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TABLE OF CONTENTS
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant ý | ||
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o |
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Check the appropriate box: |
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12 |
ACCURAY INCORPORATED | ||||
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) |
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) |
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Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): |
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No fee required. |
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
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(1) | Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
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(2) | Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
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(3) | Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): |
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(4) | Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
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(5) | Total fee paid: |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
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Amount Previously Paid: |
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(2) | Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
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(3) | Filing Party: |
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(4) | Date Filed: |
NOTICE OF
2016 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 17, 2016
To our Stockholders:
You are cordially invited to attend the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and any adjournment, postponement or other delay thereof (the "Annual Meeting"), of Accuray Incorporated, a Delaware corporation ("Accuray" or the "Company"), which will be held at the Company's headquarters located at 1310 Chesapeake Terrace, Sunnyvale, California 94089 on Thursday, November 17, 2016 at 9:00 am PST. We are holding the Annual Meeting for the following purposes:
These items of business to be transacted at the Annual Meeting are more fully described in the proxy statement (the "Proxy Statement") that accompanies this Notice of 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Annual Meeting will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. PST and check-in will begin at 8:30 a.m. PST. Only holders of record and beneficial owners of shares of our common stock at the close of business on September 22, 2016, the record date, are entitled to notice of, to attend, and to vote at the Annual Meeting. If you are a beneficial owner and wish to vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you must obtain a "legal proxy" from the bank, broker or other nominee that holds your shares, giving you the right to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting.
It is important that you use this opportunity to take part in the affairs of Accuray by voting on the business to come before the stockholders at the Annual Meeting. After reading the Proxy Statement and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 (the "Annual Report"), you are urged to cast your vote as promptly as possible. If you are accessing the Proxy Statement and Annual Report using notice and access, you will have received a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials and should vote by telephone or over the Internet. If you have received your proxy materials by mail, please promptly sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card in the prepaid envelope provided to you or vote by telephone or over the Internet to ensure that your shares are represented at the Annual Meeting. For more information, see "Why did I receive a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials?" in the Proxy Statement.
All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting in person. Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please cast your vote as promptly as possible by telephone, Internet or by signing and dating your proxy card and returning it promptly. This will ensure that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to, or are unable to, attend the Annual Meeting. Even if you have given your proxy, you may still attend and vote in person at the Annual Meeting.
By order of the Board of Directors, | ||
/s/ JOSHUA H. LEVINE Joshua H. Levine President and Chief Executive Officer |
Sunnyvale,
California
October 7, 2016
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PROXY STATEMENT FOR
ACCURAY INCORPORATED
2016 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 17, 2016
This proxy statement ("Proxy Statement") is furnished to our stockholders of record as of the close of business on September 22, 2016 (the "Record Date"), in connection with the solicitation of proxies by our Board of Directors (the "Board") for use in connection with our 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and any adjournment, postponement or other delay thereof (the "Annual Meeting"), to be held at the Company's headquarters located at 1310 Chesapeake Terrace, Sunnyvale, California 94089 on Thursday, November 17, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. PST. This Proxy Statement and the proxy card are first being made available to our stockholders on or about October 7, 2016. Our Company's fiscal year ended on June 30, 2016.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS REGARDING THIS SOLICITATION
AND VOTING AT THE ANNUAL MEETING
Why did I receive a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials? |
We are pleased to again be using the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") rule that allows companies to furnish proxy materials to their stockholders primarily over the Internet instead of mailing printed copies of those materials to each stockholder. On October 7, 2016, we mailed to our stockholders (other than those who previously requested electronic or paper delivery) a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials containing instructions on how to access our proxy materials, including this Proxy Statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K (the "Annual Report"), online. The Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials also instructs you as to how to access your proxy card to vote over the Internet or by telephone. | |||
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This process is designed to expedite stockholders' receipt of proxy materials, lower the cost of the Annual Meeting, and help conserve natural resources. However, if you have not elected to receive printed proxy materials and would prefer to receive them, please follow the instructions included in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials to request printed proxy materials. If you have previously elected to receive our proxy materials electronically, you will continue to receive these materials via e-mail unless you elect otherwise. If you received your Annual Meeting materials via e-mail, the e-mail contained voting instructions and links to access the Annual Report and the Proxy Statement online at: https://materials.proxyvote.com/004397. |
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Why am I receiving access to these proxy materials? |
You are receiving access to this Proxy Statement because you were a stockholder of record or beneficial owner at the close of business on the Record Date. As such, you are invited to attend our Annual Meeting and are entitled to vote on the items of business described in this Proxy Statement. This Proxy Statement contains important information about the Annual Meeting and the items of business to be transacted at the Annual Meeting. You are strongly encouraged to read this Proxy Statement and Annual Report, which include information that you may find useful in determining how to vote. |
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Who is entitled to attend and vote at the Annual Meeting? |
Stockholders as of the Record Date are entitled to attend and to vote at the Annual Meeting. |
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How many shares are outstanding? |
On the Record Date, 81,637,270 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding. Each share of common stock outstanding on the Record Date is entitled to one vote on each item brought before the stockholders at the Annual Meeting. |
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How many shares must be present or represented to conduct business at the Annual Meeting (that is, what constitutes a quorum)? |
The presence at the Annual Meeting, in person or represented by proxy, of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of our common stock issued and outstanding as of the Record Date and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If, however, a quorum is not present, in person or represented by proxy, then no business shall be conducted and either the chairperson of the Annual Meeting or the stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting may adjourn the Annual Meeting until a later time. |
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What items of business will be voted on at the Annual Meeting? |
The items of business to be voted on at the Annual Meeting are as follows: |
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The election of two Class I directors named in the Proxy Statement to hold office until our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or until their respective successors have been duly elected or appointed; |
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The approval of the Accuray Incorporated 2016 Equity Incentive Plan and the number of shares reserved for issuance thereunder; |
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The approval of an amendment and restatement of the Accuray Incorporated 2007 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "ESPP") including, among other things, an increase to the number of shares of the Company's common stock available for issuance thereunder by 1,000,000 shares; |
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The re-approval of the Company's Performance Bonus Plan; |
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An advisory vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers; and |
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The ratification of the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017. |
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What happens if additional matters are presented at the Annual Meeting? |
The only items of business that our Board intends to present at the Annual Meeting are set forth in this Proxy Statement. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, no stockholder has advised us of the intent to present any other matter, and we are not aware of any other matters to be presented at the Annual Meeting. However, if any other matter or matters are properly brought before the Annual Meeting, you or the person(s) named as your proxyholder(s) will have the discretion to vote your shares on such matters in accordance with their best judgment and as they deem advisable. |
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What shares can I vote at the Annual Meeting? |
You may vote all of the shares you owned as of the Record Date, including shares held directly in your name as the stockholder of record and all shares held for you as the beneficial owner through a broker or other nominee, such as a bank. |
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What is the difference between holding shares as a stockholder of record and as a beneficial owner? |
Most of our stockholders hold their shares through a bank, broker or other nominee rather than directly in their own name. As summarized below, there are some distinctions between shares held of record and those beneficially owned. |
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Stockholders of Record. If your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Computershare, you are considered, with respect to those shares, the stockholder of record, and we are sending our proxy materials directly to you. As the stockholder of record, you have the right to vote in person or direct a proxyholder to vote your shares on your behalf at the Annual Meeting by signing and dating the enclosed proxy card and returning it to us in the enclosed postage-paid return envelope, or by following the procedures for voting over the Internet or by telephone. |
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Beneficial Owner. If your shares are held by a bank, broker or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of those shares and they are considered to be held in street name for your account. Proxy materials are made available to you together with a voting instruction card by delivery to your bank, broker or other nominee. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your bank, broker or nominee to vote your shares as you instruct with your voting instruction card. The bank, broker or other nominee will vote your shares at the Annual Meeting as you have instructed on your voting instruction card. As a beneficial owner, you may also vote in person at the Annual Meeting, but only after you obtain and present a "legal proxy" from your bank, broker or other nominee, giving you the right to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting. |
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How can I vote my shares without attending the Annual Meeting? |
Whether you hold shares directly as the stockholder of record or as a beneficial owner, you may direct how your shares are voted without attending the Annual Meeting by voting on the Internet, by phone, or by proxy card. If you provide specific instructions with regard to items of business to be voted on at the Annual Meeting, your shares will be voted as you instruct on those items. If you just sign your proxy card with no further instructions, or if you electronically transmit your proxy card but do not direct your vote on particular items, your shares will be voted in accord with the Board's recommendation on those items. If you hold your shares in street name as a beneficial owner and you do not instruct your bank, broker or other nominee how to vote your shares, your bank, broker or other nominee will only be able to vote your shares with respect to the routine matter of appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017. Please see "What is a broker non-vote?" below. |
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How can I attend the Annual Meeting? |
Whether you hold shares in your name as the stockholder of record or beneficially own shares held in street name, you should be prepared to present photo identification for admittance to the Annual Meeting. Please also note that if you are a street name holder, you will need to provide proof of beneficial ownership as of the Record Date, such as your most recent brokerage account statement, a copy of the voting instruction card provided by your bank, broker or other nominee, or other similar evidence of ownership for admittance to the Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. PST. Check-in will begin at 8:30 a.m. PST. However, if you are a street name holder, you may not vote at the Annual Meeting unless you have obtained a proxy from your broker, bank or other nominee. Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we recommend that you also vote by Internet, telephone, or sign and date the proxy card or voting instruction card and return it promptly in order to ensure that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to, or are unable to, attend the Annual Meeting. |
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Can I change my vote or revoke my proxy? |
You may change your vote or revoke your proxy at any time prior to the vote at the Annual Meeting. If you are the stockholder of record, you may change your vote by (i) granting a new proxy bearing a later date, which automatically revokes your earlier proxy, (ii) providing a written notice of revocation to our Corporate Secretary at our principal executive offices prior to the Annual Meeting, or (iii) attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. However, attendance at the Annual Meeting will not cause your previously granted proxy to be revoked unless you specifically so request. If you are a beneficial owner, you may change your vote by (i) submitting a new voting instruction card to your bank, broker or other nominee, or (ii) if you have obtained a legal proxy from your broker or other nominee giving you the right to vote your shares, by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. |
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What is a "broker non-vote"? |
Brokers that hold shares in street name for the benefit of their clients, banks, brokers and other nominees have the discretion to vote such shares on routine matters only. At the Annual Meeting, only the ratification of the appointment of independent registered public accounting firms is considered a routine matter. Therefore, if you do not otherwise instruct your bank, broker or other nominee on how to vote your shares, your bank, broker or other nominee may vote your shares on this matter only. Your bank, broker or other nominee will not be able to vote your shares for the election of two Class I directors, the approval of the Company's 2016 Equity Incentive Plan and the number of shares reserved for issuance thereunder, the approval of the amendment and restatement of the Company's 2007 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, including the increase to the number of shares reserved for issuance thereunder, the re-approval of the Company's Performance Bonus Plan, the advisory vote to approve the compensation of named executive officers, or any other matters properly brought before the Annual Meeting without your specific instruction because these are not considered routine matters. A "broker non-vote" occurs when a broker or other nominee does not receive timely instructions from the beneficial owner and therefore such broker or bank expressly indicates on a proxy card that it is not voting the uninstructed shares on a non-routine matter. |
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How are "broker non-votes" counted? |
Broker non-votes will be counted as present at the Annual Meeting for the purpose of determining the presence or absence of a quorum for the transaction of business, but they will not be considered to be present and entitled to vote for purposes of tabulating the voting results for any non-routine matter. Accordingly, broker non-votes, if any, will have no effect on the outcome of the votes at the Annual Meeting. |
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What happens if the Annual Meeting is adjourned? |
If our Annual Meeting is adjourned until another time, no additional notice will be given regarding the time or location that the Annual Meeting will be continued, if this information is announced at the time of the adjournment, unless the adjournment is for more than 30 days, in which case a notice of the time and location will be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Any items of business that might have been properly transacted at the Annual Meeting may be transacted after any adjournment. |
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Who will serve as inspector of elections? |
A representative of Computershare, our transfer agent, will tabulate the votes and act as Inspector of Elections at the Annual Meeting. |
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What should I do in the event that I receive more than one set of proxy materials? |
You may receive more than one copy of the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or more than one set of these proxy solicitation materials, including multiple copies of this Proxy Statement and multiple proxy cards or voting instruction cards. For example, if you hold your shares in more than one brokerage account, you may receive a separate voting instruction card from each brokerage account in which you hold shares. In addition, if you are a stockholder of record and your shares are registered in more than one name, you may receive more than one Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or proxy card. Please vote over the Internet, by telephone, or sign, date and return each proxy card and voting instruction card that you receive to ensure that all of your shares are voted. |
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We have adopted a procedure called "householding," which the SEC has approved. Under this procedure, we deliver a single copy of the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials and, if applicable, the proxy materials to multiple stockholders who share the same address unless we received contrary instructions from one or more of the stockholders. This procedure reduces our printing costs, mailing costs, and fees. Stockholders who participate in householding will continue to be able to access and receive separate proxy cards. Please see "Stockholders Sharing the Same Address" for further information regarding householding and how to request additional copies of the materials or enroll in householding. |
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Who is soliciting my vote and who will bear the costs of this solicitation? |
The proxy is being solicited on behalf of our Board. The Company will bear the entire cost of solicitation of proxies, including preparation, Internet posting, assembly, printing and mailing of this Proxy Statement. In addition to solicitation by mail, our directors, officers and employees may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone, by electronic mail or by other means of communication. We will not pay any additional compensation to our directors, officers or other employees for soliciting proxies. We have retained MacKenzie Partners, Inc. to assist in the solicitation of proxies for a fee of approximately $15,000 plus reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses. Copies of the proxy materials will be furnished to banks, brokers and other nominees holding beneficially owned shares of our common stock, who will forward the proxy materials to the beneficial owners. We are required to reimburse brokers and other nominees for the costs of forwarding the proxy materials. |
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Where can I find the voting results of the Annual Meeting? |
We intend to announce preliminary voting results at the Annual Meeting and publish the final voting results in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC within four business days following the Annual Meeting. |
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What is the deadline for submitting proposals for consideration at next year's Annual Meeting of stockholders or to nominate individuals to serve as directors? |
As a stockholder, you may be entitled to present proposals for action at a future annual meeting of stockholders, including director nominations. Please refer to "Stockholder Proposals" and "Recommendations and Nominations of Director Candidates" below. |
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PROPOSAL ONE
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that our Board shall be divided into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III, with each class serving for staggered three-year terms. Emad Rizk, M.D., a Class III director, resigned from our Board on September 16, 2016 to dedicate his full time and efforts to his new role as Chief Executive Officer of Verscend Technologies, Inc. given the time commitment necessary for service on a public company Board. As a result, our Board currently consists of seven directors: two Class I directors, three Class II directors and two Class III directors. The terms of our Class I directors will expire at the Annual Meeting. Class I consists of two directors and the Board has nominated two directors for election at the Annual Meeting. Proxies cannot be voted for more than two persons.
The following information is provided for each of the nominees and directors: name, class in which each director or nominee serves, age as of July 31, 2016, principal occupation and length of service on our Board.
Name
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Term Expires |
Age | Principal Occupation | Director Since |
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Class I Directors/Nominees |
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Robert S. Weiss |
2016 | 69 | Chief Executive Officer and President, The Cooper Companies, Inc. | 2007 | ||||||||
Richard Pettingill |
2016 | 68 | Retired President and Chief Executive Officer of Allina Hospitals and Clinics and California Division of Kaiser Foundation Health Plans and Hospitals and Board Member of Tenet Healthcare Corporation and Hanger Inc. | 2012 | ||||||||
Class II Directors |
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Louis J. Lavigne, Jr. |
2017 | 68 | Chairperson of the Board, Independent Management Consultant and Board Member, Depomed, Inc., DocuSign, Inc., Novocure Limited, Puppet, Inc., Rodan & Fields, LLC and Zynga, Inc. | 2009 | ||||||||
Dennis L. Winger |
2017 | 68 | Retired Chief Financial Officer and Board Member, Nektar Therapeutics, Inc. and Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 2009 | ||||||||
Jack Goldstein, Ph.D. |
2017 | 69 | Independent Consultant, Chairman of the Board of Directors of OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 2010 | ||||||||
Class III Directors |
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Elizabeth Dávila |
2018 | 72 | Vice Chairperson of the Board, Retired Chief Executive Officer and Board Member, NuGEN Technologies, Inc. and Afaxys, Inc. | 2008 | ||||||||
Joshua H. Levine |
2018 | 58 | President, Chief Executive Officer and Board Member, Accuray Incorporated | 2012 |
Director NomineesClass I Directors
Our Board has nominated Messrs. Weiss and Pettingill for election as Class I directors. Each nominee for director has consented to being named in this Proxy Statement and has indicated a willingness to serve if elected. If a nominee is unavailable for election, the persons named as proxyholders will use their discretion to vote for any substitute nominee in accordance with their best
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judgment, as they deem advisable. Listed below are the biographies of each director nominee. The biographies include information regarding each nominee's service as a director of the Company, business experience and principal occupations for at least the past five years, director positions at public companies held currently or at any time during the past five years, and the experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that led the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board (the "Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee") to recommend, and the Board to determine, that the person should serve as a director for the Company. There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.
Robert S. Weiss has served as a member of our Board since January 2007. Since November 2007, Mr. Weiss has served as the Chief Executive Officer of The Cooper Companies, Inc. ("Cooper"), a global specialty medical products company. He was also given the title of President of Cooper in March 2008. Mr. Weiss has served in various senior executive management positions with Cooper since 1989. From January 2005 through October 2007, Mr. Weiss served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Cooper, and from March 2007 to March 2008, he also served as President of CooperVision, Cooper's contact lens subsidiary. Prior to that, he served as Cooper's Chief Financial Officer from September 1989 to January 2005 and held the additional title of Executive Vice President from October 1995 until November 2007. From March 1984 until October 1995, he served at Cooper in various other roles, including Senior Vice President, Vice President and Corporate Controller. Mr. Weiss has also served on the board of directors of Cooper since 1996. Mr. Weiss also serves on the board of trustees of the University of Scranton. Mr. Weiss holds a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Scranton.
As a current Chief Executive Officer and former Chief Financial Officer of a publicly traded medical products company, Mr. Weiss brings to our Board extensive experience in the healthcare industry in finance, accounting, management, strategy, manufacturing, and public company governance.
Richard Pettingill has served as a member of our Board since May 2012. Mr. Pettingill served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Allina Hospitals and Clinics, Minnesota's largest healthcare organization, from 2002 until his retirement in 2009. While in this role, he also served on the board of directors of the Minnesota Hospital Association and the Minnesota Business Partnership. Prior to joining Allina Hospitals and Clinics, Mr. Pettingill served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the California Division of Kaiser Foundation Health Plans and Hospitals, one of the largest not-for-profit managed healthcare companies in the United States, from 1996 to 2002. Mr. Pettingill currently serves on the boards of directors of Tenet Healthcare Corporation, a medical services provider, and Hanger, Inc., an orthotic and prosthetic solutions company. Within the last five years, Mr. Pettingill also served on the public company board of directors of MAKO Surgical Corp., a medical device company that was acquired by Stryker Corporation in 2013. Mr. Pettingill received a bachelor's degree from San Diego State University and a master's degree in health care administration from San Jose State University. He served as a 2010 Fellow in the Advanced Leadership Initiative program at Harvard University.
As the former Chief Executive Officer of a major hospital system and a member of other public company boards, Mr. Pettingill has extensive leadership experience in the healthcare industry, including experience in the areas of business development, strategy and corporate governance, and can represent the customer perspective.
If elected, Messrs. Weiss and Pettingill will hold office as Class I directors until our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or until each of their earlier resignation or removal.
Continuing DirectorsClass II and Class III Directors
Listed below are the biographies of each of our Class II and Class III directors. The biographies include information regarding each director's service as a director of the Company, business experience
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and principal occupations for at least the past five years, director positions at public companies held currently or at any time during the past five years, and the experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that led the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to recommend, and the Board to determine, that the person should serve as a director for the Company. There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.
Louis J. Lavigne, Jr. has served as a member of our Board since September 2009 and as the Chairperson of our Board of Directors since April 2010. Mr. Lavigne currently serves as a Managing Director of Lavrite, LLC, a management consulting firm specializing in the areas of corporate finance, accounting, growth strategy and management. He also currently serves as a member of the board of directors of Depomed, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, DocuSign Inc., a private eSignature transaction management company, Novocure Limited, a public oncology company, Puppet, Inc., a private information technology cloud automation security and DevOps system management company, Rodan & Fields, LLC, a private skincare company, and Zynga, Inc., a leading provider of social electronic games. Within the last five years, Mr. Lavigne also served on the public company board of directors of BMC Software, Inc., an independent systems software vendor that was acquired by a private investor group in 2013, and Allergan, Inc., a technology-driven, global health care company that provides specialty pharmaceutical products worldwide, from 2005 to 2015. From 1983 to 2005, Mr. Lavigne served in various executive capacities with Genentech, Inc., a healthcare company, namely, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 1997 to 2005; Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 1994 to 1997; Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 1988 to 1994; Vice President from 1986 to 1988; and Controller from 1983 to 1986. Mr. Lavigne was named the Best CFO in Biotech in 2005 in the Institutional Investor Survey and in June 2006 he received the Bay Area CFO of the Year-Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award. He is Chairman of the Board of UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals and their foundation. Mr. Lavigne holds a B.S. in Finance from Babson College and an M.B.A. from Temple University.
As a former Chief Financial Officer of a large, complex publicly traded company in the healthcare industry, and a current and former member of several public company boards, Mr. Lavigne brings to our Board extensive experience in business operations and management, strategy, finance, accounting and public company governance.
Dennis L. Winger has served as a member of our Board since September 2009. Mr. Winger most recently served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Applied Biosystems, Inc. from 1997 until his retirement in 2008. Mr. Winger currently serves on the boards of directors of Nektar Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company, and Pacira Pharmaceuticals, a specialty pharmaceutical company. In the past five years, Mr. Winger also served on the following public company boards of directors: Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Cephalon, Inc. Mr. Winger also serves on the Board of Trustees of Siena College. Mr. Winger holds a B.A. in History from Siena College and an M.B.A. from Columbia University.
As a former Chief Financial Officer of multiple publicly traded life sciences companies, and a member of multiple public company boards, Mr. Winger has extensive experience in finance, accounting, operations, strategy, and public company governance.
Jack Goldstein, Ph.D., has served as a member of our Board since May 2010. Dr. Goldstein has been an independent consultant since 2006 specializing in human medical diagnostics, biopharmaceuticals and medical devices. He served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Chiron Corporation from 2004 until its acquisition by Novartis in 2006, and from 2002 to 2004 he served as President of Chiron's Blood Testing Division. From 2000 to 2002, he was a general partner at Windamere Venture Partners, a private venture capital investment fund. From 1997 to 2001, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer at Applied Imaging Corporation, and from 1999 until 2002, he also served as Chairman of the Board of Applied Imaging. From 1986 to 1997, Dr. Goldstein served in
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various executive positions at Johnson & Johnson, including President of Ortho Diagnostic Systems and Executive Vice President of Professional Diagnostics. Dr. Goldstein currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a drug discovery and development company. Dr. Goldstein holds a B.A. in biology from Rider University and an M.S. in immunology and a Ph.D. in microbiology from St. John's University.
As a former executive of several life sciences companies and member of other health care industry public company boards, Dr. Goldstein has extensive industry experience in management, strategy, operations, business development, and capital equipment sales and marketing. Dr. Goldstein also has relevant scientific, research and development and manufacturing expertise.
Elizabeth Dávila has served as a member of our Board since February 2008 and as Vice Chairperson of our Board since September 2008. Ms. Dávila was the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of VISX, Incorporated ("VISX"), a manufacturer of laser vision correction systems, which was acquired by Advanced Medical Optics in May 2005. Prior to becoming Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of VISX in 2001, she served as President and Chief Operating Officer of VISX from 1999 to 2001 and as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from 1995 to 1999. Ms. Dávila currently serves as a member of the board of directors of NuGEN Technologies, Inc., a private company that develops and commercializes rapid, high-sensitivity and high-throughput amplification and labeling systems for genomic analysis, and Afaxys, Inc., a private company that supplies family planning providers with pharmaceuticals and supplies. Ms. Dávila holds a B.S. in Chemistry from St. Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana, an M.S. in Chemistry from the University of Notre Dame and an M.B.A. from Stanford University.
As a former Chief Executive Officer of VISX and a current and former member of multiple public and private company boards, Ms. Dávila has extensive healthcare industry experience in management, business development, operations, strategy and capital equipment sales.
Joshua H. Levine has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of our Board since October 2012. Mr. Levine brings diverse, global healthcare industry experience and a strong track record of creating and unlocking strategic value for the companies he has led. He has been the President, Chief Executive Officer, and a director of two other publicly traded global medical device firms, with Mentor Corporation, a surgical implant/medical device manufacturer in the aesthetics space from 2004 to 2009, and most recently with Immucor Corporation, a diagnostics manufacturer of automated instrumentation and reagents used in blood transfusion procedures in 2011. Mr. Levine holds a B.A. from the University of Arizona.
Mr. Levine's qualifications to serve on our Board include, among other skills and qualifications, his strategic business development skills, commercial leadership experience, and executive vision. In addition, Mr. Levine brings expertise in the medical device and medical technology industries from years of experience as a chief executive officer with two other publicly traded, small cap medical device manufacturing companies.
Under our Corporate Governance Guidelines, each director submits an advance, contingent, irrevocable resignation that the Board may accept if that director fails to be elected by a majority of votes cast. In that situation, our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee would make a recommendation to the Board about whether to accept such resignation. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board may consider any factors they deem relevant in deciding whether to accept a director's resignation.
Stockholders are not entitled to cumulate their votes in the election of directors or with respect to any matter submitted to a vote of the stockholders. To be elected, directors must receive a majority of
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votes cast, meaning that the number of shares voted "FOR" a director's election exceeds 50% of the number of votes cast with respect to that director's election. You may vote either "FOR" or "AGAINST" each director nominee or you may abstain. A properly executed proxy marked "ABSTAIN" with respect to any director will be counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum, but it will not be counted for purposes of determining the number of votes cast with respect to the election of such a director, and thus it will have no effect on the outcome of the vote. Broker non-votes, if any, will have no effect on the outcome of the vote.
Board of Directors' Recommendation
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" EACH OF THE TWO NOMINEES FOR CLASS I DIRECTOR LISTED ABOVE.
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PROPOSAL TWO
APPROVAL OF THE ACCURAY INCORPORATED 2016 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN AND THE NUMBER OF SHARES
RESERVED FOR ISSUANCE THEREUNDER
We are asking our stockholders to approve a new equity incentive plan, the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2016 Plan"). Subject to our stockholders' approval at the Annual Meeting, our Board adopted the 2016 Plan on August 24, 2016, based on the recommendation of the Compensation Committee of the Board (the "Compensation Committee"). If approved by our stockholders, the 2016 Plan will replace our 2007 Incentive Award Plan (the "2007 Plan") and will remain in effect until 2026, unless it is terminated earlier by the 2016 Plan's administrator (as defined below). We will cease granting awards under the 2007 Plan once the 2016 Plan is approved by our stockholders.
Reasons for Voting for Approval of the 2016 Plan
The 2016 Plan Will Help Us to Continue Effectively Recruiting Talented Service Providers
The ability to grant equity awards is vital to our success because it enables us to attract and retain the most talented service providers. Equity awards also align the interests of such individuals with the interests of stockholders by giving such individuals an opportunity to acquire an ownership interest in the Company, which incentivizes such individuals to drive the Company to achieve outstanding performance.
Our 2007 Plan is scheduled to expire in January 2017, and if stockholders do not approve the 2016 Plan at the Annual Meeting, we will be unable to continue our equity incentive program after the expiration of the 2007 Plan. In that case, in order to remain competitive in the recruitment of service providers without providing equity-based compensation, we would need to replace equity-based compensation with cash compensation. We believe this would not be practical or advisable because any significant increase in cash compensation in lieu of equity-based compensation could substantially increase our operating expenses and reduce our cash flow from operations, which could adversely affect our business results and could adversely affect our business strategy by reducing the cash available for strategic acquisitions and for research and development of new products and of improvements to existing products. Accordingly, we believe that, rather than using cash alone, a combination of equity-based compensation and cash compensation provides a more effective means of incentivizing our service providers and rewarding them for their contributions to our success.
A Reasonable Number of Shares Will Be Reserved Under the 2016 Plan
If the 2016 Plan is approved by our stockholders, the total number of shares of our common stock that will be reserved for issuance under the 2016 Plan will be 4,000,000 shares plus any shares of our common stock that been reserved but not issued pursuant to any awards granted under the 2007 Plan and any shares of our common stock subject to outstanding equity awards granted under our 2007 Plan that are added to the 2016 Plan (as described in the summary of the 2016 Plan below). We expect the number of shares of our common stock to be reserved for issuance under the 2016 Plan to be sufficient to permit us to continue granting equity-based compensation at appropriate levels for the next two years. The following factors were considered by the Compensation Committee and the Board when determining the number of shares of our common stock to reserve for issuance under the 2016 Plan:
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The 2016 Plan Is Less Dilutive to Stockholders than the 2007 Plan
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The 2016 Plan Gives Us the Ability to Fully Deduct Certain Performance-based Awards for Federal Income Tax Purposes
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), generally denies us a corporate tax deduction for annual compensation exceeding $1 million paid to our chief executive officer and other "covered employees," as determined under Section 162(m) of the Code ("Section 162(m)") and applicable guidance. However, certain types of compensation, such as performance-based compensation, are generally excluded from this deductibility limit.
The 2016 Plan is designed to enable (but not require) us to grant equity awards that qualify as fully deductible performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) by setting limits on the size of awards that may be granted under the 2016 Plan to employees in a single year, as further described below. If our stockholders approve the 2016 Plan, they will be approving these limits, the eligibility requirements for participation in the 2016 Plan, the performance measures upon which specific performance goals for certain awards would be based, and the other material terms necessary to grant awards under the 2016 Plan that qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m).
We are not, however, required to structure equity award grants to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m), and the 2016 Plan gives the Company the flexibility to grant equity awards that do not qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m).
The 2016 Plan Includes Compensation and Governance Best Practices
The 2016 Plan includes provisions that are considered best practice for compensation and corporate governance purposes. These provisions protect our stockholders' interests, as follows:
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Our executive officers and directors have an interest in the approval of the 2016 Plan because they are eligible to receive equity awards under the 2016 Plan.
The 2016 Plan Gives Us the Ability to Grant RSUs under the Loi Macron
In August 2015, a new French law (Loi Macron) introduced changes to the terms under which RSUs may be granted to employees of our French subsidiary. Among the conditions for granting RSUs under the Loi Macron is that the RSUs are granted pursuant to an equity incentive plan approved by our stockholders after August 7, 2015. Therefore, the approval of the 2016 Plan will also afford us the opportunity to grant RSUs under the Loi Macron. Approval of the 2016 Plan will also satisfy one of the requirements of the Loi Macron for granting tax-qualified RSUs to employees of our subsidiary in France ("French-qualified RSUs"). Under the Loi Macron, French-qualified RSUs granted to employees of our French subsidiary may benefit from certain tax and social security treatment, provided certain conditions are met.
We are not proposing any specific provisions be included in the 2016 Plan in order to grant French-qualified RSUs under the Loi Macron. The 2016 Plan provides that the administrator has the full authority, in its sole discretion, to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to sub-plans. Therefore, should we obtain stockholder approval for the 2016 Plan and determine to grant French-qualified RSUs under the Loi Macron to employees of our French subsidiary, our Board or Compensation Committee may grant French-qualified RSUs under a French sub-plan to the 2016 Plan setting forth any required terms and conditions.
We are not required to grant French-qualified RSUs in France and may choose, at our discretion, to grant non-qualified awards to employees of our French subsidiary depending on the circumstances.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE APPROVAL OF THE 2016 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN AND THE NUMBER OF SHARES RESERVED FOR ISSUANCE THEREUNDER.
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The following paragraphs provide a summary of the main features of the 2016 Plan and its operation. However, this summary does not provide a complete description of all of the 2016 Plan's provisions and is qualified in its entirety by the specific language of the 2016 Plan. A copy of the 2016 Plan is provided as Appendix A to this Proxy Statement.
Purposes of the 2016 Plan
The purposes of the 2016 Plan are to attract and retain the best available personnel; to provide additional incentive to employees, directors, and consultants; and to promote the success of our business. These incentives are provided through the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance units, and performance shares as the plan administrator (as defined below) may determine.
Shares Available for Issuance
Subject to the adjustment provisions contained in the 2016 Plan, our stockholders are being asked to approve a number of shares of our common stock for issuance under the 2016 Plan equal to the sum of (i) 4,000,000 Shares, (ii) any shares of our common stock that have been reserved but not issued pursuant to any awards granted under the 2007 Plan as of the date the 2016 Plan is approved by our stockholders, and (iii) any shares of our common stock subject to outstanding stock options, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units, or similar awards that were previously granted under the 2007 Plan that, on or after the date the 2016 Plan is approved by our stockholders, expire or otherwise terminate without having been exercised in full, or that are forfeited to or repurchased by us, with the maximum number of shares of our common stock to be added from the 2007 Plan equal to 10,084,101 shares. The shares of our common stock may be authorized, but unissued or reacquired common stock.
If any award granted under the 2016 Plan expires or becomes unexercisable without having been exercised in full or is forfeited to or repurchased by us due to failure to vest, then the expired, unexercised, forfeited, or repurchased shares of our common stock subject to such award will become available for future grant or sale under the 2016 Plan. With respect to the exercise of stock appreciation rights, the gross shares of our common stock issued pursuant to a stock appreciation right will cease to be available under the 2016 Plan. Shares of our common stock used to pay the exercise price of an award or to satisfy the tax withholding obligations related to an award will not become available for future grant or sale under the 2016 Plan. If an award is paid out in cash rather than shares of our common stock, such payment will not reduce the number of shares of our common stock available for issuance under the 2016 Plan.
For purposes of determining the number of shares of our common stock that remain available for issuance under the 2016 Plan and the number of shares of our common stock returned to the 2016 Plan's share reserve, each share subject to an award other than an option, a stock appreciation right, or any other award that is based solely on an increase in value of the shares following the grant date will count as 1.71 shares.
Limitation
The 2016 Plan contains annual grant limits intended to satisfy Section 162(m). Specifically, while the Company is a "publicly held corporation" within the meaning of Section 162(m) and the deduction limitations of Section 162(m) apply to the Company's "covered employees" within the meaning of Section 162(m), the number of shares of our common stock covered by and the initial value of awards
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that can be issued to any particular employee or consultant under the 2016 Plan in any fiscal year are limited to the amounts set forth below:
Award Type
|
Annual Number of Shares or Dollar Value | |
---|---|---|
Stock Options | Maximum of 4,000,000 shares of our common stock | |
Stock Appreciation Rights | Maximum of 4,000,000 shares of our common stock | |
Restricted Stock | Maximum of 2,000,000 shares of our common stock | |
Restricted Stock Units | Maximum of 2,000,000 shares of our common stock | |
Performance Shares | Maximum of 2,000,000 shares of our common stock | |
Performance Units | Maximum initial value of $10,000,000 |
The 2016 Plan also provides that in any fiscal year, a non-employee board member may not be granted awards with a grant date fair value (determined in accordance with GAAP) exceeding $500,000. Any award granted to a participant while he or she was an employee or a consultant (other than a non-employee director) will not count for purposes of this limitation.
In the event of any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, shares, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of shares or other securities or other change in the corporate structure affecting our common stock, the 2016 Plan administrator, in order to prevent diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the 2016 Plan, will adjust the number and class of shares that may be delivered under the 2016 Plan, and/or the number, class and price of shares of stock subject to outstanding awards, and the award grant limitations discussed above.
Administration
The Board has delegated administration of the 2016 Plan to the Compensation Committee. The Board and the Compensation Committee may further delegate administration of the 2016 Plan to any committee of the Board, or a committee of individuals satisfying applicable laws appointed by the Board in accordance with the terms of the 2016 Plan. For purposes of this summary of the 2016 Plan, the term "administrator" will refer to the Board or any committee designated by the Board to administer the 2016 Plan. To make grants to certain officers and key employees, the members of the committee must qualify as "non-employee directors" under Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In the case of awards intended to qualify for the performance-based compensation exemption under Section 162(m), administration must be by a committee comprised solely of two or more "outside directors" within the meaning of Section 162(m).
Subject to the terms of the 2016 Plan, the administrator has the sole discretion to select the service providers who will receive awards; to determine the terms and conditions of awards; and to approve forms of award agreements for use with the 2016 Plan; to modify or amend each award (subject to the repricing restrictions of the 2016 Plan), including to accelerate vesting or waive forfeiture restrictions, and to interpret the provisions of the 2016 Plan and outstanding awards. The administrator may allow a participant to defer the receipt of payment of cash or delivery of shares that otherwise would be due to such participant. The administrator may make rules and regulations relating to sub-plans established for the purpose of satisfying applicable foreign laws and may make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering the 2016 Plan. The administrator will issue all awards pursuant to the terms and conditions of the 2016 Plan.
The administrator may not implement a program allowing for the cancellation of awards in exchange for different awards and/or cash, the transfer of an outstanding award to a financial institution or other person or entity selected by the administrator, or the increase or reduction of the exercise price of any outstanding award.
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Eligibility
All types of awards may be granted to our non-employee directors and to employees and consultants of any parent, subsidiary, or affiliate corporation of ours. Incentive stock options may be granted only to employees of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company. As of July 31, 2016, we had approximately 956 employees (including one employee director), seven non-employee directors, and 144 consultants.
Stock Options
An option gives a participant the right to purchase a specified number of shares of our common stock for a fixed exercise price during a specified period of time. Each option granted under the 2016 Plan will be evidenced by an award agreement specifying the number of shares of our common stock subject to the option and the other terms and conditions of the option, consistent with the requirements of the 2016 Plan.
The exercise price per share of each option may not be less than the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant. However, any incentive stock option granted to a person who at the time of grant owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock or any parent or subsidiary corporation of ours (a "ten percent stockholder") must have an exercise price per share equal to at least 110% of the fair market value of a share on the date of grant. The aggregate fair market value of the shares (determined on the grant date) covered by incentive stock options which first become exercisable by any participant during any calendar year also may not exceed $100,000. The fair market value of the common stock is generally the closing sales price of our stock as reported on the NASDAQ Stock Market.
Options will be exercisable at such times or under such conditions as determined by the administrator and set forth in the award agreement, but an option granted under the 2016 Plan generally cannot vest before the one-year anniversary of the date of grant unless the vesting of such option is accelerated due to a termination of the participant's service under certain circumstances, due to the participant's death or disability, or upon a Change in Control. However, an option may be granted without regard to this minimum vesting limitation as long as the shares subject to such option would not represent more than 5% of the shares subject to all outstanding options, stock appreciation rights, and awards of restricted stock units under the 2016 Plan.
Upon the termination of a participant's service, the unvested portion of the participant's option generally expires. The vested portion of the option will remain exercisable for the period following the participant's termination of service that was determined by the administrator and specified in the participant's award agreement, and if no such period was determined by the administrator, the vested portion of the option will remain exercisable for: (i) 3 months following a termination of the participant's service for reasons other than death or disability (and if the participant dies within the 3-month period, the period will be extended to one year from the date of the participant's death) or (ii) 12 months following a termination of the participant's service due to death or disability. However, if the exercise of an option is prevented by applicable law, the exercise period may be extended under certain circumstances described in the 2016 Plan. In no event will the option be exercisable after the end of the option's term.
The term of an option will be specified in the award agreement but may not be more than ten years (or five years for an incentive stock option granted to a ten percent stockholder).
The 2016 Plan provides that the administrator will determine the acceptable form(s) of consideration for exercising an option. An option will be deemed exercised when we receive the notice of exercise and full payment for the shares of our common stock to be exercised, together with applicable tax withholdings.
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Stock Appreciation Rights
A stock appreciation right gives a participant the right to receive the appreciation in the fair market value of our common stock between the date an award is granted and the date it is exercised. Upon exercise of a stock appreciation right, the holder of the award will be entitled to receive an amount determined by multiplying: (i) the difference between the fair market value of a share on the date of exercise and the exercise price by (ii) the number of exercised stock appreciation rights. We may pay the appreciation in cash, in shares of our common stock, or a combination of both. Each stock appreciation right granted under the 2016 Plan will be evidenced by an award agreement specifying the exercise price and the other terms and conditions of the award.
The exercise price per share of each stock appreciation right may not be less than the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant.
Stock appreciation rights will be exercisable at such times or under such conditions as determined by the administrator and set forth in the award agreement, but a stock appreciation right granted under the 2016 Plan generally cannot vest before the one-year anniversary of the date of grant unless the vesting of such stock appreciation right is accelerated due to a termination of the participant's service under certain circumstances, due to the participant's death or disability, or upon a Change in Control. However, a stock appreciation right may be granted without regard to this limitation as long as the shares subject to such stock appreciation right would not represent more than 5% of the shares subject to all outstanding options, stock appreciation rights, and awards of restricted stock units under the 2016 Plan.
The term of a stock appreciation right may not be more than ten years. The terms and conditions relating to the period of exercise of stock appreciation rights following the termination of a participant's service are similar to those for options described above.
Restricted Stock Awards
Awards of restricted stock are rights to acquire or purchase shares of our common stock that vest in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the administrator in its sole discretion. Unless otherwise provided by the administrator, a participant will forfeit any shares of restricted stock that have not vested by the termination of the participant's service. Each restricted stock award granted will be evidenced by an award agreement specifying the number of shares of our common stock subject to the award and the other terms and conditions of the award. The administrator will determine the vesting conditions that apply to an award of restricted stock, but if an award of restricted stock is intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m), the vesting conditions will be based on a specified list of performance goals and certain other requirements, as further discussed below.
Unless the administrator provides otherwise, participants holding shares of restricted stock will have voting rights and rights to dividends and other distributions with respect to such shares without regard to vesting. However, such dividends or other distributions will be subject to the same restrictions and forfeitability provisions that apply to the shares of restricted stock with respect to which they were paid. The administrator has the discretion to reduce or waive any restrictions and to accelerate the time at which any restrictions will lapse or be removed.
Restricted Stock Units
A restricted stock unit represents a right to receive cash or a share of our common stock if the performance goals or other vesting criteria set by the administrator are achieved or the restricted stock unit otherwise vests. Each award of restricted stock units granted under the 2016 Plan will be evidenced
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by an award agreement specifying the number of shares of our common stock subject to the award and other terms and conditions of the award.
The administrator may set vesting conditions based upon the achievement of company-wide, divisional, business unit or individual goals (including, but not limited to, continued employment or service), applicable federal or state securities laws, or any other basis determined by the administrator, in its discretion, but an award of restricted stock units granted under the 2016 Plan generally cannot vest before the one-year anniversary of the date of grant unless the vesting of such award is accelerated due to a termination of the participant's service under certain circumstances, due to the participant's death or disability, or upon a Change in Control. However, an award of restricted stock may be granted without regard to this minimum vesting limitation as long as the shares subject to such award would not represent more than 5% of the shares subject to all outstanding options, stock appreciation rights, and awards of restricted stock units under the 2016 Plan. If an award of restricted stock units is intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m), the vesting conditions will be based on a specified list of performance goals and certain other requirements, as further discussed below.
After an award of restricted stock units has been granted, the administrator has the discretion to reduce or waive any restrictions or vesting criteria that must be met to receive a payout or to accelerate the time at which any restrictions will lapse or be removed. A participant will forfeit any unearned restricted stock units upon termination of his or her service. The administrator in its sole discretion may pay earned restricted stock units in cash, shares of our common stock, or a combination of both.
Performance Units and Performance Shares
Performance units and performance shares are awards that will result in a payment to a participant only if performance goals established by the administrator are achieved or the awards otherwise vest. Performance units will have an initial value established by the administrator on or before the date of grant. Each performance share will have an initial value equal to the fair market value of a share on the grant date. Performance units and performance shares will result in a payment to a participant only if the performance goals or other vesting criteria set by the administrator are achieved or the awards otherwise vest.
Each award of performance units or performance shares granted under the 2016 Plan will be evidenced by an award agreement specifying the performance period and other terms and conditions of the award. The administrator may set vesting criteria based upon the achievement of company-wide, divisional, business unit or individual goals (including, but not limited to, continued employment or service), applicable federal or state securities laws, or any other basis determined by the administrator, in its discretion. However, if an award of performance shares or performance units is intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m), the vesting conditions will be based on a specified list of performance goals and certain other requirements, as further discussed below.
After an award of performance units or performance shares has been granted, the administrator has the discretion to accelerate, reduce, or waive any performance objectives or other vesting provisions for such performance units or performance shares, but may not increase the amount payable at a given level of performance.
The administrator has the discretion to pay earned performance units or performance shares in the form of cash, shares of our common stock (which will have an aggregate fair market value equal to the earned performance units or performance shares at the close of the applicable performance period), or a combination of both.
A participant will forfeit any performance units or performance shares that have not been earned or have not vested as of the termination of his or her service with us.
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Performance Goals
The granting and/or vesting of awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares and performance units, and other incentives under the 2016 Plan may be made subject to the attainment of performance goals relating to one or more business criteria within the meaning of Section 162(m) and may provide for a targeted level or levels of achievement, including: stock price, revenue, profit, bookings, cash flow, customer retention, customer satisfaction, net bookings, net income, net profit, operating cash flow, operating expenses, total earnings; earnings per share, diluted or basic; earnings per share from continuing operations, diluted or basic; earnings before interest and taxes; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization; pre-tax profit; net asset turnover; inventory turnover; capital expenditures; net earnings; operating earnings; gross or operating margin; profit margin, debt; working capital; return on equity; return on net assets; return on total assets; return on capital; return on investment; return on sales; net or gross sales; market share; economic value added; cost of capital; change in assets; expense reduction levels; debt reduction; productivity; new product introductions; delivery performance; individual objectives; and total stockholder return. Any performance goals may be used to measure the performance of our company as a whole or, except with respect to stockholder return metrics, to a region, business unit, affiliate or business segment, and performance goals may be measured either on an absolute basis, a per share basis or relative to a pre-established target, to a previous period's results or to a designated comparison group, and, with respect to financial metrics, which may be determined in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), in accordance with accounting principles established by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB") or which may be adjusted when established to either exclude any items otherwise includable under GAAP or under IASB principles or include any items otherwise excludable under GAAP or under IASB principles. In all other respects, performance goals will be calculated in accordance with the Company's financial statements, generally accepted accounting principles, or under a methodology established by the administrator prior to or at the time of the issuance of an award and which is consistently applied with respect to a performance goal in the relevant performance period. In addition, the administrator will adjust any performance criteria, performance goal, or other feature of an award that relates to or is wholly or partially based on the number of, or the value of, any stock of the Company, to reflect any stock dividend or split, repurchase, recapitalization, combination, or exchange of shares or other similar changes in such stock. The performance goals may differ from participant to participant and from award to award.
To the extent necessary to comply with the performance-based compensation provisions of Section 162(m), with respect to any award granted subject to performance goals, and within the first 25% of the performance period and no more than 90 days following the commencement of the performance period (or such other time required or permitted by Section 162(m)), the administrator will, in writing: (i) designate one or more participants to whom an award will be made; (ii) select the performance goals applicable to the performance period; (iii) establish the performance goals, and amounts or methods of computation of the awards which may be earned for the performance period; and (iv) specify the relationship between performance goals and the amounts or methods of computation of such awards, as applicable, to be earned by each participant for such performance period. Following the completion of each performance period, the administrator will certify in writing whether the applicable performance goals have been achieved for such performance period. In determining the amounts earned by a participant, the administrator may reduce or eliminate (but not increase) the amount payable at a given level of performance to take into account additional factors that the administrator may deem relevant to the assessment of individual or corporate performance for the performance period. A participant will be eligible to receive payment pursuant to an award for a performance period only if the performance goals for such period are achieved.
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Transferability of Awards
Awards generally are not transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution. However, the administrator may permit an award other than an incentive stock option to be assigned or transferred during a participant's lifetime (i) under a domestic relations order, official marital settlement agreement, or other divorce or separation agreement, (ii) to a "family member" (within the meaning of Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) in connection with the participant's estate plan, or (iii) or as required by law.
Dissolution or Liquidation
In the event of a proposed dissolution or liquidation of our company, the administrator will notify each participant as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction. An award will terminate immediately prior to consummation of such proposed action to the extent the award has not been previously exercised.
Change in Control
The 2016 Plan provides that, in the event of a merger or Change in Control, each award will be treated as the administrator determines, including that each award be assumed or substantially equivalent awards substituted by the acquiring or succeeding corporation or its affiliate. The administrator will not be required to treat all outstanding awards the same in the transaction.
If the successor corporation does not assume or substitute for the award, the participant will fully vest in and have the right to exercise all of his or her outstanding options and stock appreciation rights, and all restrictions on restricted stock and restricted stock units will lapse. With respect to awards with performance-based vesting that are not assumed or substituted for, unless the applicable award agreement provides otherwise, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at target levels (prorated based on the portion of the performance period that has elapsed as of immediately prior to the transaction), and all other terms and conditions will be deemed met. In addition, if an option or stock appreciation right is not assumed or substituted for, the administrator will notify the participant in writing or electronically that the option or stock appreciation right will be exercisable for a period of time determined by the administrator, in its sole discretion, and the option or stock appreciation right will terminate upon the expiration of such period.
For awards granted to our non-employee directors that are assumed or substituted for in a merger or Change in Control, upon the termination of a non-employee director's service as a director of ours or the successor corporation (other than a voluntary resignation that is not made at the acquirer's request), then (i) the non-employee director will fully vest in and have the right to exercise all of his or her outstanding options and stock appreciation rights, (ii) all restrictions on the non-employee director's restricted stock and restricted stock units will lapse, and (iii) with respect to the non-employee director's awards with performance-based vesting, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at target levels (prorated based on the portion of the performance period that elapsed as of immediately prior to the transaction) and all other terms and conditions will be deemed met.
Forfeiture Events
Each award under the 2016 Plan will be subject to any clawback policy of ours, and the administrator also may specify in an award agreement that the participant's rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an award will be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events.
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The 2016 Plan includes a recoupment policy, which provides that in the absence of a clawback policy, in the event the Company is required to restate its financial results or materially reduce publicly disclosed backlog figures, the Board will review the conduct of executive officers in relation to the restatement. If the Board determines that an executive officer has engaged in misconduct, or otherwise violated the Company's Code of Conduct and Ethics, and that such misconduct or violation contributed to the restatement or to the improper inclusion of a proposed system sale in publicly disclosed backlog, then the Board may, in its discretion, take appropriate action to remedy the misconduct or violation, such as seeking reimbursement of any portion of any performance-based or incentive compensation paid or awarded to the executive officer that is greater than what would have been paid or awarded if calculated based on the restated financial results or materially reduced backlog figures, to the extent not prohibited by governing law.
The administrator may require a participant to forfeit, return, or reimburse us all or a portion of the award and any amounts paid under the award in order to comply with such clawback policy, the recoupment policy described above, or applicable laws.
Termination or Amendment
The 2016 Plan will automatically terminate ten years from the date of its adoption by the Board, unless terminated at an earlier time by the Board. The administrator may amend, alter, suspend, or terminate the 2016 Plan at any time; provided that no amendment may be made without stockholder approval to the extent approval is necessary or desirable to comply with any applicable laws. No amendment, alteration, suspension, or termination may impair the rights of any participant unless mutually agreed otherwise between the participant and the administrator.
Summary of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following summary is intended only as a general guide to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of participation in the 2016 Plan. The summary is based on existing U.S. laws and regulations as of the Record Date, and there can be no assurance that those laws and regulations will not change in the future. The summary does not purport to be complete and does not discuss the tax consequences upon a participant's death, or the provisions of the income tax laws of any municipality, state or foreign country in which the participant may reside. As a result, tax consequences for any particular participant may vary based on individual circumstances.
Incentive Stock Options
A participant recognizes no taxable income for regular income tax purposes as a result of the grant or exercise of an option that qualifies as incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code. If a participant exercises the option and then later sells or otherwise disposes of the shares of our common stock acquired through the exercise the option after both the two-year anniversary of the date the option was granted and the one-year anniversary of the exercise, the participant will recognize a capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the sale price of the shares and the exercise price, and we will not be entitled to any deduction for federal income tax purposes.
However, if the participant disposes of such shares either on or before the two-year anniversary of the date of grant or on or before the one-year anniversary of the date of exercise (a "disqualifying disposition"), any gain up to the excess of the fair market value of the shares of our common stock on the date of exercise over the exercise price generally will be taxed as ordinary income, unless the shares are disposed of in a transaction in which the participant would not recognize a loss (such as a gift). Any gain in excess of that amount will be a capital gain. If a loss is recognized, there will be no ordinary income, and such loss will be a capital loss. Any ordinary income recognized by the participant
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upon the disqualifying disposition of the shares generally should be deductible by us for federal income tax purposes, except to the extent such deduction is limited by applicable provisions of the Code.
For purposes of the alternative minimum tax, the difference between the option exercise price and the fair market value of the shares of our common stock on the exercise date is treated as an adjustment item in computing the participant's alternative minimum taxable income in the year of exercise. In addition, special alternative minimum tax rules may apply to certain subsequent disqualifying dispositions of the shares or provide certain basis adjustments or tax credits for purposes.
Nonstatutory Stock Options
A participant generally recognizes no taxable income as the result of the grant of such an option. However, upon exercising the option, the participant normally recognizes ordinary income equal to the amount that the fair market value of the shares of our common stock on such date exceeds the exercise price. If the participant is an employee, such ordinary income generally is subject to withholding of income and employment taxes. Upon the sale of the shares of our common stock acquired by the exercise of a nonstatutory stock option, any gain or loss (based on the difference between the sale price and the fair market value on the exercise date) will be taxed as capital gain or loss. No tax deduction is available to us with respect to the grant of a nonstatutory stock option or the sale of the shares acquired through the exercise of the nonstatutory stock option.
Stock Appreciation Rights
In general, no taxable income is reportable when a stock appreciation right is granted to a participant. Upon exercise, the participant generally will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the fair market value of any shares of our common stock received. Any additional gain or loss recognized upon any later disposition of the shares would be capital gain or loss.
Restricted Stock Awards
A participant acquiring shares of restricted stock generally will recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the shares on the vesting date. If the participant is an employee, such ordinary income generally is subject to withholding of income and employment taxes. The participant may elect, pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code, to accelerate the ordinary income tax event to the date of acquisition by filing an election with the Internal Revenue Service no later than thirty days after the date the shares are acquired. Upon the sale of shares of our common stock acquired pursuant to a restricted stock award, any gain or loss, based on the difference between the sale price and the fair market value on the date the ordinary income tax event occurs, will be taxed as capital gain or loss.
Restricted Stock Unit Awards
There are no immediate tax consequences of receiving an award of restricted stock units. A participant who is awarded restricted stock units generally will be required to recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the fair market value of shares of our common stock issued to such participant at the end of the applicable vesting period or, if later, the settlement date elected by the administrator or a participant. Any additional gain or loss recognized upon any later disposition of any shares received would be capital gain or loss.
Performance Shares and Performance Unit Awards
A participant generally will recognize no income upon the grant of a performance share or a performance unit award. Upon the settlement of such awards, participants normally will recognize ordinary income in the year of receipt in an amount equal to the cash received and the fair market value of any unrestricted shares of our common stock received. If the participant is an employee, such
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ordinary income generally is subject to withholding of income and employment taxes. Upon the sale of any shares of our common stock received, any gain or loss, based on the difference between the sale price and the fair market value on the date the ordinary income tax event occurs, will be taxed as capital gain or loss.
Section 409A
Section 409A provides certain requirements for non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements with respect to an individual's deferral and distribution elections and permissible distribution events. Awards granted under the 2016 Plan with a deferral feature will be subject to the requirements of Section 409A. If an award is subject to and fails to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A, the recipient of that award may recognize ordinary income on the amounts deferred under the award, to the extent vested, which may be prior to when the compensation is actually or constructively received. Also, if an award that is subject to Section 409A fails to comply with Section 409A's provisions, Section 409A imposes an additional 20% federal income tax on compensation recognized as ordinary income, as well as interest on such deferred compensation.
Tax Effect for the Company
We generally will be entitled to a tax deduction in connection with an award under the 2016 Plan in an amount equal to the ordinary income realized by a participant and at the time the participant recognizes such income (for example, the exercise of a nonstatutory stock option) except to the extent such deduction is limited by applicable provisions of the Code. Special rules limit the deductibility of compensation paid to our chief executive officer and other "covered employees" as determined under Section 162(m) and applicable guidance. Under Section 162(m), the annual compensation paid to any of these specified executives will be deductible only to the extent that it does not exceed $1,000,000. However, we can preserve the deductibility of certain compensation in excess of $1,000,000 if the conditions of Section 162(m) are met. These conditions include (among others) stockholder approval of the 2016 Plan and its material terms, setting limits on the number of awards that any individual may receive and for awards other than certain stock options and stock appreciation rights, establishing performance criteria that must be met before the award actually will vest or be paid. The 2016 Plan has been designed to permit (but not require) the plan administrator to grant awards that are intended to qualify as performance-based for purposes of satisfying the conditions of Section 162(m).
THE FOREGOING IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF THE EFFECT OF U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION UPON PARTICIPANTS AND THE COMPANY WITH RESPECT TO AWARDS UNDER THE 2016 PLAN. IT DOES NOT PURPORT TO BE COMPLETE AND DOES NOT DISCUSS THE IMPACT OF EMPLOYMENT OR OTHER TAX REQUIREMENTS, THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF A PARTICIPANT'S DEATH, OR THE PROVISIONS OF THE INCOME TAX LAWS OF ANY MUNICIPALITY, STATE, OR FOREIGN COUNTRY IN WHICH THE PARTICIPANT MAY RESIDE.
Number of Awards Granted to Employees and Directors
The number of awards that an employee, director, or consultant may receive under the 2016 Plan is in the discretion of the administrator and therefore cannot be determined in advance. The following table sets forth: (i) the aggregate number of shares of common stock subject to options granted under the 2007 Plan during the fiscal year 2016 to each of our named executive officers; executive officers, as a group; directors who are not employees, as a group; and all employees who are not executive officers, as a group; (ii) the average per share exercise price of such options; (iii) the aggregate number of shares subject to RSUs, PSUs, and MSUs (at target) granted under the 2007 Plan during the fiscal year 2016 to each of our named executive officers; executive officers, as a group; directors who are not
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executive officers, as a group; and all employees who are not executive officers, as a group; and (iv) the grant-date value of shares subject to such RSUs, PSUs, and MSUs.
|
Number of Shares Subject to Options Granted |
Average Per Share Exercise Price of Option Grants |
Number of Shares Subject to RSUs, PSUs, and MSUs Granted |
Dollar Value of Options and RSUs, PSUs, and MSUs Granted(1) |
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Joshua H. Levine |
0 | N/A | 700,000 | $ | 4,365,000 | ||||||||
President and Chief Executive Officer |
|||||||||||||
Kevin M. Waters |
0 | N/A | 255,000 | $ | 1,450,525 | ||||||||
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer |
|||||||||||||
Kelly Londy |
0 | N/A | 265,000 | $ | 1,631,550 | ||||||||
Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer |
|||||||||||||
Alaleh Nouri |
0 | N/A | 175,000 | $ | 1,091,250 | ||||||||
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
|||||||||||||
Executive officers as a group |
0 | N/A | 1,395,000 | $ | 8,538,325 | ||||||||
Non-employee director group |
0 | N/A | 119,315 | $ | 839,979 | ||||||||
Non-executive officers employee group |
0 | N/A | 1,634,060 | $ | 10,249,180 |
The 2016 Plan must be approved by a majority of the votes cast, meaning that the 2016 Plan will be approved only if the number of votes "FOR" approval of the 2016 Plan exceeds the number of votes "AGAINST" approval of the 2016 Plan.
Board of Directors' Recommendation
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE APPROVAL OF THE 2016 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN.
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PROPOSAL THREE
APPROVAL OF AMENDED AND RESTATED 2007 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN AND THE NUMBER OF SHARES RESERVED FOR ISSUANCE THEREUNDER
The stockholders are being asked to approve an amended and restated version of the Accuray Incorporated 2007 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "ESPP"). The ESPP was initially adopted in 2007 and subsequently was amended in 2014. The Board has approved an amended and restated version of the ESPP, the Accuray Incorporated Amended and Restated 2007 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Amended ESPP"), subject to approval from the stockholders at this Annual Meeting. If the stockholders approve the Amended ESPP, the Amended ESPP will replace the current version of our ESPP (the "Existing ESPP"), effective as of the offering period commencing on December 1, 2016.
The Existing ESPP is scheduled to expire in January 2017, and we are asking stockholders to approve the Amended ESPP in order to extend the term of the ESPP and increase the shares of our common stock reserved for issuance thereunder by 1,000,000 shares. If the Amended ESPP is approved by our stockholders, the total number of shares of our common stock that will be reserved for issuance under the Amended ESPP will be 7,263,101 shares (inclusive of the foregoing 1,000,000 share increase), 2,251,009 shares of which will be available for issuance as of the date of the Annual Meeting. The Amended ESPP will no longer have an "evergreen" provision that automatically adds a specified number of shares of our common stock to the ESPP each year. The Amended ESPP also makes certain administrative changes that are consistent with best practices.
The ESPP is a significant component of our equity incentive program and provides our employees the opportunity to buy shares of our common stock at a discount through payroll deductions. We believe that offering an employee stock purchase program is crucial to our ability to continue to successfully compete for top talent in the technology industry and aligns the interests of employees and stockholders by enabling employees to acquire an ownership stake in the Company. Therefore, if stockholders do not approve the Amended ESPP, the expiration of the Existing ESPP in 2017 may limit our ability to offer competitive compensation to existing employees and qualified candidates.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE APPROVAL OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED 2007 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN AND THE NUMBER OF SHARES RESERVED FOR ISSUANCE THEREUNDER.
Additional Information Regarding the ESPP
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The following paragraphs provide a summary of the principal features of the Amended ESPP and its operation. However, this summary is not a complete description of all of the provisions of the Amended ESPP and is qualified in its entirety by the specific language of the Amended ESPP. A copy of the Amended ESPP is provided as Appendix B to this proxy statement.
General
The purpose of the Amended ESPP is to provide eligible employees with an opportunity to purchase shares of our common stock through contributions, generally through payroll deductions. The Amended ESPP permits the Board or the Compensation Committee (referred to herein as the "administrator") to grant purchase rights that qualify for preferential tax treatment under Code Section 423 (the "423 Component"). In addition, the Amended ESPP authorizes the grant of purchase rights that do not qualify under Code Section 423 (the "Non-423 Component"), pursuant to rules, procedures or sub-plans adopted by our the Board or a committee of the Board (including the Compensation Committee) administering the Amended ESPP that are designed to achieve desired tax or other objectives.
Administration
The Amended ESPP will be administered by the Board or a committee consisting of at least two members of the Board, each of whom is a "non-employee director" for purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. The Compensation Committee currently administers the Amended ESPP, but the Board may at any time exercise the rights and duties of the administrator of the Amended ESPP.
Subject to the terms and conditions of the Amended ESPP, the administrator has the power to interpret the Amended ESPP and the terms of the options; to adopt, interpret, amend, or revoke any rules for the administration, interpretation, and application of the Amended ESPP; to delegate ministerial duties to any of the Company's employees; to designate separate offerings under the Amended ESPP; to designate subsidiaries of the Company as participating in the 423 Component or Non-423 Component; to determine eligibility; to adjudicate all disputed claims filed under the Amended ESPP; to adopt rules and procedures regarding eligibility to participate, the definition of "compensation" for purposes of the Amended ESPP, handling of contributions, making of contributions to the Amended ESPP, establishment of bank or trust accounts to hold contributions, payment of interest, conversion of local currency, obligations to pay payroll tax, determination of beneficiary designation requirements, withholding procedures and handling of stock certificates that vary with applicable local requirements; to determine that, to the extent permitted by Treasury Regulation Section 1.423-2(f), the terms of an option granted under the Amended ESPP or an offering to citizens or residents of a non-U.S. jurisdiction will be less favorable than the terms of options granted under the Amended ESPP or the same offering to employees resident solely in the U.S.; and to utilize the services of an agent to assist in the administration of the Amended ESPP. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the administrator will be final and binding upon all participants, the Company and all other interested persons.
Eligibility
Generally, our employees and the employees of our designated subsidiaries who customarily work more than 20 hours per week and more than five months per calendar year are eligible to participate in the Amended ESPP. However, no employee is eligible to participate in the Amended ESPP if, immediately after the election to participate, such employee would own stock (including stock such employee may purchase under outstanding rights under the Amended ESPP) representing 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of our stock or the stock of any of our parent
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or subsidiary corporations. In addition, no employee is permitted to participate if the rights of the employee to purchase our common stock under the Amended ESPP and all similar purchase plans maintained by us or our subsidiaries would accrue at a rate which exceeds $25,000 of the fair market value of such stock (determined at the time the right is granted) for each calendar year. As of June 30, 2016, approximately 890 employees were eligible to participate in the ESPP.
Shares Reserved
Subject to certain adjustments set forth in the Amended ESPP, our stockholders are being asked to approve an increase to the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under the ESPP equal to 1,000,000 shares. Unlike the Existing ESPP, the Amended ESPP does not contain an annual "evergreen" provision that automatically increases the number of shares available for issuance under the ESPP each year. If the Amended ESPP is approved by our stockholders, the total number of shares of our common stock that will be reserved for issuance under the Amended ESPP will be 7,263,101 shares (inclusive of the foregoing 1,000,000 share increase), 2,251,009 shares of which will be available for issuance as of the date of the Annual Meeting.
Enrollment
Eligible employees become participants in the Amended ESPP by executing a subscription agreement and filing it with us 15 days (or such shorter or longer period as may be determined by the Amended ESPP's administrator) prior to the applicable enrollment date. By enrolling in the Amended ESPP, a participant is deemed to have elected to purchase the maximum number of whole shares of our common stock that can be purchased with the compensation withheld during each offering period for which the participant is enrolled. Once an employee becomes a participant in the ESPP, the employee automatically will participate in each successive offering period until the employee withdraws from the ESPP or the employee's employment with the Company or one of the Company's designated subsidiaries terminates.
Terms
Offerings; exercise dates. The Amended ESPP will have successive offering periods, with the length of each offering period determined by the administrator up to a maximum of 27 months. As currently operated, a new 12-month offering period will begin on June 1st and December 1st of each year during the term of the Amended ESPP. Each offering period will have two successive purchase periods (each approximately 6 months in length). Purchases will be made once during each purchase period on the last trading day of such purchase period (the "exercise date"). If the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the exercise date is less than the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the first trading day of the offering period, participants will be withdrawn from such offering period following their purchase of shares on the exercise date and will be automatically re-enrolled in a new offering period. The Amended ESPP's administrator may change the duration and timing of offering periods and purchase periods under the Amended ESPP.
Price and payment. Employees electing to participate in the Amended ESPP will authorize payroll deductions made on each pay day during each offering period until the employee instructs us to stop the deductions or until the employee's employment is terminated. Participants may contribute from 1% to 10% of their compensation through payroll deductions, and the accumulated deductions will be applied to the purchase of shares of our common stock on each exercise date. Compensation for purposes of the Amended ESPP includes an employee's base straight time gross earnings and commissions but excludes payments for overtime, shift premium, incentive compensation, incentive payments, bonuses, expense reimbursements, fringe benefits and other compensation. A participant generally may not make contributions into his or her account other than through payroll deductions. During an offering period, a participant generally may change the rate of payroll deductions, including
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reducing the contribution rate to 0%, but the administrator has the discretion to limit the type and number of such rate changes during any offering period. Participant contributions are generally credited to the participant's account, withheld in whole percentages (from 1% to 10% of "compensation"), and are included with the Company's general funds.
The purchase price per share of our common stock generally will be equal to 85% of the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the first trading day of the applicable offering period or, if lower, 85% of the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the last trading day of the applicable purchase period. No employee is permitted to purchase more than 2,500 shares during each purchase period. The administrator has the ability to change the purchase price per share of our common stock and purchase limits for future offering periods. The fair market value of a share of our common stock on any date generally will equal the closing sales price of a share on The NASDAQ Stock Market for such date, or if no sale occurred on such date, the first trading date immediately prior to such date during which a sale occurred, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Amended ESPP's administrator may deem reliable for such purposes.
Termination of participation. Employees may withdraw from an offering period and end their participation in the Amended ESPP at any time during the offering period. Once a participant withdraws from an offering period, however, that participant may not participate again in the same offering period and would be required to deliver a new subscription agreement to the Company in order to participate in a future offering period. In addition, participation in the Amended ESPP automatically will end in the event a participant ceases to qualify as an eligible employee for any reason. Upon termination of participation in the Amended ESPP, the former participant's payroll deductions not already used to purchase shares of our common stock under the Amended ESPP will be returned to him or her.
Adjustments
In the event of a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Company's common stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, appropriate adjustments will be made to the number of shares of our common stock available for issuance under the Amended ESPP, the purchase price and number of shares of our common stock covered by options outstanding under the Amended ESPP, and the maximum number of shares of our common stock that may be purchased by each participant during each purchase period.
Dissolution or Liquidation
In the event of the Company's proposed dissolution or liquidation, the administrator will shorten any purchase periods then in progress by setting a new purchase date and any offering periods will end on the new purchase date. The new purchase date will be prior to the dissolution or liquidation. If the administrator shortens any purchase periods then in progress, the administrator will notify each participant in writing, at least ten business days prior to the new purchase date, that the purchase date has been changed to the new purchase date and that the right to purchase shares of our common stock under the ESPP will be exercised automatically on the new purchase date, unless the participant has already withdrawn from the offering period.
Merger or Change in Control
In the event of a merger or Change in Control (as defined in the Amended ESPP), the outstanding rights under the Amended ESPP will be assumed or an equivalent right substituted by the successor company or its parent or subsidiary. If the successor company or its parent or subsidiary refuses to assume the outstanding rights or substitute an equivalent right, then the purchase period
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then in progress will be shortened by setting a new exercise date prior to the effective date of the transaction and all outstanding purchase rights will automatically be exercised on the new exercise date. The purchase price will be equal to 85% of the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the first trading day of the applicable offering period in which an acquisition occurs or, if lower, 85% of the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date the purchase rights are exercised.
Termination or Amendment
The Board may at any time and for any reason terminate or amend the Amended ESPP. Generally, no amendment may make any change in any option previously granted which adversely affects the rights of any participant without such participant's consent, provided that an offering period may be terminated by the Board if it determines that the termination of the offering period or the Amended ESPP is in the best interests of our company and our stockholders. To the extent necessary to comply with Section 423 of the Code, we will obtain stockholder approval of any amendment to the Amended ESPP.
Without stockholder consent and without regard to whether any participant rights may be considered to have been "adversely affected," the Amended ESPP's administrator may change the offering periods or purchase periods, designate separate offerings, limit the frequency and/or number of changes in the amount withheld during an offering period, and establish such other limitations or procedures as it determines consistent with the Amended ESPP. In addition, in the event the Board determines that the ongoing operation of the Amended ESPP may result in unfavorable financial accounting consequences, the Board may, in its discretion and, to the extent necessary or desirable, modify or amend the Amended ESPP to reduce or eliminate such accounting consequence. Such modifications or amendments will not require stockholder approval or the consent of any of the Amended ESPP's participants.
The Amended ESPP will remain in effect until terminated by the Amended ESPP's administrator.
Plan Benefits
Participation in the Amended ESPP is voluntary and is dependent on each eligible employee's election to participate and his or her determination as to the level of payroll deductions. Accordingly, future purchases under the Amended ESPP are not determinable. Non-employee directors are not eligible to participate in the Amended ESPP. No purchases have been made under the Amended ESPP since its adoption by the Board.
Summary of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following brief summary of the effect of the U.S. federal income taxation upon the participant and the Company with respect to the shares of our common stock purchased under the Amended ESPP does not purport to be complete and does not discuss the tax consequences of a participant's death or the income tax laws of any state or foreign country in which the participant may reside.
The Amended ESPP, and the right of U.S. participants to make purchases thereunder, is intended to qualify under the provisions of Sections 421 and 423 of the Code. Under these provisions, no income will be taxable to a participant until the shares of our common stock purchased under the Amended ESPP are sold or otherwise disposed of. Upon sale or other disposition of the shares, the participant will generally be subject to tax in an amount that depends upon the holding period. If the shares of our common stock are sold or otherwise disposed of more than two years from the first day of the applicable offering period and one year from the applicable date of purchase, the participant will recognize ordinary income measured as the lesser of (i) the excess of the fair market value of the shares of our common stock at the time of such sale or disposition over the purchase price or (ii) an amount equal to 15% of the fair market value of the shares of our common stock as of the first day of
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the applicable offering period. Any additional gain will be treated as long-term capital gain. If the shares of our common stock are sold or otherwise disposed of before the expiration of these holding periods, the participant will recognize ordinary income generally measured as the excess of the fair market value of the shares of our common stock on the date the shares are purchased over the purchase price. Any additional gain or loss on such sale or disposition will be long-term or short-term capital gain or loss, depending on how long the shares have been held from the date of purchase. The Company generally is not entitled to a deduction for amounts taxed as ordinary income or capital gain to a participant except to the extent of ordinary income recognized by participants upon a sale or disposition of shares of our common stock prior to the expiration of the holding periods described above.
THE FOREGOING IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF THE EFFECT OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION UPON PARTICIPANTS AND THE COMPANY UNDER THE AMENDED ESPP. IT DOES NOT PURPORT TO BE COMPLETE AND DOES NOT DISCUSS THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF A PARTICIPANT'S DEATH OR THE PROVISIONS OF THE INCOME TAX LAWS OF ANY MUNICIPALITY, STATE, OR FOREIGN COUNTRY IN WHICH THE PARTICIPANT MAY RESIDE.
The Amended ESPP must be approved by a majority of the votes cast, meaning that the Amended ESPP will be approved only if the number of votes "FOR" approval of the Amended ESPP exceeds the number of votes "AGAINST" approval of the Amended ESPP.
Board of Directors' Recommendation
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE APPROVAL OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED 2007 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN.
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PROPOSAL FOUR
RE-APPROVAL OF THE PERFORMANCE BONUS PLAN
On September 21, 2016, the Compensation Committee of our Board unanimously re-approved the Accuray Incorporated Performance Bonus Plan (the "Bonus Plan") and directed that the Bonus Plan be submitted to stockholders at the Annual Meeting.
The purpose of the Bonus Plan is to motivate certain executives to achieve corporate or business unit performance objectives and to reward them with cash bonuses when those objectives are satisfied.
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (the "Code"), generally denies a corporate tax deduction for annual compensation exceeding $1 million paid to the chief executive officer and other "covered employees" as determined under Section 162(m) of the Code ("Section 162(m)") and applicable guidance. However, certain types of compensation, including qualified performance-based compensation, are generally excluded from this deductibility limit.
The Bonus Plan allows the Company the opportunity to choose to pay incentive compensation that is intended to be performance-based and therefore potentially fully tax deductible on the Company's federal income tax return. In order for compensation to qualify as performance-based, the plan under which the compensation is paid must (among other things) be approved by stockholders. By re-approving the Bonus Plan, the stockholders will be approving the material terms of the Bonus Plan (such as the eligibility requirements for participation in the Bonus Plan, performance measures upon which specific performance goals applicable to certain awards would be based, and limits on the compensation that could be made to participants), so that we may qualify performance-based cash incentives made under the Bonus Plan as "performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m). If stockholders do not approve the Bonus Plan, we will not use the Plan and it will be terminated. In that case, we may choose to pay bonuses or other incentives to our employees under another plan or arrangement.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE RE-APPROVAL OF THE PERFORMANCE BONUS PLAN.
The following paragraphs provide a summary of the main features of the Bonus Plan and its operation. However, this summary does not provide a complete description of all of the Bonus Plan's provisions and is qualified in its entirety by the specific language of the Bonus Plan. A copy of the Bonus Plan is provided as Appendix C to this proxy statement.
Eligibility
Our senior management, including our executive officers, are eligible to participate in the Bonus Plan and become participants in the Bonus Plan by being chosen at the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee. Because our executive officers are eligible to receive awards under the Bonus Plan, our executive officers have an interest in this proposal. No person is automatically entitled to participate in the Bonus Plan in any performance period, and participation in one performance period does not guarantee participation in any future performance period. We may also pay discretionary bonuses, or other types of compensation, outside of the Bonus Plan. As of September 30, 3016, approximately six of our senior management were eligible to participate in the Bonus Plan.
Purpose
The purpose of the Bonus Plan is to increase stockholder value and the success of the Company by motivating key executives to perform to the best of their abilities and achieve the Company's
35
objectives. If certain requirements are satisfied, bonuses issued under the Plan may qualify as deductible "performance-based compensation" within the meaning of Section 162(m).
Administration
The Bonus Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee, consisting of no fewer than two independent members of the Board.
Target Awards and Performance Goals
Under the Bonus Plan, the Compensation Committee assigns each participant a target award and performance goal or goals for a performance period set by the Committee. The participant's target award typically will be expressed as a formula, a dollar amount or as a percentage of his or her base salary.
Each performance period will last for at least one fiscal quarter, one fiscal year or such longer period, as determined by the Compensation Committee in its discretion. More than one performance period may exist at any one time and the performance periods may vary in length.
For each performance period, the Committee will specify one or more performance goal(s) that must be achieved before an award actually will be paid to the participant for that performance period. The performance goals set by the Committee may require the achievement of objectives for one or more of the following: (i) cash flow (including operating cash flow or free cash flow), (ii) revenue (on an absolute basis or adjusted for currency effects), (iii) gross margin, (iv) operating expenses or operating expenses as a percentage of revenue, (v) earnings (which may include earnings before interest and taxes, earnings before taxes and net earnings), (vi) earnings per share, (vii) stock price, (viii) return on equity, (ix) total stockholder return, (x) growth in stockholder value relative to the moving average of the S&P 500 Index or another index, (xi) return on capital, (xii) return on assets or net assets, (xiii) return on investment, (xiv) economic value added, (xv) operating profit or net operating profit, (xvi) operating income, (xvii) operating margin, (xviii) market share, (xix) contract awards or backlog, (xx) overhead or other expense reduction, (xxi) credit rating, (xxii) objective customer indicators, (xxiii) new product invention or innovation, (xxiv) attainment of research and development milestones, (xxv) improvements in productivity, (xxvi) attainment of objective operating goals, (xxvii) contingent or non-contingent orders; and (xxviii) growth rates in any of such performance criteria. The performance criteria may differ for each participant.
The Compensation Committee may choose to set target goals: (1) in absolute terms, (2) in combination with another performance goal or goals, (3) in relative terms, (4) with respect to equity, assets or human resources of the Company, (5) against the performance of the Company as a whole or a specific business unit(s) (including acquired business units), business segment(s) or product(s) of the Company, (6) on a pre-tax or after-tax basis, (7) in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") or non-GAAP basis, and/or (8) in accordance with accounting principles established by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB Principles") or non IASB Principles. Performance goals may differ from participant to participant, from performance period to performance period and from award to award. The Committee also will determine whether any element(s) (for example, the effect of mergers or acquisitions) will be included in or excluded from the calculations (whether or not such determinations result in any performance goal being measured on a basis other than GAAP).
Payment of Awards
After a performance period ends, the Compensation Committee will certify in writing the extent to which the specified performance goals actually were achieved. The actual award that is earned, if any, will be determined using an objective formula that increases or decreases the participant's award based
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on the level of actual performance attained. The Compensation Committee has discretion to reduce or eliminate (but not to increase) the actual award otherwise payable to any participant based on actual performance, which may include assessment of additional performance criteria not used to qualify a bonus as "performance-based compensation." In any case, the maximum bonus payment that any participant may receive under the Bonus Plan with respect to any bonuses earned in any fiscal year is $3,000,000, even if actual performance versus the specified goals otherwise would entitle the participant to a greater payout.
All awards will be paid in cash as soon as is practicable following determination and certification of the award. The payment of an award may be deferred in a manner that complies with Section 409A if (i) the Compensation Committee determines such deferral necessary or desirable to preserve the deductibility of such award under Section 162(m), or (ii) the applicable participant, with the Compensation Committee's permission, elects to make such a deferral.
Recoupment
The Bonus Plan includes a recoupment policy, which provides that, in the event the Company is required to restate its financial results or materially reduce publicly disclosed backlog figures, the Board will review the conduct of executive officers in relation to the restatement. If the Board determines that an executive officer has engaged in misconduct, or otherwise violated the Company's Code of Conduct and Ethics, and that such misconduct or violation contributed to the restatement or to the improper inclusion of a proposed system sale in publicly disclosed backlog, then the Board may, in its discretion, take appropriate action to remedy the misconduct or violation, such as seeking reimbursement of any portion of any performance-based or incentive compensation paid or awarded to the executive officer that is greater than what would have been paid or awarded if calculated based on the restated financial results or materially reduced backlog figures, to the extent not prohibited by governing law.
Amendment and Termination
The Compensation Committee may amend, modify, suspend, or terminate the Bonus Plan, in whole or in part, at any time, including the adoption of amendments deemed necessary or desirable to correct any defect or supply omitted data or reconcile any inconsistency in the Bonus Plan or in any award granted thereunder. However, in no event may such amendment, modification, suspension, or termination (i) impair any prior Bonus Plan payments (unless the Compensation Committee determines that such amendment or modification is in the best interests of all persons to whom awards have previously been granted), (ii) increase the amount of compensation payable pursuant to any award, or (iii) cause compensation to fail to qualify as performance-based compensation for purposes of Section 162(m).
Indemnification
Our Board of Directors and Compensation Committee are generally indemnified by the Company for any liability arising from claims relating to the Bonus Plan.
Summary of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
Under present federal income tax law, participants will recognize ordinary income equal to the amount of the award received in the year of receipt. That income will be subject to applicable income and employment tax withholding by the Company. If and to the extent that the Bonus Plan payments satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) and otherwise satisfy the requirements for deductibility under federal income tax law, we will receive a deduction for the amount constituting ordinary income to the participant. Plan payments have been structured to qualify for the short-term deferral exception to Section 409A of the Code, which regulates certain deferred compensation arrangements.
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Awards to be Granted to Certain Individuals and Groups
Because awards under the Bonus Plan are determined based on actual performance, it is not presently possible to determine the dollar amounts that will be received by participants in the Bonus Plan in fiscal 2017 or in future years. However, set forth below are the target awards approved by the Compensation Committee for fiscal 2017. Payment of an actual award will be subject to the achievement of the pre-established performance goals.
|
Dollar Value of Fiscal 2017 Target Award under Bonus Plan ($) |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|
Joshua H. Levine |
$ | 852,000 | ||
President and Chief Executive Officer |
||||
Kevin M. Waters |
$ |
228,960 |
||
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer |
||||
Kelly Londy |
$ |
337,875 |
||
Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer |
||||
Alaleh Nouri |
$ |
190,850 |
||
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
||||
Executive officers as a group |
$ |
1,609,685 |
||
Non-executive director group |
N/A |
|||
Non-executive officers employee group |
$ |
385,120 |
The re-approval Bonus Plan must be approved by a majority of the votes cast, meaning that the Bonus Plan will be re-approved only if the number of votes "FOR" re-approval of the Bonus Plan exceeds the number of votes "AGAINST" re-approval of the Bonus Plan.
Board of Directors' Recommendation
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE RE-APPROVAL OF THE PERFORMANCE BONUS PLAN.
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ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE THE
COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
("SAY-ON-PAY" VOTE)
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the "Dodd-Frank Act") requires us to submit to our stockholders for approval, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, no less frequently than once every three years, the compensation of our named executive officers ("NEOs," or each, an "NEO") as disclosed in our proxy statement in accordance with the SEC's rules (a "say-on-pay" vote). This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our NEOs and the philosophy, policies and practices described in this Proxy Statement. The Compensation Committee and Board have decided to hold advisory votes on our NEOs' compensation program annually until the next advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory votes on the compensation of our named executive officers occurs. Accordingly, unless the Compensation Committee and Board modifies its policy on the frequency of such future votes, the next advisory vote to approve the compensation of our NEOs will be held at the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. In this proposal, we are asking our stockholders to provide advisory approval of the compensation of our NEOs, as such compensation is described in the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" section, the tabular disclosure regarding such compensation, and the accompanying narrative disclosure set forth in this Proxy Statement.
At the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, our stockholders expressed support for the compensation of the then-named executive officers, with approximately 82% of the votes cast for approval of the say-on-pay proposal. The Compensation Committee carefully evaluated the results of the fiscal 2015 say-on-pay vote in connection with its annual review of our executive compensation program more generally. After consideration, no material changes to our executive compensation program and policies for fiscal 2016 were made in response to the say-on-pay vote.
Summary of Fiscal 2016 Executive Compensation Program
In fiscal 2016, our executive compensation program was designed to enable us to attract, retain, motivate and appropriately reward the individuals who can help us successfully execute our business strategy and promote the best interests of our stockholders. In deciding how to vote on this proposal, the Board urges you to consider the following factors, which are more fully discussed in the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" section below:
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transactions. Our employees, including our NEOs, and our non-employee directors are also prohibited from pledging or using Company securities as collateral for loans.
Our Compensation Committee will continue to analyze our executive compensation policies and practices and adjust them as appropriate to reflect our performance and competitive needs.
The proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of shares present at the Annual Meeting, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote on the proposal. A properly executed proxy marked "Abstain" with respect to the approval of the compensation of our NEOs will not be voted with respect to such proposal, but it will be counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum. Abstentions will be treated as being present and entitled to vote on the proposal and, therefore, will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal. Broker non-votes, if any, will have no effect on the outcome of the vote. Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding on the Board or the Compensation Committee. However, the Compensation Committee, which is responsible for designing and approving our executive compensation program, and the Board value the opinions expressed by our stockholders and will consider the outcome of the vote when making future compensation decisions for our NEOs.
Based on the information provided above and within the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" section of this Proxy Statement, we request that you indicate your support for our executive compensation philosophy and practices by voting in favor of the following resolution:
"RESOLVED, that the Company's stockholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company's NEOs as described in the Company's 2016 Proxy Statement, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section, the compensation tables, and the other narrative compensation disclosures."
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" THE ADVISORY APPROVAL OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AS DESCRIBED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT.
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RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee of our Board (the "Audit Committee") has selected Grant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm to perform the audit of our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017. Grant Thornton LLP has audited our consolidated financial statements since fiscal year 2007.
Stockholder ratification of the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017 is not required by law, by the NASDAQ Stock Market listing requirements, by our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or by our Amended and Restated Bylaws ("Bylaws"). However, our Board is submitting the selection of Grant Thornton LLP to our stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate governance and practice. If the stockholders fail to ratify the appointment, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether or not to retain Grant Thornton LLP. Even if the selection is ratified, we may appoint a different independent registered public accounting firm during the fiscal year if the Audit Committee determines that such a change would be in the best interests of our Company and our stockholders.
Representatives of Grant Thornton LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting. They will have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions from our stockholders.
The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of our independent auditors. The Audit Committee retained Grant Thornton LLP to audit our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016. The estimated aggregate fees billed by Grant Thornton LLP for all services relating to fiscal 2016 and 2015 are as follows:
|
Fiscal Year Ended June 30, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Service Category
|
2016 | 2015 | |||||
Audit Fees(1) |
$ | 1,751,275 | $ | 1,689,735 | |||
Audit Related Fees |
| | |||||
Tax Fees |
| | |||||
All Other Fees |
| | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Total |
$ | 1,751,275 | $ | 1,689,735 | |||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
In the above table, in accordance with the SEC's definitions and rules, "audit fees" are fees for professional services for the audit of our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report, for the review of our financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, for the review of registration statements and issuance of consents and for services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements except those not required by statute or regulation; "audit-related fees" are fees for assurance and related
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services that were reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements, including attestation services that are not required by statute or regulation; "tax fees" are fees for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning; and "all other fees" are fees for any services not included in the first three categories.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The Audit Committee pre-approves all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm. These services may include audit services, audit-related services and tax services, as well as, to a very limited extent, specifically designated non-audit services that, in the opinion of the Audit Committee, will not impair the independence of the registered public accounting firm. Pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or category of services and is generally subject to a specific budget. The independent registered public accounting firm and management are required to periodically report to the Audit Committee regarding the extent of services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm in accordance with this pre-approval, including the fees for the services performed to date. In addition, the Audit Committee also may pre-approve particular services on a case-by-case basis, as required.
The proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of shares present at the Annual Meeting, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote on the proposal. A properly executed proxy marked "Abstain" with respect to the approval of the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017 will not be voted with respect to such proposal, but it will be counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum. Abstentions will be treated as being present and entitled to vote on the proposal and, therefore, will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal. Broker non-votes, if any, will have no effect on the outcome of the vote.
Stockholder ratification of the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017 is not required by law. However, our Board is submitting the selection of Grant Thornton LLP to our stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate governance and practice. If the stockholders fail to ratify the appointment, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether or not to retain Grant Thornton LLP.
Board of Directors' Recommendation
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF GRANT THORNTON LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2017.
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The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing our accounting and financial reporting processes and internal control systems, the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of Grant Thornton LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, and audits of our financial statements, all pursuant to the Audit Committee's written charter. Grant Thornton LLP reports directly to the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee has the authority to obtain advice and assistance from outside legal, accounting or other advisors as the Audit Committee deems necessary to carry out its duties and to receive appropriate funding, as determined by the Audit Committee, from our Company for such advice and assistance.
Management is responsible for preparing our financial statements and for our financial reporting processes, accounting policies, systems of internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures. For our fiscal year ended June 30, 2016, Grant Thornton LLP was responsible for expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Grant Thornton LLP was also responsible for performing an independent audit and expressing an opinion on the conformity of our audited financial statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. In this context, the Audit Committee hereby reports as follows:
AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dennis
L. Winger, Chairperson
Elizabeth Dávila
Robert S. Weiss
The foregoing Audit Committee report shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under these acts, except to the extent we incorporate by reference into such filings.
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This report, filed in accordance with Item 407(e)(5) of Regulation S- K, should be read in conjunction with the other information relating to executive compensation which is contained elsewhere in this Proxy Statement and is not repeated here.
In this context, the Compensation Committee hereby reports as follows:
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Louis
J. Lavigne, Jr., Chairperson
Elizabeth Dávila
Jack Goldstein, Ph.D.
The foregoing Compensation Committee Report shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under these acts, except to the extent that we expressly incorporate it by reference into such filings.
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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis provides information regarding the fiscal 2016 compensation program for our Named Executive Officers ("NEOs"), which includes our principal executive officer, our principal financial officer and our other two executive officers who at fiscal year-end were as follows:
Under the SEC rules, our NEOs for fiscal 2016 also include Gregory Lichtwardt, our former Executive Vice President, Operations and CFO who retired and resigned from the Company effective September 14, 2015.
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes the material elements of our executive compensation program during fiscal 2016. It also provides an overview of our executive compensation philosophy, including our principal compensation policies and practices. Finally, it analyzes how and why the Compensation Committee arrived at its specific compensation decisions for our NEOs in fiscal 2016, and discusses the key factors that the Compensation Committee considered in determining NEO compensation.
Fiscal 2016 Business Results
In fiscal 2016, we achieved financial results that were lower than expected at the start of the fiscal year as follows:
The foregoing financial metrics are the measures selected by the Compensation Committee for our fiscal 2016 Performance Bonus Plan and are further discussed under the heading "Fiscal 2016 Cash Incentive Award Opportunities and Payouts" below.
Compensation Philosophy
Our NEOs' compensation for fiscal 2016 reflects our compensation philosophy of maintaining an executive compensation program that emphasizes paying for performance, drives business growth and links stockholder value and executive performance. Consistent with this philosophy, a significant portion of our NEOs' target total direct compensation in fiscal 2016 was comprised of variable cash incentives (i.e., annual bonus opportunities) and equity-based compensation, consisting of market stock unit
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awards ("MSUs") and time-based restricted stock unit awards ("RSUs"), in order to align compensation with our business performance and the long-term interests of our stockholders.
The compensation ultimately earned by our NEOs in fiscal 2016 reflects the fact that we did not fully achieve all of our performance objectives in fiscal 2016. As a result of our performance to plan in fiscal 2016, below-target annual cash incentives were earned by our NEOs in accordance with the terms of our Performance Bonus Plan (described below). In addition, as a result of our stock price performance, the shares of our common stock earned in respect of the second performance period beginning on July 1, 2013 and ending on June 30, 2016 under the market stock unit program adopted by the Compensation Committee for fiscal 2014 (the "2014 MSU Program") were issued at 70.5% of their target performance level. Similarly, no shares were earned or issued in respect of the first performance period beginning on July 1, 2014 and ending on June 30, 2016 under the market stock unit program adopted by the Compensation Committee for fiscal 2015 (the "2015 MSU Program") as a result of our stock price performance.
Target Pay Mix
The following charts illustrate the allocation of fiscal 2016 target total direct compensation for our NEOs (other than Mr. Lichtwardt) between base salary, variable cash incentives and equity-based compensation elements, excluding the one-time retention equity awards that were granted at the end of fiscal 2016 to our NEOs and other key employees, which are further discussed under the heading "Significant Executive Compensation Actions" below. Each of these elements, except base salary, is considered "at-risk" as it is directly dependent upon the achievement of pre-established performance goals and/or stock price performance. Mr. Lichtwardt retired and resigned from the Company on September 14, 2015 before the Compensation Committee had an opportunity to determine his target bonus opportunity and equity awards for fiscal 2016.
CEO 2016 Target Pay Mix | Average Other NEO 2016 Target Pay Mix | |
Significant Executive Compensation Actions
For fiscal 2016, the Compensation Committee again determined that new gross orders to backlog, revenue performance and improving adjusted EBITDA represented the objectives most important to creating long-term stockholder value. At the same time, the Compensation Committee sought to continue to properly incentivize and retain our current management team for fiscal 2016 because it believed that it had the right leadership in place to successfully execute our long-term business objectives. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee addressed the primary elements of our executive
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officers' compensation packages (base salary, annual cash incentive awards and equity awards) with these goals in mind. In addition, in light of our ongoing assessments of industry best practices and a desire to more closely align our executive officers' compensation with our performance, the Compensation Committee and Board took additional actions to enhance our executive compensation and governance practices for fiscal 2016 and intend to continue this practice going forward.
The significant actions taken by the Compensation Committee with respect to the compensation of our NEOs for fiscal 2016 were as follows:
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The Board and Compensation Committee believe that time-based RSU awards have strong retention value and granting such awards to members of management and key employees, including our NEOs, was in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders given the importance of such personnel to achieving our internal company initiatives and objectives and any increased responsibilities allocated to them. For further information, please see "One-Time RSU Retention Awards" below.
Pay for Performance
We believe that there should be a strong relationship between pay and performance, and our executive compensation program reflects this belief. In particular, annual cash incentive awards and equity awards represent a significant portion of our executive compensation program, as reflected in the chart below. These variable compensation elements are considered "at-risk" as they are directly dependent upon the achievement of pre-established performance goals and/or stock price performance:
As reflected in the chart below, based on our performance in fiscal 2016, a significant portion of the "at-risk" compensation was not earned because the bonus pool for annual cash incentive awards was funded at approximately 19% and each NEO received only a corresponding percentage of his or her target annual cash incentive opportunity.
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FY 2016 NEO Target and Realized Compensation ($ in thousands)
Target compensation includes base salary, annual cash incentive plan compensation and equity awards but excludes other compensation as reported in the Summary Compensation Table under "Executive Compensation" below. Realized compensation includes base salary paid, the actual cash incentive bonus paid, the value of time-based RSUs vesting in fiscal 2016, and the grant date value of MSUs issued under the 2014 MSU Program that were earned based on the achievement of the performance threshold of the second performance period under the 2014 MSU Program, which began on July 1, 2013 and ended on June 30, 2016.
Governance Standards and Executive Compensation Practices
We maintain good governance standards in our executive compensation practices. The following policies and practices were in effect in fiscal 2016:
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Results of "Say-on-Pay" Advisory Vote
At our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, we provided our stockholders an opportunity to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our NEOs (a so-called "say-on-pay" vote). At the 2015 Annual Meeting, stockholders expressed support for the compensation of our NEOs, with approximately 82% of the votes cast for approval of the "say-on-pay" proposal. The Compensation Committee carefully evaluated the results of the fiscal 2015 vote in connection with its annual review of our executive compensation program. After consideration, no material changes to our executive compensation program and policies for fiscal 2016 were made in response to the say-on-pay vote.
Background and Compensation Philosophy
To achieve our objectives, we need a highly talented and seasoned management team with the integrity, skills and dedication necessary to oversee a dynamic and growing organization and the vision to anticipate and respond to future market developments. Our executive officers must be capable of fulfilling our long-term business strategy, including expanding the growth of our products into the market.
The overarching compensation philosophy approved by the Compensation Committee for fiscal 2016, consistent with prior years, was to maintain an executive compensation program that emphasizes pay for performance, drives business growth and links stockholder value and executive interests.
The key objectives of the compensation philosophy include:
The foregoing principles and objectives form the foundation of our executive compensation philosophy, which is reflected in the various compensation elementsbase salary, annual cash incentives, long-term incentives in the form of equity awards, and other benefits.
The Compensation Committee oversees our executive compensation philosophy and administers our executive compensation program. The Compensation Committee is responsible for reviewing the performance and approving the compensation of our executive officers, including our NEOs (other than our CEO). The independent members of our Board are responsible for reviewing the performance
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of our CEO and approving his compensation. The Compensation Committee is also responsible for reviewing and recommending to the Board the compensation of our non-employee directors and establishing and regularly reviewing the compensation and benefits policies for our executive officers. For additional information on the Compensation Committee, including the scope of its authority, see "Corporate Governance and Board of Directors MattersCompensation Committee," below.
At the beginning of each fiscal year, the Board, after consulting with management, establishes our corporate performance objectives, and the Compensation Committee, after consulting with management, reviews and approves the individual performance objectives for each executive officer (other than our CEO) and makes decisions with respect to any base salary adjustment, target annual cash incentive award opportunities, and equity awards for our executive officers, including our NEOs (other than our CEO), for the upcoming fiscal year. The independent members of the Board, based on the recommendations of the Compensation Committee, approves the individual performance objectives for our CEO and make decisions with respect to his base salary adjustment, target annual cash incentive award opportunities and equity awards. After the end of the fiscal year, the Compensation Committee assesses the performance of our executive officers, including our NEOs (other than our CEO), to determine the payouts for the annual cash incentive award opportunities for the previous year, and the independent members of the Board assess the performance of our CEO to determine his annual cash incentive award payout.
Role of Management
To aid in its deliberations, each fiscal year our CEO provides recommendations to the Compensation Committee regarding the individual compensation elements for each of our executive officers, including our NEOs (other than himself). Prior to formulating these recommendations, our CEO conducts an annual performance review of our other executive officers to evaluate their performance for the prior fiscal year based on the objectives previously established by the Compensation Committee. Our CEO then presents the results of these evaluations, along with his recommendations with regard to their compensation for the current fiscal year, including base salary adjustments, annual cash incentive award opportunities and payouts and equity awards, to the Compensation Committee for its consideration. In advance of making such recommendations, our CEO often consults with our Senior Vice President of Human Resources, who may discuss a range of pay for him to consider for executive officers other than our Senior Vice President of Human Resources and our CEO, which range is based on our compensation philosophy, market data provided by the Compensation Committee's independent compensation consultant, achievement of individual performance goals and objectives, and internal pay equity.
Our CEO also assists the Compensation Committee in formulating our performance objectives for that fiscal year and the individual performance objectives for each executive officer. The Compensation Committee reviews, discusses and modifies such recommendations as they deem appropriate.
Similarly, our CEO's performance is reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee as well as the other independent members of the Board as part of their deliberations with respect to his compensation. The Compensation Committee makes recommendations regarding the compensation of our CEO to the independent members of the Board, who approve all elements of our CEO's compensation.
Typically, our CEO is present at Compensation Committee meetings where executive compensation and corporate and individual performance are discussed and evaluated (except when his own compensation and performance are determined or reviewed). From time to time, our CFO, General Counsel, and Senior Vice President of Human Resources may also attend Compensation Committee meetings at which executive compensation matters are discussed and participate in those discussions (except when their own compensation and performance are discussed).
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Role of Compensation Consultant
The Compensation Committee has retained Compensia, Inc. ("Compensia") as its independent advisor to provide advice with respect to our executive and non-employee director compensation programs. Compensia advises the Compensation Committee with respect to trends in executive compensation, the development of the Peer Group (as defined below), the determination of compensation programs, the assessment of competitive pay levels and mix (for example, the proportion of fixed pay to incentive pay, and the proportion of annual cash pay to long-term incentive pay) and setting compensation levels. Compensia also consults with the Compensation Committee to formulate and design new programs to better align management performance with the interests of our stockholders.
Compensia did not perform any other services for us or the Compensation Committee in fiscal 2016. Based on its review, the Compensation Committee determined that Compensia's services did not raise any conflict of interest and, after consideration of the factors set forth in the NASDAQ Listing Standards, determined that Compensia was independent within the meaning of those rules.
Competitive Positioning
For fiscal 2016, the Compensation Committee allocated the compensation of our executive officers, including our NEOs, between cash and equity based on an analysis of the data reflected in the Radford January 2015 High-Tech Industry Survey (the "Radford Survey") for companies with $200 million to $1 billion in annual revenue, as well as an assessment of our performance and compensation practices against a peer group of 15 medical device companies (the "Peer Group") with whom we compete for executive talent, who are in our industry sector or who have comparable financial and organizational characteristics (collectively, the "Relevant Market Data"). The Peer Group of 15 medical device companies was recommended by Compensia and submitted to the Compensation Committee for its review and approval. The final Peer Group for fiscal 2016 was approved by the Compensation Committee in March 2015.
The criteria used to develop the fiscal 2016 Peer Group include the following:
Primary Factors:
Secondary Factors:
The fiscal 2016 Peer Group remained largely the same as the peer group for fiscal 2015, except that ArthroCare Corporation and Volcano Corporation were removed as they were acquired and Affymetrix, Inc., Analogic Corporation, and ZELTIQ Aesthetics were added as they met many of the
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selection criteria described above, resulting in a fiscal 2016 Peer Group consisting of the following companies:
Affymetrix, Inc. | Haemonetics Corp. | Natus Medical Incorporated | ||
Analogic Corporation | ICU Medical, Inc. | NuVasive, Inc. | ||
AngioDynamics, Inc. | Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation | Omnicell, Inc. | ||
CONMED Corporation | Masimo Corporation | Thoratec Corporation | ||
Cyberonics, Inc. | Merit Medical Systems, Inc. | ZELTIQ Aesthetics, Inc. |
The following table summarizes where we fell relative to the fiscal 2016 Peer Group when the Compensation Committee conducted its annual review of our executive compensation program at the end of fiscal 2015.
Criteria
|
Accuray FY 2015 |
Target for Peer Group |
2016 Peer Group Median (Data as of 6/30/15) |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Revenue ($MM) |
$ | 380 | 0.5x - 2.5x | $ | 484 | |||||
Market Capitalization ($MM) |
$ | 535 | 0.5x - 4.0x | $ | 1,526 | |||||
Employees |
1,010 | 0.5x - 3.5x | 1,300 |
The Compensation Committee annually reviews the composition of the Peer Group to ensure it is the most relevant set of companies to use for comparison purposes.
In evaluating the base salaries of our executive officers for fiscal 2016, establishing target annual cash incentive award opportunities and granting equity awards, the Compensation Committee reviewed the Relevant Market Data to inform its decisions on individual compensation elements, in particular the competitive reasonableness of such elements, and to ensure that its decisions were consistent with our compensation philosophy and strategy. While the Compensation Committee considered the Relevant Market Data, it did not make its decisions solely based on targeting compensation to specific benchmarks against the Relevant Market Data. Instead, the Compensation Committee took an approach consistent with its intention to (i) set performance milestones for cash incentive compensation so that target level payouts would only be made if our executive officers and the Company performed at a superior level that would be difficult to achieve and (ii) provide our executive officers with the ability to earn above-market compensation for exceptional performance in order to attract and retain the quality of executive officers necessary to successfully manage our business.
Tally Sheets
As part of our annual compensation process, with the assistance of Compensia, the Compensation Committee reviews each executive officer's compensation history for the past five years or, if an executive officer was hired within the past five years, since his or her date of hire, including each component of compensation and how it compared to the Relevant Market Data for the fiscal year. The Compensation Committee also reviews tally sheets setting forth the expected value of annual compensation and benefits for each NEO, including base salaries, potential annual cash incentive payouts and minimum and maximum levels, long-term incentive compensation, including the number of shares of our common stock subject to outstanding stock options, RSU and MSU awards granted and the fair value at grant, and the annualized cost of other benefits.
These tally sheets also set forth the accumulated value of benefits and compensation to each NEO, including the accumulated value of equity awards and the accumulated value of potential payouts under different separation scenarios, including under our post-employment compensation arrangements. Reviewing tally sheets each year facilitates the Compensation Committee's evaluation of the reasonableness of the total accumulated value of the compensation and benefits provided to each NEO. For fiscal 2016, the tally sheets served to assist the Compensation Committee in understanding the total
54
annual compensation opportunity for each executive officer and relative compensation among our executive officers, but did not affect any specific decision relating to our NEOs' compensation.
During fiscal 2016, the compensation of our executive officers, including our NEOs, consisted of the following elements:
Base Salary
We believe that a competitive base salary is the essential foundation to providing an appropriate total direct compensation package for our executives, including the NEOs. We use base salary to fairly and competitively compensate our executives for the jobs we ask them to perform. We view base salary as the most stable component of our executive compensation program, as this amount is not at risk.
The Compensation Committee makes adjustments to base salary when it believes there is a deviation from market based on a review of the Relevant Market Data, when an individual is promoted or assumes an increase in responsibility, or when the Compensation Committee determines that an individual's performance warrants an increase. The Compensation Committee reviews the base salary levels of our executives each year to determine whether an adjustment is warranted.
For fiscal 2016, the Compensation Committee (and, in the case of our CEO, the independent members of our Board) increased the base salaries of our NEOs from their fiscal 2015 levels. Our CEO's base salary was increased by approximately 3.5%. Mr. Waters' base salary was increased by approximately 34.4% in recognition of his increased responsibilities, having assumed the role of Senior Vice President and CFO. Ms. Londy's base salary was increased by approximately 6.25% in recognition of her increased responsibilities, having assumed the role of Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer. The base salary for Ms. Nouri was increased by approximately 22.5% to better align with the 50th percentile of the competitive market and in recognition of her individual performance. Mr. Lichtwardt's salary was not increased in fiscal 2016. The base salaries of our NEOs during fiscal 2016 were as follows:
Named Executive Officer
|
Fiscal 2016 Base Salary |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|
Joshua H. Levine(1) |
$ | 688,275 | ||
Kevin Waters(2) |
$ | 360,000 | ||
Kelly Londy(3) |
$ | 425,000 | ||
Alaleh Nouri(1) |
$ | 336,900 | ||
Gregory Lichtwardt(4) |
$ | 400,000 |
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The annual base salaries paid to our NEOs are reported in the Summary Compensation Table under "Executive Compensation" below.
Annual Cash Incentives
Annual cash incentive awards under our Performance Bonus Plan serve to reinforce our performance-based culture. The Compensation Committee believes in providing our executive officers, including our NEOs, with a target total cash compensation opportunity above the market median tied to the achievement of challenging, pre-established corporate performance objectives. Historically, due to the challenging nature of the goals that the Compensation Committee has established, payouts under our Performance Bonus Plan have averaged approximately 50.9% of their target level from fiscal 2013 through fiscal 2015. As with base salary, each executive officer's target annual cash incentive award opportunity is set with reference to his or her performance over the previous fiscal year as evaluated by our CEO, his or her experience and responsibilities, the critical nature of his or her position relative to our success, our retention needs, and the Relevant Market Data.
During the first quarter of each fiscal year, the Compensation Committee reviews and approves the corporate performance measures and related target levels for the current fiscal year's annual cash incentive awards and reviews and approves the target annual cash incentive award opportunity for each executive officer, including our NEOs, but excluding our CEO, whose target annual cash incentive award opportunity is reviewed and approved by the independent members of our Board. The table below sets forth the target annual cash incentive award opportunity as a percentage of base salary and in absolute dollars. Except for Mr. Waters, whose target annual cash incentive award opportunity was increased from 40% to 60% in recognition of his increased responsibilities resulting from his promotion to CFO, and Ms. Nouri, whose target annual cash incentive award opportunity was increased from 50% to 55% to better align her target total cash compensation opportunity with the Relevant Market Data and her performance, the target annual cash incentive award opportunities were unchanged from the prior fiscal year for each NEO who was employed by us in the prior fiscal year. Mr. Lichtwardt, our former CFO, did not have a target annual cash incentive award opportunity under the Performance Bonus Plan for fiscal 2016 as he retired and resigned prior to the Compensation Committee's approval of such target annual cash incentive award opportunities for fiscal 2016. The Compensation Committee recognizes that the performance of certain of our NEOs has a greater potential to directly impact the successful implementation of our overall strategy and achievement of our financial and strategic performance and, given that the Performance Bonus Plan only includes corporate performance objectives, it believes it is appropriate that the target annual cash incentive award opportunities of these executive officers should be higher than the opportunities of the other NEOs.
Fiscal 2016 Performance Bonus Plan Target Award Opportunities
|
Target | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Named Executive Officer
|
(%) | ($) | |||||
Joshua H. Levine |
120 | % | 825,193 | ||||
Kevin Waters(1) |
60 | % | 208,390 | ||||
Kelly Londy |
70 | % | 294,673 | ||||
Alaleh Nouri(2) |
55 | % | 178,078 |
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Fiscal 2016 Cash Incentive Award Opportunities and Payouts
Our executive officers, including our NEOs, are eligible to participate in the Performance Bonus Plan, which was adopted by the Compensation Committee and has been approved by our stockholders. For fiscal 2016, our annual cash incentive awards were designed to reward our executive officers, including our NEOs, based solely on our financial performance. In establishing the fiscal 2016 cash incentive award program, the Compensation Committee determined that the award opportunities for all of our executive officers, including our NEOs, should be directly linked to achieving corporate performance objectives.
The bonus pool under the Performance Bonus Plan only funds if the corporate performance objectives established by the Compensation Committee are achieved at pre-established threshold levels. For each NEO, 100% of the target annual cash incentive award payout is based on our performance, but is contingent on the funding of the bonus pool and, therefore, is entirely at risk. Accordingly, if the bonus pool does not fund, no executive officer would be entitled to any cash incentive award payout under the Performance Bonus Plan, regardless of his or her individual performance.
To the extent that the bonus pool is funded, the Performance Bonus Plan entitles each executive officer to 100% of the funded percentage of his or her target annual cash incentive award opportunity, provided that the Compensation Committee may exercise negative discretion to reduce the overall funding percentage and/or to reduce any individual award payout.
For fiscal 2016, the Compensation Committee established three corporate financial performance measures, gross system dollars into backlog, total revenue and adjusted EBITDA for purposes of the Performance Bonus Plan. These performance measures were applied in the same manner to all of our executive officers, including our NEOs. The Compensation Committee established target levels and minimum funding thresholds with respect to each performance measure, thereby requiring that we achieve the minimum threshold set for each measure in order for any funding to occur relative to that measure. The performance measures and their relative weightings, target levels and minimum funding thresholds for fiscal 2016, as well as the actual performance attained, were as follows:
Performance Measure |
Weighting | Target | Minimum Threshold |
Actual | % Plan Attained |
% Weighted Funding |
||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gross System Dollars into Backlog |
40 | % | $315.5 million | $284.0 million | $278.4 million | 88 | 0.0 | |||||||||
Total Revenue |
30 | % | $419.8 million | $377.8 million | $388.2 million | 92 | 19.0 | |||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA |
30 | % | $53.9 million | $40.5 million | $30.3 million | 56 | 0.0 |
Each performance measure other than adjusted EBITDA was calculated on a GAAP basis, consistent with the GAAP financial measures reported in our quarterly earnings releases adjusted for constant currency. The calculation of adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, excluded any bonus accrual amounts, foreign exchange, costs related to the early settlement of our 3.75% Convertible Senior Notes due August 1, 2016, and costs related to an arbitration matter that was concluded in February 2016. All three measures were measured on a constant foreign currency basis using the exchange rate assumed in our fiscal 2016 operating plan. The Compensation Committee could, in its discretion, approve exclusions in the nature of one-time occurrences, extraordinary items or events outside management's control. To be reported in our backlog, an order must have met our fiscal 2016 backlog criteria as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The Compensation Committee assessed corporate performance with respect to each of the three performance measures and determined whether threshold performance had been achieved for each measure. The funding with respect to each performance measure was based on a funding slope in a straight line from 50% at the minimum threshold level, to 100%, at the target level. In the event any of the performance measures had been achieved at greater than the target level, the funding would also
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be based on a straight line from 100% at target to the maximum funding opportunity at 120% funding for the total revenue and gross dollars into backlog measures and 150% funding for the adjusted EBITDA measure.
Based on our actual corporate performance results, the funding methodology resulted in funding of the bonus pool at approximately 19% of the target level. The target annual cash incentive award opportunities and actual payouts made to our NEOs in fiscal 2017 for fiscal 2016 performance were as follows:
Fiscal 2016 Performance Bonus Plan Payouts
|
Target | |
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Fiscal 2016 Total Actual Payout ($)(1) |
|||||||||
Named Executive Officer
|
(%) | ($) | ||||||||
Joshua H. Levine |
120 | % | 825,193 | 156,787 | ||||||
Kevin Waters |
60 | % | 208,390 | 39,594 | ||||||
Kelly Londy |
70 | % | 294,673 | 55,988 | ||||||
Alaleh Nouri |
55 | % | 178,078 | 33,835 |
The annual incentive award payouts for fiscal 2016 performance made to our NEOs are reported in the Summary Compensation Table under "Executive Compensation" below.
Equity Compensation
We believe that equity awards provide a strong alignment between the interests of our executive officers, including our NEOs, and our stockholders. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee seeks to provide motivation to our executive officers through the use of equity awards consistent with the reasonable management of our overall equity compensation expense and stockholder dilution. The Compensation Committee grants equity awards to our executive officers, including our NEOs, in the first quarter of each fiscal year, as a reward for past corporate and individual performance, as an incentive for future performance, and as a retention tool. Historically, these equity awards have consisted entirely of stock options and RSU awards, but in fiscal 2012, our executive officers were also granted performance-based RSU awards ("PSUs"). Since fiscal 2013, our executive officers have been granted MSU awards in addition to time-based RSU awards.
The size of an executive officer's equity award is determined by the Compensation Committee after considering his or her performance against his or her individual goals and objectives over the last fiscal year as evaluated by our CEO (or, in the case of our CEO, as evaluated by the independent members of our Board), an evaluation of his or her target total direct compensation, an evaluation of his or her accumulated equity holdings, the critical nature of his or her position relative to our success, our retention needs, the Relevant Market Data, internal equity, role hierarchy and such other factors as the Compensation Committee determines relevant.
Fiscal 2016 Annual Refresh Equity Awards
For fiscal 2016, our CEO recommended equity award amounts to the Compensation Committee for each of our executive officers, other than himself. The Compensation Committee reviewed our CEO's recommendations and, after assessing each of the factors described above, determined the equity awards to be granted for each executive officer as further described below. Equity awards for
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fiscal 2016 consisted of a mix RSUs and MSUs under the 2016 MSU Program. The Compensation Committee decided not to award stock options for fiscal 2016.
For our CEO, the independent members of our Board assessed his individual performance and the factors describe above to determine the equity awards to be granted to him and awarded him an award comprised of RSUs and MSUs, with each equity vehicle equally weighted.
Fiscal 2016 MSU Program
The Compensation Committee believes that linking a portion of our executive officers' equity awards to pre-established performance criteria better aligns their goals and incentives with both our strategic plans and the interests of our stockholders. In fiscal 2016, the Compensation Committee approved our 2016 MSU Program for our executive officers, including our NEOs, with two performance periods, each beginning on November 1, 2015 and ending on October 31, 2017 and October 31, 2018, respectively, further linking the compensation of the participants in this program to the creation of long-term stockholder value. For each award granted, 50% of the shares subject to the award will be earned at the end of each performance period, subject to meeting minimum performance thresholds and upward or downward adjustment based on our performance as further described below.
The 2016 MSU Program uses the Russell 2000 index as the performance benchmark and requires that our TSR meet that of the Russell 2000 for each performance period in order for the target number of shares of our common stock allocated to that performance period to be earned by each participating executive officer. The actual shares earned will be calculated on a sliding scale based on stock price performance above and below the Russell 2000 benchmark, up to a maximum of 150% of the target number of shares. For purposes of the 2016 MSU Program, TSR is measured as the average closing price for the last fiscal quarter of the performance period (adjusted for dividends, if any) minus the average closing price for the fiscal quarter preceding the performance period divided by the average closing price for the fiscal quarter preceding the performance period.
If our TSR for the relevant performance period is below that of the Russell 2000, for each percentage point that we have underperformed relative to the Russell 2000, the actual shares earned will be reduced below the target amount on a 3-for-1 basis. By way of example only, if our TSR is 5 percentage points below the Russell 2000's TSR for the performance period, the shares earned for that period will be 85% of the target amount (100% (5% × 3)). If our TSR for the relevant performance period exceeds that of the Russell 2000, for each percentage point that we have overperformed relative to the Russell 2000, the actual shares earned will be increased above the target amount on a 2-for-1 basis, up to a maximum of 150% of target. By way of example only, if our TSR is 10 percentage points above the Russell 2000's TSR for the performance period, the shares earned for that period will be 120% of the target amount (100% + (10% × 2)).
The Compensation Committee believes using a single performance measure for the 2016 MSU Program is appropriate because the measure used is tied directly to stockholder return, which the Compensation Committee believes, ultimately, is the key indicator of whether our executive officers have performed well. In addition, the Compensation Committee set the target amount of the equity awards granted to our executive officers under the 2016 MSU Program at what it deemed was the appropriate level based on his or her performance, experience and retention needs, and assuming our performance would track to the index. If we do not perform as well as anticipated, the executive officers will therefore earn less than their target award amounts.
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In fiscal 2016, each NEO received equity awards in the amounts as follows:
Name
|
MSUs Target Shares (#) |
RSUs (#)(1) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Joshua Levine |
200,000 | 200,000 | |||||
Kevin Waters |
65,000 | 65,000 | |||||
Kelly Londy |
70,000 | 70,000 | |||||
Alaleh Nouri |
50,000 | 50,000 |
One-Time RSU Retention Awards
In May of 2016, we launched internal company initiatives and objectives with a three-year time horizon, which included, but were not limited to, achieving the goals of increased operating income and adjusted EBITDA margins that were discussed by our senior management during our Analyst and Investor Day presentation on May 20, 2016. In order to help drive such initiatives and achieve such objectives, we made organizational changes in June of 2016 that resulted in increased responsibilities for certain members of management and other key employees. Recognizing the importance of the continuity and continued dedication of the management team and other key employees to achieving such initiatives and objectives, and after carefully considering the equity participation of such employees, any increased responsibilities allocated to such employees, the highly competitive labor market in which we compete to attract and retain employees, and our other near term and long term business objectives, we granted one-time retention RSU awards to certain members of management and other key employees, including our NEOs (other than Mr. Lichtwardt), on June 30, 2016. All such awards have a three-year vesting period to align them with the time horizon of the internal company initiatives and objectives that were launched in May of 2016.
Our Board and Compensation Committee contemplated having all or a portion of the retention awards consist of performance-based equity awards instead of having the awards being comprised solely of RSUs subject to time-based vesting. Ultimately, the Board and Compensation Committee believed that time-based RSUs have stronger retention value relative to performance-based awards, particularly given the challenging performance objectives in our MSU programs. Given the criticality to our future success of the experience and functions served by the recipients of the retention awards, including our NEOs, and to better align their compensation as a result of any increase in responsibilities, our Board and Compensation Committee determined that it was in our best interests and the best interests of our stockholders to grant these retention awards in the form of time-based RSU awards.
In fiscal 2016, each NEO received one-time RSU awards in the aggregate amounts as follows:
Name
|
One-Time Retention Grant RSUs (#)(1) |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|
Joshua Levine |
300,000 | |||
Kevin Waters |
125,000 | |||
Kelly Londy |
125,000 | |||
Alaleh Nouri |
75,000 |
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aggregate number of shares subject to the award on the third anniversary of the grant date.
Previously-Granted MSU Awards
With respect to the second performance period of the 2014 MSU Program, which ended on the last day of fiscal 2016, the Compensation Committee determined that, based on a comparison of our TSR relative to the TSR of the Russell 2000 Index, the awards had been earned at 70.5% of target. Accordingly, the shares of our common stock associated with the second performance period of the 2014 MSU Program were earned and issued to our NEOs in the following amounts:
Named Executive Officer
|
Target MSUs for Second Performance Period |
Actual MSUs Earned for Second Performance Period |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Joshua Levine |
100,000 | 70,548 | |||||
Kevin Waters |
17,500 | 12,346 | |||||
Kelly Londy |
22,500 | 15,873 | |||||
Alaleh Nouri(1) |
| |
With respect to the first performance period of the 2015 MSU Program, which ended on the last day of fiscal 2016, the Compensation Committee determined that, based on a comparison of our TSR relative to the TSR of the Russell 2000 Index, the awards had not been earned and, accordingly, the MSUs associated with the first performance period were cancelled. The second performance period of the 2015 MSU Program ends on the last day of fiscal 2017 and, to date, no shares of our common stock subject to the second performance period of the 2015 MSU Program have been earned.
The equity awards made to the NEOs in fiscal 2016 are reported in the Summary Compensation Table under "Executive Compensation" below. Additional information about these awards, including the number of shares subject to each award and the award's grant date fair value and applicable vesting schedules, is reported in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table under "Executive Compensation" below.
Employment, Change in Control and Severance Arrangements
Effective January 1, 2015, we entered into amended and restated employment agreements with each of our executive officers, including our NEOs, to document the material terms and conditions of each executive officer's employment, including his or her annual base salary and target annual cash incentive award opportunity. Each executive officer's employment agreement has a three year term (with automatic successive three year term renewal unless we or the executive officer provides timely notice of non-renewal) and specifies the payments and benefits that each executive officer will receive upon a potential termination of his or her employment under certain circumstances, including in connection with a change in control of the Company. In addition, these agreements protect our interests in the event of a termination of employment by stipulating the rights and responsibilities of the parties and prohibiting these individuals from engaging in certain specific activities harmful to us, including disclosing our confidential information, soliciting our employees, and engaging in certain competitive business activities.
These post-employment compensation arrangements were provided for the following reasons:
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The Compensation Committee believes that these agreements serve several other important objectives. First, they provide a desired level of transparency, both within and outside the Company. Internal transparency benefits us by eliminating the need to negotiate severance payments and benefits on a case-by-case basis at the time of termination. They also assure our executive officers that their severance payments and benefits are based on a consistent framework that differentiates the level of payments and benefits between individuals based on their position and level of responsibility. In addition, this approach is easier for us to administer.
Generally, our executive officers, including our NEOs, are eligible for severance payments and benefits in the event of the termination of their employment by us without "cause" or by the executive officer for "good reason." In addition, our executive officers, including our NEOs, are eligible for certain enhanced severance payments and benefits in the event such termination of employment without cause or resignation for good reason occurs within three months prior to or 12 months following a change in control of the Company. We believe that the agreements offer payments and benefits that are generally comparable to the payments and benefits of similarly situated executives at the companies in our compensation peer group, in each case, provided that the executive officer executes a general release of claims in favor of the Company.
For additional information, see "Potential Payments and Benefits Upon Termination or Change in Control" below.
Post-Employment CompensationRetirement Plans
Other than our tax-qualified Section 401(k) employee savings plan described in the following paragraph, we do not currently maintain, nor do we have plans to provide, pension arrangements, retirement plans or nonqualified deferred compensation plans or arrangements for our executive officers, including our NEOs.
We maintain a tax-qualified Section 401(k) employee savings plan that provides all regular employees with an opportunity to save for retirement on a tax-advantaged basis. Under this plan, participants may elect to defer a portion of their annual compensation on a pre-tax basis and have it contributed to the plan subject to applicable annual Internal Revenue Code limits. Pre-tax contributions are allocated to each participant's individual account and are then invested in selected investment alternatives according to such participant's directions. We match 50% of participant contributions to the plan, up to a maximum contribution of six percent of base salary per participant per year. One hundred percent of our matching contributions made to the Section 401(k) employee savings plan on behalf of an employee vests on the first anniversary of such employee's service. As a tax- qualified retirement plan, contributions to the plan and earnings on those contributions are not taxable to participants until distributed from the plan and all contributions are deductible by us when made.
We view this plan as serving two important objectives. First, it encourages our executive officers, including our NEOs, and other employees to commit to long- term service with us. Second, it enables them to save a portion of their annual compensation for their eventual retirement.
Given that the amounts set aside for retirement under the plan are largely drawn from participants' annual compensation and our matching contribution is modest, the Compensation
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Committee does not consider plan participation when making compensation decisions for our executive officers, including our NEOs.
Health, Welfare, and Other Employee Benefits (including Perquisites)
We provide health and welfare benefits to our executive officers, including our NEOs, on the same terms and conditions as all of our full-time, salaried employees. These benefits include group medical, life, and disability insurance.
In circumstances where we are recruiting a candidate who would have to move to accept our job offer, we may agree to reimburse certain of such employee's relocation expenses.
Generally, we do not provide perquisites or other personal benefits to our executives, including our NEOs.
Stock Ownership Requirements
The Board has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines to help ensure that we are managed in the best long-term interests of our stockholders, to promote effective functioning of the Board and its committees and to provide a flexible framework within which the Board may conduct its oversight of our business. The Corporate Governance Guidelines require that certain executive officers and non-employee members of the Board own shares of our common stock as follows:
We expect each executive officer and non-employee director to retain at least 25% of the net shares of our common stock he or she receives pursuant to all equity awards received from us (excluding shares sold to cover (i) the exercise price of any stock options and/or (ii) associated taxes), until the foregoing ownership levels are achieved. As of the last day of fiscal 2016, all of the NEOs and all non-employee directors were in compliance with such stock ownership requirements or were on track to be in compliance within the appropriate timeframe specified in the Corporate Governance Guidelines.
Compensation Recovery ("Clawback") Policy
The Performance Bonus Plan, 2007 Incentive Award Plan, and the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan each include a compensation recovery ("clawback") provision, which provides that, in the event we are required to restate our financial results or materially reduce publicly disclosed backlog figures, our Board will review the conduct of executive officers in relation to the restatement. If it determines that an executive officer has engaged in misconduct, or otherwise violated our Code of Conduct and Ethics, and that such misconduct or violation contributed to the restatement or to the improper inclusion of a proposed system sale in publicly disclosed backlog, then our Board may, in its discretion, take appropriate action to remedy the misconduct or violation, including, without limitation, seeking
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reimbursement of any portion of any performance-based or incentive compensation paid or awarded to the executive officer that is greater than what would have been paid or awarded if calculated based on the restated financial results or materially reduced backlog figures, to the extent not prohibited by governing law. These provisions will be updated and revised consistent with any changes in applicable laws, including the adoption of rules implementing Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
Equity Award Grant Practices
Historically, the Compensation Committee has granted stock options, RSU awards and/or performance-based equity awards (PSUs or MSUs) to our employees, including our executives, when they first join us. Typically, new hire stock options, RSU awards and performance-based equity awards are granted at the first meeting of the Compensation Committee in the month following an employee's first day of employment.
Follow-on awards are considered as part of our fiscal review process. We do not seek to time the grant of stock options, RSU awards or performance-based equity awards to take advantage of information, either positive or negative, about the Company that has not been publicly disclosed.
We grant stock options with an exercise price that is equal to the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant. We do not have a policy of granting stock options with an exercise price that is less than the fair market value of our common stock. The exercise price for our stock options is based on the closing price per share of our common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on the date of grant.
Insider Trading, Anti-Hedging and Pledging Policy
We maintain an insider trading policy that prohibits trading in shares of our common stock while in possession of material, non-public information, unless trading is in connection with a previously established Exchange Act Rule 10b5-1 plan, or if sold automatically by us on the date of vesting to cover and pay the withholding tax requirements in accordance with Company policy. In addition, our insider trading policy prohibits all of our employees, including our NEOs, and the non-employee members of the Board from engaging any speculative transactions in our securities, including purchasing on margin, engaging in short sales, engaging in transactions in put options, call options or other derivative securities, or engaging in any other forms of hedging transactions.
Our employees, including our NEOs, and the non-employee members of the Board are also prohibited from pledging or using our securities as collateral for loans.
Section 162(m)Deductibility of Remuneration in Excess of $1 Million
Section 162(m) of the Code limits the amount that we may deduct as compensation expense for federal income tax purposes with respect to the remuneration paid to our CEO and each of our three other most highly compensated executive officers (other than our CFO) to $1 million per person per year. There are certain exemptions to this deduction limit, including an exemption for remuneration that qualifies as "performance-based compensation" (that is, certain compensation that is payable solely upon achieving objective performance criteria).
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The Compensation Committee seeks to operate our executive compensation program to maximize the deductibility of the remuneration paid to our NEOs to the extent that it believes that doing so is in our best interests. Consequently, in determining which compensation elements are to be paid to our executives, and how they are weighted, the Compensation Committee takes into account whether a particular form of compensation will be deductible under Section 162(m) but retains discretion to award compensation that is not deductible under Section 162(m). In addition, the Company's 2007 Incentive Award Plan and 2016 Equity Incentive Plan have each been designed to permit the Compensation Committee to grant stock options and other stock awards which will qualify as "performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m). The rules and regulations promulgated under Section 162(m) are, however, complicated and subject to change from time to time, sometimes with retroactive effective. In addition, a number of requirements must be met for particular compensation to so qualify. As such, there can be no assurance that any compensation awarded or paid under our 2007 Incentive Award Plan or 2016 Equity Incentive Plan will be fully deductible under all circumstances.
While we cannot predict how the $1 million deduction limit may impact our executive compensation program in future years, the Compensation Committee intends to maintain an approach to executive compensation that strongly links pay to performance. However, the Compensation Committee may, in its judgment, authorize and pay compensation that does not satisfy the requirements of this or any of the other exemptions to the $1 million deduction limit when it believes that such compensation is necessary and appropriate to attract and retain key executives.
Fiscal 2016 Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth the compensation for each of fiscal years 2016, 2015, and 2014 earned by the following persons, who we refer to as our named executive officers or NEOs:
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Name and Principal Position
|
Year | Salary ($)(1) |
Bonus ($) |
Stock Awards ($)(2) |
Option Awards ($)(2) |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)(3) |
All Other Compensation ($)(4) |
Total ($) |
|||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Joshua H. Levine, |
2016 | 682,188 | | 4,365,000 | | 156,787 | 24,558 | 5,228,533 | |||||||||||||||||
President and Chief Executive |
2015 | 662,481 | | 2,974,500 | | 333,890 | 30,567 | 4,001,438 | |||||||||||||||||
Officer |
2014 | 637,519 | | 3,270,250 | | 857,592 | 18,401 | 4,783,762 | |||||||||||||||||
Kevin Waters,(5) |
2016 |
343,975 |
|
1,450,525 |
|
39,594 |
9,972 |
1,844,066 |
|||||||||||||||||
Senior Vice President, |
2015 | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||
Chief Financial Officer |
2014 | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||
Kelly Londy, |
2016 |
417,500 |
|
1,631,550 |
|
55,988 |
4,557 |
2,109,595 |
|||||||||||||||||
Executive Vice President, |
2015 | 401,539 | | 640,245 | | 118,052 | 5,226 | 1,165,062 | |||||||||||||||||
Chief Operating Officer |
2014 | 368,077 | | 342,000 | | 310,240 | 7,077 | 1,027,394 | |||||||||||||||||
Alaleh Nouri, |
2016 |
320,711 |
|
1,091,250 |
|
33,835 |
5,643 |
1,451,439 |
|||||||||||||||||
Senior Vice President, |
2015 | 276,058 | 37,500 | (6) | 121,350 | | 57,972 | 5,081 | 497,961 | ||||||||||||||||
General Counsel and Corporate |
2014 | 255,574 | 37,500 | (6) | 331,193 | | 99,112 | 8,893 | 732,272 | ||||||||||||||||
Secretary |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gregory Lichtwardt,(7) |
2016 |
145,561 |
|
|
|
|
273,571 |
419,132 |
|||||||||||||||||
Executive Vice President, |
2015 | 390,116 | | 576,219 | | 114,694 | 614 | 1,081,643 | |||||||||||||||||
Operations and Chief Financial |
2014 | 292,989 | (8) | | 1,794,375 | | 255,671 | 631 | 2,343,666 | ||||||||||||||||
Officer |
66
Name
|
Year | Company matching contribution to 401(k) Plan ($) |
Life insurance premiums paid by the Company ($) |
Personal Travel Expenses ($) |
Payments made upon Termination ($) |
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Joshua Levine |
2016 | 7,950 | 768 | 15,840 | | |||||||||||
Kevin Waters |
2016 | 9,419 | 553 | | | |||||||||||
Kelly Londy |
2016 | 3,923 | 634 | | | |||||||||||
Alaleh Nouri |
2016 | 5,173 | 470 | | | |||||||||||
Gregory Lichtwardt |
2016 | | 154 | | 273,417 |
Grants of Plan-Based Awards for Fiscal 2016
The following table sets forth information regarding awards granted under our annual cash incentive plan and equity awards granted our 2007 Incentive Award Plan to each of our NEOs during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units (#) |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards(1) |
Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards(5) |
Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards ($)(6) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Date of Board Action to Grant the Award |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name
|
Grant Date |
Threshold ($)(2) |
Target ($)(3) |
Maximum ($)(4) |
Threshold (#) |
Target (#) |
Maximum (#) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Joshua Levine |
10/30/15 | 9/29/15 | | | | | | | 200,000 | (7) | 1,340,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
10/30/15 | 9/29/15 | | | | | 100,000 | 150,000 | | 733,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
10/30/15 | 9/29/15 | | | | | 100,000 | 150,000 | | 735,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
6/30/16 | 6/16/16 | | | | | | | 300,000 | (8) | 1,557,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
412,597 | 825,193 | 1,064,499 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kevin Waters |
9/30/15 |
9/13/15 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
65,000 |
(7) |
324,675 |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
10/30/15 | 9/13/15 | | | | | 32,500 | 48,750 | | 238,225 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
10/30/15 | 9/13/15 | | | | | 32,500 | 48,750 | | 238,875 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
6/30/16 | 6/15/16 | 125,000 | (8) | 648,750 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
104,195 | 208,390 | 268,823 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kelly Londy |
10/30/15 |
10/22/15 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
70,000 |
(7) |
469,000 |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
10/30/15 | 10/22/15 | | | | | 35,000 | 52,500 | | 256,550 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
10/30/15 | 10/22/15 | | | | | 35,000 | 52,500 | | 257,250 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
6/30/16 | 6/15/16 | 125,000 | (8) | 648,750 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
147,336 | 294,673 | 380,128 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alaleh Nouri |
10/30/15 |
10/22/15 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
50,000 |
(7) |
335,000 |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
10/30/15 | 10/22/15 | | | | | 25,000 | 37,500 | | 183,250 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
10/30/15 | 10/22/15 | | | | | 25,000 | 37,500 | | 183,750 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
6/30/16 | 6/15/16 | 75,000 | (8) | 389,250 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
89,039 | 178,078 | 229,720 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gregory Lichtwardt(9) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
67
68
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal 2016 Year-End
The following table sets forth the outstanding and exercisable and unexercisable stock options and other stock awards held by our NEOs as of June 30, 2016. The market value for the stock awards was calculated by multiplying the number of shares by the closing market price of our common stock on June 30, 2016, the last trading day of the fiscal year.
|
|
Option Awards(1) | Stock Awards(2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name
|
Grant Date |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable |
Option Exercise Price ($) |
Option Expiration Date |
Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) |
Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($)(3) |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units, or Other Rights that Have Not Vested (#)(4) |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units, or Other Rights that Have Not Vested ($)(3) |
|||||||||||||||||
Joshua Levine |
11/30/12 | 179,167 | 20,833 | 6.28 | 11/30/22 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||
|
11/30/12 | | | | | 50,000 | 259,500 | | | |||||||||||||||||
|
10/31/13 | | | | | 75,000 | 389,250 | | | |||||||||||||||||
|
3/31/14 | | | | | 25,000 | 129,750 | | | |||||||||||||||||
|
10/31/14 | | | | | 150,000 | 778,500 | | | |||||||||||||||||
|
3/31/15 | | | | | 37,500 | 194,625 | | | |||||||||||||||||
|
10/30/15 | | | | | 200,000 | 1,038,000 | | | |||||||||||||||||
|
6/30/16 | | | | | 300,000 | (5) | 1,557,000 | | | ||||||||||||||||
|
10/31/13 | | | | | | | 75,000 | (6) | 389,250 | ||||||||||||||||
|
3/31/14 | | | | | | | 25,000 | (6) | 129,750 | ||||||||||||||||
|
10/31/14 | | | | | | | 200,000 | (7) | 1,038,000 | ||||||||||||||||
|
3/31/15 | | | | | | | 50,000 | (7) | 259,500 | ||||||||||||||||
|
10/30/15 | | | | | | | 200,000 | (8) | 1,038,000 | ||||||||||||||||
Kevin Waters |
11/29/2013 | | | | | 17,500 | 90,825 | | | |||||||||||||||||
|
10/31/2014 | | | | | 10,696 | 55,512 | | | |||||||||||||||||
|
3/31/2015 | | | | | 22,500 | 116,775 | | | |||||||||||||||||
|
9/30/2015 | | | | | 65,000 | 337,350 | | | |||||||||||||||||
|
6/30/2016 | | | | | 125,000 | (5) | 648,750 | | | ||||||||||||||||
|
11/29/2013 | | | | | | | 17,500 | (6) | 90,825 | ||||||||||||||||
|
10/31/2014 | | | | | | | 14,262 | (7) | 74,020 | ||||||||||||||||
|
10/30/2015 | | | | | | | 65,000 | (8) | 337,350 | ||||||||||||||||
Kelly Londy |
11/30/11 | 100,000 | | 4.01 | 11/30/21 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||
|
10/31/12 | 18,700 | (9) | 1,700 | 6.96 | 10/31/22 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||
|
10/31/12 | | | | | 5,825 | 30,232 | | | |||||||||||||||||
|
4/30/13 | | | | | 15,000 | 77,850 | | | |||||||||||||||||
|
10/31/14 | | | | | 46,506 | 241,366 | | | |||||||||||||||||
|
10/30/15 | | | | | 70,000 | 363,300 | | | |||||||||||||||||
|
6/30/16 | | | | | 125,000 | (5) | 648,750 | | | ||||||||||||||||
|
10/31/13 | | | | | | | 22,500 | (6) | 116,775 | ||||||||||||||||
|
10/31/14 | | | | | | | 62,009 | (7) | 321,827 | ||||||||||||||||
|
10/30/15 | | | | | | | 70,000 | (8) | 363,300 | ||||||||||||||||
Alaleh Nouri |
1/31/11 | 27,000 | | 8.56 | 1/31/21 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||
|
11/30/11 | 8,250 | | 4.01 | 11/30/21 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||
|
10/31/12 | 12,833 | 1,167 | 6.96 | 10/31/22 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||
|
10/31/2012 | | | | | 1,425 | 7,396 | | | |||||||||||||||||
|
10/31/2013 | | | | | 6,750 | 35,033 | | | |||||||||||||||||
|
3/31/2014 | | | | | 12,500 | 64,875 | | | |||||||||||||||||
|
8/29/2014 | | | | | 7,500 | 38,925 | | | |||||||||||||||||
|
10/30/15 | | | | | 50,000 | 259,500 | | | |||||||||||||||||
|
6/30/16 | | | | | 75,000 | (5) | 389,250 | | | ||||||||||||||||
|
9/30/2014 | | | | | | | 10,000 | (7) | 51,900 | ||||||||||||||||
|
10/30/15 | | | | | | | 50,000 | (8) | 259,500 | ||||||||||||||||
Gregory Lichtwardt(10) |
| | | | | | | | |
69
Option Exercises and Stock Vested During Fiscal 2016
The following table reports stock option exercises and the vesting of RSU awards during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 and the value realized upon exercise or vesting by each of the NEOs:
|
Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name
|
Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) |
Value Realized on Exercise ($) |
Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#) |
Value Realized on Vesting ($)(1) |
|||||||||
Joshua Levine |
| | 294,564 | 1,991,633 | |||||||||
Kevin Waters |
| | 42,927 | 284,489 | |||||||||
Kelly Londy |
| | 79,792 | 522,369 | |||||||||
Alaleh Nouri |
| | 14,225 | 91,654 | |||||||||
Gregory Lichtwardt(2) |
| | 127,742 | 868,155 |
Potential Payments and Benefits Upon Termination or Change in Control
Effective January 1, 2015, we entered into amended and restated employment agreements with each of our NEOs, which, among other things, provide for certain payments and benefits upon their termination of employment under specified circumstances, including in connection with a change in control of the Company. Except as set forth below, our NEOs will forfeit any outstanding and unvested stock options, RSU awards and performance-based equity awards if their employment with us is terminated.
70
Termination Not in Connection with a Change in Control of the Company
In the event of a termination of employment by us without "Cause" (as defined below) or by an NEO for "Good Reason" (as defined below), the amount of the severance payments and benefits to which each such executive is entitled depends on such executive's position with the Company. For each executive other than our CEO, the severance payments and benefits consist of:
Under the terms of our CEO's employment agreement, in the event his employment is terminated by us without Cause or if he resigns his employment for Good Reason, his severance payments and benefits consist of:
Our NEOs' employment agreements define "Cause" as (i) material breach of the employment agreement, or of a Company policy or of a law, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or its operations; (ii) demonstrated and material neglect of duties, or failure or refusal to perform the material duties of the NEO's position, or the failure to follow the reasonable and lawful instructions of the Company; (iii) gross misconduct or dishonesty, self-dealing, fraud or similar conduct that the Company reasonably determines has caused, is causing or reasonably is likely to cause harm to the Company; or (iv) the NEO's conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to any crime other than a traffic offense that is not punishable by a sentence of incarceration, provided that a termination pursuant to (ii) will be effective only if such failure continues after the NEO has been given written notice thereof and 15 business days thereafter in which to cure, unless the Company reasonably determines that the reasons for termination are not capable of being cured.
Our NEOs' employment agreements define "Good Reason" as the occurrence of any one of the following events, unless the Company cures the circumstances constituting Good Reason within 30 days after notice from the NEO that Good Reason exists: (i) a material reduction in the NEO's base salary and/or a material breach of the NEO's employment agreement resulting from the failure to provide the benefits required therein; (ii) any action or inaction that constitutes a material breach by the Company of the NEO's employment agreement; (iii) a material diminution in the NEO's authority, duties or responsibilities such that they are materially inconsistent with his/her position in the Company; or (iv) relocation of the Company's headquarters to a location that materially increases the NEO's commute. In order for a resignation with Good Reason to be effective, each NEO must provide written notice of his or her resignation for Good Reason to the Company within 60 days after the date the NEO becomes aware of the initial occurrence of any of the foregoing, and the separation date must
71
occur not later than six months after the NEO becomes aware of the initial occurrence of the event constituting Good Reason.
Termination in Connection with a Change in Control of the Company
Each of our NEO's severance payments and benefits are generally larger in the event that the termination of employment occurs in connection with a change in control of the Company (as defined below).
For each of our NEOs, in the event such executive's employment is terminated without Cause or such executive resigns for Good Reason, in each case within three months prior to or 12 months following a change in control of the Company, the severance payments and benefits consist of:
Each NEO's employment agreement generally defines "change in control" to include the following:
Termination as a Result of Death or Disability
In the event of our CEO's termination of employment because of incapacity or death, his employment agreement provides for the acceleration of vesting of all outstanding and unvested stock options and RSU awards that would have vested within 12 months of such termination of employment.
72
In the event of termination of employment of any of our other NEOs because of incapacity or death, their respective employment agreements provide for the acceleration of vesting of all outstanding and unvested stock options and RSU awards that would have vested within six months of such termination of employment.
Restrictive Covenants and Release of Claims
In consideration for the potential receipt of payments and benefits upon termination of employment, each of our NEOs is subject to compliance with certain restrictive covenants as set forth in their individual employment agreements. Generally, these covenants prohibit these executives from disclosing our proprietary or confidential information during their employment with us and thereafter, soliciting any of our employees to leave employment with us or any of our customers or suppliers to do business with any of our competitors for the duration of their employment with us and for one year thereafter, and from competing with us for the duration of their employment. Severance payments and benefits may cease in the event of violation of these covenants. In addition, severance payments and benefits are conditioned upon our NEOs entering into a full release of claims in favor of the Company.
Section 4999 of the Code
If, in connection with a change in control of the Company, any payments or benefits payable to our NEOs would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, their payments and benefits will be reduced to the extent necessary so that no amount will be subject to this excise tax, provided that the reduction will occur only if the NEO will be in a more favorable after-tax position than if no reduction had been made. We believe that this approach protects the value of compensation already awarded to our NEOs and mitigates any potential personal bias against a potential corporate transaction.
Other Information
The Compensation Committee does not consider the potential payments and benefits under these arrangements when making compensation decisions for our NEOs. These arrangements serve very specific purposes that are unrelated to the determination of our NEOs compensation for a specific year.
Potential Payments to our NEOs on Termination of Employment
Except as otherwise noted below with respect to Mr. Lichtwardt, the tables below quantify potential payments to our NEOs who were employed by us at the end of fiscal year 2016 in the event of a termination of employment or a change in control of the Company, based on the terms of employment agreements in effect as of June 30, 2016. The amounts shown assume that the termination of employment and change in control, as applicable, occurred on June 30, 2016, the last business day of fiscal 2016. The amounts set forth in the tables below represent what we believe are reasonable estimates of the amounts that would be paid to our NEOs upon their termination of employment, including any termination in connection with a change in control, but exclude (a) any accrued amounts payable to them through the date of separation (including any earned but unpaid bonus) and (b) the value of any stock option or other equity awards that vested on or before June 30, 2016. The actual amounts to be paid can only be determined at the time of our NEOs' actual termination of employment or upon the occurrence of a change in control of the Company.
The value of the stock option and RSU award vesting acceleration was calculated based on the assumption that the change in control of the Company and the NEO's termination of employment occurred on June 30, 2016. The closing market price of our stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market as of June 30, 2016 was $5.19 per share, which was used as the value of our common stock for
73
purpose of these calculations. The value of the vesting acceleration for outstanding and unvested stock options was calculated by multiplying the number of accelerated option shares as of June 30, 2016 by the spread between the closing market price of our common stock as of June 30, 2016 and the exercise price for such unvested options. The value of vesting acceleration for outstanding and unvested RSU awards was calculated by multiplying the number of accelerated RSUs by the closing market price of our common stock as of June 30, 2016. The values reflected also assume that the payments and benefits to our NEOs are not reduced by virtue of the provisions in their employment agreements relating to Section 4999 of the Code.
Joshua Levine
Benefits
|
Termination by Company without Cause or by NEO for Good Reason (No Change in Control) ($) |
Termination by Company without Cause or by NEO for Good Reason in connection with a Change in Control ($) |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Base Salary Severance |
688,275 | 1,376,550 | |||||
Target Bonus |
825,930 | 1,651,860 | |||||
COBRA Premium Reimbursement |
34,386 | 68,772 | |||||
Options Acceleration |
| | |||||
RSU Acceleration |
| 7,201,125 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Total |
1,548,591 | 10,298,307 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Kevin Waters
Benefits
|
Termination by Company without Cause or by NEO for Good Reason (No Change in Control) ($) |
Termination by Company without Cause or by NEO for Good Reason in connection with a Change in Control ($) |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Base Salary Severance |
180,000 | 720,000 | |||||
Target Bonus |
216,000 | 432,000 | |||||
COBRA Premium Reimbursement |
17,193 | 68,772 | |||||
Options Acceleration |
| | |||||
RSU Acceleration |
| 1,751,407 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Total |
413,193 | 2,972,179 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
74
Kelly Londy
Benefits
|
Termination by Company without Cause or by NEO for Good Reason (No Change in Control) ($) |
Termination by Company without Cause or by NEO for Good Reason in connection with a Change in Control ($) |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Base Salary Severance |
212,500 | 850,000 | |||||
Target Bonus |
297,500 | 595,000 | |||||
COBRA Premium Reimbursement |
9,370 | 37,481 | |||||
Options Acceleration |
| | |||||
RSU Acceleration |
| 2,163,400 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Total |
519,370 | 3,645,881 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Alaleh Nouri
Benefits
|
Termination by Company without Cause or by NEO for Good Reason (No Change in Control) ($) |
Termination by Company without Cause or by NEO for Good Reason in connection with a Change in Control ($) |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Base Salary Severance |
168,450 | 673,800 | |||||
Target Bonus |
185,295 | 370,590 | |||||
COBRA Premium Reimbursement |
16,778 | 67,110 | |||||
Options Acceleration |
| | |||||
RSU Acceleration |
| 1,106,378 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Total |
370,523 | 2,217,878 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Gregory Lichtwardt
Mr. Lichtwardt retired and resigned his employment with us effective as of September 14, 2015. The table below sets forth the actual value of the payments and benefits paid to him in connection with this resignation.
Benefits
|
($) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Base Salary Severance |
200,000 | |||
Prorated Bonus Severance(1) |
58,301 | |||
COBRA Premium Reimbursement |
15,116 | |||
Options Acceleration |
| |||
RSU Acceleration |
| |||
| | | | |
Total |
273,417 | |||
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
75
COMPENSATION OF NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
Director Summary Compensation Table for Fiscal 2016
The following table sets forth summary information concerning the compensation of our non-employee directors for their service during fiscal 2016.
Name
|
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) |
Stock Awards ($)(1) |
All Other Compensation ($)(2) |
Total ($) | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Elizabeth Dávila |
70,500 | 119,997 | 47,376 | 237,873 | |||||||||
Jack Goldstein, Ph.D. |
59,000 | 119,997 | 47,376 | 226,373 | |||||||||
Louis J. Lavigne, Jr. |
109,000 | 119,997 | | 228,997 | |||||||||
Richard Pettingill |
45,500 | 119,997 | 47,376 | 212,873 | |||||||||
Emad Rizk, M.D(3) |
48,000 | 119,997 | | 167,997 | |||||||||
Robert S. Weiss |
57,000 | 119,997 | 47,376 | 224,373 | |||||||||
Dennis Winger |
63,500 | 119,997 | 47,376 | 230,873 |
Name
|
Grant Date |
Outstanding Option Awards at June 30, 2016 |
RSU Awards Granted during fiscal 2016 |
Outstanding RSU Awards at June 30, 2016 |
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Elizabeth Dávila |
| 90,424 | | | |||||||||
|
11/30/15 | | 17,045 | 17,045 | |||||||||
Jack Goldstein, Ph.D. |
| 19,000 | | | |||||||||
|
11/30/15 | | 17,045 | 17,045 | |||||||||
Louis J. Lavigne, Jr. |
| 36,896 | | | |||||||||
|
11/30/15 | | 17,045 | 17,045 | |||||||||
Richard Pettingill |
| 11,164 | | | |||||||||
|
11/30/15 | | 17,045 | 17,045 | |||||||||
Emad Rizk, M.D(3). |
| | | | |||||||||
|
11/30/15 | | 17,045 | 17,045 | |||||||||
Robert S. Weiss |
| 178,424 | | | |||||||||
|
11/30/15 | | 17,045 | 17,045 | |||||||||
Dennis Winger |
| 56,795 | | | |||||||||
|
11/30/15 | | 17,045 | 17,045 |
76
Each non-employee director receives an annual cash retainer of $35,000 per year, paid quarterly. In addition, Mr. Lavigne receives an annual cash retainer of $50,000, paid quarterly, for serving as Chairperson of the Board, and Ms. Dávila receives an annual cash retainer of $10,000, paid quarterly, for serving as the Vice Chairperson of the Board. Non-employee directors who serve on the standing committees of the Board and the chairperson of each such committee receive an additional annual cash retainer as follows:
Committee
|
Chairperson retainer ($) |
Member retainer ($) |
Number of meetings covered |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Audit Committee |
$ | 25,000 | $ | 10,000 | 8 | |||||
Compensation Committee |
15,000 | 5,000 | 6 | |||||||
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee |
10,000 | 3,000 | 4 |
For meetings of standing committees in excess of the number set forth above, and for each Board meeting in excess of four, each director, including the chairperson, receives $1,000 per meeting attended in-person and $500 per meeting attended telephonically.
In addition to the foregoing, all of our non-employee directors are reimbursed for the reasonable expenses incurred in connection with participating in the meetings of the Board and committees of the Board. Employee directors are not compensated for board service in addition to their regular employee compensation.
Pursuant to guidelines for annual equity awards adopted by the Board in November 2010 and affirmed in November 2014, each of our non-employee directors receives an annual RSU award equal to the number of shares of our common stock obtained by dividing $120,000 by the fair market value (as of the date of grant) of one share of our common stock, with such RSU awards granted on the last day of the month in which our Annual Meeting of Stockholders occurs, and with a vesting commencement date of the date of the Annual Meeting. On November 30, 2015, each then-current non-employee director was granted an RSU award covering 17,045 shares of our common stock under the 2007 Incentive Award Plan, with a vesting commencement date of November 19, 2015. The annual RSU awards vest in full on the first anniversary of the vesting commencement date and are subject to full acceleration of vesting in the event of a change of control of the Company. We expect to grant an annual RSU award to each of our continuing non-employee directors in accordance with these guidelines on approximately November 30, 2016.
In November 2012, the Board revised the equity compensation for newly elected non-employee directors such that upon initial appointment to the Board, a non-employee director will receive an RSU award equal to the number of shares of our common stock obtained by dividing $120,000 by the fair market value (as of the date of grant) of one share of our common stock. This RSU award will be prorated for the number of months the newly elected non-employee director will serve on the Board prior to the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The vesting commencement date for the initial RSU award is the date of appointment for the new director, with full vesting on the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Vesting of the initial RSU award will be accelerated in full in the event of a change in control of the Company.
No additional stock options or RSU awards are provided for committee membership or for serving as the chairperson of a committee.
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Our current Corporate Governance Guidelines require our non-employee directors to own the number of shares of our common stock having a value equal to at least three times his or her regular annual cash retainer. Non-employee directors have five years from the date of election or appointment to attain the foregoing ownership levels. We expect each non-employee director to retain at least 25% of the net shares he or she receives pursuant to all Company equity awards (excluding shares sold to cover (i) the exercise price of any stock options and/or (ii) associated taxes), until the foregoing ownership levels are achieved. All of the non-employee directors who have served in that capacity for at least one year are in compliance with the ownership levels provided in the Corporate Governance Guidelines or are on track to be in compliance within the time period provided by the guidelines.
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The following table sets forth as of June 30, 2016 certain information regarding our equity compensation plans. All of our equity compensation plans have been approved by our security holders.
|
A | B | C | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plan category
|
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants, and rights |
Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants, and rights(1) |
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in Column A) |
|||||||
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders |
7,844,135 | (2) | $ | 8.00 | 1,474,593 | (3) | ||||
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders |
| | | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
Total |
7,844,135 | (2) | $ | 8.00 | 1,474,593 | (3) |
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The following table presents information as to the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of August 31, 2016 by:
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Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. Unless otherwise indicated below, to our knowledge, the persons and entities named in the table have sole voting and sole investment power with respect to all shares beneficially owned, subject to community property laws where applicable. Shares of our common stock subject to options, warrants, RSUs and other convertible securities that are currently exercisable or releasable or will become exercisable or releasable within 60 days of August 31, 2016 are deemed to be outstanding and to be beneficially owned by the person holding the options, warrants, RSUs or other convertible securities for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.
Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each of the stockholders in the table below is c/o Accuray Incorporated, 1310 Chesapeake Terrace, Sunnyvale, California 94089.
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This table lists applicable percentage ownership based on 81,591,103 shares of common stock outstanding as of August 31, 2016.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
|
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned |
Percentage of Shares Beneficially Owned |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5% Stockholders |
|||||||
Primecap Management Company(1) |
7,493,600 | 9.2 | % | ||||
177 E. Colorado Blvd., 11th Floor |
|||||||
Pasadena, CA 91105 |
|||||||
Blackrock, Inc.(2) |
6,451,095 | 7.9 | % | ||||
55 East 52nd Street |
|||||||
New York, NY 10022 |
|||||||
The Vanguard Group(3) |
5,433,812 | 6.7 | % | ||||
100 Vanguard Blvd. |
|||||||
Malvern, PA 19355 |
|||||||
Partner Fund Management, L.P.(4) |
5,124,148 | 6.3 | % | ||||
4 Embarcadero Center, Suite 3500 |
|||||||
San Francisco, CA 94111 |
|||||||
Tenor Capital Management Company, L.P.(5) |
4,819,772 | 5.9 | % | ||||
1180 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 1940 |
|||||||
New York, NY 10036 |
|||||||
Boston Partners (6) |
4,272,040 | 5.2 | % | ||||
One Beacon Street, 30th Floor |
|||||||
Boston, MA 02108 |
|||||||
Named Executive Officers and Directors |
|||||||
Joshua H. Levine(7) |
914,383 | 1.12 | % | ||||
Kelly Londy(8) |
278,668 | * | |||||
Kevin Waters(9) |
71,569 | * | |||||
Alaleh Nouri(10) |
100,359 | * | |||||
Robert S. Weiss(11) |
366,995 | * | |||||
Elizabeth Dávila(12) |
171,995 | * | |||||
Dennis Winger(13) |
165,366 | * | |||||
Louis J. Lavigne, Jr.(14) |
158,348 | * | |||||
Jack Goldstein, Ph.D.(15) |
89,671 | * | |||||
Richard R. Pettingill(16) |
59,538 | * | |||||
All current executive officers and directors as a group (10 persons) |
2,376,892 | 2.91 | % | ||||
Former Executive Officers and Directors |
|||||||
Gregory Lichtwardt(17) |
| * | |||||
Emad Rizk(18) |
49,694 | * |
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our common stock issuable upon the settlement of RSUs releasable within 60 days of August 31, 2016.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors, executive officers and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of our common stock to file reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our common stock and other equity securities with the SEC. Directors, executive officers and beneficial owners of more than 10% of our common stock are required by SEC regulations to furnish us with copies of all these forms they file.
Based solely upon our review of the copies of Forms 3, 4 and 5 received by us, or written representations from reporting persons that no forms were required of such persons, we believe that during our fiscal year ended June 30, 2016, all Section 16(a) reports were timely filed.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS MATTERS
Our Board consists of seven directors. Other than Joshua H. Levine, our President and CEO, our Board has determined that each of our current directors is independent under the director independence standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market.
Our Board has a general policy as set forth in our Corporate Governance Guidelines that the positions of Chairperson of the Board and CEO should be held by separate persons as an aid in the
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Board's oversight of management and to allow our CEO to focus on managing his day-to-day responsibilities to the Company. The Board believes that there may be advantages to having an independent chairperson for matters such as: communications and relations between the Board, the CEO, and other senior management; assisting the Board in reaching consensus on particular strategies and policies; and facilitating robust director, Board and CEO evaluation processes. Our CEO serves as a member of the Board, and the remaining board members, including Louis J. Lavigne, Jr., our current Chairperson of the Board, and Elizabeth Dávila, our Vice Chairperson of the Board, are independent.
The Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that in making a determination about whether a single individual or two individuals should fill these roles, the Board should consider factors that include, but are not limited to, the size of the Company's business, the composition of the Board, of director candidates for Board seats, applicable regulations and the Company's succession planning goals. In the event the Board determines that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to have these roles filled by one individual, or if the Chairperson of the Board is otherwise not independent, then the Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that the Board shall appoint a Lead Independent Director who shall lead executive sessions.
Our Bylaws provide for a majority voting standard (i.e. votes "for" must exceed votes "against") in the election of directors in uncontested elections and our Corporate Governance Guidelines require that each director nominee submit a resignation to the Board, which resignation is contingent upon (1) the nominee not receiving a majority of votes cast in an uncontested election and (2) the Board accepting such resignation.
The Board, as a whole and through the various committees of the Board, oversees the Company's risk management process, including operational, financial, legal and regulatory, strategic and reputational risks. Our Board's approach to risk oversight is designed to support the achievement of organizational objectives, including strategic objectives, to improve long-term organizational performance and enhance stockholder value. A fundamental part of our risk oversight is not only understanding the risks a company faces and what steps management is taking to manage those risks, but also understanding what level of risk is appropriate for us. In setting our business strategy, our Board assesses the various risks being mitigated by management and determines what constitutes an appropriate level of risk for the Company.
Our Board committees consider risks within their respective areas of oversight responsibility and the respective committee chairs advise the Board of any significant risks and management's response via periodic committee reports to the full Board. In particular, the Audit Committee focuses on financial and accounting risk, including internal controls. The Compensation Committee considers risks relating to the Company's compensation programs and policies. The Nominating and Corporate Governance considers risks relating to the Company's corporate governance.
While the Board oversees risk management, the Company's management is charged with managing risk on a day-to-day basis. The Company has strong internal processes and a robust internal control environment, which facilities the identification and management of risks and regular communication with the Board. These processes include an enterprise risk management program, an enterprise risk management committee chaired by our General Counsel, quarterly management disclosure committee meetings, a Code of Conduct and Ethics, and a strong compliance program.
The results of the compensation risk assessment described below under "Compensation Risk Consideration" will be reported back to the full Board.
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Our Board has three standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. From time to time, our Board may also create various ad hoc committees for special purposes. A copy of the charter for each such standing committee can be found on our website, www.accuray.com, under the section titled "Investors" and under the subsection "Corporate Governance."
The current membership of each of the three standing committees of our Board, as well as the number of meetings and actions by written consent of each such committee during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016, is set forth below:
Name of Director
|
Audit Committee |
Compensation Committee |
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Louis J. Lavigne, Jr. |
| Chairperson | | |||
Elizabeth Dávila |
Member | Member | | |||
Jack Goldstein, Ph.D. |
| Member | Chairperson | |||
Robert S. Weiss |
Member | | Member | |||
Dennis L. Winger |
Chairperson | | | |||
Richard R. Pettingill |
| | Member | |||
Number of meetings |
10 | 6 | 4 | |||
Number of actions by written consent |
4 | 4 | 0 |
Mr. Levine is not a member of any committee of our Board. Emad Rizk, M.D. was a member of our Board and the Compensation Committee for all of fiscal 2016 but resigned from such positions on September 16, 2016.
The Audit Committee oversees our corporate accounting and financial reporting process. Among other matters, the Audit Committee evaluates the independent auditors' qualifications, independence and performance; determines the engagement of the independent auditors; reviews and approves the scope of the annual audit and the audit fee; discusses with management and the independent auditors the results of the annual audit and the review of our quarterly consolidated financial statements; approves the retention of the independent auditors to perform any proposed permissible non-audit services; monitors the rotation of partners of the independent auditors on the Company's engagement team as required by law; reviews our critical accounting policies and estimates; oversees our internal audit function and annually reviews the Audit Committee charter and the Audit Committee's performance.
The members of the Audit Committee during fiscal 2016 were Mr. Winger, the chairperson of the committee, Ms. Dávila, and Mr. Weiss. All members of the Audit Committee meet the requirements for financial literacy under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and NASDAQ. Our Board has determined that Messrs. Weiss and Winger are Audit Committee financial experts as defined under the applicable rules of the SEC and each has the requisite financial sophistication as defined under the applicable rules and regulations of NASDAQ. Each of the members of the Audit Committee is independent as defined under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and NASDAQ.
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Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for making recommendations to our Board regarding candidates for directorships and the size and composition of our Board. In addition, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for reporting and making recommendations to our board concerning governance matters and for overseeing the performance evaluations of the members of our Board.
The members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee during fiscal 2016 were Dr. Goldstein, the chairperson of the Committee, Mr. Pettingill and Mr. Weiss. Each of the foregoing members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is independent under the applicable rules and regulations of NASDAQ.
The Compensation Committee reviews and recommends policies relating to compensation and benefits of our executive officers and employees. The Compensation Committee reviews and approves corporate goals and objectives relevant to compensation of our CEO and other executive officers, evaluates the performance of these individuals in light of those goals and objectives, and sets the compensation of these individuals (other than the CEO, whose compensation is set by the independent members of the Board) based on such evaluations. The Compensation Committee also administers the grant of stock options and other equity awards under our stock plans (other than awards granted to non-employee members of the Board).
The 2007 Incentive Award Plan permits delegation by the Compensation Committee to a committee of one or more members of the Board or one or more of our executive officers the authority to grant or amend awards to participants under the plan other than (i) senior executives of the Company who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, (ii) "Covered Employees" under Section 162(m) of the Code, or (iii) direct reports of our CEO (or non-employee members of the Board) to whom authority to grant or amend awards has been delegated thereunder. The Compensation Committee may at any time rescind the authority so delegated or appoint a new delegate. Effective as of July 1, 2010, the Compensation Committee delegated the authority to grant routine stock options and other awards under our stock plans (other than awards granted to employees who report directly to our CEO) to our CEO and CFO, collectively, within guidelines determined by the Compensation Committee, to newly hired employees. Effective March 25, 2011, the Compensation Committee delegated the authority to grant routine stock options and other awards to employees of the Company under our stock plans (other than awards granted to employees who report directly to our CEO) to our CEO and CFO, collectively, within guidelines determined by the Compensation Committee, for the purpose of promotion or special recognition. The Compensation Committee has made corresponding delegations of authority to our CEO and CFO under our 2016 Equity Incentive Plan.
The Compensation Committee also reviews and recommends policies relating to the compensation of the non-employee members of the Board. The Compensation Committee reviews and evaluates, at least annually, the performance of the Compensation Committee as a whole and of its members, including compliance of the Compensation Committee with its charter.
The members of the Compensation Committee during fiscal 2016 were Mr. Lavigne, the chairperson of the Committee, Ms. Dávila, Dr. Goldstein and Dr. Rizk. Dr. Rizk resigned from the Board and the Compensation Committee on September 16, 2016. Each of the members of the Compensation Committee is independent under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, NASDAQ and the Internal Revenue Service.
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Compensation Risk Consideration
During fiscal 2016, at the direction of the Compensation Committee, Compensia, with the assistance of our management, conducted a review of our compensation policies and practices and their respective risk profiles. Compensia presented the findings to the Compensation Committee for consideration. After consideration of the information presented, the Compensation Committee concluded that our compensation programs are designed with an appropriate balance of risk and reward in relation to our overall business strategy and do not encourage excessive or unnecessary risk-taking behavior.
In making this determination, the Compensation Committee considered our pay mix, our base salaries, and the attributes of our incentive and other variable compensation programs, including our annual bonus plan, our equity compensation plans, and our sales compensation plans. We also have in place numerous business controls such as maximum payout levels in our annual bonus plan, a sales compensation committee, a compensation recovery ("clawback") policy and other internal business and operational approval processes.
The Compensation Committee believes that the design of our compensation programs as outlined in the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" section above places emphasis on long-term incentives and competitive base salaries, while a portion of the total annual compensation is tied to short-term performance in the form of an annual bonus. The Compensation Committee concluded that this mix of incentives appropriately balances risk and also properly aligns our executives' motivations for the Company's long-term success, including stock price performance.
The results of the foregoing compensation risk assessment are reported to the full Board by the Compensation Committee.
Meetings Attended by Directors
Our Board held a total of thirteen meetings and acted by unanimous written consent three times during our fiscal year ended June 30, 2016. During fiscal 2016, all of our directors attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings held by our Board and each of the committee(s) of our Board on which he or she served during the period for which he or she was a director. The Chairperson of our Board, who is independent, chaired each Board meeting.
The independent directors hold meetings on a periodic basis. The meetings of the independent directors typically take place in connection with the regularly scheduled meetings of the full Board. The independent directors may also meet at such other times as they deem necessary or appropriate.
Pursuant to our Corporate Governance Guidelines, our directors are encouraged to attend our Annual Meeting of stockholders. Other than Dr. Rizk and Mr. Winger, all then-current directors attended our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Consideration of Director Nominees
Stockholder Nominations and Recommendations. The policy of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is to consider recommendations and properly submitted stockholder nominations for candidates for membership on our Board. A stockholder may make such a recommendation or nomination by following the procedures set forth below in the "Recommendations and Nominations of Director Candidates" section of this Proxy Statement.
Director Qualifications. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believes that the members of our Board should have the highest professional and personal ethics and values, and conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with our Code of Conduct and Ethics. While the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has not established specific minimum qualifications
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for director candidates, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may consider the following criteria, among others, for candidates and nominees: (i) personal and professional integrity, ethics and values; (ii) experience in corporate management and a general understanding of market, finance and other elements relevant to the success of a publicly traded company; (iii) experience in our industry and with relevant social policy concerns; (iv) prior experience as a director of a publicly held company; (v) academic expertise in an area of our operations; and (vi) practical and mature business judgment, including ability to make independent analytical inquiries.
Identifying and Evaluating Director Nominees. Candidates for nomination to our Board typically come to the attention of our Board through professional search firms, although they may also be suggested by existing directors or executive officers, stockholders or other persons. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reviews the qualifications of any candidates who have been properly brought to the Committee's attention. Such review generally includes discussions with persons familiar with the candidate and an interview with the candidate, and may include other actions that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee deems proper. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers the suitability of each candidate, including the current members of our Board, in light of the current size and composition of our Board. In evaluating the qualifications of the candidates, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers many factors, including issues of character, judgment, independence, age, expertise, diversity of experience, length of service, other commitments and other similar factors. The Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board should see that the Board has the benefit of a wide range of skills, expertise, industry knowledge and other attributes, including cultural, gender and ethnic diversity, experience in industries beyond healthcare, and age diversity. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee assesses its achievement of diversity through the review of Board composition as part of the Board's annual self-assessment process. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee evaluates such factors, among others, and does not assign any particular weighting or priority to any of these factors. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee expects that it would evaluate candidates properly recommended by stockholders using the same criteria as other candidates.
We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of business conduct and ethics. Our Code of Conduct and Ethics reflects our values and the business practices and principles of behavior that support this commitment. The code applies to all of our officers, directors and employees. Our Code of Conduct and Ethics can be found on our website, www.accuray.com, under the section titled "Investors" and under the subsection "Corporate Governance."
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of the members of the Compensation Committee during fiscal 2016 has at any time been one of our executive officers or employees. None of our current executive officers currently serves, or in the past fiscal year has served, as a member of the Board or Compensation Committee of any entity that has one or more of its executive officers serving on our Board or Compensation Committee.
We have established a process by which stockholders may send communications to our Board, any committee of our Board or any individual director, including non-employee directors. Stockholders may so communicate by writing to: Board of Directors, c/o Corporate Secretary, Accuray Incorporated, 1310 Chesapeake Terrace, Sunnyvale, California 94089. The Corporate Secretary will forward correspondence to our Board, one of the committees of our Board or an individual director, as the case may be, or, if
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the Corporate Secretary determines in accordance with his or her best judgment that the matter can be addressed by management, then to the appropriate executive officer.
Set forth below is certain information regarding each of our executive officers as of September 30, 2016:
Name
|
Age | Position(s) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Joshua H. Levine |
58 | President, Chief Executive Officer and Director | |||
Kevin Waters |
39 | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
Kelly Londy |
49 | Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer | |||
Alaleh Nouri |
37 | Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
Further information with respect to Mr. Levine, our current President and CEO, is provided above under "Proposal OneElection of Directors."
Kevin Waters has served as our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since September 2015 and previously served as our Senior Vice President, Finance, from October 2013 until September 2015. From January 2008 to October 2013, Mr. Waters served as Vice President, Finance, of Conceptus, Inc., a publicly traded company (acquired by Bayer) that provides innovative solutions in women's healthcare. From October 2006 to January 2008, Mr. Waters served in the role of Corporate Controller at Conceptus. Before Conceptus, Mr. Waters served as Corporate Controller at Laserscope, Inc., a manufacturer of urology and aesthetic laser products. Prior to this, Mr. Waters held various finance leadership positions at VISX, Incorporated, a manufacturer of laser vision correction technologies. Mr. Waters began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP. He earned his B.S. in Business Administration, with a double concentration in Finance and Accounting, from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Kelly Londy has served as our Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, since October 2015. She previously served as our Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer, from April 2013 to October 2015 and as our Senior Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer, from October 2011 to April 2013. From August 2009 to September 2011, Ms. Londy served as Vice President and General Manager of Molecular Imaging, at GE Healthcare North America, a subsidiary of General Electric Company, where she optimized multi-business strategy with a focus on value proposition for improved cost, quality and access to new technologies. From July 2002 to August 2009, Ms. Londy held multiple leadership roles at Philips Healthcare North America, a subsidiary of Koninklijke Philips N.V., including Vice President and General Manager. Prior to that, from March 1996 to July 2002, she held roles in Marketing, Executive Account Management and as a product specialist in the Magnetic Resonance and Women's Health businesses at GE Medical Systems. Ms. Londy began her career as a radiographer and manager at the University of Michigan. Ms. Londy holds a degree in Radiologic Technology from Washtenaw College and a B.B.A. from Cleary University where she graduated Suma Cum Laude.
Alaleh Nouri has served as our Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary since August 2014. Ms. Nouri served as our Vice President, Associate General Counsel from December 2010 to February 2014 and as our Interim General Counsel from February 2014 to August 2014. From March 2009 to December 2010, Ms. Nouri served as Corporate Counsel at Mirion Technologies, Inc., a provider of radiation detection and monitoring services. Ms. Nouri started her career as an associate at the law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. Ms. Nouri holds a Bachelors of Commerce degree with specializations in International Business and Finance from the University of British Columbia in Canada and a J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of Law.
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Review, Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Parties
During fiscal 2016, we do not believe that there have been any transaction or series of similar transactions to which we were, or are to be, a party in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and in which any director, executive officer or holder of more than 5% of our common stock, or members of any such person's immediate family, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. Any such transactions are required to be approved by the Audit Committee and we intend that such transactions will be on terms no less favorable to us than could be obtained from unaffiliated third parties. Our Code of Conduct and Ethics contains a written policy to the effect that any transaction of the nature described above must be approved by the Audit Committee or another independent body of the Board.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Our SEC filings are also available to the public at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and through our website at www.accuray.com.
We will deliver promptly, without charge, upon written or oral request a separate copy of the annual report to any stockholder requesting a copy. To receive a copy of our annual report, you may write or call our Corporate Secretary at Accuray Incorporated, 1310 Chesapeake Terrace, Sunnyvale, California 94089, Attention: Alaleh Nouri, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, telephone: 408-716-4600.
Stockholders Sharing the Same Address
We have adopted a procedure called "householding." Under this procedure, we are delivering only one copy of the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials and, as applicable, any additional proxy materials to multiple stockholders who share the same address, unless we have received contrary instructions from an affected stockholder.
We will deliver promptly upon written or oral request a separate copy of the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, Annual Report or the Proxy Statement to any stockholder at a shared address to which a single copy of any of those documents was delivered. To receive a separate copy of the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, Annual Report or Proxy Statement, you may write or call our Corporate Secretary at the contact information set forth above under "Where You Can Find Additional Information." You may also access our Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, Annual Report and Proxy Statement on our website, www.accuray.com, under the section titled "Investors" and under the subsection "SEC Filings."
If you are a holder of record and would like to revoke your householding consent and receive a separate copy of the Annual Report or Proxy Statement in the future, please contact Computershare, 250 Royall Street, Canton, MA 02021, telephone: (800) 851-9677. You will be removed from the householding program within 30 days of receipt of the revocation of your consent.
Any stockholders of record who share the same address and currently receive multiple copies of our Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, Annual Report and Proxy Statement who wish to receive only one copy of these materials per household in the future should contact our Corporate Secretary at the contact information listed above to participate in the householding program. Stockholders who participate in householding will continue to receive separate proxy cards.
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A number of brokerage firms have instituted householding. If you hold your shares in "street name," please contact your bank, broker or other holder of record to request information about householding.
For a stockholder proposal to be considered for possible inclusion in our proxy statement for the Annual Meeting to be held in 2017, the proposal must be in writing and received by our Corporate Secretary at our principal executive offices no later than June 9, 2017. If, however, the date of next year's Annual Meeting is more than 30 days before or 30 days after the anniversary date of this year's Annual Meeting, the deadline for receipt by the Corporate Secretary of stockholder proposals intended to be included in our proxy statement will instead be a reasonable time before we begin to print and mail our proxy materials. Stockholder proposals must comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Exchange Act and any other applicable rules established by the SEC.
For stockholder proposals that are not intended by the stockholder to be included in our proxy materials for next year's Annual Meeting, our Bylaws establish an advance notice procedure in order to permit such proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders. In general, notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 90 calendar days or more than 120 calendar days before the one-year anniversary of the date on which we first mailed our proxy statement to stockholders in connection with the previous year's Annual Meeting of stockholders. Therefore, to be presented at our 2017 Annual Meeting of stockholders, such a proposal must be received by us on or after June 9, 2017 but no later than July 9, 2017. If, however, the date of the Annual Meeting is more than 25 days earlier or more than 25 days later than such anniversary date, the Corporate Secretary must receive the notice not later than the close of business on the date that is ten calendar days following the date on which public announcement of the date of the Annual Meeting is first made. Our Bylaws also specify additional requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder's notice.
Recommendations and Nominations of Director Candidates
If a stockholder or stockholder group wishes to recommend a nominee or nominees for director for possible inclusion in our proxy statement and proxy card relating to our 2017 Annual Meeting, the stockholder(s) should submit such recommendation in writing, including the nominee's name and qualifications for Board membership, to our Corporate Secretary at our principal executive offices. The stockholder(s) should also provide the written consent of each recommended nominee to serve as a member of our Board, if so elected, as well as a written statement that the recommended nominee intends to tender his or her irrevocable resignation upon his or her election or re-election, which resignation shall become effective only upon the nominee's failure to receive the requisite number of votes and the acceptance by the Board of such resignation.
If a stockholder desires to nominate a candidate for election of the Board, the stockholder must give timely notice to our Corporate Secretary at our principal executive offices. Under our Bylaws, the notice is timely if our Corporate Secretary receives it no earlier than June 9, 2017 (120 days prior to the anniversary of the mailing date of this year's proxy materials) and no later than July 9, 2017 (90 days prior to the anniversary of the mailing date of this year's proxy materials). If, however, the date of the Annual Meeting is more than 25 days earlier or more than 25 days later than the anniversary date of the prior Annual Meeting, notice must be received not later than the close of business on the date that is ten calendar days following the date on which public announcement of the date of the Annual Meeting is first made. The notice must be in writing and must include the nominee's name and qualifications for service on the Board. Our Bylaws also require that the notice include the written consent of each nominee to serve as a member of our Board, if so elected as well as a written statement that the director nominee intends to tender his or her irrevocable resignation upon his or her election or re-election, which resignation shall become effective only upon the
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nominee's failure to receive the requisite number of votes and the acceptance by the Board of such resignation. Stockholders are also advised to review our Bylaws, which contain additional requirements with respect to the nomination of directors by stockholders.
As of the date of this Proxy Statement, no stockholder had advised us of the intent to present any other matters, and we are not aware of any other matters to be presented, at the Annual Meeting. Accordingly, the only items of business that our Board intends to present at the Annual Meeting are set forth in this Proxy Statement.
If any other matter or matters are properly brought before the Annual Meeting, the persons named as proxyholders will use their discretion to vote on the matters in accordance with their best judgment as they deem advisable.
By order of the Board of Directors, | ||
/s/ ALALEH NOURI Alaleh Nouri Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
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Sunnyvale, California October 7, 2016 |
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ACCURAY INCORPORATED
2016 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
1. Purposes of the Plan. The purposes of this Plan are:
The Plan permits the grant of Incentive Stock Options, Nonstatutory Stock Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Units, Performance Shares, and other stock or cash awards as the Administrator may determine.
2. Definitions. As used herein, the following definitions will apply:
(a) "Administrator" means the Board or any of its Committees as will be administering the Plan, in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.
(b) "Affiliate" means any entity that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company.
(c) "Applicable Laws" means the legal and regulatory requirements relating to the administration of equity-based awards, including but not limited to U.S. federal and state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any non-U.S. country or jurisdiction where Awards are, or will be, granted under the Plan.
(d) "Award" means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Units, Performance Shares, or other stock or cash awards as the Administrator may determine.
(e) "Award Agreement" means the written or electronic agreement setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to each Award granted under the Plan. The Award Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(f) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(g) "Change in Control" means the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) A change in the ownership of the Company which occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group ("Person"), acquires ownership of the stock of the Company that, together with the stock held by such Person, constitutes more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the stock of the Company; provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection, the acquisition of additional stock by any one Person, who is considered to own more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the stock of the Company will not be considered a Change in Control. Further, if the stockholders of the Company immediately before such change in ownership continue to retain immediately after the change in ownership, in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company's voting stock immediately prior to the change in ownership, direct or indirect beneficial ownership of fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Company or of the ultimate parent entity of the Company, such event shall not be considered a Change in Control under this subsection (i). For this purpose, indirect beneficial ownership shall include, without limitation, an interest resulting from ownership of the voting securities of one or more corporations or other business entities which own the Company, as
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the case may be, either directly or through one or more subsidiary corporations or other business entities; or
(ii) A change in the effective control of the Company which occurs on the date that a majority of members of the Board is replaced during any twelve (12)-month period by Directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or election. For purposes of this subsection (ii), if any Person is considered to be in effective control of the Company, the acquisition of additional control of the Company by the same Person will not be considered a Change in Control; or
(iii) A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company's assets which occurs on the date that any Person acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12)-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than fifty percent (50%) of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions; provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (iii), the following will not constitute a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company's assets: (A) a transfer to an entity that is controlled by the Company's stockholders immediately after the transfer, or (B) a transfer of assets by the Company to: (1) a stockholder of the Company (immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange for or with respect to the Company's stock, (2) an entity, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, (3) a Person, that owns, directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total value or voting power of all the outstanding stock of the Company, or (4) an entity, at least fifty percent (50%) of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a Person described in this subsection (iii)(B)(3). For purposes of this subsection (iii), gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.
For purposes of this definition, persons will be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed a Change in Control unless the transaction qualifies as a change in control event within the meaning of Code Section 409A, as it has been and may be amended from time to time, and any proposed or final Treasury Regulations and Internal Revenue Service guidance that has been promulgated or may be promulgated thereunder from time to time.
Further and for the avoidance of doubt, a transaction will not constitute a Change in Control if: (i) its sole purpose is to change the state of the Company's incorporation, or (ii) its sole purpose is to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company's securities immediately before such transaction.
(h) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference to a specific section of the Code or regulation thereunder will include such section or regulation, any valid regulation promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.
(i) "Committee" means a committee of Directors or of other individuals satisfying Applicable Laws appointed by the Board, or a duly authorized committee of the Board, in accordance with Section 4 hereof.
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(j) "Common Stock" means the common stock of the Company.
(k) "Company" means Accuray Incorporated, a Delaware corporation, or any successor thereto.
(l) "Consultant" means any natural person, including an advisor, engaged by the Company or a Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate to render bona fide services to such entity, provided the services (i) are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction, and (ii) do not directly promote or maintain a market for the Company's securities, in each case, within the meaning of Form S-8 promulgated under the Securities Act, and provided, further, that a Consultant will include only those persons to whom the issuance of Shares may be registered under Form S-8 promulgated under the Securities Act.
(m) "Covered Employee" means any Service Provider who would be considered a "covered employee" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.
(n) "Determination Date" means the latest possible date that will not jeopardize the qualification of an Award granted under the Plan as "performance-based compensation" under Code Section 162(m).
(o) "Director" means a member of the Board.
(p) "Disability" means total and permanent disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, provided that in the case of Awards other than Incentive Stock Options, the Administrator in its discretion may determine whether a permanent and total disability exists in accordance with uniform and non-discriminatory standards adopted by the Administrator from time to time.
(q) "Employee" means any person, including Officers and Directors, employed by the Company or any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company. Neither service as a Director nor payment of a director's fee by the Company will be sufficient to constitute "employment" by the Company.
(r) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(s) "Exchange Program" means a program under which (i) outstanding Awards are surrendered or cancelled in exchange for awards of the same type (which may have higher or lower exercise prices and different terms), awards of a different type, and/or cash, (ii) Participants would have the opportunity to transfer any outstanding Awards to a financial institution or other person or entity selected by the Administrator, and/or (iii) the exercise price of an outstanding Award is increased or reduced.
(t) "Fair Market Value" means, as of any date, the value of Common Stock determined as follows:
(i) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Select Market, the NASDAQ Global Market or the NASDAQ Capital Market of The NASDAQ Stock Market, its Fair Market Value will be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or system on the day of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;
(ii) If the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of a Share will be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock on the date of determination (or, if no bids and asks were reported on that date, as applicable, on the last trading date such bids and asks
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were reported), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or
(iii) In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value will be determined in good faith by the Administrator.
(u) "Fiscal Year" means the fiscal year of the Company.
(v) "Full Value Award" means any Award which results in the issuance of Shares other than Options, Stock Appreciation Rights or other Awards that are based solely on an increase in value of the Shares following the grant date.
(w) "GAAP" means U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
(x) "Incentive Stock Option" means an Option that by its terms qualifies and is intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
(y) "Nonstatutory Stock Option" means an Option that by its terms does not qualify or is not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.
(z) "Officer" means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(aa) "Option" means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.
(bb) "Outside Director" means a Director who is not an Employee.
(cc) "Parent" means a "parent corporation," whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(dd) "Participant" means the holder of an outstanding Award.
(ee) "Performance Goals" will have the meaning set forth in Section 12 of the Plan.
(ff) "Performance Period" means any Fiscal Year of the Company or such other period as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion.
(gg) "Performance Share" means an Award denominated in Shares which may be earned in whole or in part upon attainment of Performance Goals or other vesting criteria as the Administrator may determine pursuant to Section 11.
(hh) "Performance Unit" means an Award which may be earned in whole or in part upon attainment of Performance Goals or other vesting criteria as the Administrator may determine and which may be settled for cash, Shares or other securities or a combination of the foregoing pursuant to Section 11.
(ii) "Period of Restriction" means the period during which the transfer of Shares of Restricted Stock are subject to restrictions and therefore, the Shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. Such restrictions may be based on the passage of time, continued service, the achievement of target levels of performance, or the occurrence of other events as determined by the Administrator.
(jj) "Plan" means this 2016 Equity Incentive Plan.
(kk) "Restricted Stock" means Shares issued pursuant to a Restricted Stock award under Section 8 of the Plan, or issued pursuant to the early exercise of an Option.
(ll) "Restricted Stock Unit" means a bookkeeping entry representing an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of one Share, granted pursuant to Section 9. Each Restricted Stock Unit represents an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company.
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(mm) "Rule 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect when discretion is being exercised with respect to the Plan.
(nn) "Section 16(b)" means Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.
(oo) "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(pp) "Section 409A" means Section 409A of the Code and the final regulations and any guidance promulgated thereunder, as may be amended from time to time.
(qq) "Service Provider" means an Employee, Director or Consultant.
(rr) "Share" means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 15 of the Plan.
(ss) "Stock Appreciation Right" means an Award, granted alone or in connection with an Option, that pursuant to Section 9 is designated as a Stock Appreciation Right.
(tt) "Subsidiary" means a "subsidiary corporation," whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
3. Stock Subject to the Plan.
(a) Stock Subject to the Plan. Subject to the provisions of Section 15(a) of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan is (i) 4,000,000 Shares, plus (ii) any Shares which have been reserved but not issued pursuant to any awards granted under the Company's 2007 Incentive Award Plan, as amended (the "Existing Plan"), as of the date this Plan is approved by the Company's stockholders and any Shares subject to stock options, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units, or similar awards granted under the Existing Plan, that, on or after the date this Plan is approved by the Company's stockholders, expire or otherwise terminate without having been exercised in full and Shares issued pursuant to awards granted under the Existing Plan that are forfeited to or repurchased by the Company, with the maximum number of Shares to be added to the Plan from the Existing Plan equal to 10,084,101. The Shares may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.
(b) Full Value Awards. Any Shares subject to Full Value Awards will be counted against the numerical limits of Section 3(a)(i) as 1.71 Shares for every 1 Share subject thereto. Further, if Shares subject to any Full Value Award are forfeited to or repurchased by the Company and otherwise would return to the Plan pursuant to Section 3(c), 1.71 times the number of Shares so forfeited or repurchased will return to the Plan and will again become available for issuance under the Plan.
(c) Lapsed Awards. If an Award expires or becomes unexercisable without having been exercised in full, or, with respect to Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Units or Performance Shares, is forfeited to, or repurchased by, the Company due to failure to vest, then the unpurchased Shares (or for Awards other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights the forfeited or repurchased Shares), which were subject thereto will become available for future grant or sale under the Plan (unless the Plan has terminated). With respect to Stock Appreciation Rights, the gross Shares issued (i.e., Shares actually issued pursuant to a Stock Appreciation Right, as well as the Shares that represent payment of the exercise price and any applicable tax withholdings) pursuant to a Stock Appreciation Right will cease to be available under the Plan. Shares used to pay the exercise price of an Award or to satisfy the tax withholding obligations related to an Award will not become available for future grant or sale under the Plan. To the extent an Award under the Plan is paid out in cash rather than Shares, such cash payment will not result in reducing the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan. For purposes of clarification, no Shares purchased by the Company with proceeds received from the exercise of an
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Option or Stock Appreciation Right will become available for issuance under this Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing and, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 15, the maximum number of Shares that may be issued upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options will equal the aggregate Share number stated in Section 3(a), plus, to the extent allowable under Section 422 of the Code, any Shares that become available for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Section 3(c).
(d) Share Reserve. The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as will be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.
4. Administration of the Plan.
(a) Procedure.
(i) Multiple Administrative Bodies. Different Committees with respect to different groups of Service Providers may administer the Plan.
(ii) Section 162(m). To the extent that the Administrator determines it to be desirable to qualify Awards granted hereunder as "performance-based compensation" within the meaning of Code Section 162(m), the Plan will be administered by a Committee of two (2) or more "outside directors" within the meaning of Code Section 162(m).
(iii) Rule 16b-3. To the extent desirable to qualify transactions hereunder as exempt under Rule 16b-3, the transactions contemplated hereunder will be structured to satisfy the requirements for exemption under Rule 16b-3.
(iv) Other Administration. Other than as provided above, the Plan will be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee, which committee will be constituted to satisfy Applicable Laws.
(b) Powers of the Administrator. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, and in the case of a Committee, subject to the specific duties delegated by the Board to such Committee, the Administrator will have the authority, in its discretion:
(i) to determine the Fair Market Value;
(ii) to select the Service Providers to whom Awards may be granted hereunder;
(iii) to determine the number of Shares to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;
(iv) to approve forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan;
(v) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award granted hereunder. Such terms and conditions include, but are not limited to, the exercise price, the time or times when Awards may be exercised (which may be based on performance criteria), any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions, and any restriction or limitation regarding any Award or the Shares relating thereto, based in each case on such factors as the Administrator will determine;
(vi) to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards granted pursuant to the Plan;
(vii) to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, including rules and regulations relating to sub-plans established for the purpose of satisfying applicable foreign laws or for qualifying for favorable tax treatment under applicable foreign laws;
(viii) to modify or amend each Award (subject to Sections 5(d) and 21 of the Plan), including but not limited to the discretionary authority to extend the post-termination exercisability period of Awards and to extend the maximum term of an Option (subject to Section 7(b) of the Plan regarding Incentive Stock Options);
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(ix) to allow Participants to satisfy tax withholding obligations in such manner as prescribed in Section 16 of the Plan;
(x) to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effect the grant of an Award previously granted by the Administrator;
(xi) to allow a Participant to defer the receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that otherwise would be due to such Participant under an Award; and
(xii) to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering the Plan.
(c) Effect of Administrator's Decision. The Administrator's decisions, determinations and interpretations will be final and binding on all Participants and any other holders of Awards and will be given the maximum deference permitted by Applicable Laws.
5. Award Limitations.
(a) Annual Awards for Employees and Consultants. For so long as: (x) the Company is a "publicly held corporation" within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and (y) the deduction limitations of Code Section 162(m) are applicable to the Company's Covered Employees, then, subject to Section 15, the limits specified below shall be applicable to Awards issued under the Plan:
(i) Limits on Options. No Employee or Consultant shall receive Options during any Fiscal Year covering in excess of 4,000,000 Shares.
(ii) Limits on Stock Appreciation Rights. No Employee or Consultant shall receive Stock Appreciation Rights during any Fiscal Year covering in excess of 4,000,000 Shares.
(iii) Limits on Restricted Stock. No Employee or Consultant shall receive Awards of Restricted Stock during any Fiscal Year covering in excess of 2,000,000 Shares.
(iv) Limits on Restricted Stock Units. No Employee or Consultant shall receive Restricted Stock Units during any Fiscal Year covering in excess of 2,000,000 Shares.
(v) Limits on Performance Shares. No Employee or Consultant shall receive Performance Shares during any Fiscal Year covering in excess of 2,000,000 Shares.
(vi) Limits on Performance Units. No Employee or Consultant shall receive Performance Units with an aggregate initial value of greater than $10,000,000.
(b) Annual Awards for Outside Directors. No Outside Director may be granted, in any Fiscal Year, Awards with a grant date fair value (determined in accordance with GAAP) of greater than $500,000. Any Award granted to a Participant while he or she was an Employee, or while he or she was a Consultant but not an Outside Director, will not count for purposes of the limitations under this Section 5(b).
(c) Minimum Vesting Requirements.
(i) General. Except as specified in Section 5(c)(ii), Restricted Stock Units, Options and Stock Appreciation Rights will vest no earlier than the 1-year anniversary of such Award's grant date (except if accelerated pursuant to a Change in Control or a termination of Participant's status as a Service Provider under certain circumstances, a Participant's death, or a Participant's Disability) (each, an "Acceleration Event").
(ii) Exception. Restricted Stock Units, Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted to any Service Provider without regard to the minimum vesting requirements set forth in Section 5(c)(i) if the Shares subject to such Awards would not result in more than 5% of
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the maximum aggregate number of Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to all outstanding Restricted Stock Units, Options and Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan (the "5% Limit"). Any Restricted Stock Units, Options or Stock Appreciation Rights that have their vesting discretionarily accelerated (except if accelerated pursuant to an Acceleration Event) are subject to the 5% Limit. For purposes of clarification, the Administrator may accelerate the vesting of any Award pursuant to an Acceleration Event without such vesting acceleration counting toward the 5% Limit. The 5% Limit applies in the aggregate to Restricted Stock Units, Options or Stock Appreciation Rights that do not satisfy the minimum vesting requirements set forth in Section 5(c)(i) and to the discretionary vesting acceleration of Restricted Stock Units, Options or Stock Appreciation Rights as specified in this Section 5(c)(ii).
(d) No Exchange Program. The Administrator may not implement an Exchange Program.
6. Eligibility. Nonstatutory Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units, and such other cash or stock awards as the Administrator determines may be granted to Service Providers. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.
7. Stock Options.
(a) Grant of Option. Each Option will be designated in the Award Agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option. However, notwithstanding such designation, to the extent that the aggregate fair market value of the Shares with respect to which incentive stock options are exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), the portion of the Options falling within such limit will be Incentive Stock Options and the excess Options will be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this Section 7(a)(i), incentive stock options will be taken into account in the order in which they were granted. The fair market value of the Shares will be determined as of the time the option with respect to such Shares is granted.
(b) Term of Option. The term of each Option will be stated in the Award Agreement but will not exceed ten (10) years from the date the Option is granted. Moreover, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the term of the Incentive Stock Option will be five (5) years from the date of grant or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement.
(c) Option Exercise Price and Consideration.
(i) Exercise Price. The per share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of an Option will be determined by the Administrator, subject to the following:
(1) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option
(A) granted to an Employee who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the per Share exercise price will be no less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.
(B) granted to any Employee other than an Employee described in paragraph (A) immediately above, the per Share exercise price will be no less than
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one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.
(2) In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option, the per Share exercise price will be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.
(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Options may be granted with a per Share exercise price of less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant pursuant to a transaction described in, and in a manner consistent with, Section 424(a) of the Code.
(ii) Waiting Period and Exercise Dates. At the time an Option is granted and subject to the provisions of this Plan, the Administrator will fix the period within which the Option may be exercised and will determine any conditions that must be satisfied before the Option may be exercised.
(iii) Form of Consideration. The Administrator will determine the acceptable form of consideration for exercising an Option, including the method of payment. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the Administrator will determine the acceptable form of consideration at the time of grant. Such consideration may consist entirely of: (1) cash; (2) check; (3) other Shares, provided that such Shares have a fair market value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which such Option will be exercised and provided that accepting such Shares will not result in any adverse accounting consequences to the Company, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion; (4) consideration received by the Company under a broker-assisted (or other) cashless exercise program (whether through a broker or otherwise) implemented by the Company in connection with the Plan; (5) by net exercise; (6) such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws; or (7) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment.
(d) Exercise of Option.
(i) Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Stockholder. Any Option granted hereunder will be exercisable according to the terms of the Plan and at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator, subject to the provisions of this Plan, and set forth in the Award Agreement. An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.
An Option will be deemed exercised when the Company receives: (i) a notice of exercise (in such form as the Administrator may specify from time to time) from the person entitled to exercise the Option, and (ii) full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised (together with applicable withholding taxes). Full payment may consist of any consideration and method of payment authorized by the Administrator and permitted by the Award Agreement and the Plan. Shares issued upon exercise of an Option will be issued in the name of the Participant or, if requested by the Participant, in the name of the Participant and his or her spouse. Until the Shares are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder will exist with respect to the Shares subject to an Option, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Company will issue (or cause to be issued) such Shares promptly after the Option is exercised. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except as provided in Section 15 of the Plan.
Exercising an Option in any manner will decrease the number of Shares thereafter available, both for purposes of the Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised.
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(ii) Termination of Relationship as a Service Provider other than Death or Disability. If a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider, other than upon the Participant's termination as the result of the Participant's death or Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent that the Option is vested on the date of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement). In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain exercisable for three (3) months following the Participant's termination, but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement. If Participant dies during such post-employment period, the Option may be exercised following the Participant's death for one (1) year after Participant's death, but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if on the date of termination the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will revert to the Plan. If after termination the Participant does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified by the Administrator, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan.
(iii) Disability of Participant. If a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider as a result of the Participant's Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent the Option is vested on the date of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement). In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain exercisable for twelve (12) months following the Participant's termination, but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if on the date of termination the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will revert to the Plan. If, after termination the Participant does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan.
(iv) Death of Participant. If a Participant dies while a Service Provider, the Option may be exercised following the Participant's death within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent that the Option is vested on the date of death (but in no event may the option be exercised later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement), by the Participant's designated beneficiary, provided such beneficiary has been designated prior to Participant's death in a form acceptable to the Administrator. If no such beneficiary has been designated by the Participant, then such Option may be exercised by the personal representative of the Participant's estate or by the person(s) to whom the Option is transferred pursuant to the Participant's will or in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution. In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain exercisable for twelve (12) months following Participant's death, but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement. If the Option is not so exercised within the time specified herein, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if at the time of death Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will immediately revert to the Plan.
(v) Tolling Expiration. A Participant's Award Agreement may also provide that:
(1) if the exercise of the Option following the termination of Participant's status as a Service Provider (other than upon the Participant's death or Disability) would result in
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liability under Section 16(b), then the Option will terminate on the earlier of (A) the expiration of the term of the Option set forth in the Award Agreement, or (B) the tenth (10th) day after the last date on which such exercise would result in liability under Section 16(b); or
(2) if the exercise of the Option following the termination of the Participant's status as a Service Provider (other than upon the Participant's death or Disability) would be prohibited at any time solely because the issuance of Shares would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act, then the Option will terminate on the earlier of (A) the expiration of the term of the Option or (B) the expiration of a period of thirty (30)-day period after the termination of the Participant's status as a Service Provider during which the exercise of the Option would not be in violation of such registration requirements.
8. Restricted Stock.
(a) Grant of Restricted Stock. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant Shares of Restricted Stock to Service Providers in such amounts as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine. Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, the Company as escrow agent will hold Shares of Restricted Stock until the restrictions on such Shares have lapsed.
(b) Restricted Stock Agreement. Each Award of Restricted Stock will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the Period of Restriction, the number of Shares granted, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.
(c) Transferability. Except as provided in this Section 8, Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the end of the applicable Period of Restriction.
(d) Other Restrictions. Subject to the provisions of this Plan, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may impose such other restrictions on Shares of Restricted Stock as it may deem advisable or appropriate.
(e) Removal of Restrictions. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 8, Shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Restricted Stock grant made under the Plan will be released from escrow as soon as practicable after the last day of the Period of Restriction. The Administrator, in its discretion, may accelerate the time at which any restrictions will lapse or be removed.
(f) Voting Rights. During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may exercise full voting rights with respect to those Shares, unless the Administrator determines otherwise.
(g) Dividends and Other Distributions. During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding Shares of Restricted Stock will be entitled to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such Shares unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement. If any such dividends or distributions are paid in Shares, the Shares will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid.
(h) Return of Restricted Stock to Company. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, the Restricted Stock for which restrictions have not lapsed will revert to the Company and again will become available for grant under the Plan in accordance with Section 3(b) of the Plan.
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(i) Section 162(m) Performance Restrictions. For purposes of qualifying grants of Restricted Stock as "performance-based compensation" under Code Section 162(m), the Administrator, in its discretion, may set restrictions based upon the achievement of Performance Goals. The Performance Goals will be set by the Administrator on or before the Determination Date. In granting Restricted Stock that is intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m), the Administrator will follow any procedures determined by it from time to time to be necessary or appropriate to ensure qualification of the Award under Code Section 162(m) (e.g., in determining the Performance Goals).
9. Restricted Stock Units.
(a) Grant of Restricted Stock Units. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Administrator, at any time and from time to time, Restricted Stock Units may be granted to Service Providers at any time and from time to time as determined by the Administrator.
(b) Restricted Stock Unit Agreement. Each Award of Restricted Stock Units will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine, including all terms, conditions, and restrictions related to the grant, the number of Restricted Stock Units and the form of payout, which, subject to Section 9(e), may be left to the discretion of the Administrator.
(c) Vesting Criteria and Other Terms. Subject to the provisions of this Plan, the Administrator will set vesting criteria in its discretion, which, depending on the extent to which the criteria are met, will determine the number of Restricted Stock Units that will be paid out to the Participant. The Administrator may set vesting criteria based upon the achievement of Company-wide, divisional, business unit, or individual goals (including, but not limited to, continued employment or service), applicable federal or state securities laws or any other basis determined by the Administrator in its discretion. After the grant of Restricted Stock Units, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any restrictions for such Restricted Stock Units.
(d) Earning Restricted Stock Units. Upon meeting the applicable vesting criteria, the Participant will be entitled to receive a payout as specified in the Award Agreement.
(e) Form and Timing of Payment. Payment of earned Restricted Stock Units will be made as soon as practicable after the date(s) set forth in the Award Agreement. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Restricted Stock Units in cash, Shares, or a combination thereof. Shares represented by Restricted Stock Units that are fully paid in cash again will be available for grant under the Plan.
(f) Cancellation. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, all unearned Restricted Stock Units will be forfeited to the Company and become available for grant under the Plan.
(g) Section 162(m) Performance Restrictions. For purposes of qualifying grants of Restricted Stock Units as "performance-based compensation" under Code Section 162(m), the Administrator, in its discretion, may set restrictions based upon the achievement of Performance Goals. The Performance Goals will be set by the Administrator on or before the Determination Date. In granting Restricted Stock Units which are intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m), the Administrator will follow any procedures determined by it from time to time to be necessary or appropriate to ensure qualification of the Award under Code Section 162(m) (e.g., in determining the Performance Goals).
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10. Stock Appreciation Rights.
(a) Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, a Stock Appreciation Right may be granted to Service Providers at any time and from time to time as will be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion.
(b) Exercise Price and Other Terms. The Administrator, subject to the provisions of the Plan, will have complete discretion to determine the terms and conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan, provided, however, that the exercise price will be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.
(c) Stock Appreciation Right Agreement. Each Stock Appreciation Right grant will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the exercise price, the term of the Stock Appreciation Right, the conditions of exercise, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.
(d) Expiration of Stock Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan will expire upon the date determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement; provided, however, that the term will be no more than ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the rules of Section 7(d) also will apply to Stock Appreciation Rights.
(e) Payment of Stock Appreciation Right Amount. Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, a Participant will be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying:
(i) The difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the exercise price; multiplied by
(ii) The number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised.
At the discretion of the Administrator, the payment upon Stock Appreciation Right exercise may be in cash, in Shares of equivalent value, or in some combination thereof.
11. Performance Units and Performance Shares.
(a) Grant of Performance Units/Shares. Subject to the terms of the Plan, Performance Units and Performance Shares may be granted to Service Providers at any time and from time to time, as will be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion.
(b) Value of Performance Units/Shares.