to Messrs. Marshall and Welling in 2021. |
| (5) | Mr. Feeler did not have any above-market or preferential earnings on non-qualified deferred compensation
in 2021 under the Deferred Compensation Plan. Therefore, earnings credited to Mr. Feeler’s non-qualified deferred compensation
in 2021 under the Deferred Compensation Plan are not required to be, nor are they, reflected in the “Summary Compensation Table.”
Messrs. Bell, Welling, Marshall and Gerratt did not participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan in 2021. For a description of the
Deferred Compensation Plan, refer to the “Non-qualified Deferred Compensation” section of this Amendment No.1. |
2021 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS
The following table sets forth
information for each Named Executive Officer regarding the equity and non-equity awards granted during the year ended December 31,
2021. All non-equity awards set forth below were granted under the 2021 MIP and all equity-based awards set forth below were granted under
the Omnibus Plan.
| |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
All Other | | |
| | |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
| | |
All Other | | |
Option | | |
| | |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
| | |
Stock | | |
Awards; | | |
| | |
Grant Date | |
| |
| |
| | |
| | |
Awards; | | |
Number of | | |
Exercise or | | |
Fair Value | |
| |
| |
Estimated
Future Payouts Under | | |
Estimated
Future Payouts Under | | |
Number of | | |
Shares | | |
Base Price | | |
of Stock | |
| |
| |
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Awards | | |
Equity
Incentive Plan Awards(4) | | |
Shares of | | |
Underlying | | |
of Option | | |
and Option | |
Name | |
Board | |
Threshold
($)(1) | | |
Target
($)(2) | | |
Maximum
($)(3) | | |
Threshold
(#) | | |
Target (#) | | |
Maximum
(#) | | |
Stock
or
Units (#)(4) | | |
Options
(#)(5) | | |
Awards
($/Sh) | | |
Awards
($)(6) | |
Jeffrey R. Feeler | |
12/17/20 | |
| 65,625 | | |
| 656,250 | | |
| 1,312,500 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
| |
12/17/20 / 1/4/21 | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 25,500 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 900,150 | |
| |
12/17/20 / 1/4/21 | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 90,900 | | |
| 35.30 | | |
| 899,910 | |
Simon G. Bell | |
12/17/20 | |
| 38,505 | | |
| 385,050 | | |
| 770,100 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
| |
12/17/20 / 1/4/21 | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 9,200 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 324,760 | |
| |
12/17/20 / 1/4/21 | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 32,800 | | |
| 35.30 | | |
| 324,720 | |
Steven D. Welling | |
12/17/20 | |
| 36,125 | | |
| 361,250 | | |
| 722,500 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
| |
12/17/20 / 1/4/21 | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 8,900 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 314,170 | |
| |
12/17/20 / 1/4/21 | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 31,600 | | |
| 35.30 | | |
| 312,840 | |
Eric L. Gerratt | |
12/17/20 | |
| 36,125 | | |
| 361,250 | | |
| 722,500 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
| |
12/17/20 / 1/4/21 | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 8,900 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 314,170 | |
| |
12/17/20 / 1/4/21 | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 31,600 | | |
| 35.30 | | |
| 312,840 | |
Andrew P. Marshall | |
12/17/20 | |
| 27,200 | | |
| 272,000 | | |
| 544,000 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
| |
12/17/20 / 1/4/21 | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 5,300 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 187,090 | |
| |
12/17/20 / 1/4/21 | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 18,900 | | |
| 35.30 | | |
| 187,110 | |
| (1) | Represents the minimum amount to which the Named Executive Officers would have been entitled to receive
based on achieving the 2021 MIP target with the lowest weighted percentage of the Target Cash Incentive. |
| (2) | Represents the amount to which the Named Executive Officers would have been entitled to receive based
on achieving 100% of each of the 2021MIP targets. For the amount actually paid, please refer to the “Summary Compensation Table”
in this Amendment No.1. For additional details regarding the 2021 MIP, please refer to the “Annual Short-Term Incentives”
section of this Amendment No.1. |
| (3) | The Company established a maximum payout level under the 2021 MIP equal to two times the participant’s
applicable Target Cash Incentive. |
| (4) | These restricted stock awards for each of the Named Executive Officers, awarded with an effective date
of January 4, 2021, vest in equal annual installments over three years. |
| (5) | These stock options, for each of the Named Executive Officers, awarded effective as of January 4,
2021, vest in equal annual installments over three years. |
| (6) | The amounts listed represent the aggregate grant date fair value of each restricted stock and stock option
award granted to the Named Executive Officers during 2021, as determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 (without regard to the
effect of estimated forfeitures). |
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END — 2021
The following table sets forth
information for each Named Executive Officer with respect to (i) each option to purchase the Company’s common stock that had
not been exercised and remained outstanding as of December 31, 2021; (ii) each award of restricted stock that had not vested
and remained outstanding as of December 31, 2021; and (iii) each award of PSUs that had not vested and remained outstanding
as of December 31, 2021.
| |
| Option Awards
| |
| Stock Awards
| |
Name | |
| Number
of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable | |
| Number
of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable | |
| Option
Exercise
Price ($) | |
| Option
Expiration Date | |
| Number
of
Shares or Units
of Stock That
Have Not Vested
(#) | |
| Market
Value of
Shares or Units
of Stock That
Have Not Vested
($)(7) | |
| Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Unearned Units,
Shares or Other
Rights That Have
Not Vested
(#) | |
| Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Market or
Payout Value of
Unearned Units,
Shares or Other
Rights That
Have
Not Vested ($)(9) | |
Jeffrey
R. Feeler | |
| 6,266 | |
| — | |
| 35.05 | |
| 1/3/2026 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| 11,066 | |
| — | |
| 49.15 | |
| 1/1/2027 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| 15,500 | |
| — | |
| 51.00 | |
| 1/1/2028 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| 9,400 | |
| 4,700 | (1) |
| 63.85 | |
| 1/1/2029 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| 10,600 | |
| 21,200 | (2) |
| 57.04 | |
| 1/1/2030 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| — | |
| 90,900 | (3) |
| 35.30 | |
| 1/3/2031 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 2,600 | (4) |
| 83,044 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 9,333 | (5) |
| 298,096 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 25,500 | (6) |
| 814,470 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 12,162 | (8) |
| 388,454 | |
Simon G.
Bell | |
| 8,500 | |
| — | |
| 49.97 | |
| 3/9/2025 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| 2,300 | |
| — | |
| 35.05 | |
| 1/3/2026 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| 6,000 | |
| — | |
| 49.15 | |
| 1/1/2027 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| 6,900 | |
| — | |
| 51.00 | |
| 1/1/2028 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| 4,067 | |
| 2,033 | (1) |
| 63.85 | |
| 1/1/2029 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| 3,434 | |
| 6,866 | (2) |
| 57.04 | |
| 1/1/2030 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| — | |
| 32,800 | (3) |
| 35.30 | |
| 1/3/2031 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 1,100 | (4) |
| 35,134 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 3,066 | (5) |
| 97,928 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 9,200 | (6) |
| 293,848 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 3,953 | (8) |
| 126,259 | |
Steven
D. Welling | |
| 9,300 | |
| — | |
| 49.97 | |
| 3/9/2025 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| 2,300 | |
| — | |
| 35.05 | |
| 1/3/2026 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| 6,000 | |
| — | |
| 49.15 | |
| 1/1/2027 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| 6,900 | |
| — | |
| 51.00 | |
| 1/1/2028 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| 4,067 | |
| 2,033 | (1) |
| 63.85 | |
| 1/1/2029 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| 3,300 | |
| 6,600 | (2) |
| 57.04 | |
| 1/1/2030 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| — | |
| 31,600 | (3) |
| 35.30 | |
| 1/3/2031 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 1,100 | (4) |
| 35,134 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 2,933 | (5) |
| 93,680 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 8,900 | (6) |
| 284,266 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 3,801 | (9) |
| 121,404 | |
Eric L.
Gerratt | |
| 8,500 | |
| — | |
| 49.97 | |
| 3/9/2025 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| 2,300 | |
| — | |
| 35.05 | |
| 1/3/2026 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| 6,000 | |
| — | |
| 49.15 | |
| 1/1/2027 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| 6,900 | |
| — | |
| 51.00 | |
| 1/1/2028 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| 4,067 | |
| 2,033 | (1) |
| 63.85 | |
| 1/1/2029 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| 3,300 | |
| 6,600 | (2) |
| 57.04 | |
| 1/1/2030 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| — | |
| 31,600 | (3) |
| 35.30 | |
| 1/3/2031 | |
| 1,100 | (4) |
| 35,134 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 2,933 | (5) |
| 93,680 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 8,900 | (6) |
| 284,266 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 3,801 | (9) |
| 121,404 | |
Andrew
P. Marshall | |
| 2,110 | |
| — | |
| 49.97 | |
| 3/9/2025 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| 4,530 | |
| — | |
| 39.10 | |
| 3/7/2026 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| 3,487 | |
| — | |
| 50.50 | |
| 1/1/2027 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| 4,700 | |
| — | |
| 51.00 | |
| 1/1/2028 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| 2,800 | |
| 1,400 | (1) |
| 63.85 | |
| 1/1/2029 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| 2,000 | |
| 4,000 | (2) |
| 57.04 | |
| 1/1/2030 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| — | |
| 18,900 | (3) |
| 35.30 | |
| 1/3/2031 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 766 | (4) |
| 24,466 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 1,733 | (5) |
| 55,352 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 5,300 | (6) |
| 169,282 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 2,281 | (9) |
| 72,855 | |
| (1) | These
stock options, which were granted on January 2, 2019, vested on January 1, 2022.
Vesting was generally subject to the Named Executive Officer remaining employed through the
applicable vesting date. |
| (2) | These
stock options, which were granted on January 2, 2020, vest as follows; 50% vested on
January 1, 2022 and 50% are scheduled to vest on January 1, 2023. Vesting is generally
subject to the Named Executive Officer remaining employed through the applicable vesting
date. |
| (3) | These
stock options, which were granted on January 4, 2021, vest as follows; one-third vested
on January 3, 2022 and one-third is scheduled to vest on each of January 3, 2023
and January 3, 2024. Vesting is generally subject to the Named Executive Officer remaining
employed through the applicable vesting date. |
| (4) | These
restricted stock awards, which were granted on January 2, 2019, vested on January 1,
2022. Vesting was generally subject to the Named Executive Officer remaining employed through
such vesting date. |
| (5) | These
restricted stock awards, which were granted on January 2, 2020, vest as follows: 50%
vested on January 1, 2022 and 50% are scheduled to vest on January 1, 2023. Vesting
is generally subject to the Named Executive Officer remaining employed through such vesting
date. |
| (6) | These
restricted stock awards, which were granted on January 4, 2021, vest as follows: one
third vested on January 3, 2022 and one third is scheduled to vest on each of January 3,
2023, and January 1, 2024. Vesting is generally subject to the Named Executive Officer
remaining employed through such vesting date. |
| (7) | Market
value was calculated by using $31.94, the Company’s common stock price on December 31,
2021. |
| (8) | These
PSUs, awarded with an effective date of July 16, 2020, have a three-year performance
period commencing January 1, 2020 and concluding on December 31, 2022. The amount
reported in the table represents the available shares underlying the PSUs, assuming the threshold
performance is satisfied for each performance measure. |
| (9) | Market
value was calculated by using $31.94, the Company’s common stock price on December 31,
2021. |
2021 OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED
The following table sets forth
information for each Named Executive Officer with respect to the vesting of restricted stock and restricted stock units during the 2021
fiscal year. There were no options exercised during the same period and PSUs vesting in 2021 resulted in a zero payout to the Named Executive
Officers.
| |
| Stock Awards
| |
Name | |
| Number of Shares
Acquired on Vesting (#) | | |
| Value Realized on
Vesting ($)(1) | |
Jeffrey R. Feeler | |
| 10,200 | | |
| 370,566 | |
Simon G. Bell | |
| 3,934 | | |
| 142,922 | |
Steven D. Welling | |
| 3,867 | | |
| 140,488 | |
Eric L. Gerratt | |
| 3,867 | | |
| 140,488 | |
Andrew P. Marshall | |
| 2,534 | | |
| 92,060 | |
| (1) | Reflects the product of (i) the number of shares acquired upon vesting of restricted stock and restricted stock units; and (ii) the
closing price of one share of the Company’s common stock on the vesting date. |
NON-QUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION AT FISCAL
YEAR-END — 2021
The following table sets forth
information for each Named Executive Officer with respect to his non-qualified deferred compensation under the Deferred Compensation Plan
during the 2021 fiscal year.
Name | |
Executive
Contributions
in Last FY ($)(1) | | |
Company
Contributions
in Last FY ($) | | |
Aggregate
Earnings in
Last FY ($)(2) | | |
Aggregate
Withdrawals/?
Distributions ($) | | |
Aggregate
Balance at
Last FYE ($)(3) | |
Jeffrey R. Feeler | |
| 151,202 | | |
| — | | |
| 41,288 | | |
| — | | |
| 418,920 | |
Simon G. Bell | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Steven D. Welling | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Eric L. Gerratt | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Andrew P. Marshall | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
| (1) | All amounts
in this column are reported as a component of “Salary” in the “Summary
Compensation Table” of this Amendment No.1. |
| (2) | None of the
amounts in this column are reported for 2021 in the “Summary Compensation Table”
of this Amendment No.1. Please refer to the footnote to “Total” in the “Summary
Compensation Table” of this Amendment No.1. |
| (3) | Of the amounts
reported in this column, $194,616 was previously reported as compensation to the Named Executive
Officer in the Company’s “Summary Compensation Table” for previous years. |
Summary of Deferred Compensation Plan
The Named Executive Officers
and certain other key managerial employees and other service providers of the Company and its subsidiaries are eligible to participate
in the Deferred Compensation Plan, which is an unfunded, non-qualified deferred compensation plan. Each year, participants can elect to
defer up to 100% of their base salary, performance-based compensation earned under the MIP, commissions and Form 1099 compensation,
as applicable, under the Deferred Compensation Plan. The Company does not make any matching, discretionary or other similar contributions
to the Deferred Compensation Plan.
Participants may elect to
receive compensation they have deferred upon certain qualifying distribution events (e.g., separation from service, death, disability
or at a specified date) at which time account balances are distributed in cash either in a lump sum or annual installments as elected
by the participant. If no election is made, account balances are distributed in a lump sum. Annual installments can be for up to five
years if the qualifying distribution event is a specified date or 10 years if the qualifying distribution event is due to a separation
from service or disability. Account balances are distributed in a lump sum to the participant’s beneficiary upon the participant’s
death.
Account balances under the
Deferred Compensation Plan are credited with a deemed investment return (or credited with a deemed investment loss), determined as if
the account was invested in one or more investment funds made available by the administrator. Participants elect the investment fund(s) in
which accounts will be deemed invested. Participants may change their investment elections on a daily basis. The investment vehicle is
determined by the administrator if the participant fails to make an investment election.
POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE
OF CONTROL
Effective December 22,
2020, the Company entered into the Employment Agreements with each of the Named Executive Officers that, among other things, modified
the Named Executive Officers’ severance rights. The Employment Agreements require the Company or its successors to pay or provide
certain compensation and benefits to the applicable Named Executive Officer in the event of a termination of employment or a termination
of employment following a change of control. The following discussion describes the potential payments upon a termination of employment
or a termination of employment following a change of control pursuant to the Employment Agreements. Under the terms of the Employment
Agreements, generally, upon a termination of employment, the Company would be obligated to pay the Named Executive Officers:
| • | Any unpaid base salary through the termination date and any accrued paid-time off; |
| • | Any unpaid cash incentive earned for the fiscal year prior to the fiscal year in which the termination
of employment occurs and any cash incentive earned in the fiscal year of termination based on actual results over the entire performance
period prorated for the number of days employed during such fiscal year; |
| • | Any unreimbursed business expenses incurred through the termination date; and |
| • | All other payments or other benefits the Named Executive Officer may be entitled to under the terms of
any applicable compensation arrangement or benefit, equity or fringe benefit program, or grant. |
| • | These payments are referred to herein as the “Accrued Obligations.” |
Termination.
Under the terms of the Employment Agreements the amount and types of compensation due to a Named Executive Officer in the event
of termination of employment with the Company is dependent upon the basis for such termination.
For
Cause or Without Good Reason — If a Named Executive Officer’s employment had been terminated on December 31,
2021 by the Company for cause or by the Named Executive Officer without good reason, the Company would have paid such Named Executive
Officer the Accrued Obligations only (other than any amounts due under any Cash Incentive plan which shall be forfeited pursuant to the
terms of such plan).
Without
Cause or for Good Reason — Had a Named Executive Officer’s employment been terminated on December 31,
2021 by the Company without cause, or by the Named Executive Officer for good reason, in addition to the Accrued Obligations, such
Named Executive Officer would have been entitled to the following:
| • | An amount equal to the sum of two years’ base salary and two times the Target Cash Incentive (payable
in bi-weekly installments) during the two-year period following such termination; |
| • | Continued vesting of outstanding stock options for a period of two years following the termination date,
with any stock options held prior to such termination that is, or becomes, vested to remain exercisable until the earlier of the second
anniversary of the termination date and the original expiration date of such stock options; |
| • | Immediate vesting of restricted stock grants that would have vested during the two-year period immediately
following the termination date; |
| • | Continued vesting of performance stock units in the same manner as if no termination of employment occurred,
with payment calculated based on actual performance but with vesting to be pro-rated based on the number of days from the start of the
performance period through the second anniversary of the termination date in relation to the total number of days in the performance period; |
| • | Reimbursement of medical, dental and vision insurance premiums pursuant to COBRA for a period up to 18
months; |
| • | Six monthly payments each equal to the greater of (x) two times the monthly COBRA medical, dental
and vision insurance premiums as of the termination date and (y) $5,000, commencing on the 18-month anniversary of the termination
date; |
| • | 24 monthly cash payments each equal to two times the monthly premiums as of the termination date under
the Company’s life insurance and long-term disability insurance plans; and |
| • | In the case of Mr. Feeler, up to 12 consecutive months of outplacement services not to exceed $100,000
in the aggregate (such benefits to end no later than the second anniversary of the termination date). |
A Named Executive Officer’s
right to receive the additional severance benefits described above (other than the Accrued Obligations) is subject to such Named Executive
Officer’s compliance with applicable confidentiality, work product assignment, return of property and non-competition/non-solicitation
covenants contained in the applicable Employment Agreement and the execution (and non-revocation) of a release of claims in favor of the
Company and certain related persons and entities.
The definition of “good
reason” includes, among other things: (i) a material diminution or adverse change in title, authority, responsibilities
or duties; (ii) exclusion from any incentive plan participated in at the time the Employment Agreement was executed; (iii) failure
by the Company to include or continue any material employee benefit plan, a material diminution in employee benefits; (iv) any material
breach by the Company of the provisions of the Employment Agreement; or (v) a relocation of the executive’s primary place of
employment outside a 50-mile radius.
“Cause” is defined
as a determination by two-thirds of the members of the Board voting that the Named Executive Officer has, among other things, (i) engaged
in willful neglect (other than neglect resulting from his incapacity due to physical or mental illness) of his duties or willful misconduct
in the performance of his duties, or has violated any material written policy of the Company; (ii) engaged in willful or grossly
negligent conduct the consequences of which are materially adverse to the Company; (iii) materially breached the terms of his Employment
Agreement and such breach persisted after notice thereof from the Company and a reasonable opportunity to cure; or (iv) been convicted
of (or has plead guilty or no contest to) any felony (other than a traffic violation) or any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude.
Death
— Had a Named Executive Officer’s employment been terminated by the Company due to death on December 31, 2021,
the Company would have paid such Named Executive Officer, or his estate, as applicable, the Accrued Obligations. In addition, all unvested
stock options, restricted stock and performance stock units would have immediately vested.
Disability — Had
a Named Executive Officer’s employment been terminated by the Company due to disability on December 31, 2021, the Company would
have paid such Named Executive Officer, or his estate, as applicable, the Accrued Obligations. In addition, in the event of such a termination
of employment (i) all unvested stock options, restricted stock and performance stock units (but only performance stock units that
are not subject to Code Section 409A) would have immediately vested (with performance being deemed achieved at target); and (ii) any
performance stock units that are subject to Code Section 409A would have continued to vest in the same manner as if no such termination
of employment had occurred, with performance deemed achieved at target (provided that if such termination had occurred within 24 months
after a change of control, any performance stock units that are subject to Code Section 409A granted after the effective date of
the Employment Agreement would have vested in full upon such termination with performance being deemed achieved at target). Such payments
and benefits are subject to the Named Executive Officer’s compliance with applicable confidentiality, work product assignment, return
of property and non-competition/non-solicitation covenants contained in the applicable Employment Agreement and the execution (and non-revocation)
of a release of claims in favor of the Company and certain related persons and entities.
Retirement — Had
a Named Executive Officer’s employment been terminated by retirement on December 31, 2021, such Named Executive Officer would
have been paid the Accrued Obligations.
Based on a hypothetical termination
of employment on December 31, 2021, the Named Executive Officers would have been entitled to the amounts set forth in the following
table, depending on the basis for such termination of employment identified in the first column:
Basis for
Termination | |
Base
Salary
($)(1) | | |
Bonus
($)(2) | | |
Prior
Fiscal
Year
Bonus/Bonus in
Year of
Termination
($)(3) | | |
Medical,
Life
Insurance and
Disability ($)(4) | | |
Outplacement
Services ($)(5) | | |
Value
of
Vesting of
Equity Awards
Following
Termination
($)(6) | | |
Total ($) | |
Jeffrey R. Feeler | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
For cause or w/o good reason | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | |
W/o cause or for
good reason | |
1,250,000 | | |
1,312,500 | | |
257,250 | | |
67,560 | | |
100,000 | | |
1,701,029 | | |
4,688,339 | |
Death | |
— | | |
— | | |
257,250 | | |
— | | |
— | | |
1,972,519 | | |
2,229,769 | |
Retirement | |
— | | |
— | | |
257,250 | | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | | |
257,250 | |
Disability | |
— | | |
— | | |
257,250 | | |
— | | |
— | | |
1,972,519 | | |
2,229,769 | |
Simon G. Bell | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
For cause or w/o good reason | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | |
W/o cause or for good reason | |
946,000 | | |
770,100 | | |
150,170 | | |
66,192 | | |
— | | |
581,446 | | |
2,513,908 | |
Death | |
— | | |
— | | |
150,170 | | |
— | | |
— | | |
679,396 | | |
829,566 | |
Retirement | |
— | | |
— | | |
150,170 | | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | | |
150,170 | |
Disability | |
— | | |
— | | |
150,170 | | |
— | | |
— | | |
679,396 | | |
829,566 | |
Basis for
Termination | |
Base
Salary
($)(1) | | |
Bonus
($)(2) | | |
Prior
Fiscal
Year
Bonus/Bonus in
Year of
Termination
($)(3) | | |
Medical,
Life
Insurance and
Disability ($)(4) | | |
Outplacement
Services ($)(5) | | |
Value
of
Vesting of
Equity Awards
Following
Termination
($)(6) | | |
Total ($) | |
Steven D. Welling | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
For cause or w/o good reason | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | |
W/o cause or for good reason | |
884,000 | | |
722,500 | | |
142,694 | | |
66,848 | | |
— | | |
561,101 | | |
2,377,143 | |
Death | |
— | | |
— | | |
142,694 | | |
— | | |
— | | |
655,856 | | |
798,550 | |
Retirement | |
— | | |
— | | |
142,694 | | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | | |
142,694 | |
Disability | |
— | | |
— | | |
142,694 | | |
— | | |
— | | |
655,856 | | |
798,550 | |
Eric. L. Gerratt | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
For cause or w/o good reason | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | |
W/o cause or for good reason | |
884,000 | | |
722,500 | | |
139,081 | | |
71,306 | | |
— | | |
561,101 | | |
2,377,988 | |
Death | |
— | | |
— | | |
139,081 | | |
— | | |
— | | |
655,856 | | |
794,937 | |
Retirement | |
— | | |
— | | |
139,081 | | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | | |
139,081 | |
Disability | |
— | | |
— | | |
139,081 | | |
— | | |
— | | |
655,856 | | |
794,937 | |
Andrew P. Marshall | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
For cause or w/o good reason | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | |
W/o cause or for good reason | |
666,000 | | |
544,000 | | |
106,080 | | |
66,246 | | |
— | | |
338,351 | | |
1,720,677 | |
Death | |
— | | |
— | | |
106,080 | | |
— | | |
— | | |
394,778 | | |
500,858 | |
Retirement | |
— | | |
— | | |
106,080 | | |
— | | |
— | | |
— | | |
106,080 | |
Disability | |
— | | |
— | | |
106,080 | | |
— | | |
— | | |
394,778 | | |
500,858 | |
| (1) | Includes, for
each Named Executive Officer, an amount equal to two-times the annual base salary. |
| (2) | Includes, for
each Named Executive Officer, an amount equal to two-times the Target Cash Incentive amount. |
| (3) | Includes, for
each Named Executive Officer, the Cash Incentive earned for 2021. |
| (4) | Includes, for
each Named Executive Officer, (i) reimbursement of medical, dental and vision plan insurance
premiums under COBRA for 18 months; (ii) six monthly payments equal to $5,000; and (iii) 24
monthly payments equal to two-times the monthly premiums for life insurance and long-term
disability insurance. |
| (5) | Represents 12
consecutive months of outplacement services. |
| (6) | In the case
of a termination without cause of for good reason, includes the value of restricted stock
determined based on the number of shares vesting in the two year period following the termination
multiplied by the December 31, 2021 closing market price of $31.94; the value of stock
options determined based on the options vesting in the two year period following the termination,
multiplied by the amount (if any) by which the December 31, 2021 closing market price
of $31.94 exceeded the applicable exercise price; the value of the PSUs granted in 2020,
assuming performance is achieved at the target level and a December 31, 2021 closing
market price of $31.94. In all other cases, includes the value of all unvested restricted
stock multiplied by the December 31, 2021 closing market price of $31.94; the value
of stock options determined based on unvested options multiplied by the amount (if any) by
which the December 31, 2021 closing market price of $31.94 exceeded the applicable exercise
price; the value of the PSUs granted in 2020, assuming performance is achieved at the target
level and a December 31, 2021 closing market price of $31.94. |
Change
of Control. Change-of-control benefits are intended to encourage cooperation and minimize potential resistance of the Named
Executive Officers and other key employees to potential change-of-control transactions that may be in the best interests of the Company
and its stockholders.
For purposes of the Employment
Agreements, “change of control” is defined to include any of the following events:
| • | The consummation of a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar transaction
involving the Company (“Business Combination”), unless following such Business Combination, all or substantially all
of the individuals and entities that were beneficial owners of the combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities
immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own at least 60% of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities
of the entity resulting from such Business Combination; provided, however, that a public offering of the Company’s securities will
not constitute a corporate reorganization; |
| • | The sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; |
| • | Any transaction as a result of which any person is the “beneficial owner”, directly or indirectly,
of securities of the Company representing more than 30% of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then outstanding
voting securities; or |
| • | A contested change in the composition of the Board in any 12 month period as a result of which fewer than
a majority of the directors are incumbent directors. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing,
no transaction or event shall be a change of control unless it also satisfies the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(v),
(vi) or (vii).
Under the Employment Agreements,
if both a change-of-control event and a subsequent termination of employment by the Company without cause (but not due to death or disability)
or by the Named Executive Officer for good reason occurs, in either case, within 24 months after such change of control, the Named Executive
Officer will be entitled to the following severance payments and benefits, subject to compliance with certain covenants and execution
(and non-revocation) of a release of claims in favor of the Company and certain related persons and entities:
| • | A lump sum payment equal to two times (or three times, in the case of Mr. Feeler) the sum of (i) base
salary; and (ii) the greater of (x) any earned but unpaid amount due under any cash incentive plan and (y) the Named Executive
Officer’s target incentive amount under a cash incentive plan; |
| • | Reimbursement of medical, dental and vision insurance premiums pursuant to COBRA for a period up to 18
months; |
| • | Six (or 18, in the case of Mr. Feeler) monthly payments each equal to the greater of (x) two
times the monthly COBRA medical, dental and vision insurance premiums as of the termination date and (y) $5,000, commencing on the
18-month anniversary of the termination date; |
| • | 24 (or 36, in the case of Mr. Feeler) monthly cash payments each equal to two times the monthly premiums
as of the termination date under the Company’s life insurance and long-term disability insurance plans; |
| • | In the case of Mr. Feeler, up to 12 consecutive months of outplacement services not to exceed $100,000
in the aggregate (such benefits to end no later than the third anniversary of the termination date); |
| • | Full vesting of all unvested stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock
units (but only to the extent granted after the effective date of the Employment Agreement), performance stock units (but only to the
extent not subject to Code Section 409A or, if subject to Code Section 409A, only to the extent granted after the effective
date of the Employment Agreement) and performance stock (with performance with respect to performance-based awards to be deemed achieved
at target); and |
| • | Continued vesting of any performance stock units subject to Code Section 409A outstanding on the
effective date of the Employment Agreement in the same manner as if no termination of employment occurred (with payment based on target
performance). |
Based on a hypothetical change-of-control
event and subsequent termination of employment by the Company without cause or by the Named Executive Officer for good reason, in each
case, on December 31, 2021, the Named Executive Officers would have been entitled to the Accrued Obligations and the amounts set
forth in the table below.
| |
Base
Salary
($)(1) | | |
Bonus
($)(2) | | |
Prior
Fiscal
Year Bonus
($)(3) | | |
Options
($)(4) | | |
Restricted
Stock ($)(5) | | |
Medical,
Life
Insurance
and
Disability
($)(6) | | |
Outplacement
Services ($)(7) | | |
Value
of
Vesting of
PSUs
Following
Termination
($)(8) | | |
Total
($) | |
Jeffrey
R. Feeler | |
| 1,875,000 | | |
| 1,968,750 | | |
| 257,250 | | |
| — | | |
| 1,195,610 | | |
| 130,956 | | |
| 100,000 | | |
| 776,909 | | |
| 6,304,475 | |
Simon
G. Bell | |
| 946,000 | | |
| 770,100 | | |
| 150,170 | | |
| — | | |
| 426,910 | | |
| 66,192 | | |
| — | | |
| 252,486 | | |
| 2,611,858 | |
Steven
D. Welling | |
| 884,000 | | |
| 722,500 | | |
| 142,694 | | |
| — | | |
| 413,080 | | |
| 66,848 | | |
| — | | |
| 242,776 | | |
| 2,471,898 | |
Eric.
L. Gerratt | |
| 884,000 | | |
| 722,500 | | |
| 139,081 | | |
| — | | |
| 413,080 | | |
| 71,306 | | |
| — | | |
| 242,776 | | |
| 2,472,743 | |
Andrew
P. Marshall | |
| 666,000 | | |
| 544,000 | | |
| 106,080 | | |
| — | | |
| 249,100 | | |
| 66,246 | | |
| — | | |
| 145,678 | | |
| 1,777,104 | |
| (1) | Includes, for
Mr. Feeler, an amount equal to three-times the annual base salary. Includes, for Messrs. Bell,
Welling, Marshall and Gerratt, an amount equal to two-times the annual base salary. |
| (2) | Includes, for
Mr. Feeler, an amount equal to three-times the Target Cash Incentive amount. Includes,
for Messrs. Bell, Welling, Marshall and Gerratt, an amount equal to two-times the Target
Cash Incentive amount |
| (3) | Includes, for
each Named Executive Officer, the Cash Incentive earned for 2021. |
| (4) | Represents the
value of all unvested stock options vesting on December 31, 2021, based on the amount
(if any) by which the December 31, 2021 market price of $31.94 exceeded the applicable
exercise price. |
| (5) | Represents the
value of all unvested restricted stock vesting on December 31, 2021, based on the December 31,
2021 closing market price of $31.94. |
| (6) | Includes, for
Mr. Feeler, (i) reimbursement of medical, dental and vision plan insurance premiums
under COBRA for 18 months, (ii) 18 monthly payments equal to $5,000 and (iii) 36
monthly payments equal to two-times the monthly premiums for life insurance and long-term
disability insurance. Includes, for Messrs. Bell, Welling, Marshall and Gerratt, (i) reimbursement
of medical, dental and vision plan insurance premiums under COBRA for 18 months, (ii) six
monthly payments equal to $5,000 and (iii) 24 monthly payments equal to two-times the
monthly premiums for life insurance and long-term disability insurance. |
| (7) | Represents 12
consecutive months of outplacement services. |
| (8) | Represents the
value of the target number of 2020 PSUs on December 31, 2021, based on the December 31,
2021 closing market price of $31.94. |
If a change-of-control event
occurred on December 31, 2021 and the unvested stock options, restricted stock and performance stock units held by the Named Executive
Officers were not continued, substituted for or assumed by the successor company in connection with such change-of-control event, such
stock options, restricted stock and performance stock unit awards would have immediately vested upon the date of such change-of-control
event (with the value of such accelerated vesting as reported in the table immediately above (see the “Options,” “Restricted
Stock” and “Value of Vesting of PSUs Following Termination” columns), regardless of whether there was a subsequent termination
of employment of the Named Executive Officer by the Company without cause or by the Named Executive Officer for good reason.
In the event that the severance
and other benefits provided for in the Employment Agreements or otherwise payable to the Named Executive Officers had constituted “parachute
payments” within the meaning of Code Section 280G and would have been subject to the excise tax imposed by Code Section 4999,
then the Named Executive Officer would have received either the full amount of such severance benefits or such lesser amount as would
result in no portion of such severance benefits being subject to excise tax under Code Section 4999, whichever amount would have
resulted in the Named Executive Officer receiving the greatest amount of severance benefits on an after-tax basis. The Company does not
provide any excise tax protections to executives (including any Named Executive Officers).
2021 CEO PAY RATIO DISCLOSURE
As required by Section 953(b) of
the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K, the Company determined the ratio
of the annual total compensation of Mr. Feeler, our chief executive officer, to the annual total compensation of our median employee.
The Company identified its
median employee from its total population of 3,575 employees as of December 31, 2021. For purposes of identifying its median employee,
the Company excluded Mr. Feeler and those employees in the Republic of Georgia (58), Turkey (87), the United Arab Emirates (2) and
Iraq (1), for a total employee population of 3,426. The median employee was identified based on the cash paid to such employees for fiscal
year 2021. We included employees, whether employed on a full-time, part-time, or seasonal basis. We did not make any assumptions, adjustments,
or estimates with respect to total cash compensation, and we did not annualize the compensation for any employees who were
not employed by the Company during the entire period of measurement. We believe the use of total cash compensation for all employees is
a consistently applied compensation measure because we do not widely distribute annual equity awards to employees. After identifying the
median employee based on total cash compensation, we calculated total compensation for such employee during fiscal year 2021 using the
same methodology we use for our Named Executive Officers as set forth in the “Summary Compensation Table” in this Amendment
No.1. The total 2021 compensation calculated for the median employee was $60,648, compared to $2,715,171 for Mr. Feeler. Our 2021
chief executive officer-to-median employee pay ratio is approximately 45 to 1.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Effective May 27, 2021
directors who are not employees of the Company or its subsidiaries were entitled to compensation as set forth in the following table.
Each of the fees below (other than the equity award) is payable in equal quarterly installments.
Annual Cash Retainer | |
$ | 57,500 | |
Dollar Value of Equity Award(1) | |
$ | 112,500 | |
Non-employee Chairman of the Board | |
$ | 60,000 | |
Lead Independent Director | |
$ | 25,000 | |
Committee Chair Annual Fee: | |
| | |
Audit Committee | |
$ | 20,000 | |
Corporate Governance Committee | |
$ | 10,000 | |
Compensation Committee | |
$ | 10,000 | |
| (1) | The type of equity award issued will be selected by the non-employee director and can be in the form of
restricted stock or options to purchase the Company’s common stock. Equity awards will vest over one year with vesting contingent
on the non-employee director attending at least 75% of the regularly scheduled Board meetings and meetings of committees of which a director
is a member between the grant date and the vesting date. Stock options will have a term no greater than 10 years with an exercise price
equal to the fair value of the Company’s stock on the grant date. Please refer to the “Equity and Security Ownership Guidelines”
section of this Amendment No.1 for details surrounding equity ownership requirements of non-employee directors. |
Effective November 11,
2021 the Board approved an increase in the annual cash retainer for the Lead Independent Director to $30,000. The increases are reflective
of the increase in size of the Company following its acquisition of NRC and is more aligned with amounts paid by its peers.
A
non-employee director who does not complete his or her annual service term, upon which the payment of an annual cash retainer is paid,
is required to reimburse the Company a pro-rata portion of any such retainer for any period he or she did not complete. All directors
met the meeting attendance requirement during the 2020 –2021 Board year. All directors are reimbursed for their reasonable
travel and other expenses incurred in attending Board and committee meetings.
Director compensation for the year ended December 31,
2021 for the Company’s non-employee directors is set forth in the following table:
Name |
|
Fees Earned or Paid in
Cash ($) |
|
|
Stock Awards ($)(1) |
|
|
Total ($) |
|
Richard Burke |
|
|
77,500 |
|
|
|
113,361 |
|
|
|
190,861 |
|
E. Renae Conley |
|
|
65,000 |
|
|
|
113,361 |
|
|
|
178,361 |
|
Katina Dorton |
|
|
77,500 |
|
|
|
113,361 |
|
|
|
190,861 |
|
Glenn A. Eisenberg |
|
|
97,500 |
|
|
|
113,361 |
|
|
|
210,861 |
|
Daniel Fox |
|
|
103,849 |
|
|
|
113,361 |
|
|
|
217,210 |
|
Mack L. Hogans |
|
|
67,100 |
|
|
|
147,111 |
|
|
|
214,211 |
|
Ronald C. Keating |
|
|
57,500 |
|
|
|
113,361 |
|
|
|
170,861 |
|
John T. Sahlberg |
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
113,361 |
|
|
|
173,361 |
|
Melanie Steiner |
|
|
67,500 |
|
|
|
113,361 |
|
|
|
180,861 |
|
(1)
This amount represents the aggregate grant date fair value of the restricted stock award granted in fiscal year 2021 determined in accordance
with FASB ASC Topic 718. The values of restricted stock are determined by multiplying the closing stock price on the date of grant by
the number of stock awards. The assumptions made in determining the grant date fair value of the grant are disclosed in Note 19 of Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.
In connection with his appointment to the Board, Mr. Hogans was awarded 900 shares, equivalent to $112,500 divided by the
fair market value of the stock on the award date (February 15, 2021) rounded to the nearest 100 shares and pro-rated for the number
of days he would serve on the Board for the remainder of the 2020 – 2021 Board year. The fair market value of the Company’s
common stock on the award date (February 15, 2021) was $37.50. These shares vested on May 24, 2021. The number of shares awarded
to each independent director for the 2021 – 2022 Board year was 2,900 shares, equivalent to $112,500 divided by the fair market
value of the stock on the award date (May 26, 2021) rounded to the nearest 100 shares. The fair market value of the Company’s
common stock on the award date (May 26, 2021) was $39.09. The aggregate number of stock awards outstanding as of December 31,
2021 for each non-employee director is reported in the supplemental table below.
Name | |
Restricted Stock Awards
(#) | |
Richard Burke | |
| 2,900 | |
E. Renae Conley | |
| 2,900 | |
Katina Dorton | |
| 2,900 | |
Daniel Fox | |
| 2,900 | |
Glenn A. Eisenberg | |
| 2,900 | |
Mack L. Hogans | |
| 2,900 | |
Ronald C. Keating | |
| 2,900 | |
John T. Sahlberg | |
| 2,900 | |
Melanie Steiner | |
| 2,900 | |
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER
PARTICIPATION
No member of the Compensation
Committee was an officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries during 2021, or was formerly an officer of the Company
or any of its subsidiaries, or had any other relationship requiring disclosure by the Company under Item 404 of Regulation S-K. During
2021, no executive officer of the Company served as:
| · | A member of the Compensation Committee (or other board committee performing equivalent functions) of an
unrelated entity, one of whose executive officers served on the Compensation Committee of the Company; or |
| · | A director of an unrelated entity, one of whose executive officers served on the Compensation Committee
of the Company; or |
| · | A member of the Compensation Committee (or other board committee performing equivalent functions) of another
entity, one of whose executive officers served as a director of the Company. |
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The Compensation Committee
has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis contained in this Amendment No.1 with the Company’s management
and, based on such review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion
and Analysis be included in this Amendment No.1.
This report is respectfully
submitted by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors:
|
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE |
|
E. Renae Conley, Chair |
|
Richard Burke |
|
Ronald C. Keating |
|
John T. Sahlberg |